# Why can't I use the "ascii data layered" option?

**URL:** <https://community.geodynamics.org/t/why-cant-i-use-the-ascii-data-layered-option/1909>\
**Category:** ASPECT\
**Created:** [July 16, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/why-cant-i-use-the-ascii-data-layered-option/1909 "2021-07-16T12:19:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShaozhuoLiu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/community.geodynamics.org/shaozhuoliu/32/808_2.png) [@ShaozhuoLiu](https://community.geodynamics.org/u/ShaozhuoLiu)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/why-cant-i-use-the-ascii-data-layered-option/1909/1 "2021-07-16T12:19:23Z")

</div>

Hello folks,

I am testing the simple example ./tests/run ascii\_data\_layered\_initial\_temperature\_3d\_box.prm which shows how to define the initial temperature from temperatures specified on layered surfaces. The key settings are as follows:

subsection Initial temperature model  
set Model name = ascii data layered  
subsection Ascii data model  
set Data directory = $ASPECT\_SOURCE\_DIR/data/initial-temperature/ascii-data/test/  
set Data file names = initial\_isotherm\_1000K\_box\_3d.txt, initial\_isotherm\_500K\_box\_3d.txt  
set Interpolation scheme = linear  
end  
end

No matter how I tried, it can’t run through. ASPECT outputs the following message:

* * *

## – This is ASPECT, the Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth’s ConvecTion. – . version 2.1.0-pre (master, 0d0f2be) – . using deal.II 9.0.0 – . using Trilinos 12.10.1 – . using p4est 2.0.0 – . running in OPTIMIZED mode – . running with 1 MPI process – How to cite ASPECT: [https://aspect.geodynamics.org/cite.html](https://aspect.geodynamics.org/cite.html)

```
Line <28> of file <input string>:
The entry value 
    ascii data layered
for the entry named
    Model name
does not match the given pattern:
    [Selection S40RTS perturbation|SAVANI perturbation|adiabatic|adiabatic boundary|ascii data|function|harmonic perturbation|inclusion shape perturbation|mandelbox|perturbed box|polar box|spherical gaussian perturbation|spherical hexagonal perturbation|unspecified]

```

ERROR: Uncaught exception in MPI\_InitFinalize on proc 0. Skipping MPI\_Finalize() to avoid a deadlock.

* * *

Exception ‘dealii::ExcMessage (“Invalid input parameter file.”)’ on rank 0 on processing:

* * *

## An error occurred in line \<420\> of file \</home/geodynamics/aspect/source/main.cc\> in function void parse\_parameters(const string&, dealii::ParameterHandler&) The violated condition was: false Additional information: Invalid input parameter file.

## Aborting!

* * *

## Primary job terminated normally, but 1 process returned a non-zero exit code.. Per user-direction, the job has been aborted.

* * *

mpirun detected that one or more processes exited with non-zero status, thus causing  
the job to be terminated. The first process to do so was:

## Process name: [[57922,1],0] Exit code: 1

Why? Weird! The option “ascii data layered” can’t be used!

Best regards,  
SZ

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bobmyhill](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/community.geodynamics.org/bobmyhill/32/38_2.png) [@bobmyhill](https://community.geodynamics.org/u/bobmyhill)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/why-cant-i-use-the-ascii-data-layered-option/1909/2 "2021-07-16T13:55:47Z")

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Dear SZ,

Have you tried running this prm with a more recent version of ASPECT? You’re using a version that was released only two days after I introduced that plugin, and there may have been problems with it at that point (although I don’t remember that being the case).

Best wishes,  
Bob

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShaozhuoLiu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/community.geodynamics.org/shaozhuoliu/32/808_2.png) [@ShaozhuoLiu](https://community.geodynamics.org/u/ShaozhuoLiu)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/why-cant-i-use-the-ascii-data-layered-option/1909/3 "2021-07-16T14:44:57Z")

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Hello Bob,

Indeed, the issue arose because an old version of ASPECT was used.

Thanks very much!

Best,  
SZ