# Return Functions from parallel execution of module

I wrote a module which numerically solves an ODE using NDSolve. The result from this is e.g. either InterpolatingFunction[{{0.,1000.}},<>][t] or InterpolatingFunction[{{0.,1000.}},<>][t$1062], depending whether the independent varialbe t is global or local in the module. So far, I didn't care that it is global and everything worked fine. As this is imho is a source of upcoming trouble, I would like to switch to the local variable-version. As therefore I can't use a replacement rule like InterpolatingFunction[{{0.,1000.}},<>][t] /. t->3 to extract single values or to plot the function any more, I tried to wrap it into a function as the following minimal example demonstrates. compute[] := Module[{res, f}, points = Table[{x, x}, {x, 0, 10}]; res = Interpolation[points]; f[x_] := res[x]; f ];  Using this code works fine. In[109]:= ex = compute[]; ex[3] Out[110]= 3  I now want to run this computation with different parameters so I put it into a ParallelTable. The resulting list then does not contain the correct functions anymore but only their symbols. In[111]:= a = ParallelTable[compute[], {i, 0, 100}]; a[[1]][3] Out[112]= f$1870[3]


Note that this works perfectly when ParallelTable is replace by a normal Table.

Can you explain to me why this happens? Has this something to do with the definitions of the functions "living" on the sub-kernels and not being passed back to the main kernel?

Edit

Another aspect of the problem, a solution to which would help me too, is the following. If I multiply the InterpolatingFunction by a number and try to then extract values from it, it doesn't work as I would expect. Using the above example and assuming tha res is returned (indicated by the use of res in the following).

In[150]:= fcn=5*res;
fcn[3]

Out[151]= (5 InterpolatingFunction[{{0,10}},<>])[3]


Is there maybe a workaround for this?

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Yes, it does. The symbol f\$1870 has no definition associated with it in the master kernel. You could avoid this problem if compute[] would return res rather than f. – Sasha Nov 15 '12 at 21:24
But then I'm stuck with the problem of using the result. If t is global, I can use the replacement rule. If not, I don't see another way to use it. Do you know if there is a way to copy the definition to the master kernel? – mincos Nov 15 '12 at 22:42
Are you aware that NDSolve[] can be made to output a pure function, which would seem to be more convenient for your applications? Witness, for instance, f = y /. First @ NDSolve[{y''[x] == -y[x], y[0] == 1, y'[0] == 0}, y, {x, 0, 3}] – J. M. Nov 16 '12 at 9:30
@J.M. That's what I tried to describe in the edit of the question. Using your solution has (at least at my machine) the problem that I can't modify the function by multiplying something, e.g. a = 3*f; a[3] won't return a number because it doesn't evaluate the InterpolatingFunction then. – mincos Nov 16 '12 at 12:08
So, try a = Composition[3 # &, f]... – J. M. Nov 16 '12 at 12:27