Creating a parameter file

This topic covers creating a parameter file from scratch. To make a basic parameter file, you need to define the tree population, choose the list of behaviors that will run, and enter parameter values for your file. You can save your work at any point in the process and come back to it later. In this document:


Setting up the tree population
Setting up the behavior list
Setting parameter values
Other options

Setting up the tree population

You can use the File menu and choose the option "New parameter file" for a short wizard that will get you started. First you will see the Tree setup window. At a minimum, you must create a list of tree species. If you want to define the initial conditions of your tree population using densities in size classes, and you know what you want your size classes to be, you can set them up at this point. Otherwise, you can always come back to this window by choosing "Edit->Tree setup".

Setting up the behavior list

After your tree population is defined, the wizard will take you to the Edit simulation flow window so you can set up the list of behaviors for your run. You can approach this from either the tree perspective by setting up the list of behaviors for each tree type, or from the behavior perspective by starting with a list of behaviors and assigning each to specific groups of trees. See the link above for detailed instructions on choosing behaviors. Again, you can always come back to this window to make changes by choosing the menu option "Edit->Model flow". At this point the new parameter file wizard ends.

Setting parameter values

You must complete the steps above before you can edit parameters, because it is the tree population and the list of behaviors that defines what parameters are needed. Once those steps are complete, you can enter your parameter values by choosing the menu option "Edit->Parameters", which will open the Parameters window. You may want to only display and edit one category of parameter at a time, since all values in the parameter window must be valid before you can save your changes.

Other options

Once you have completed the three steps above, you have created a basic parameter file. For more options on adding to a parameter file, see the topic Adding to a parameter file.