File

The File button at the top of the Design GeoFluv Regrade dockable dialog box provides a convenient way for the user to save GeoFluv™ projects. The File button can be clicked at any time. When the user left-clicks on the File button, the Open and Save Projects dialog box appears.

This dialog box gives the user the options to create a "New" GeoFluv™ project file, "Open" an existing GeoFluv™ project file, or "Save As..." a new project file. Saving the various designs as separate project files allows the user to store and retrieve each design alternative with all of its settings intact. If the user creates a project file, either with the New button or the Save As button, then all changes made to that design will be saved automatically to the project file. If a project file is never selected, then the settings are lost when the drawing is closed or when the dockable dialog box is closed and a new drawing is opened.

Every line and point (and in general, "entity") has a name in AutoCAD. The GeoFluv™ project file remembers the names of the GeoFluv Boundary polyline and the valley bottom polylines that are in the drawing rather than storing complete copies of all the coordinates in those polylines. The advantage of this method is that when the GeoFluv Boundary or the valley bottoms change, the GeoFluv™ design will reflect the changes automatically and will never be inconsistent with the drawing.

Natural Regrade gives the user the ability to rapidly create many design alternatives according to fluvial geomorphic principles for a stable landform. The user can then compare the various GeoFluv™ landform design alternatives considering the how well the designs satisfy land use objectives, and practicality and overall material handling costs. From these comparisons the user can decide on an optimal design. Saving the design alternatives as projects using the File button saves the user from having to repeat data entries.