ENH: consistent output format for coupled geometry description (issue #278)

- In the corner case with few faces or points, the normal List I/O
  results in a compact list representation.

  This is less than desirable for external programs with simple
  line-based parsers.

- Write exactly the following

*Faces*
// Patch: <word-Region> <word-Patch>
<int-nFaces>
(
<int-faceSize>(<int> .. <int>)
...
)

*Points*
// Patch: <word-Region> <word-Patch>
<int-nPoints>
(
(<float-x> <float-y> <float-z>)
...
)

STYLE: only use serial form of createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry in tutorial

- less confusing for the user, who wonders why it is being done twice.

src/postProcessing/functionObjects/jobControl/externalCoupled/externalCoupledFunctionObject.C

@@ -69,6 +69,36 @@ const Foam::NamedEnum
 > Foam::externalCoupledFunctionObject::stateEndNames_;
 
 
+namespace Foam
+{
+//! \cond fileScope
+//- Write list content with size, bracket, content, bracket one-per-line.
+//  This makes for consistent for parsing, regardless of the list length.
+template <class T>
+static void writeList(Ostream& os, const string& header, const UList<T>& L)
+{
+    // Header string
+    os  << header.c_str() << nl;
+
+    // Write size and start delimiter
+    os  << L.size() << nl
+        << token::BEGIN_LIST;
+
+    // Write contents
+    forAll(L, i)
+    {
+        os << nl << L[i];
+    }
+
+    // Write end delimiter
+    os << nl << token::END_LIST << nl << endl;
+}
+//! \endcond
+
+}
+// namespace Foam
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileName Foam::externalCoupledFunctionObject::baseDir() const
@@ -515,13 +545,8 @@ void Foam::externalCoupledFunctionObject::writeGeometry
                 const string entryHeader =
                     patchKey + ' ' + mesh.name() + ' ' + p.name();
 
-                // Write points
+                writeList(osPointsPtr(), entryHeader, allPoints);
-                osPointsPtr()
+                writeList(osFacesPtr(),  entryHeader, allFaces);
-                    << entryHeader.c_str() << nl << allPoints << nl << endl;
-
-                // Write faces
-                osFacesPtr()
-                    << entryHeader.c_str() << nl << allFaces << nl << endl;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -545,7 +570,7 @@ Foam::word Foam::externalCoupledFunctionObject::compositeName
         {
             // For compatibility with single region cases suppress single
             // region name
-            return word("");
+            return word::null;
         }
         else
         {

tutorials/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/externalCoupledMultiRegionHeater/Allrun

@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ cd ${0%/*} || exit 1    # Run from this directory
 # Decompose
 runApplication decomposePar -allRegions
 
-# Verify parallel operation of createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry
+## Can verify parallel operation of createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry
-\rm -f log.createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry
+# \rm -f log.createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry
-runParallel createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry \
+# runParallel createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry \
-    -regions '(topAir heater)' coupleGroup \
+#     -regions '(topAir heater)' coupleGroup \
-    -commsDir $PWD/comms
+#     -commsDir $PWD/comms
 
 # Run OpenFOAM
 runParallel $(getApplication) &