Woodlot for Windows [enfor consultants ltd]




WOODLOT for Windows 2.1 - Reference Manual
4.5 Getting Acquainted

The following is provided to assist you to run WOODLOT for the first time.

WOODLOT is a Windows based program that uses most features common to Windows based applications. All functions are activated by "pointing and clicking" on screen buttons with a mouse, or by using keystrokes. Polygon data is entered either manually on the screens or by loading up polygon data comma delimited (CSV) files. Parameters and constraints are changed on screen as you work.

We suggest you acquaint yourself with the features of WOODLOT before running your first harvest rate calculation. Use the following steps and sample data to guide you through a test application. Refer to other sections in this user guide if you have questions on any particular screen or window:
  1. Load up WOODLOT by double clicking on the WOODLOT icon. Single click on the screen titled About or wait a few seconds for it to disappear. The Main screen with the seven main icons will appear at the top of your screen; icons from your previous programs will remain behind.


  2. Click through the WOODLOT screens to acquaint yourself with their appearance. Close each by clicking on the "OK" button, using the File "OK" in the top left, or the X in the top right.


  3. Return to the Main screen to load up a file. Click on File then Open. Click on the file named wltest2.lot and click on "OK". A demo file will load into WOODLOT. The filename will appear at the top of the screen.


  4. Click through the seven screens to view the data that has been entered.


  5. To check polygon data and yield information, click open the Polygon Data screen. You will see all the data for each individual polygon required to determine the yields for each. Scroll through several polygons using the scroll bar next to the mapsheet and polygon numbers in the upper left box. You will see information pertaining to each polygon by clicking on the polygon.


  6. To calculate sample yields for the polygons, on the menu bar, click on Yield then on Calculate Yields. Another screen, Calculate Yield Curves, will pop up summarizing any data errors or warnings, and indicating the number of polygons to recalculate. In the lower left corner of this screen, click on the "recalculate all" check box, and then the "Calculate Yield" button:


  7. The VDYP and TIPSY calculations will start and a smaller DOS screen will appear. Allow several seconds or minutes for it to compile the VDYP and TIPSY yields. Information will be loaded into WOODLOT automatically, and you will be returned either to the Polygon Data screen or you will have a DOS screen open. Click closed the DOS screen after you are sure it is no longer running.


  8. To view yield curve information for any polygon, in the Polygon Data screen, click on the "View Existing" button at the right. Another screen will drop down at the bottom titled Yield Table and Harvest Parameters. This window will display a yield table and curves for the polygon open in the Polygon Data screen. Click on the "OK" button at the bottom right to close this screen.


  9. Close the Polygon Data screen by clicking on File "OK". You may save your data to the same file by clicking on the Save button, or save to a new file using the SaveAs button.


  10. To view a summary of basic yield information for each polygon, from the Main screen, select the Summary screen button. This will display a listing of polygons and harvest information. Click on "OK" to close this window and return to the Main screen, or look through the other buttons in this screen.


  11. To run a calculation, from the Main screen, click on the Calculations screen button to open this screen.


  12. Polygons are listed in a small display box called "Harvest order". The calculation will assume that the order for harvest is the order listed here. This order can be changed by clicking on a polygon and using the buttons titled "Top, Up, Down, and Bottom". Polygons can be removed by double clicking on them, and reintroduced by double clicking in the lower "excluded" text box.


  13. The order can be automatically sorted by clicking on Sort and choosing either Oldest First or Closest to Harvest Age.


  14. To run a calculation, click on the "Run Simulation" button in the lower portion of the screen and allow a few seconds. The model will calculate a non-declining even flow harvest rate for the polygons in the order selected, using yield information derived in Polygon Data. A small summary window will pop up during the calculation, which shows the calculations used to derive a harvest rate.


  15. Click on "OK" on the small window to display the harvest rate, a graph in the Standing Volume/Time Graph, summary harvest schedule and any harvest parameters not met. The graph displays the available timber supply over a 250-year horizon. In the graph, dark colours indicate volume that has reached harvest age; light colours indicate volume younger than harvest age.


  16. Try a few revisions to test the impact of increasing the harvest rate. Click off the check box in the lower left corner titled Auto-Harvest Rate, enter a higher harvest rate than calculated, say 50% higher in the next box, and click on Run Simulation. Notice the graph. The white (blank) vertical lines represent periods when no timber is available to harvest.


  17. Activate the Constraints feature by clicking on the radio buttons, and then Run Simulation. The yellow lines represent periods when age constraints could not be met, and red vertical lines represent when height constraints could not be met. In the latter cases, timber is available for harvest, but these constraints will not be met.


  18. To determine the harvest that will meet all constraints, click on "Auto-Harvest Rate" and then Run Simulation.


  19. Close out the Calculations screen by clicking on File "OK". To save your work, click on Save or Save As. Return to the Main screen.


  20. Review the basic settings and optional colours by clicking on the Settings button from the Main screen. Settings can be changed at any time. Close this window by clicking on "OK" or "Cancel".


  21. To review the report that can be generated, first ensure you have run a calculation, then click on the Report button from the Main screen. In the Report window, click on the Report button. If you want to view a report in Notepad, Word or Excel, click on the relevant button, you may have to set up the software using the feature provided in WOODLOT that will prompt you at this point.


  22. To save your work for another time, return to the Main screen and click on File and SaveAs. Enter a new file name and the extension ".lot" to save in the WOODLOT directories. For example, create a new file called sample.lot this way. The ".lot" is simply a file extension that stores information created by WOODLOT.


  23. To close out WOODLOT at any time, click the close icon at the top corner, or under File and Exit Program in the Main screen.


  24. Should you have lost your data or accidentally corrupted your file, the data can be retrieved by starting back on the Main screen, and opening a file with the lost filename and a new extension ".bak" This is a backup file, and will include all your data as was saved the time before last. (eg. if you lost or corrupted Wldemo2.lot, open up Wldemo2.bak).


by Enfor Consultants Ltd. Last Updated March 1999