= PDAF3_get_fcst_info = 

This page documents the routine `PDAF3_get_fcst_info` of PDAF, which was introduced with PDAF V3.1 as an alternative to `PDAF_get_fcst_info` for more consistent naming of PDAF3 interface routines.

This routine returns information used for the flexible parallelization mode. In particular these are the number of time steps, current model time, and a flag whether the forecasting should be exited. This routine is used when the flexible parallelization mode is used with the `PDAF3_assimilate_X` routines, where `X` indicates the name of the DA method. (This also holds for the older interface routines `PDAFomi_assimilation_X`, `PDAF_assimilate_X`). The outputs are the same as for `PDAF_get_state`, which is used with the `PDAF*_put_state_X`. The routine `PDAF_get_state` is called inside `PDAF*_assimilate_X`, but the values are not directly returned to the user.

See the [wiki:OnlineFlexible_PDAF3 explanation of the flexible parallelization mode]  for further information.

The routine have to be called by all processses that perform model integrations. 

The interface is the following: 
{{{
  SUBROUTINE PDAF3_get_fcst_info(nsteps, timenow, doexit)
}}}
with the following arguments:
{{{
  INTEGER, INTENT(inout) :: nsteps  !< Number of time steps to be performed in next forecast phase
  REAL, INTENT(inout)    :: timenow !< Current model time
  INTEGER, INTENT(inout) :: doexit  !< variable defining whether the assimilation process is completed. 1 for exit, 0 for continuing.
}}}

**Note:**
 * The output values are provided by the routine `next_observation_pdaf` which is called by `PDAF3_init_forecast` and  `PDAF3_assimilate_X`, see [wiki:ExternalModelLoop explanation of the flexible parallelization mode].