From fc8c72b69e0fe08db8cd1fac4589e489e017e807 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:04:59 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 01/10] refactor: added the changes

---
 doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md                 |  2 +
 .../fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py    | 12 ++-
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py      | 74 +++++++++++++------
 src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py       | 12 ++-
 src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.pyi      |  3 +-
 tests/test_launcher.py                        | 41 ++++++++++
 6 files changed, 117 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md

diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md b/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..40d959e7507
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- Fixed `launch_fluent()` ordering so `case_file_name`/`case_data_file_name` are processed before `journal_file_names` when both are provided.
+- In lightweight mode, deferred journal replay now completes before the background sync step begins.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
index 61fa10221bc..f3a587bf6ee 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
@@ -181,12 +181,16 @@ def _confirm_watchdog_start(start_watchdog, cleanup_on_exit, fluent_connection):
 
 
 def _build_journal_argument(
-    topy: None | bool | str, journal_file_names: None | str | list[str]
+    topy: None | bool | str,
+    journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+    include_journal_file_names: bool = True,
 ) -> str:
     """Build Fluent commandline journal argument."""
 
     def _impl(
-        topy: None | bool | str, journal_file_names: None | str | list[str]
+        topy: None | bool | str,
+        journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+        include_journal_file_names: bool,
     ) -> str:
         if journal_file_names and not isinstance(journal_file_names, (str, list)):
             raise TypeError(
@@ -199,7 +203,7 @@ def _impl(
         fluent_jou_arg = ""
         if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
             journal_file_names = [journal_file_names]
-        if journal_file_names:
+        if journal_file_names and include_journal_file_names:
             fluent_jou_arg += "".join(
                 [f' -i "{journal}"' for journal in journal_file_names]
             )
@@ -210,4 +214,4 @@ def _impl(
                 fluent_jou_arg += " -topy"
         return fluent_jou_arg
 
-    return _impl(topy, journal_file_names)
+    return _impl(topy, journal_file_names, include_journal_file_names)
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index 7812a253458..7561578e5cd 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -228,8 +228,14 @@ def __init__(
         )
         if self.argvals["cwd"]:
             self._kwargs.update(cwd=self.argvals["cwd"])
+        self._defer_journal_file_read = bool(
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
+            and (self.argvals["case_file_name"] or self.argvals["case_data_file_name"])
+        )
         self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
-            self.argvals["topy"], self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
+            self.argvals["topy"],
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"],
+            include_journal_file_names=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
         )
 
         if is_windows():
@@ -292,26 +298,7 @@ def __call__(self):
                 if len(values) == 3:
                     ip, port, password = values
                     watchdog.launch(os.getpid(), port, password, ip)
-            if self.argvals["case_file_name"]:
-                if FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
-                    session.tui.file.read_case(self.argvals["case_file_name"])
-                elif self.argvals["lightweight_mode"]:
-                    session.read_case_lightweight(self.argvals["case_file_name"])
-                else:
-                    session.settings.file.read(
-                        file_type="case",
-                        file_name=self.argvals["case_file_name"],
-                    )
-            if self.argvals["case_data_file_name"]:
-                if not FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
-                    session.settings.file.read(
-                        file_type="case-data",
-                        file_name=self.argvals["case_data_file_name"],
-                    )
-                else:
-                    raise RuntimeError(
-                        "Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode."
-                    )
+            self._process_case_data_and_journals(session)
 
             return session
         except Exception as ex:
@@ -321,3 +308,48 @@ def __call__(self):
             server_info_file = Path(self._server_info_file_name)
             if server_info_file.exists():
                 server_info_file.unlink()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_journal_file_names(
+        journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+    ) -> list[str]:
+        if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
+            return [journal_file_names]
+        return journal_file_names or []
+
+    def _read_journals(self, session) -> None:
+        for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
+        ):
+            session.execute_tui(
+                f'/file/read-journal "{Path(journal_file_name).as_posix()}"'
+            )
+
+    def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
+        lightweight_sync_deferred = False
+        if self.argvals["case_file_name"]:
+            if FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
+                session.tui.file.read_case(self.argvals["case_file_name"])
+            elif self.argvals["lightweight_mode"]:
+                session.read_case_lightweight(
+                    self.argvals["case_file_name"],
+                    start_sync=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
+                )
+                lightweight_sync_deferred = self._defer_journal_file_read
+            else:
+                session.settings.file.read(
+                    file_type="case",
+                    file_name=self.argvals["case_file_name"],
+                )
+        if self.argvals["case_data_file_name"]:
+            if not FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
+                session.settings.file.read(
+                    file_type="case-data",
+                    file_name=self.argvals["case_data_file_name"],
+                )
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
+        if self._defer_journal_file_read:
+            self._read_journals(session)
+        if lightweight_sync_deferred:
+            session.start_case_lightweight_sync()
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
index ad7d904a948..05039ec3b17 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
@@ -316,13 +316,21 @@ def _stop_bg_sessions(self):
             if thread.is_alive():
                 thread.join()
 
-    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str):
+    def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
+        """Start pending lightweight background sync sessions."""
+        for thread in self._bg_session_threads:
+            if thread.ident is None:
+                thread.start()
+
+    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str, start_sync: bool = True):
         """Read a case file using light IO mode.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         file_name : str
             Case file name
+        start_sync : bool, optional
+            Whether to immediately start lightweight background sync.
         """
 
         self.settings.file.read(
@@ -336,6 +344,8 @@ def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str):
                 target=self._start_bg_session_and_sync, args=(launcher_args,)
             )
         )
+        if start_sync:
+            self.start_case_lightweight_sync()
 
     def get_state(self) -> StateT:
         """Get the state of the object."""
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.pyi b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.pyi
index 0fb2ca3385e..0284e0b6e6c 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.pyi
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.pyi
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class Solver:
     def system_coupling(self) -> SystemCoupling: ...
     @property
     def preferences(self) -> preferences_root: ...
-    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str): ...
+    def start_case_lightweight_sync(self): ...
+    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str, start_sync: bool = True): ...
     def read_case(self, file_name: str): ...
     def write_case(self, file_name: str): ...
     @property
diff --git a/tests/test_launcher.py b/tests/test_launcher.py
index d6b7c73f11f..ce67c1dd984 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
     _build_fluent_launch_args_string,
     get_fluent_exe_path,
 )
+from ansys.fluent.core.launcher.standalone_launcher import StandaloneLauncher
 from ansys.fluent.core.utils.fluent_version import FluentVersion
 import ansys.platform.instancemanagement as pypim
 
@@ -474,6 +475,46 @@ def test_build_journal_argument(topy, journal_file_names, result, raises):
         assert _build_journal_argument(topy, journal_file_names) == result
 
 
+def test_build_journal_argument_without_journal_files_but_with_topy():
+    assert (
+        _build_journal_argument("a.py", ["a.jou"], include_journal_file_names=False)
+        == ' -topy="a.py"'
+    )
+
+
+def test_lightweight_case_journal_read_is_completed_before_sync_step():
+    launcher = object.__new__(StandaloneLauncher)
+    launcher.argvals = {
+        "case_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "case_data_file_name": None,
+        "mode": FluentMode.SOLVER,
+        "lightweight_mode": True,
+        "journal_file_names": ["a.jou", "b.jou"],
+    }
+    launcher._defer_journal_file_read = True
+
+    calls = []
+
+    class _DummySession:
+        def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name, start_sync=True):
+            calls.append(("read_case_lightweight", file_name, start_sync))
+
+        def execute_tui(self, command):
+            calls.append(("execute_tui", command))
+
+        def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
+            calls.append(("start_case_lightweight_sync",))
+
+    launcher._process_case_data_and_journals(_DummySession())
+
+    assert calls == [
+        ("read_case_lightweight", "a.cas.h5", False),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "a.jou"'),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "b.jou"'),
+        ("start_case_lightweight_sync",),
+    ]
+
+
 def test_show_gui_raises_warning():
     with pytest.warns(PyFluentDeprecationWarning):
         grpc_kwds = get_grpc_launcher_args_for_gh_runs()

From f94faa66206257d7ce3b4f9dbc5ad70c81ef3818 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: pyansys-ci-bot <92810346+pyansys-ci-bot@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:46:22 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 02/10] chore: adding changelog file 4990.miscellaneous.md
 [dependabot-skip]

---
 doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 create mode 100644 doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md

diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md b/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e61b5c8ce96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Couple of issues in launch fluent

From 25a3143afe893782e97de15f0214584f2a307301 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:10:53 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 03/10] update

---
 tests/test_launcher.py | 36 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 36 insertions(+)

diff --git a/tests/test_launcher.py b/tests/test_launcher.py
index ce67c1dd984..d6da5580f0e 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher.py
@@ -515,6 +515,42 @@ def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
     ]
 
 
+def test_case_and_case_data_are_processed_before_journal_files():
+    launcher = object.__new__(StandaloneLauncher)
+    launcher.argvals = {
+        "case_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "case_data_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "mode": FluentMode.SOLVER,
+        "lightweight_mode": False,
+        "journal_file_names": ["a.jou", "b.jou"],
+    }
+    launcher._defer_journal_file_read = True
+
+    calls = []
+
+    class _DummyFile:
+        def read(self, **kwargs):
+            calls.append(("read", kwargs))
+
+    class _DummySettings:
+        file = _DummyFile()
+
+    class _DummySession:
+        settings = _DummySettings()
+
+        def execute_tui(self, command):
+            calls.append(("execute_tui", command))
+
+    launcher._process_case_data_and_journals(_DummySession())
+
+    assert calls == [
+        ("read", {"file_type": "case", "file_name": "a.cas.h5"}),
+        ("read", {"file_type": "case-data", "file_name": "a.cas.h5"}),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "a.jou"'),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "b.jou"'),
+    ]
+
+
 def test_show_gui_raises_warning():
     with pytest.warns(PyFluentDeprecationWarning):
         grpc_kwds = get_grpc_launcher_args_for_gh_runs()

From 26d259fb62867b0374ddba9dab438df03eff746f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:58:39 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 04/10] updated the standalone_launcher

---
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py      | 19 ++++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index e429d5d0107..9106fec01db 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -232,11 +232,11 @@ def __init__(
             self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
             and (self.argvals["case_file_name"] or self.argvals["case_data_file_name"])
         )
-        self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
-            self.argvals["topy"],
-            self.argvals["journal_file_names"],
-            include_journal_file_names=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
-        )
+        topy = self.argvals.get("topy", [])
+        if topy:
+            self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
+                topy, self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            )
 
         if is_windows():
             self._launch_cmd = self._launch_string
@@ -351,6 +351,15 @@ def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
                 )
             else:
                 raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
+
+        if not self.argvals.get("topy"):
+            journal_file_names = self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            if journal_file_names and not self._defer_journal_file_read:
+                if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
+                    journal_file_names = [journal_file_names]
+                for journal_file_name in journal_file_names:
+                    session.tui.file.read_journal(journal_file_name)
+
         if self._defer_journal_file_read:
             self._read_journals(session)
         if lightweight_sync_deferred:

From bbcd2fdcaff58713c974900caab59eff81d57d67 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:46:00 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 05/10] resolved the conflict

---
 doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md                 |  2 +
 .../fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py    | 12 ++-
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py      | 86 ++++++++++++-------
 src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py       | 12 ++-
 tests/test_launcher.py                        | 41 +++++++++
 5 files changed, 118 insertions(+), 35 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md

diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md b/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..40d959e7507
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4265.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- Fixed `launch_fluent()` ordering so `case_file_name`/`case_data_file_name` are processed before `journal_file_names` when both are provided.
+- In lightweight mode, deferred journal replay now completes before the background sync step begins.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
index c4cc1e112d9..602199a8f20 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/launcher_utils.py
@@ -210,12 +210,16 @@ def _confirm_watchdog_start(start_watchdog, cleanup_on_exit, fluent_connection):
 
 
 def _build_journal_argument(
-    topy: None | bool | str, journal_file_names: None | str | list[str]
+    topy: None | bool | str,
+    journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+    include_journal_file_names: bool = True,
 ) -> str:
     """Build Fluent commandline journal argument."""
 
     def _impl(
-        topy: None | bool | str, journal_file_names: None | str | list[str]
+        topy: None | bool | str,
+        journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+        include_journal_file_names: bool,
     ) -> str:
         if journal_file_names and not isinstance(journal_file_names, (str, list)):
             raise TypeError(
@@ -228,7 +232,7 @@ def _impl(
         fluent_jou_arg = ""
         if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
             journal_file_names = [journal_file_names]
-        if journal_file_names:
+        if journal_file_names and include_journal_file_names:
             fluent_jou_arg += "".join(
                 [f' -i "{journal}"' for journal in journal_file_names]
             )
@@ -239,4 +243,4 @@ def _impl(
                 fluent_jou_arg += " -topy"
         return fluent_jou_arg
 
-    return _impl(topy, journal_file_names)
+    return _impl(topy, journal_file_names, include_journal_file_names)
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index 339a7412aec..d8c72e512ca 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -250,10 +250,16 @@ def __init__(
         self._kwargs = _get_subprocess_kwargs_for_fluent(
             self.argvals.get("env") or {}, self.argvals
         )
-        if self.argvals.get("cwd"):
-            self._kwargs.update(cwd=self.argvals.get("cwd"))
+        if self.argvals["cwd"]:
+            self._kwargs.update(cwd=self.argvals["cwd"])
+        self._defer_journal_file_read = bool(
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
+            and (self.argvals["case_file_name"] or self.argvals["case_data_file_name"])
+        )
         self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
-            self.argvals.get("topy", []), self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            self.argvals["topy"],
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"],
+            include_journal_file_names=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
         )
 
         if is_windows():
@@ -319,33 +325,8 @@ def __call__(
                 values = _get_server_info(self._server_info_file_name)
                 if len(values) == 3:
                     ip, port, password = values
-                    watchdog.launch(
-                        os.getpid(),
-                        port,
-                        password,
-                        ip,
-                        inside_container=False,
-                    )
-            if self.argvals.get("case_file_name"):
-                if FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals.get("mode")):
-                    session.tui.file.read_case(self.argvals.get("case_file_name"))
-                elif self.argvals.get("lightweight_mode"):
-                    session.read_case_lightweight(self.argvals.get("case_file_name"))
-                else:
-                    session.settings.file.read(
-                        file_type="case",
-                        file_name=self.argvals.get("case_file_name"),
-                    )
-            if self.argvals.get("case_data_file_name"):
-                if not FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals.get("mode")):
-                    session.settings.file.read(
-                        file_type="case-data",
-                        file_name=self.argvals.get("case_data_file_name"),
-                    )
-                else:
-                    raise RuntimeError(
-                        "Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode."
-                    )
+                    watchdog.launch(os.getpid(), port, password, ip)
+            self._process_case_data_and_journals(session)
 
             return session
         except Exception as ex:
@@ -355,3 +336,48 @@ def __call__(
             server_info_file = Path(self._server_info_file_name)
             if server_info_file.exists():
                 server_info_file.unlink()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_journal_file_names(
+        journal_file_names: None | str | list[str],
+    ) -> list[str]:
+        if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
+            return [journal_file_names]
+        return journal_file_names or []
+
+    def _read_journals(self, session) -> None:
+        for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
+            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
+        ):
+            session.execute_tui(
+                f'/file/read-journal "{Path(journal_file_name).as_posix()}"'
+            )
+
+    def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
+        lightweight_sync_deferred = False
+        if self.argvals["case_file_name"]:
+            if FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
+                session.tui.file.read_case(self.argvals["case_file_name"])
+            elif self.argvals["lightweight_mode"]:
+                session.read_case_lightweight(
+                    self.argvals["case_file_name"],
+                    start_sync=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
+                )
+                lightweight_sync_deferred = self._defer_journal_file_read
+            else:
+                session.settings.file.read(
+                    file_type="case",
+                    file_name=self.argvals["case_file_name"],
+                )
+        if self.argvals["case_data_file_name"]:
+            if not FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
+                session.settings.file.read(
+                    file_type="case-data",
+                    file_name=self.argvals["case_data_file_name"],
+                )
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
+        if self._defer_journal_file_read:
+            self._read_journals(session)
+        if lightweight_sync_deferred:
+            session.start_case_lightweight_sync()
diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
index 56fe17e9f8f..8360aeabe88 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/session_solver.py
@@ -385,13 +385,21 @@ def _stop_bg_sessions(self):
             if thread.is_alive():
                 thread.join()
 
-    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str):
+    def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
+        """Start pending lightweight background sync sessions."""
+        for thread in self._bg_session_threads:
+            if thread.ident is None:
+                thread.start()
+
+    def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str, start_sync: bool = True):
         """Read a case file using light IO mode.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         file_name : str
             Case file name
+        start_sync : bool, optional
+            Whether to immediately start lightweight background sync.
         """
 
         self.settings.file.read(
@@ -405,6 +413,8 @@ def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name: str):
                 target=self._start_bg_session_and_sync, args=(launcher_args,)
             )
         )
+        if start_sync:
+            self.start_case_lightweight_sync()
 
     def get_state(self) -> StateT:
         """Get the state of the object."""
diff --git a/tests/test_launcher.py b/tests/test_launcher.py
index 994335b0c1a..def4c0d8fed 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
     _build_fluent_launch_args_string,
     get_fluent_exe_path,
 )
+from ansys.fluent.core.launcher.standalone_launcher import StandaloneLauncher
 from ansys.fluent.core.utils.fluent_version import FluentVersion
 import ansys.platform.instancemanagement as pypim
 
@@ -473,6 +474,46 @@ def test_build_journal_argument(topy, journal_file_names, result, raises):
         assert _build_journal_argument(topy, journal_file_names) == result
 
 
+def test_build_journal_argument_without_journal_files_but_with_topy():
+    assert (
+        _build_journal_argument("a.py", ["a.jou"], include_journal_file_names=False)
+        == ' -topy="a.py"'
+    )
+
+
+def test_lightweight_case_journal_read_is_completed_before_sync_step():
+    launcher = object.__new__(StandaloneLauncher)
+    launcher.argvals = {
+        "case_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "case_data_file_name": None,
+        "mode": FluentMode.SOLVER,
+        "lightweight_mode": True,
+        "journal_file_names": ["a.jou", "b.jou"],
+    }
+    launcher._defer_journal_file_read = True
+
+    calls = []
+
+    class _DummySession:
+        def read_case_lightweight(self, file_name, start_sync=True):
+            calls.append(("read_case_lightweight", file_name, start_sync))
+
+        def execute_tui(self, command):
+            calls.append(("execute_tui", command))
+
+        def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
+            calls.append(("start_case_lightweight_sync",))
+
+    launcher._process_case_data_and_journals(_DummySession())
+
+    assert calls == [
+        ("read_case_lightweight", "a.cas.h5", False),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "a.jou"'),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "b.jou"'),
+        ("start_case_lightweight_sync",),
+    ]
+
+
 def test_show_gui_raises_warning():
     with pytest.warns(PyFluentDeprecationWarning):
         grpc_kwds = get_grpc_launcher_args_for_gh_runs()

From 482b20fbc2889314576b0d519d9d993fa24ab64c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:10:53 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 06/10] update

---
 tests/test_launcher.py | 36 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 36 insertions(+)

diff --git a/tests/test_launcher.py b/tests/test_launcher.py
index def4c0d8fed..b8a358c9359 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher.py
@@ -514,6 +514,42 @@ def start_case_lightweight_sync(self):
     ]
 
 
+def test_case_and_case_data_are_processed_before_journal_files():
+    launcher = object.__new__(StandaloneLauncher)
+    launcher.argvals = {
+        "case_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "case_data_file_name": "a.cas.h5",
+        "mode": FluentMode.SOLVER,
+        "lightweight_mode": False,
+        "journal_file_names": ["a.jou", "b.jou"],
+    }
+    launcher._defer_journal_file_read = True
+
+    calls = []
+
+    class _DummyFile:
+        def read(self, **kwargs):
+            calls.append(("read", kwargs))
+
+    class _DummySettings:
+        file = _DummyFile()
+
+    class _DummySession:
+        settings = _DummySettings()
+
+        def execute_tui(self, command):
+            calls.append(("execute_tui", command))
+
+    launcher._process_case_data_and_journals(_DummySession())
+
+    assert calls == [
+        ("read", {"file_type": "case", "file_name": "a.cas.h5"}),
+        ("read", {"file_type": "case-data", "file_name": "a.cas.h5"}),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "a.jou"'),
+        ("execute_tui", '/file/read-journal "b.jou"'),
+    ]
+
+
 def test_show_gui_raises_warning():
     with pytest.warns(PyFluentDeprecationWarning):
         grpc_kwds = get_grpc_launcher_args_for_gh_runs()

From 7c5fd0ca9f88dbeb8372a339e9664a4e8dd9c725 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: pyansys-ci-bot <92810346+pyansys-ci-bot@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:46:22 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 07/10] chore: adding changelog file 4990.miscellaneous.md
 [dependabot-skip]

---
 doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 create mode 100644 doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md

diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md b/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e61b5c8ce96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4990.miscellaneous.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Couple of issues in launch fluent

From b74d2265fd7757785803df7d9ae198d9290c7362 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:58:39 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 08/10] updated the standalone_launcher

---
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py      | 19 ++++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index d8c72e512ca..89601020b05 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -256,11 +256,11 @@ def __init__(
             self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
             and (self.argvals["case_file_name"] or self.argvals["case_data_file_name"])
         )
-        self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
-            self.argvals["topy"],
-            self.argvals["journal_file_names"],
-            include_journal_file_names=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
-        )
+        topy = self.argvals.get("topy", [])
+        if topy:
+            self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
+                topy, self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            )
 
         if is_windows():
             self._launch_cmd = self._launch_string
@@ -377,6 +377,15 @@ def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
                 )
             else:
                 raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
+
+        if not self.argvals.get("topy"):
+            journal_file_names = self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            if journal_file_names and not self._defer_journal_file_read:
+                if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
+                    journal_file_names = [journal_file_names]
+                for journal_file_name in journal_file_names:
+                    session.tui.file.read_journal(journal_file_name)
+
         if self._defer_journal_file_read:
             self._read_journals(session)
         if lightweight_sync_deferred:

From 1bc029cd14ad764bc7909575f09b35a2c23dc0d3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:21:29 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 09/10] standalone launcher updated for the lightweight_mode,
 case_file and journal_file condition

---
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py      | 43 ++++++++-----------
 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index cdd31f8e31c..6a888eabaa1 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 import subprocess
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TypedDict
+import warnings
 
 from typing_extensions import Unpack
 
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@
     _get_server_info_file_names,
 )
 import ansys.fluent.core.launcher.watchdog as watchdog
+from ansys.fluent.core.pyfluent_warnings import PyFluentUserWarning
 from ansys.fluent.core.utils.fluent_version import FluentVersion
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -224,6 +226,15 @@ def __init__(
         self.argvals["ui_mode"] = UIMode(kwargs.get("ui_mode"))
         if self.argvals.get("lightweight_mode") is None:
             self.argvals["lightweight_mode"] = False
+
+        if self.argvals["lightweight_mode"] and self.argvals.get("journal_file_names"):
+            warnings.warn(
+                "'lightweight_mode' is not supported together with "
+                "'journal_file_names' and will be ignored.",
+                PyFluentUserWarning,
+            )
+            self.argvals["lightweight_mode"] = False
+
         fluent_version = _get_standalone_launch_fluent_version(self.argvals)
 
         if (
@@ -257,10 +268,7 @@ def __init__(
         )
         if self.argvals["cwd"]:
             self._kwargs.update(cwd=self.argvals["cwd"])
-        self._defer_journal_file_read = bool(
-            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
-            and (self.argvals["case_file_name"] or self.argvals["case_data_file_name"])
-        )
+
         topy = self.argvals.get("topy", [])
         if topy:
             self._launch_string += _build_journal_argument(
@@ -370,25 +378,15 @@ def _get_journal_file_names(
             return [journal_file_names]
         return journal_file_names or []
 
-    def _read_journals(self, session) -> None:
-        for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
-            self.argvals["journal_file_names"]
-        ):
-            session.execute_tui(
-                f'/file/read-journal "{Path(journal_file_name).as_posix()}"'
-            )
-
     def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
-        lightweight_sync_deferred = False
         if self.argvals["case_file_name"]:
             if FluentMode.is_meshing(self.argvals["mode"]):
                 session.tui.file.read_case(self.argvals["case_file_name"])
             elif self.argvals["lightweight_mode"]:
                 session.read_case_lightweight(
                     self.argvals["case_file_name"],
-                    start_sync=not self._defer_journal_file_read,
+                    start_sync=True,
                 )
-                lightweight_sync_deferred = self._defer_journal_file_read
             else:
                 session.settings.file.read(
                     file_type="case",
@@ -404,14 +402,7 @@ def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
                 raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
 
         if not self.argvals.get("topy"):
-            journal_file_names = self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
-            if journal_file_names and not self._defer_journal_file_read:
-                if isinstance(journal_file_names, str):
-                    journal_file_names = [journal_file_names]
-                for journal_file_name in journal_file_names:
-                    session.tui.file.read_journal(journal_file_name)
-
-        if self._defer_journal_file_read:
-            self._read_journals(session)
-        if lightweight_sync_deferred:
-            session.start_case_lightweight_sync()
+            for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
+                self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            ):
+                session.tui.file.write_journal(f"{journal_file_name}.topy")

From 0a2861fea2135d277dcc827d3a9a4d21366a193d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mayankansys <mayank.kumar@ansys.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:49:43 +0530
Subject: [PATCH 10/10] updated the condition logic & minor things

---
 .../core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py       | 18 ++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
index 6a888eabaa1..3b4b6d32801 100644
--- a/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/fluent/core/launcher/standalone_launcher.py
@@ -190,6 +190,8 @@ def __init__(
         lightweight_mode : bool, optional
             If True, runs in lightweight mode where mesh settings are read into a background solver session,
             replacing it once complete. This parameter is only applicable when `case_file_name` is provided; defaults to False.
+            When combined with `journal_file_names`, a warning is issued and `lightweight_mode` is set to False, as
+            journal processing cannot be reliably ordered with mesh-only initialization.
         py : bool, optional
             If True, runs Fluent in Python mode. Defaults to None.
         gpu : bool, optional
@@ -216,6 +218,10 @@ def __init__(
         -----
         In job scheduler environments (e.g., SLURM, LSF, PBS), resources and compute nodes are allocated,
         and core counts are queried from these environments before being passed to Fluent.
+
+        File processing order: Case files are processed before case-data files, which are processed before
+        journal files. In lightweight mode, journal files are read before the background session is synchronized
+        with the foreground session.
         """
         import ansys.fluent.core as pyfluent
 
@@ -385,7 +391,7 @@ def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
             elif self.argvals["lightweight_mode"]:
                 session.read_case_lightweight(
                     self.argvals["case_file_name"],
-                    start_sync=True,
+                    start_sync=False,
                 )
             else:
                 session.settings.file.read(
@@ -401,8 +407,16 @@ def _process_case_data_and_journals(self, session) -> None:
             else:
                 raise RuntimeError("Case and data file cannot be read in meshing mode.")
 
-        if not self.argvals.get("topy"):
+        if self.argvals.get("topy"):
             for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
                 self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
             ):
                 session.tui.file.write_journal(f"{journal_file_name}.topy")
+        else:
+            for journal_file_name in self._get_journal_file_names(
+                self.argvals.get("journal_file_names")
+            ):
+                session.execute_tui(f'/file/read-journal "{journal_file_name}"')
+
+        if self.argvals.get("lightweight_mode"):
+            session.start_case_lightweight_sync()