GMS:Preferences

The Edit | Preferences command brings up the Preferences dialog. There are four items in the preferences list that can be selected to modify which preferences can be edited.

General

The General tab has all the of the general options in GMS.

Restore Factory Preferences
	This button switches all settings to the factory defaults.
Show welcome dialog on startup
Check for newer version on startup
Confirm Deletions
	Whenever a set of selected objects is about to be deleted, the user can choose to be prompted to confirm the deletion. This is meant to ensure that objects are not deleted accidentally.
Show new project wizard on startup
XMDF File Compression
	When saving XMDF files, you can use compression. The compression factor can be specified.
Project Explorer
	The Project Explorer section allows the user modify preferences related to the Project Explorer. Change Module when tree selection changes. This option changes the current module when a item is selected in the Project Explorer. This option is on by default. Scroll Project Explorer when changing module. This option will ensure the visibility of the tree item objects in a certain module when the module is changed. Synchronize active dataset and elevation dataset for TINs, 2D Meshes, 2D Grids, and 2D Scatter Sets.
Contouring
	Allows the user to enter a filled contour tolerance.
North arrow paths
	Specify the path to the folder containing the North Arrows.

Model Executables

The Preferences

dialog showing the Model Executable tab]]

The Models page allows the user to specify the location of model executables, as well as the option to use the Model Wrapper.

• Model Wrapper

  GMS is a pre- and post-processor for Numerical Models. Most of these numerical models are run externally in the DOS environment. The default option is to use the Model Wrapper. The Model Wrapper "wraps" itself around the same DOS executables and gives more model feedback including graphs and tables. The Model Wrapper includes a toggle box in the bottom left that, when checked and you exit the Model Wrapper, GMS will automatically read in the results of the solution. This toggle will only be checked by default if the model converged. The option to use the Model Wrapper or the old DOS view is included in the Preferences Dialog. Certain models, including Stochastic and inverse modeling, can only be run using the Model Wrapper.

Parallel versions of MODFLOW-2000, MODFLOW-2005, and SEAWAT are shipped with GMS to run simulations. Beginning with version 8, GMS ships parallel versions where the SAMG solver has been parallelized. Even when this option is on, when running Parallel PEST with MODFLOW the serial (non-parallel) version of MODFLOW will be used since the Parallel PEST will use all of the available cores on the computer with the serial version. Also see MODFLOW preferences for an option to turn on or off the parallel version.

MODFLOW

The MODFLOW page has options related to the MODFLOW interface in GMS.

• Compress MODFLOW H5 files

  This option will force the H5 files saved with MODFLOW to be compressed. Generally this option should be turned on.

• Create h5 copy of head solution

  Turning on this option can speed up reading the MODFLOW head solution especially when there are a large number of stress periods. When this option is on, GMS writes an HDF5 copy of the MODFLOW head solution upon reading it the first time. The following times GMS reads the head solution, it doesn't take as much time.

• Default version of MODFLOW to run

  • Double precision

    When this option is on, GMS will use the double precision version of MODFLOW to run simulations. By default this option is off and GMS uses the single precision version of MODFLOW.

  • Parallel (not used by Parallel PEST)

    When this option is on, GMS will use the parallel version of MODFLOW to run simulations. Beginning with version 8, GMS ships parallel versions of MODFLOW where the SAMG solver has been parallelized. Even when this option is on, Parallel PEST will use the serial (non-parallel) version of MODFLOW since the Parallel PEST will use all of the available cores on the computer.

Images / CAD

• Bitmap Scale Factor

  When the copy command is selected, a bitmap image of the screen is placed on the clipboard. The scale factor can be used to increase :or decrease the resolution of the bitmap. This scale factor also applies when saving the image as a bitmap.

• CAD Symbol Size

  The size of the CAD symbol display can be specified.

Printing

Allows the user to specify scaling Points, Lines, and Fonts while printing.

The Preferences dialog showing the Printing tab

Program Mode

GMS has the option of changing the "mode" or "skin" that GMS is running. The purpose of the mode is to simplify the items available in the interface.

Available Modes

• GMS

  This is the default mode where are the tools are available to the user.

• GMS 2D

  GMS 2D is for users that are only interested in using GMS to do seepage and slope stability. In GMS 2D mode the only tools that are available are the 2D mesh and the Map. There are several changes to the GMS interface when in this mode, including:

  1. Hiding of tools and modules not in use
  2. SEEP2D model automatically initialized from conceptual model
  3. SEEP2D boundary conditions automatically mapped from conceptual model (no need to run Map -> SEEP2D)
  4. Easily create all coverage types in one step
  5. Feature object types automatically assigned based on coverage attributes
  6. Allow only one conceptual model

• GMS Site

  GMS Site is for users that are only interested in using tools for site characterization. As such the tools available in this mode are TINs, Boreholes, Solids, 2D Scatter, and Map. These tools can be used to construct solid models of stratigraphy.

Caveats

When GMS is running in a particular mode then only data associated with the available tools will be read into GMS. For example, if I have a GMS project file that contains a 3D Grid, and I am running in "GMS 2D" mode then when I attempt to read in the project file I will get a message that GMS is not enabled to read in 3D Grid data. The only data that will read into GMS in "GMS 2D" mode is data associate with the 2D Mesh and the Map.

Map

Gives the user the option to automatically perform the Map→SEEP2D command.

TINs

• Vertex options
  • Retriangulate after deleting

    Default z-value

  • Confirm z-value
  • Interpolate for default z on interior
  • Extrapolate for default z on exterior
• Breakline options
  • Add supplementary points
  • Swap edges
• Minimum length ratio

Boreholes

The Prefences dialog showing the Borehole tab.

• Auto-assign horizons

  Rows per lift

  Row overlapped between lifts

  Sets retained between lifts

  • Measure slope from borehole tips

  Average horizon slope

  Horizon slope weight

  Gap weight

• Auto-Fill cross sections
  • Prompt for vertex spacing
  • Do not redistribute vertices
  • Use default spacing

  Default spacing/length ratio

  Max. lense thickness ratio

Scatter sets

• 2D scatter

  Default dataset value

  • Confirm date set value
• 3D scatter

  Default dataset value

  Default Z value

  • Confirm date set value

2D Mesh

• Interpolate for default z on interior

  Default z (ft)

• Assign default z-value
• Prompt for z-value
• Insert nodes into triangulated mesh
• Check for coincident nodes
• Retriangulate voids when deleting

  Thin triangle aspect ratio

Graphics

• Ask which library to use if system does not support all functionality
• Autoselect the software library if system does support all functionality
• Always use system library (may not support all features)
• Always use software library (may be slower)

The Preferences dialog showing the Graphics tab