Metafor can be run in parallel on several cores of your computer, but this is not done automatically. By default Metafor uses a single core for the calculation (and another one for the visualisation when it is enabled).

To enable parallelism, you should prescribe the number of threads by adding a -k flag to the command line: for example:

Metafor -k 4

starts Metafor with 4 threads.

If you use the graphical user interface and you want to double click on the icon, you can duplicate the shortcut on the desktop (click on it, then CTRL-C, CTRL-V to make a copy). Rename it to “Run Parallel Metafor”. Then right-click on the icon and go to properties. Add -k 4 to the end of the “target” line: Then click OK.

Doucle-click on the new icon and check that 4 threads are enabled:

In order to take advantage of parallel loops, you must do 2 things:

• you must use a parallel linear solver
• you must explicitly enable parallel loops in your python file

The default linear solver is a basic sequential solver. Change the linear solver used to solve each linear system at each iteration with:

solman = metafor.getSolverManager()
solver = DSSolver()
solman.setSolver(solver)

Add these lines anywhere in your python file after the line from wrap import *:

StrVectorBase.useTBB()
StrMatrixBase.useTBB()
ContactInteraction.useTBB()

The first line enable the parallel assembly of vectors. The second line does the same for matrices. The third line activates parallel contact management.