-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 5, 2007 GFLOW version 2.1.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELEASE NOTES: Known deficiencies: None. VISTA ISSUE: Users of the Windows Vista operating system must manually download and install the WinHlp32.exe executable in order to use the GFLOW Help system. This is necessary, because Windows Vista does no longer support this Help system and prevents the GFLOW Installer from installing it. The WinHlp32.exe may be downloaded from the Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6EBCFAD9-D3F5-4365-8070-334CD175D4BB&displaylang=en You may also open the word file: Vista users - WinHlp32 download.doc which resides in the Program Files\GFLOW\Documents folder and double click the link in that file. Note: A new HTML-based Help system for GFLOW is under development and will be released soon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GFLOW installation instructions GFLOW version 2.1.2 (dated July 8, 2007 on the splash screen) GFLOW Solver date in solver message file (see Model>View Model Run Files>Run Time Message File): August 10, 2007 ---------------------------- System requirements: --------------------------------------------- * Pentium 90MHz or higher microprocessor * VGA 640*480 or higher-resolution screen supported by Microsoft Windows. VGA 1024*768 or higher is recommended. * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or later, or Microsoft Windows 98 or later. * 32 MB of RAM * Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 Service Pack 2 or later. Note: Windows 95 is no longer supported as a valid operating system for GFLOW! ---------------------------- To install GFLOW proceed as follows: ----------------------------------------- 1) NOTE: Remove any older version of GFLOW, including the GFLOW folder and all its contents under "C:\Program Files" and make sure you run no other applications while installing GFLOW! 2) Double click GFLOW_v212_setup.exe and follow the instructions on the screen. I recommend you use the default installation path "c:\Program Files\GFLOW" 3) NOTE: You may encounter some Warnings about files that the install program likes to replace, but which are "protected by the operating system". GFLOW will most likely run fine with the current operating system configuration, hence click OK and proceed with the installation. If GFLOW fails to run properly, one or more of the warnings indicate the need to update the operating system. The GFLOW install program cannot do this (Microsoft policy), you must go to the Microsoft website to download the necessary operating system upgrade. A typical GFLOW run-time error message that indicates missing or incorrectly installed operating system components is: "Object variable or With block variable not set (error number 91)" This does require a fix! Reinstall and manually download (from MS website) the missing components as reported by the install program. 4) After installation of GFLOW, you will find GFLOW on the Start>Programs menu. Additionally, a short cut is placed on the desktop. 5) To upgrade: There are currently no upgrades available beyond version 2.1.2 6) If you did not yet run a licensed "Professional Version" of GFLOW on your computer the program will come up as the "Educational Version". The educational version has several features disabled, see the GFLOW License Agreement. 7) If you did run a licensed professional version before this install procedure, the program will automatically come up as a professional version. You do not have to register again. 8) If you want to register your program to obtain the professional version, go to the web site www.haitjema.com for pricing and ordering information. You may Email me at sales@haitjema.com You may also call me at 812 336 2464 or fax me at 812 336 2508. 9) I strongly recommend that you read the document "What is new in GFLOW.pdf" This document provides an overview of some new features and is important for users of earlier versions in view of some paradigm changes in the GUI. 10) Test the program by opening the file "example.gfl" in the directory "c:\GFLOW projects\example" If you are new to GFLOW, I recommend that you go over the Tutorial for an introduction to the program. ------------------------- Important information: ------------------------------------------ 1) Warning for users outside the USA: The GFLOW solver is a FORTRAN code which only recognizes the period as the decimal point. For proper operation of GFLOW the Windows operating system must be set to the English (United States) locale. To do so proceed as follows: Go to: Start Menu>Settings>Control Panel>Regional Options under "Your locale (location)" select: English (United States) 2) Warning for users outside the USA: Some GFLOW patches may be made available as self-extracting zip files. These files usually try to unzip files into a specific directory, e.g. c:\Program Files\GFLOW, which is the application directory on an English language machine. The same directory on a different language machine will be named differently. When running the self-extracting zip file, you will have to modify the directory accordingly in order for the patch installation to work properly. 3) When using basemaps in GFLOW avoid large detailed maps. They are useful for presentation graphics, but unnecessary as basemaps for groundwater modeling purposes. Large detailed maps will result in very slow redraws. To simplify your basemap in GFLOW, break your original map up in "layers" and create separate files for each layer. This allows you to limit the number of layers to be displayed by selecting or deselecting files (map layers) on the View>Base Map menu. For presentation purposes export model results to a CAD or GIS program for mark-ups and combination with detailed maps. 4) Before using the MODFLOW extract feature consult the online manual for limitations and proper option settings. The user is responsible for checking that the MODFLOW solution is the same as the GFLOW solution!! Only after verifying the integrity of the MODFLOW extract process should you undertake to make modifications to the model in a MODFLOW GUI. 5) Always check the accuracy with which boundary conditions are met by going to Model>View Model Run Files>Runtime Message File. The first line in that file indicates the last update of the solver (of importance when looking for patches or upgrades). Below that follow solution progress reports for the various iterations. Boundary conditions, in general, should be met within 1%. Note: the default GUI setting is to automatically display this file after each solution. 6) Visually inspect the contour plots for irregularities. Jumps in the head can only occur at no-flow or resistance barriers, or when the groundwater elevations are drawn down to the edge of a domain with a jump in the base elevation. Jumps in the head show up as bundled up contours. Always be on the alert for unreasonable solutions. 7) When tracing streamlines in a very large model window, it may be necessary to override the default stepsize. The default stepsize depends on the window size. Too large a step size may lead to hooky and inaccurate pathlines. To reduce the stepsize go to Model>Settings>Tracing. 8) Start simple (small model) and then gradually add detail and complexity as needed. Frequently solve when adding features or making changes. 9) Regularly visit www.haitjema.com to check for new releases, program upgrades and new documentation. 10) You may save the documents on the website by opening them in Adobe Acrobat Reader (click on the document name) and then save them on your hard drive. ----------------------------------- I wish you much success Sincerely, Henk Haitjema (president Haitjema Software)