.. _variables-discrete_state_set-string:

""""""
string
""""""


String-valued discrete state set variables




**Topics**


discrete_variables, state_variables



.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1

   variables-discrete_state_set-string-elements_per_variable
   variables-discrete_state_set-string-elements
   variables-discrete_state_set-string-initial_state
   variables-discrete_state_set-string-descriptors


**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* INTEGER

- *Default:* no discrete state set string variables


**Child Keywords:**

+-------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Required/Optional       | Description of     | Dakota Keyword            | Dakota Keyword Description                    |
|                         | Group              |                           |                                               |
+=========================+====================+===========================+===============================================+
| Optional                                     | `elements_per_variable`__ | Number of admissible elements for each set    |
|                                              |                           | variable                                      |
+----------------------------------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Required                                     | `elements`__              | The permissible values for each discrete      |
|                                              |                           | variable                                      |
+----------------------------------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Optional                                     | `initial_state`__         | Initial values for variables                  |
+----------------------------------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Optional                                     | `descriptors`__           | Labels for the variables                      |
+----------------------------------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

.. __: variables-discrete_state_set-string-elements_per_variable.html
__ variables-discrete_state_set-string-elements.html
__ variables-discrete_state_set-string-initial_state.html
__ variables-discrete_state_set-string-descriptors.html



**Description**


Discrete state variables whose values come from a specified set of
admissible strings. 

See :ref:`variables:usage` for tips on specifying discrete set
variables and :ref:`variables:state` for details on the behavior
of state variables.

Each string element value must be quoted and may contain alphanumeric,
dash, underscore, and colon. White space, quote characters, and
backslash/metacharacters are not permitted.



