The collection of data needed to perform a simulation is called a 'scenario'.
Scenarios can be stored and loaded and thus offer the quick retrieval of a certain situation. A unique title for each scenario assists the search of a specific one in a long list.
Additionally, scenarios form the basis of the exchange of complete simulation data sets (see Export / Import, Section 3.1.8).
A scenario consists of the following data:
The most important data of a scenario are collected in the title bar of the corresponding view window. This makes the title, catchment ID, substance ID, modified state of scenario/substance and the simulation state permanently visible and avoids confusion when managing several open scenarios.
A GREAT-ER installation always has only one scenario database: As mentioned in the section on installation, the basis for the GREAT-ER scenario database is a directory. All scenarios are stored in separate subdirectories under this specific GREAT-ER scenario directory. Each subdirectory contains several tables (with data editable by the user, like discharge data) and all additional settings mentioned above.
Simulation results are also stored in this directory. It is suggested to store further analysis results under this subdirectory, too. This will increase the transparancy of simulation results if all coherent data are stored in one directory structure. But please note, that in this case deleting a scenario will also affect the results derived from this scenario!
From the described scenario database structure it is clear that the exchange of scenarios with other GREAT-ER users will not work via scenario database files, but with the export/import feature.
In GREAT-ER you can have many open scenarios, only one of which can active at one time. The name of the active scenario is shown in the ARCVIEW title bar. Scenario-related operations always are performed on the active scenario (eg. Close Scenario, Edit Data Start Simulation, etc).
The view window that corresponds to the active scenario is usually visible at the front. If a catchment has yet not been specified, the overview of Europe is visible.
The active scenario can be set by creating a new scenario, selecting a scenario from the scenario database or the bottom list of the first menu and by activating the corresponding View window.