Tuflow and estry manual Version 3

6.1General

6.1.1Command (DOS) Window Display

TUFLOW displays a lot of information to the DOS Window during the data input stages. If there are data input problems, trace back through the DOS Window buffer (only available on Windows NT/2000/XP) to establish where in the input data process that the problem occurs (noting that it is more efficient to use the check files documented in Section 6.2 to identify problems). See below for setting the size of the DOS Window and buffer. Alternatively, and far more efficiently, use the _messages.mif and _check.mif files (see Section 6.2.2) or search the .tlf files.

For Windows 95/98 users, it is not possible to specify a buffer for DOS Window output. If you need to view the display output that has vanished of the top of the window, view the .tlf log file (see Section 6.2.1) or search this document for “Windows 98” for alternative methods.

Once the simulation has started, the simulation status at each timestep is displayed (use Screen/Log Display Interval to change the frequency of display). Where different timesteps are used for different domains, the display interval is based on the largest timestep. The DOS window appears as something similar to that shown below.

Along each line the following information is shown:

• 
  Number of timesteps completed based on the largest timestep.
  
• 
  Simulation time in hours:min:sec.
  
• 
  “-d” followed by two numbers. The first number is the maximum number of 1D nodes per timestep that experienced negative depths below  0.1m since the previous display line. The second is the maximum number of 2D cell sides per timestep that experienced negative depths below  0.1m since the previous display line. The locations of these negative depths are output as warnings in the _messages.mif file (see Section 6.2.1). Negative depths indicate the model is having difficulty at that location, which may lead to an instability. See also Section 8.3.
  
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  “Wet” followed by number of wet or active 2D cells.
  
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  If automatic weir switching is active (see Free Overfall) the next information is “CS” (Cell Sides) followed by two numbers as follows (note, these have changed as of Build 2005-05-AN – for earlier builds refer to earlier manuals) :
  
  • 
    1: The number of cell sides where upstream controlled friction flow occurred (see Supercritical).
    
  • 
    2: The number of cell sides where upstream controlled broad-crested weir flow occurred (see Free Overfall).
    
• 
  If the free-overfall algorithm is set to ON WITHOUT WEIRS (see Free Overfall), the next information is “FO” followed by the number of cell sides where the free-overfall algorithm is being applied. Note: this option is now rarely used in lieu of the automatic weir and supercritical flow option.
  
• 
  If Display Water Level was specified, the last piece of information is a “GL” (gauge level) followed by the water level at the location indicated. This is useful to monitor the rise and fall of the water level at a key location.
  
• 
  If Mass Balance Output is set to ON, “CE” followed by a percentage is displayed to show the cumulative mass error.
  

Useful shortcut keys available in DOS Window are

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  Ctrl+S to pause the simulation and freeze the DOS Window display. Repeat Ctrl+S to restart.
  
• 
  Ctrl+C kills the process and simulation (it may have to be pressed a few times). In earlier Windows versions, TUFLOW would stop cleanly and finish writing the output files. However, in later versions of Windows, this is not guaranteed (cleanly closing TUFLOW when Ctrl+C is pressed is being investigated).
  

To set the DOS Window buffer in Windows NT/2000 follow the following steps:

1. 
   After starting a TUFLOW simulation and before exiting the DOS Window, click the right mouse button whilst the pointer is over the title bar of the DOS Window and select Properties to display the dialogue window below.
   
   
   
   
   
2. 
   Select the Layout tab and set the Screen Buffer Size Height to as many lines as you need. Typically 1000 is sufficient. The actual window size width and height may also be changed.
   
3. 
   Click OK to display the dialogue below and select “Save properties for future windows with same title”. Click OK and future TUFLOW simulations will use a DOS Window of with the buffer and window dimensions as specified.