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# PCSPAISetBlockSize
set the block size for the `PCSPAI` preconditioner
## Synopsis
```
#include "petscpc.h"
PetscErrorCode PCSPAISetBlockSize(PC pc, PetscInt block_size1)
```
## Input Parameters
- ***pc -*** the preconditioner
- ***n -*** block size (default 1)
## Notes
A block
size of 1 treats A as a matrix of scalar elements. A
block size of s > 1 treats A as a matrix of sxs
blocks. A block size of 0 treats A as a matrix with
variable sized blocks, which are determined by
searching for dense square diagonal blocks in A.
This can be very effective for finite-element
matrices.
SPAI will convert A to block form, use a block
version of the preconditioner algorithm, and then
convert the result back to scalar form.
In many cases the a block-size parameter other than 1
can lead to very significant improvement in
performance.
## See Also
`PCSPAI`, `PCSetType()`
## Level
intermediate
## Location
src/ksp/pc/impls/spai/ispai.c
## Implementations
PCSPAISetBlockSize_SPAI in src/ksp/pc/impls/spai/ispai.c
---
[Edit on GitLab](https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/edit/release/src/ksp/pc/impls/spai/ispai.c)
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