diff --git a/pyNastran/bdf/bdf_interface/dev/dedemap.py b/pyNastran/bdf/bdf_interface/dev/dedemap.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f3fe8dc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyNastran/bdf/bdf_interface/dev/dedemap.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import os
+import sys
+from collections import defaultdict
+bdf_filename = sys.argv[1]
+base, ext = os.path.splitext(bdf_filename)
+bdf_filename_out = base + '.dedmap' + ext
+
+with open(bdf_filename, 'r') as bdf_file:
+    lines = bdf_file.readlines()
+nlines = len(lines)
+
+blocks = defaultdict(list)
+i = 0
+line = lines[i]
+while 'N A S T R A N   S O U R C E   P R O G R A M   C O M P I L A T I O N' not in line:
+    print(i, line.strip())
+    i += 1
+    line = lines[i]
+
+while i < nlines and 'N A S T R A N   S O U R C E   P R O G R A M   C O M P I L A T I O N' in line:
+    line = lines[i]
+    print('*', i, line)
+    source, dmap = line.strip().split('SUBDMAP  =')
+    #dmap = dmap.strip()
+    print(f'dmap = {dmap!r}')
+
+    blocks[dmap].append(line)
+    i += 1
+    line = lines[i]
+
+    blocks[dmap].append(line)
+    while 'PAGE' not in line:
+        blocks[dmap].append(line)
+        i += 1
+        line = lines[i]
+    for j in range(3):
+        i += 1
+        line = lines[i]
+        print('**', i, line.strip())
+    # i += 2
+    # line = lines[i]
+    # print('**', i, line)
+    print('--------------------------')
+
+
+with open(bdf_filename_out, 'w') as bdf_file_out:
+    for block_name, block in blocks.items():
+        bdf_file_out.write(f'0        N A S T R A N   S O U R C E   P R O G R A M   C O M P I L A T I O N             SUBDMAP  = {block_name}\n')
+        bdf_file_out.write(f'      OLD NO.  NEW NO.   ( *I* = INSERTED,   *D* = DELETED )\n')
+        for line in block:
+            if (line.startswith('     DMAP-DMAP INSTRUCTION') or 
+                'N A S T R A N   S O U R C E   P R O G R A M   C O M P I L A T I O N' in line or 
+                'OLD NO.  NEW NO.   ( *I* = INSERTED,   *D* = DELETED )' in line):
+                continue
+            bdf_file_out.write(line)
+print(f'finished writing {bdf_filename_out}')
diff --git a/pyNastran/bdf/test/run_jobs.py b/pyNastran/bdf/test/run_jobs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7c1ba9988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyNastran/bdf/test/run_jobs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+
+import argparse
+import pyNastran
+
+def run_jobs_cmd_line(argv=None, quiet: bool=False):
+    """
+    run_nastran_job dirname
+    run_nastran_job filename -x C:\bin\nastran.exe
+    """
+    if argv is None:
+        argv = sys.argv
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+    parser.add_argument("bdf_dirname_filename", help='path to Nastran filename')
+    parser.add_argument('-x', '--exe', help='path to Nastran execuable')
+    #parent_parser.add_argument('-h', '--help', help='show this help message and exits', action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', action='version',
+                               version=pyNastran.__version__)
+
+    args = parser.parse_args(args=argv[1:])
+    if not quiet:  # pragma: no cover
+        print(args)
+
+    bdf_filename_dirname = Path(args.bdf_dirname_filename)
+    nastran_exe = args.exe
+    if nastran_exe is None:
+        nastran_exe = 'nastran'
+    elif '.bat' in nastran_exe or '.exe' in nastran_exe:
+        nastran_exe = Path(nastran_exe)
+        assert nastran_exe.exists(), nastran_exe
+        assert nastran_exe.is_file(), nastran_exe
+
+    assert bdf_filename_dirname.exists(), bdf_filename_dirname
+
+    from pyNastran.utils.nastran_utils import run_nastran
+    if bdf_filename_dirname.is_dir():
+        dirname = bdf_filename_dirname
+        extensions = ['.dat', '.bdf']
+        bdf_filenames = [dirname / fname.name for fname in dirname.iterdir()
+                         if fname.suffix in extensions and '.test_bdf.' not in fname.name]
+        print('bdf_filenames =', bdf_filenames)
+        assert len(bdf_filenames) > 0, dirname
+        for bdf_filename in bdf_filenames:
+            run_nastran(bdf_filename, nastran_cmd=nastran_exe, cleanup=True)
+
+
+    elif bdf_filename_dirname.is_file():
+        run_nastran(bdf_filename_dirname, nastran_cmd=nastran_exe, cleanup=True)
+    else:
+        raise NotImplementedError(bdf_filename_dirname)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    run_jobs_cmd_line()
diff --git a/pyNastran/converters/nastran/gui/menus/element_menu.py b/pyNastran/converters/nastran/gui/menus/element_menu.py
index 4f3fb8d56..ccc1e7550 100644
--- a/pyNastran/converters/nastran/gui/menus/element_menu.py
+++ b/pyNastran/converters/nastran/gui/menus/element_menu.py
@@ -335,31 +335,31 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
         'icase_disp' : 2,
         'icase_vector' : 3,
 
-        'name' : 'cat',
-        'time' : 2,
-        'frames/sec' : 30,
-        'resolution' : 1,
-        'iframe' : 0,
-        'is_scale' : False,
-        'dirname' : os.getcwd(),
-        'scale' : 2.0,
-        'default_scale' : 10,
-
-        'arrow_scale' : 3.0,
-        'default_arrow_scale' : 30,
+        'name': 'cat',
+        'time': 2,
+        'frames/sec': 30,
+        'resolution': 1,
+        'iframe': 0,
+        'is_scale': False,
+        'dirname': os.getcwd(),
+        'scale': 2.0,
+        'default_scale': 10,
+
+        'arrow_scale': 3.0,
+        'default_arrow_scale': 30,
 
         #'phase' : 0.,
-        'phase' : None,
-        'default_phase' : 120.,
-        #'default_phase' : None,
-
-        #'start_time' : 0.,
-        #'end_time' : 0.,
-        'default_time' : 0.,
-        'icase_start' : 10,
-        'icase_delta' : 3,
-        'stress_min' : 0.,
-        'stress_max' : 1000.,
+        'phase': None,
+        'default_phase': 120.,
+        #'default_phase': None,
+
+        #'start_time': 0.,
+        #'end_time': 0.,
+        'default_time': 0.,
+        'icase_start': 10,
+        'icase_delta': 3,
+        'stress_min': 0.,
+        'stress_max': 1000.,
     }
     data2['phase'] = 0.  # uncomment for phase
 
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/gui_objects/settings.py b/pyNastran/gui/gui_objects/settings.py
index 035ff889e..56a67e1b5 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/gui_objects/settings.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/gui_objects/settings.py
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@
 MAGNIFY_MIN = 1
 MAGNIFY_MAX = 10
 
+ANIMATION_FRAME_RATE = 30
+ANIMATION_TIME = 2.0
+
 PLOTEL_COLOR = RED_FLOAT
 CAERO_COLOR = YELLOW_FLOAT
 RBE_LINE_COLOR = LIGHT_GREEN_FLOAT
@@ -469,6 +472,9 @@ def reset_settings(self, resize: bool=True,
         self.coord_text_scale = COORD_TEXT_SCALE  # float
         self.coord_linewidth = 2.0
 
+        self.animation_frame_rate = ANIMATION_FRAME_RATE
+        self.animation_time = ANIMATION_TIME
+
         # string
         self.colormap = 'jet' # 'viridis'
 
@@ -683,6 +689,12 @@ def load(self, settings: QSettings) -> bool:
             self.shear_moment_torque_line_width,
             min_value=LINE_WIDTH_MIN, max_value=LINE_WIDTH_MAX)
 
+        # animation
+        self._set_setting(settings, setting_keys, ['animation_time'],
+                          default=ANIMATION_TIME, save=True, auto_type=float)
+        self._set_setting(settings, setting_keys, ['animation_frame_rate'],
+                          default=ANIMATION_FRAME_RATE, save=True, auto_type=int)
+
         # displacement_model_scale - unused
         self._set_setting(settings, setting_keys, ['displacement_model_scale'],
                           default=DISPLACEMENT_MODEL_SCALE, save=True, auto_type=float)
@@ -892,6 +904,8 @@ def save(self, settings: QSettings,
 
         # float
         settings.setValue('displacement_model_scale', self.displacement_model_scale)
+        settings.setValue('animation_time', self.animation_time),
+        settings.setValue('animation_frame_rate', self.animation_frame_rate),
 
         # logging
         settings.setValue('show_info', self.show_info)
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/menus/calculator/calculator.py b/pyNastran/gui/menus/calculator/calculator.py
index 0cb774431..7615cb391 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/menus/calculator/calculator.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/menus/calculator/calculator.py
@@ -374,36 +374,36 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
 
     #from pyNastran.gui.menus.legend.animation import AnimationWindow
     data2 = {
-        'font_size' : 8,
-        'icase_fringe' : 1,
-        'icase_disp' : 2,
-        'icase_vector' : 3,
-
-        'title' : 'cat',
-        'time' : 2,
-        'frames/sec' : 30,
-        'resolution' : 1,
-        'iframe' : 0,
-        'is_scale' : False,
-        'dirname' : os.getcwd(),
-        'scale' : 2.0,
-        'default_scale' : 10,
-
-        'arrow_scale' : 3.0,
-        'default_arrow_scale' : 30,
-
-        #'phase' : 0.,
-        'phase' : None,
-        'default_phase' : 120.,
-        #'default_phase' : None,
-
-        #'start_time' : 0.,
-        #'end_time' : 0.,
-        'default_time' : 0.,
-        'icase_start' : 10,
-        'icase_delta' : 3,
-        'stress_min' : 0.,
-        'stress_max' : 1000.,
+        'font_size': 8,
+        'icase_fringe': 1,
+        'icase_disp': 2,
+        'icase_vector': 3,
+
+        'title': 'cat',
+        'time': 2,
+        'frames/sec': 30,
+        'resolution': 1,
+        'iframe': 0,
+        'is_scale': False,
+        'dirname': os.getcwd(),
+        'scale': 2.0,
+        'default_scale': 10,
+
+        'arrow_scale': 3.0,
+        'default_arrow_scale': 30,
+
+        #'phase': 0.,
+        'phase': None,
+        'default_phase': 120.,
+        #'default_phase': None,
+
+        #'start_time': 0.,
+        #'end_time': 0.,
+        'default_time': 0.,
+        'icase_start': 10,
+        'icase_delta': 3,
+        'stress_min': 0.,
+        'stress_max': 1000.,
     }
     data2['phase'] = 0.  # uncomment for phase
 
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/animation.py b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/animation.py
index ceba588e4..440489897 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/animation.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/animation.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 import os
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+from typing import Any, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from qtpy.QtCore import Qt
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
@@ -1306,6 +1306,9 @@ def on_validate(self, wipe: bool=False) -> tuple[bool,
         scale, flag1 = check_float(self.scale_edit)
         time, flag2 = check_float(self.time_edit)
         fps, flag3 = check_float(self.fps_edit)
+        self.time = time
+        self.fps = fps
+        self._set_settings()
 
         min_value = max_value = None
         flag4 = flag5 = True
@@ -1343,8 +1346,27 @@ def on_validate(self, wipe: bool=False) -> tuple[bool,
             #self.close()
             ##self.destroy()
 
+    def settings(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        if self.is_gui:
+            out = self.win_parent.settings
+        else:
+            out = {}
+        return out
+
+    def _set_settings(self) -> None:
+        if not self.is_gui:
+            return
+        time, flag2 = check_float(self.time_edit)
+        fps, flag3 = check_float(self.fps_edit)
+        if flag2 and flag3:
+            self._default_time = time
+            self._default_fps = fps
+            self.settings.animation_time = time
+            self.settings.animation_frame_rate = fps
+
     def on_cancel(self) -> None:
         """click the Cancel button"""
+        self._set_settings()
         self.on_stop()
         self.out_data['close'] = True
         self.close()
@@ -1370,36 +1392,36 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
 
     #from pyNastran.gui.menus.legend.animation import AnimationWindow
     data2 = {
-        'font_size' : 8,
-        'icase_fringe' : 1,
-        'icase_disp' : 2,
-        'icase_vector' : 3,
-
-        'title' : 'cat',
-        'time' : 2,
-        'frames/sec' : 30,
-        'resolution' : 1,
-        'iframe' : 0,
-        'is_scale' : False,
-        'dirname' : os.getcwd(),
-        'scale' : 2.0,
-        'default_scale' : 10,
-
-        'arrow_scale' : 3.0,
-        'default_arrow_scale' : 30,
-
-        #'phase' : 0.,
-        'phase' : None,
-        'default_phase' : 120.,
-        #'default_phase' : None,
-
-        #'start_time' : 0.,
-        #'end_time' : 0.,
-        'default_time' : 0.,
-        'icase_start' : 10,
-        'icase_delta' : 3,
-        'stress_min' : 0.,
-        'stress_max' : 1000.,
+        'font_size': 8,
+        'icase_fringe': 1,
+        'icase_disp': 2,
+        'icase_vector': 3,
+
+        'title': 'cat',
+        'time': 2,
+        'frames/sec': 30,
+        'resolution': 1,
+        'iframe': 0,
+        'is_scale': False,
+        'dirname': os.getcwd(),
+        'scale': 2.0,
+        'default_scale': 10,
+
+        'arrow_scale': 3.0,
+        'default_arrow_scale': 30,
+
+        #'phase': 0.,
+        'phase': None,
+        'default_phase': 120.,
+        #'default_phase': None,
+
+        #'start_time': 0.,
+        #'end_time': 0.,
+        'default_time': 0.,
+        'icase_start': 10,
+        'icase_delta': 3,
+        'stress_min': 0.,
+        'stress_max': 1000.,
     }
     data2['phase'] = 0.  # uncomment for phase
 
@@ -1425,5 +1447,5 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
     app.exec_()
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__": # pragma: no cover
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
     main()
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/legend_object.py b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/legend_object.py
index 15ea59216..49fb2f6b6 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/legend_object.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/legend_object.py
@@ -180,17 +180,17 @@ def set_animation_menu(self) -> None:
         arrow_scale, default_arrow_scale = self.get_legend_vector(gui.icase_vector)
 
         data = {
-            'font_size' : self.settings.font_size,
-            'icase_fringe' : gui.icase_fringe,
-            'icase_disp' : gui.icase_disp,
-            'icase_vector' : gui.icase_vector,
-            'title' : legend_title,
-            'time' : 2,
-            'frames/sec' : 30,
-            'resolution' : 1,
-            'iframe' : 0,
-            'scale' : scale,
-            'default_scale' : default_scale,
+            'font_size': self.settings.font_size,
+            'icase_fringe': gui.icase_fringe,
+            'icase_disp': gui.icase_disp,
+            'icase_vector': gui.icase_vector,
+            'title': legend_title,
+            'time': self.settings.animation_time,
+            'frames/sec': self.settings.animation_frame_rate,
+            'resolution': 1,
+            'iframe': 0,
+            'scale': scale,
+            'default_scale': default_scale,
 
             'arrow_scale' : arrow_scale,
             'default_arrow_scale' : default_arrow_scale,
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/qt_legend.py b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/qt_legend.py
index 3cd96efab..f564cd5ba 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/qt_legend.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/menus/legend/qt_legend.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 import os
-from typing import Optional, TYPE_CHECKING
+from typing import Optional, Any, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from qtpy import QtCore
 from qtpy.QtGui import QFont
@@ -130,6 +130,16 @@ def __init__(self, data: dict[str, Any],
         self.set_connections()
         self.set_font_size(data['font_size'])
 
+    @property
+    def settings(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        if not self.is_gui:
+            data = {
+                'animation_frame_rate': 30,
+                'animation_time': 2.0,
+            }
+            return data
+        return self.win_parent.settings
+
     def _update_defaults_to_blank(self):
         """Changes the default (None) to a blank string"""
         if self._default_colormap in {None, ''}:
@@ -700,28 +710,29 @@ def on_animate(self) -> None:
         if not flag1:
             scale = self._scale
 
+        settings = self.settings
         data = {
-            'font_size' : self.out_data['font_size'],
-            'icase_fringe' : self._icase_fringe,
-            'icase_disp' : self._icase_disp,
-            'icase_vector' : self._icase_vector,
-            'title' : title,
-            'time' : 2,
-            'frames/sec' : 30,
-            'resolution' : 1,
-            'iframe' : 0,
-            'scale' : scale,
-            'default_scale' : self._default_scale,
-
-            'arrow_scale' : scale,
-            'default_arrow_scale' : self._default_arrow_scale,
-
-            'is_scale' : self._default_phase is None,
-            'phase' : self._phase,
-            'default_phase' : self._default_phase,
-            'dirname' : os.path.abspath(os.getcwd()),
-            'clicked_ok' : False,
-            'close' : False,
+            'font_size': self.out_data['font_size'],
+            'icase_fringe': self._icase_fringe,
+            'icase_disp': self._icase_disp,
+            'icase_vector': self._icase_vector,
+            'title': title,
+            'time': settings.animation_time,
+            'frames/sec': settings.animation_frame_rate,
+            'resolution': 1,
+            'iframe': 0,
+            'scale': scale,
+            'default_scale': self._default_scale,
+
+            'arrow_scale': scale,
+            'default_arrow_scale': self._default_arrow_scale,
+
+            'is_scale': self._default_phase is None,
+            'phase': self._phase,
+            'default_phase': self._default_phase,
+            'dirname': os.path.abspath(os.getcwd()),
+            'clicked_ok': False,
+            'close': False,
         }
         self.win_parent.legend_obj.set_animation_window(data)
 
@@ -935,45 +946,45 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
     #The Main window
     data1 = {
-        'icase_fringe' : 1,
-        'icase_disp' : 62,
-        'icase_vector' : 3,
+        'icase_fringe': 1,
+        'icase_disp': 62,
+        'icase_vector': 3,
         'is_fringe': True,  # False=normals or no fringe
 
-        'font_size' : 8,
-        'title' : 'asdf',
-        'min_value' : 0.,
-        'max_value' : 10,
+        'font_size': 8,
+        'title': 'asdf',
+        'min_value': 0.,
+        'max_value': 10,
         'filter_value': None,
-        'scale' : 1e-12,
-        'default_scale' : 1.0,
+        'scale': 1e-12,
+        'default_scale': 1.0,
 
-        'arrow_scale' : 2e-2,
-        'default_arrow_scale' : 2.0,
+        'arrow_scale': 2e-2,
+        'default_arrow_scale': 2.0,
 
-        'phase' : 0.0,
-        #'default_phase' : 180.0,
-        'default_phase' : None,
+        'phase': 0.0,
+        #'default_phase': 180.0,
+        'default_phase': None,
 
-        'nlabels' : 11,
-        'default_nlabels' : 11,
+        'nlabels': 11,
+        'default_nlabels': 11,
 
-        'labelsize' : 12,
-        'default_labelsize' : 12,
+        'labelsize': 12,
+        'default_labelsize': 12,
 
-        'ncolors' : 13,
-        'default_ncolors' : 13,
+        'ncolors': 13,
+        'default_ncolors': 13,
 
-        'colormap' : 'jet',
-        'default_colormap' : 'jet',
+        'colormap': 'jet',
+        'default_colormap': 'jet',
 
-        'default_format' : '%s',
-        'format' : '%g',
+        'default_format': '%s',
+        'format': '%g',
 
         'is_low_to_high': True,
-        'is_discrete' : False,
-        'is_horizontal' : False,
-        'is_shown' : True,
+        'is_discrete': False,
+        'is_horizontal': False,
+        'is_shown': True,
     }
     main_window = LegendPropertiesWindow(data1)
 
@@ -981,5 +992,6 @@ def main(): # pragma: no cover
     # Enter the main loop
     app.exec_()
 
-if __name__ == "__main__": # pragma: no cover
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
     main()
diff --git a/pyNastran/gui/utils/qt/checks/qlineedit.py b/pyNastran/gui/utils/qt/checks/qlineedit.py
index 9266756a1..8d525390e 100644
--- a/pyNastran/gui/utils/qt/checks/qlineedit.py
+++ b/pyNastran/gui/utils/qt/checks/qlineedit.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from pyNastran.gui.utils.qt.checks.utils import (check_locale_float, is_ranged_value,
                                                  check_format_str)
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
-    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QLineEdit
+    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QLineEdit, QSpinBox
 
 QLINEEDIT_ERROR = "QLineEdit{background: red;}"
 QLINEEDIT_GOOD = "QLineEdit{background: white;}"
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def check_positive_int_or_blank(cell: QLineEdit) -> tuple[int, bool]:
         #cell.setStyleSheet(QLINEEDIT_ERROR)
         #return None, False
 
-def check_float(cell: QLineEdit) -> tuple[float, bool]:
+def check_float(cell: QLineEdit | QSpinBox) -> tuple[float, bool]:
     """
     Colors the cell red if the float is invalid
 
diff --git a/pyNastran/utils/nastran_utils.py b/pyNastran/utils/nastran_utils.py
index d33aef6d9..1094c321e 100644
--- a/pyNastran/utils/nastran_utils.py
+++ b/pyNastran/utils/nastran_utils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 from typing import Optional
+from pyNastran.utils import PathLike
 
 
-def run_nastran(bdf_filename: str, nastran_cmd: str='nastran',
+def run_nastran(bdf_filename: PathLike,
+                nastran_cmd: PathLike='nastran',
                 keywords: Optional[str | list[str] | dict[str, str]]=None,
                 run: bool=True, run_in_bdf_dir: bool=True,
                 cleanup: bool=False) -> tuple[Optional[int], list[str]]:
@@ -55,7 +57,8 @@ def run_nastran(bdf_filename: str, nastran_cmd: str='nastran',
 
     assert os.path.exists(bdf_filename), bdf_filename
     #assert os.path.exists(nastran_cmd), nastran_cmd
-    call_args = [nastran_cmd, str(bdf_filename)] + keywords_list
+    nastran_cmd_str = str(nastran_cmd)
+    call_args = [nastran_cmd_str, str(bdf_filename)] + keywords_list
     return_code = None
     if run:
         return_code = subprocess.call(call_args)