SMS:Project Explorer

The Project Explorer (which could also be referred to as a "Data Tree") is a dockable window that appears by default on the left side of the SMS screen. This window displays a hierarchical tree structure representing all of the data currently being managed in an SMS simulation. The project explorer includes the following functionality:

Data Representation

The data tree includes one "Module type" folder for each type of data, including:

• File:SMS 2D Mesh Module.bmp Mesh Module
• File:SMS Cartesian Grid Module.bmp Cartesian Grid Module
• File:SMS 3D Cartesian Grid Module Icon.bmp 3D Cartesian Grid Module
• File:SMS Scatter Module.bmp Scatter Module
• File:SMS Map Module.bmp Map Module
• File:SMS GIS Module.bmp GIS Module
• File:SMS 1D-River Module.bmp 1D River Module
• File:SMS 1D Grid.bmp 1D Grid Module
• File:SMS Particle Module.bmp Particle Module
• Images
• CAD Data

Each module type folder in the Project Explorer may contain several sub folders. For example, a simulation may includes several scattered datasets, each of which would consist of a folder inside the "Scatter Sets" folder. Further, all data associated with a specific scatter set, such as datasets of elevation or water level, are displayed as entities inside the scatter set folder. The user can create new folders and move datasets, solutions, and folders to other folders anywhere on the Project Explorer. Folders can be created by right clicking and selecting New Folder in the right click menu. A dataset or folder can be deleted simply by selecting the folder and selecting the Delete key or by right-clicking on the item and selecting the Delete option in the right click menu.

Module Selection

There are several ways to switch from one module to another. These include:

• Select an entity in the Project Explorer. The module containing the active entity becomes active.
• Right-click on the Project Explorer and select the Switch Module command.
• Click on the module icon in the Module Toolbar. The Module Toolbar is displayed at the top of the Project Explorer by default.

Note: Switching modules should not be confused with changing the current model inside of a module. When a new model is selected, the tools and menus may change, and the data will be converted as much as is possible. However, some data may be lost. More Info...

Datasets

A dataset refers to a spatially distributed value associated with a geometric object such as an unstructured grid (or mesh), a grid, or a set of scattered data points (Scatter set or TIN). Each of these geometric objects consists of a set of locations. For example, a mesh is made up of a set of mesh nodes, a grid is made up of a set of cells or cell corners, and a scatter set is made up of a set of vertices.

A dataset includes a value for each location or point. This value can be a single scalar number such as an elevation or a concentration. It can also be a composite of multiple numbers values making it a vector. An example of this is velocity which in a 2D model consists of an X-value and a Y-value at each computation or observation location. When a data set consists of a single number, we refer to it as a "scalar dataset". When it ,

Object Visibility Options

A toggle box appears to the left of each object in the project explorer. This toggle allows the display of all entities associated with the object to be turned on or off. When the toggle is turned on, only items turned on the the object's Display Options are shown.

Right Click Menus

Right click menus are used to interact with data in the Project Explorer. See the article Project Explorer Right Click Menus for more information.

Related Topics

• Layout of the Graphical Interface