Loop through Names and add 1 to Name, if already found

Question

This is an Abaqus application of a Python scripting but still a general question that doesn't require Abaqus knowledge.

Im no programmer and lack this necessary kind of thinking so would be very grateful for a help.

I have a database containing something called step names. I want to create an entity, which is a step too (a new step). If such name exists already, I want the script to add +1 to the name. If that one exists, I want it to add another +1 and so on.

Nothing important so far, just importing:

# importing some libraries
from abaqus import *
from odbAccess import *
from abaqusConstants import *
import visualization
import fileinput
import os
from odbAccess import *
from textRepr import *

Now we open the file:

odb_path="analysis6.odb"
my_odb=session.openOdb(name=odb_path,readOnly=FALSE)
# based upon our knowledge of the database, will be automated later
lastStep="loading step"

Lets automate some name-sourcing, still not that important for understanding the problem:

NaseInstance = (my_odb.rootAssembly.instances.keys())
MojeInstance = ( NaseInstance[-1] )
CelaMojeInstance=my_odb.rootAssembly.instances[MojeInstance]

Now the crucial part:

# initial number = zero
MyStepNumber=0
# This is how we want our step to be called
MyStepName="Artifficial_Step"

# if such name is there already, add one
if MyStepName in my_odb.steps.keys():
    MyStepNumber=MyStepNumber+1
    MyStepName=MyStepName+str(MyStepNumber)
    print ( "it is there, now we will rather call it", MyStepName, "Now you have to reopen the odb to see it")

    # this is how we stuff data into this new step. Not important for this query
    artiffStep = my_odb.Step(name=MyStepName, description='postprocess operations', domain=TIME, timePeriod=1.0)
    artiffFrame = artiffStep.Frame(frameId=0, frameValue=0.0, description='ArtifFrame')
    sessionField = artiffFrame.FieldOutput(name='Field-1', description='NEW_FIELD', field=my_odb.steps[lastStep].frames[-1].fieldOutputs['S'])

    # save and close to make the changes work
    my_odb.save()
    my_odb.close()

else:
    # if such name doesnt exist yet, no problem to use it
    print ( "it is not there, no problem to call it", MyStepName, "Now you have to reopen the odb")

    # rest same as in the -if- statement
    artiffStep = my_odb.Step(name=MyStepName, description='postprocess operations', domain=TIME, timePeriod=1.0)
    artiffFrame = artiffStep.Frame(frameId=0, frameValue=0.0, description='ArtifFrame')
    sessionField = artiffFrame.FieldOutput(name='Field-1', description='NEW_FIELD', field=my_odb.steps[lastStep].frames[-1].fieldOutputs['S'])

    # save and close to make the changes work
    my_odb.save()
    my_odb.close()

Unfortunately, as these of you with any coding knowledge probably immediately see, if the name is not yet used, it creates the new step for the first time, calling it "Artifficial_Step". If it exists and the else statement comes to action, it says "....we will rather call it "Artifficial_Step1" but then doesn't create anything new (probably as such step is already there). Instead of checking whether Artifficial_Step1 doesn't already exist too, or Step2, Step3, Step4...

I guess that I need some loop to go through the names - my_odb.steps.keys() - and keep adding one, until it reaches a nonexistent one to create it later. May I ask for a help with such, please?

Edit: Tried this now:

MyStepNumber=int(0)
MyStepName="Artifficial_Step"

while MyStepName in my_odb.steps.keys():
    MyStepNumber=MyStepNumber+1
    MyStepName=MyStepName+str(MyStepNumber)
    print ( "it is there, now we will rather call it", MyStepName, "Now you have to reopen the odb")

    artiffStep = my_odb.Step(name=MyStepName, description='postprocess operations', domain=TIME, timePeriod=1.0)
    artiffFrame = artiffStep.Frame(frameId=0, frameValue=0.0, description='ArtifFrame')
    sessionField = artiffFrame.FieldOutput(name='Field-1', description='NEW_FIELD', field=my_odb.steps[lastStep].frames[-1].fieldOutputs['S'])

    # save and close to make the changes work
    my_odb.save()
    my_odb.close()

else:
    print ( "it is not there, no problem to call it", MyStepName, "Now you have to reopen the odb")

    artiffStep = my_odb.Step(name=MyStepName, description='postprocess operations', domain=TIME, timePeriod=1.0)
    artiffFrame = artiffStep.Frame(frameId=0, frameValue=0.0, description='ArtifFrame')
    sessionField = artiffFrame.FieldOutput(name='Field-1', description='NEW_FIELD', field=my_odb.steps[lastStep].frames[-1].fieldOutputs['S'])

    # save and close to make the changes work
    my_odb.save()
    my_odb.close()

But the while goes on even after closing the database, therefore issuing a message that the database doesn't exist (meaning in the current GUI session) any more.

Moreover it created Artifficial_Step, then after reruning it created Artifficial_Step1 and then (after closing and reruning) nothing more.

Answer 1

# create a new step, frame, field. If it exists, add number:

MyStepNumber=int(1)
MyStepName="Artifficial_Step"+str(MyStepNumber)



while MyStepName in my_odb.steps.keys():
    MyStepNumber=MyStepNumber+1
    MyStepName="Artifficial_Step"+str(MyStepNumber)



artiffStep = my_odb.Step(name=MyStepName,      description='postprocess operations', domain=TIME, timePeriod=1.0)
artiffFrame = artiffStep.Frame(frameId=0, frameValue=0.0,     description='ArtifFrame')
sessionField = artiffFrame.FieldOutput(name='Field-1',     description='NEW_FIELD', field=my_odb.steps[lastStep].frames[-1].fieldOutputs['S'])

# save and close to make the changes work
my_odb.save()
my_odb.close()