Adding to a parameter file

This topic covers the additions you can make to a parameter file. For more on how to create a basic parameter file from scratch, see the topic Creating a parameter file. Otherwise, you can start with an existing parameter file and modify it.

A basic parameter file has the tree population list of species defined, the run behaviors list assembled, and the parameters entered. Once that's complete, here's some extra additions you might make.


Output
Tree maps
Grid setup
Replicating a point in another run

Output

A basic parameter file creates no output by default. You can perform a run with it but you will not be able to see any of the results, since SORTIE's data visualization can only occur on run output. There are two kinds of output files: summary output files and detailed output files. You can set up either or both of these using the Edit->Output options menu command from the main SORTIE window.

Tree maps

You can set up an initial tree population using density values in size classes using the Parameters window. You can also input a known list of trees in a tree map using the "File->Open file" command. There are two kinds of tree maps: those from detailed output files, and those you create directly in tab-delimited text. For more on entering the maps from a detailed output file (the most likely source), see the detailed output file topic. For more on the tab-delimited tree map file format, see the tab-delimited tree map topic. You can combine these methods of defining tree initial conditions or use any one alone.

Grid setup

You can manipulate the settings for grids to further optimize your run. For many grids, you can set the sizes of the grid cells using the Grid setup window. When you have a group of related behaviors sharing a group of related grids, you can assign them the same grid cell size or even multiples of a size to ensure efficient data transfer between them with fewer approximations.

You can also add grid maps to set the initial conditions for some grids using the "File->Open file" command. For more on entering the maps from a detailed output file (the most likely source), see the detailed output file topic. You can also use the Grid layer setup window to directly edit the values of grid maps.

Replicating a point in another run

You can replicate a point in another run in your parameter file in order to have it as the starting point in a new run. You might do this to create a "branch point" where you determine what might have happened if the parameters in the first run had been a little different, or perhaps you did a run solely to create mature-forest initial conditions for a new run. The first run should have saved a detailed output file with as much data as possible. The new parameter file should be compatible with the first - it should have a common species set and most of the same behaviors. You can then load the data from any timestep of the previous run as initial conditions in the current parameter file. For more on entering the maps from a detailed output file (the most likely source), see the detailed output file topic.

Last updated: 30-Mar-2005 02:44 PM