# Error \*END STEP while importing .inp file

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669>\
**Category:** Bug Reports\
**Created:** [April 30, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669 "2025-04-30T14:51:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Layson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Layson](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Layson)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/1 "2025-04-30T14:51:05Z")

</div>

I am currently using PreProMax\_v2.3.0 to visualize some .inp files set by CGX and encounter the same error, described as the title, so I am reporting it using one .inp file for example.  
The .inp file and its include files have been zipped and shared through the link [perpendicular-flap.zip](https://wcwj4-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/g/personal/layson_wcwj4_onmicrosoft_com/EdoAyqi0dHRKpen-L2BWgZIBKKB9ZDQDPgsMx9I3l4I-oA?e=On8gHr). I think it a bug because

```auto
*END STEP

```

looks so normal. Thank you for your advice~

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/2 "2025-04-30T17:21:14Z")

</div>

As explained in previous threads (including this recent one: [Error and definition lost when import "inp" file that exported by PrePoMax - #4 by Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-and-definition-lost-when-import-inp-file-that-exported-by-prepomax/2647/4)), the .inp file importer is not up-to-date and stays behind the exporter. In this case, the problem is occuring likely because you have a dynamic step defined and support for dynamic analyses was added not so long ago.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/3 "2025-05-01T12:11:21Z")

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I have added support for \*DYNAMIC in InpFileReader.cs

```auto
                    else if (keyword == "*DYNAMIC") step = GetDynamicStep(dataSet);
                    else if (keyword == "*FREQUENCY") step = GetFrequencyStep(dataSet);

```

GetDynamicStep function is:

```auto
        private static DynamicStep GetDynamicStep(string[] dataSet)
        {
            string[] record1 = dataSet[0].Split(_splitterComma, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
            string[] record2;
            DynamicStep DynamicStep = new DynamicStep("Dynamic");
            //*DYNAMIC, ALPHA=0.0, DIRECT
            //1.E - 2, 5.0
            for (int i = 1; i < record1.Length; i++)
            {
                record2 = record1[i].Split(_splitterEqual, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
                if (record2.Length == 2)
                {
                    if (record2[0].Trim().ToUpper() == "ALPHA")
                    { 
                        DynamicStep.Alpha = double.Parse(record2[1]);
                    }
                }
                else if (record2.Length == 1)
                {
                    if (record2[0].Trim().ToUpper() == "DIRECT") DynamicStep.Direct = true;
                }
            }
            if (dataSet.Length == 2)
            {
                record2 = dataSet[1].Split(_splitterComma, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
                //
                if (record2.Length > 0)
                {
                    DynamicStep.InitialTimeIncrement = double.Parse(record2[0]);
                    DynamicStep.TimePeriod = double.Parse(record2[1]);
                }
            }
            //
            return DynamicStep;
        }

```

 ![dynamic](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/9/9766dcdff6421b1229e6d631b0ae3edc29dbe25f.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:15pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/4 "2025-05-01T12:15:22Z")

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The Nall is changed?

 ![Nall](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/abe77e0bffa5c21fa6b0c08a5521581b6060f7a7.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/5 "2025-05-01T15:41:31Z")

</div>

The Nall is a Calculix built in node set for all nodes. This node set does not exist in PrePoMax.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/6 "2025-05-01T22:37:52Z")

</div>

Does PPM generates a Disp BC for any node set? Need to avoid generating one for Nall.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/7 "2025-05-01T22:39:42Z")

</div>

Nall could be ignored, but shouldn’t be changed to NFIX1.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/8 "2025-05-05T13:47:36Z")

</div>

I do not understand the last two comments.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Layson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Layson](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Layson)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/9 "2025-05-06T01:09:19Z")

</div>

Thank you for your help. I will try it

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Layson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Layson](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Layson)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/10 "2025-05-06T13:10:20Z")

</div>

Nall is set in all.msh, and not changed to Nfix1. I also ran into such problem.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/11 "2025-05-06T22:36:26Z")

</div>

From This msg. Change to captial is understandable, but to a different name is weird.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Layson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Layson](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Layson)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/13 "2025-05-07T00:51:05Z")

</div>

Using ppm compiled from the original source code didn’t raise such error. It only failed to recognize Nall and set that BC though.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Cean](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Cean)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/14 "2025-05-07T02:39:23Z")

</div>

Only when you double click the red disp-2 BC. This BC should not be created.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 9:25am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/15 "2025-05-16T09:25:54Z")

</div>

I have added support for dynamic step and for node sets defined with \*Node keyword. The .inp file you shared can be imported now with no errors.

I will close this topic.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2025, 9:26am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-end-step-while-importing-inp-file/2669/16 "2025-05-16T09:26:10Z")

</div>