Choosing and Editing a Management Rotation

Management rotation scenarios for a simulation run can be selected or a rotation editor can be opened by using the 'Man' button on the left side of the bottom panel of the WEPS main screen (Fig 1.12).

A management rotation for a WEPS simulation run can be selected from pre-generated management files. Click the template folder in the management box, which is located in the bottom panel of the main screen (Fig. 1.12), and then select the management rotation desired from the template directory. Once selected, the name of the management file will appear in the panel. The user may also select management files stored in the current WEPS project directory by clicking on the project folder . Management rotation files in a WEPS project are usually derivatives of those selected from the "Template" directory, with local "project-specific" modifications. To open the Management/Crop Rotation Editor for WEPS (MCREW), double click on the 'Man' button , on the left side of the management box. This will open the MCREW window (Fig. 1.13), which allows the user to view, edit, and save management rotation information.

MCREW's principle purpose is to create/modify/construct management rotation files required for making WEPS simulation runs. Although it is an integral component of the WEPS 1.0 interface, it can be used as a stand-alone program to edit management rotation files independent of the WEPS interface and was designed to be configurable for uses outside of WEPS. Much of MCREW's functionality, behavior, and visual appearance is controlled via ASCII XML-based configuration files. Changing the appropriate configuration files allows one to specify the structure and definition of the management/crop rotation file format and control the user's ability to view and edit specific operation, and/or crop properties, etc.

MCREW is fundamentally a date-ordered list of management operations. This release of MCREW provides the user with a tabular, row-oriented view of the operations and their associated dates. In WEPS, a management operation is defined as any human-initiated process, such as a tillage event, seeding, irrigation application, etc. If the operation triggers the WEPS model to start simulating the growth of a crop (or any other plant vegetation supported with a crop database record containing the necessary vegetation growth parameters), e.g., a planting/seeding/transplanting operation, then the name of that crop is listed in the same row in the column next to the name of the operation.

Using MCREW

MCREW is designed to allow easy creation and editing of management rotation files for WEPS. The MCREW screen consists of 5 major components:

1.	Menu bar

The menu bar consists of assorted menu options that provide access to MCREW's functions. Functions of the menu bar are discussed later in this document.

2.	Button bar

The Button toolbar consists primarily of buttons that provide quick access to some of MCREW's most common functions. Functions of the buttons are discussed later in this document.

3.	Years in Rotation

On the right of the button bar, the user may view and edit the number of years in a rotation cycle.

4.	Rotation

This window displays the name and full path of the management rotation file that is loaded. If the management rotation name is too large, a scroll bar is automatically provided so the user can view the entire rotation name.

5.	Table View

The Table View displays the sequence of operations, with their associated dates and any crops planted, in a tabular format. Spreadsheet-style editing functions are available to manipulate the order, selection, and removal of operations and/or crops, etc. More details of the editing functions of the Table View are given later in this section.

Opening and Saving MCREW files

In WEPS 1.0, there are two primary locations in which management rotation files exist:

1.	In the "Management Templates" directory.

This is the location in which complete or partial (single or multi-crop year) management rotation files are kept. Files in this directory always show up on the management rotation selection choice lists. Management rotation files to be used in WEPS projects are typically selected from previously built management rotation files or they can be constructed from several partial management rotation files located in this directory.

2.	Within a "WEPS Projects" directory.

Any edited or viewed management rotation file used in a WEPS project run is always located in that WEPS project's directory. There can be more than one management rotation file in a WEPS project. The current management rotation file to be used when making a WEPS run is the one specified in the "weps.run" file (e.g., the one listed in the "management" input field on the WEPS main screen. Management rotation files in a WEPS project usually are simply copies of those selected from the "Template" directory, with local "project- or run-specific" modifications.

Menu Bar Functions

File

Once the MCREW window is open, rotation files can be created from scratch and saved in the desired location, and/or other rotation files may be opened for editing. The "File" menu allows access to the file management functions for MCREW. It contains all of the options listed here, with the common functions ("New", "Open", and "Save") also being available on the toolbar:

•	New Ctrl-N

Opens an empty, unnamed rotation file.

•	Open... Ctrl-O

Displays an "Open File" dialog box from which the user can select the desired rotation file from those in the current project. This is not accessible if the "Enable full MCREW editing functionality in WEPS" option is not enabled in the "Miscellaneous" tab of the WEPS interface Configuration panel.

•	Open Copy of Template Ctrl-T

Displays an "Open File" dialog box from which the user can select the desired rotation file from the "Management Templates" directory. A copy of the selected file is then added to the current WEPS project and made available for editing in MCREW. To edit a management file, the "Enable full MCREW editing functionality in WEPS" option must be enabled in the "Miscellaneous" tab of the WEPS interface Configuration panel.

•	Save Ctrl-S

Saves the current project's rotation file being edited (in the current WEPS project directory). The "saved" filename will become the selected management file in the main WEPS interface screen upon exit of MCREW.

•	Save As... Ctrl-A

Displays a "Save File..." dialog box from which the user can specify the desired filename with which to save the rotation file for the current project (the default location is in the current WEPS project directory). The "saved" filename will become the selected management file in the main WEPS interface screen upon exit of MCREW.

•	Save As Template Ctrl-L

Displays a "Save File" dialog box from which the user can specify the desired filename with which to save a copy of the currently edited rotation file into the "Management Templates" directory. The original file is still the current file being edited within MCREW.

•	Print Ctrl-P

Displays a print dialog box through which the MCREW table view can be printed.

•	Exit Ctrl-E

Exits MCREW. If MCREW finds that the rotation file has been modified and not saved, it will display a popup message and ask if the user wants to save it before leaving.

Edit

A WEPS 1.0 management rotation file is a date-ordered list of tillage/management operations. MCREW provides basic editing functionality to insert, delete, modify, and change dates for those operations. In WEPS, each operation is defined by a list of physical processes, such as residue burial, soil inversion, flattening standing residue, creation of ridges, planting a crop, etc., which are described to the model via one or more parameter values.

In its most basic form then, a WEPS management rotation file can be viewed within MCREW via the table view.

The primary editing functions available are accessible via the 'Edit' menu option. The table view editing functions are:

•	Cut Row(s) Ctrl-X

Removes the currently selected operation row(s) from the rotation and stores in a temporary buffer for possible pasting back into the rotation later.

•	Copy Row(s) Ctrl-C

Copies the selected operation row(s) from the rotation and stores in a temporary buffer for possible future pasting back into the rotation.

•	Paste Row(s) Ctrl-V

Pastes the previously cut or copied operation row(s) above the selected operation.

•	Delete Row(s) Ctrl-D

Deletes the selected operation row(s).

The "Cut", "Copy", and "Paste" buttons on the toolbar can also be used for these operations.

•	Undo Delete Ctrl-Z

Restore a deleted item. Note, this item is not active for the current version.

•	Sort by Date Ctrl-R

Sorts the operations in ascending order by date. See "Management File Date Adjustment Functions" section later in this chapter for alternate methods of manipulating dates.

•	Insert Row Ctrl-I

Inserts a blank row above the selected row.

•	Insert Operation

Inserts an row, then opens a window that allows the selection of an operation.

•	Cycle Forward Ctrl-F

Causes the last year in the rotation to become the first year in the rotation, while the other rotation years are incremented by one year. See "Management File Date Adjustment Functions" section later in this chapter for alternate methods of manipulating dates.

•	Cycle Backward Ctrl-B

Causes the first year in the rotation to become the last year in the rotation, while the other rotation years are decremented by one year. See "Management File Date Adjustment Functions" section later in this chapter for alternate methods of manipulating dates.

•	Notes Ctrl-M

Displays the Management Field Notes, where the user may enter notes regarding the management file. These notes are saved with the management file and can be viewed by clicking the Notes Button or the 'Edit' menu item 'Notes'.

View

The View menu allows the user to select from a list of columns to display in the MCREW window. Select each item to display by clicking on that item and note the item will be displayed and that item will be checked in the View menu. To remove items from display columns similarly click the item on the View menu and those columns will be removed from the MCREW window and the item will be unchecked in the menu. The menu items list may change and not appear as seen in the figure to the left.

Configure

The Calibration Toggle function is the only option listed that is currently implemented in this menu. The other options are disabled. See "Make a Yield Calibration WEPS Run" in the chapter titled "Making a WEPS Run" for further explanations on the use of the Calibration Toggle function.

•	Configuration

Intended to display a "configuration" window. This is not functioning in the current version.

•	Column Options

Intended to display a window that allows the addition or removal of parameter columns from the MCREW screen. This is not functioning in the current version.

Tools

The 'Tools' menu item provides access to tools and utilities related to the use of MCREW.

•	Send Email Ctrl + Shift-E

Provides a method to communicate with WEPS developers via email.

•	Convert WEPS Management to NRCS XML Format (this item has two options)

select individual files

Converts a single WEPS management file to the NRCS standardized summary management XML file format.

select directory (recursively)

Converts multiple WEPS management files recursively in a single directory to the NRCS standardized summary management XML file format.

•	Convert NRCS XML Management to WEPS Format (this item has two options)

select individual files

Converts single NRCS standardized summary management XML format files to the WEPS management file format.

select directory (recursively)

Converts multiple NRCS standardized summary management XML format files recursively to the WEPS management file format.

•	Update WEPS Management Files (this item has two options)

select individual files

Updates individual WEPS management files with the most current crop and operation database parameters.

select directory (recursively)

Updates WEPS management files recursively with the most current crop and operation database parameters.

Help

The 'Help' menu item displays help options about MCREW and includes:

•	Help Topics Ctrl-H

Opens a window containing the MCREW online help system.

•	About MCREW

Displays the current version, build date, and other information about the current version of MCREW.

Button Bar Functions

Opens a blank MCREW screen. This has the same function as selecting 'New' under 'File' on the menu bar.

0pens an existing MCREW file. This has the same function as selecting 'Open' under 'File' on the menu bar.

Saves the rotation file being edited to the current project. This has the same function as selecting 'Save' under 'File' on the menu bar.

Cuts a row or rows of the management file and places into the clipboard. This has the same function as selecting 'Cut Row(s)' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Copies a row or rows of the management file and places into the clipboard. This has the same function as selecting 'Copy Row(s)' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Pastes a row or rows of the management file from the clipboard. This has the same function as selecting 'Paste Row(s)' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Sorts the rows of the management operations into date order. This has the same function as selecting 'Sort by Date' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Cycles the rotation year for the management operations forward. This has the same function as selecting 'Cycle Forward' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Cycles the rotation year for the management operations backward. This has the same function as selecting 'Cycle Backward' under 'Edit' on the menu bar.

Enables context-sensitive help. Click on this button, then click on any item on the screen for help on that item.

Toggles the display of extra columns for yield calibration. When this option is on (columns displayed), a red border surrounds the button.

Opens the Management File Notes display, where the user may enter notes regarding the management file. These notes are saved with the management file and can be viewed by clicking the Notes Button or the 'Edit' menu item 'Notes'.

Saves the displayed data to the current file name and closes MCREW.

Editing by Using the Table View

Row and Cell Selection Functions

The mouse is currently the primary method used to "select" either a row and/or an individual table cell. If a particular table cell cannot be directly edited within the cell, this is indicated by a gray background, (e.g., Date, Operation Name, or Crop) and the row is selected (indicated by the blue background in all cells within the row). The following figure shows an example of a row selection after a left mouse click within the "Drill" operation row.

One can select multiple rows at one time by depressing and holding down the left mouse button on the first row to be selected and dragging the mouse cursor over the additional contiguous rows to also be selected. Release the left mouse button on the last row to be selected. All selected rows will be highlighted with a blue background (see following figure for example of multiple row selection).

The user can append contiguous rows adjacent to a previously selected, row or multi-row selection, by holding down the "shift" key and clicking the left mouse button on the last desired contiguous row to append to the selection. This is similar to how Microsoft Windows append selection works with the "shift" key depressed.

Similarly, one can append non-contiguous rows by holding down the "ctrl" key and making an additional multi-row (or single row) selection similar to the original row or multi-row selection (see following figure for example of non-contiguous row selection). As many non-contiguous rows can be selected, as desired, via this method. Again this is similar to how Microsoft Windows non-contiguous selection method works with the "ctrl" key depressed.

Any row or multi-row selection can be de-selected and replaced by simply clicking the left mouse button anywhere within the MCREW table display (with no keyboard keys pressed).

Row Editing Functions

Using the "Edit" menu, the user can cut, copy, paste, and delete rows. One can also insert a new blank row ("Insert Row") immediately above the currently selected row. In addition, the user can press the right mouse menu button to display a popup menu that contains row editing functions. The "Set Date" and "Adjust Date" options will be described under "Management File Date Adjustment Functions".

The contents of another (previously created) management file can also be inserted via the "Insert Management File" option immediately above the currently selected row. The "File Chooser" dialog will pop up, allowing the user to select the desired management file from which to include all the operations and their associated dates into the current management file being edited.

Management File Date Adjustment Functions

There are several date adjustment functions available in MCREW, in the "Edit" menu and the icon toolbar. These operations are:

Sort by Date

Cycle Forward

Cycle Backward

The "Sort by Date" function sorts the management operations by ascending date order. Thus, the user can adjust/set the dates of management operations without having to worry about whether they are in the correct sequential order at that time. When the user wants to see the list of operations in the correct date-ordered format, they can simply select the "Sort by Date" function from the toolbar icon or the "Edit" menu.

MCREW will not allow the user to save a WEPS management file without the operations being listed in date order. The user is given the options to automatically sort them, if they are not sorted during a management file save operation, or to go back to the editor and allow the user to correct the problem(s) manually.

The "Cycle Forward" and "Cycle Backward" functions will rotate the "rotation year" of the management operation dates forward or backward in increments of one year. For example, a three-year management file rotation 'cycled forward' would change the operation dates in the first year to the 2nd year, those in the 2nd year to the 3rd year and those in the 3rd year to the 1st year. Thus, the crops grown and harvested in the first year would now occur in the second year, etc. Likewise, a rotation 'cycled backward' would shift the rotation the opposite direction, making the 2nd year operations occur in the first year, etc.

Date Column Editing Functions

Limited date editing functions are available by right clicking on a cell in any column. Clicking the right mouse button while the cursor is on a date column cell causes a date editing popup menu to appear that has additional date editing functions (see figure to the left). These functions allow the user to adjust dates for one row or all operation rows selected (highlighted in blue) simultaneously (single-row date editing operations are made inaccessible and are greyed out if multiple rows are selected). The top two items (above the line) are specific to single rows, and if multiple rows are selected, these items will be blanked.

Selecting the "Set Date" option will display a dialog box that allows the user to type in a specific date (day/month/rotation year) for the selected operation row (highlighted in blue). The figure to the left shows an example of "Set Date" popup window.

The "Calendar Date" option displays a popup calendar to aid in adjusting dates. Double left mouse clicking in a date cell, displays the popup calendar as well. This calendar window allows the user to select the desired date. The calendar allows the user to increment (>>) or decrement (<<) the month and year values if desired. Then the day of the operation within that month/year can be selected. The user can either double right mouse click on the day value or click on the "OK" button to accept the specified date (see the figure to the left). The "Calendar Date" function is only applicable when a single operation row is selected.

The "Adjust Date" function is available from this menu, but year, month, week, and day increment and decrement functions are also available. They apply to all dates in the rows that are selected. The user can adjust the operation dates on the selected rows. Selecting the "Adjust Date" option will display a dialog box allowing the user to adjust the operation dates in the selected rows by a specified ± number of days, months, or years (see figure to the left). Additional menu options are also available to increment (increase) or decrement (decrease) the dates of selected rows by a day, week, month, or year.

Operation Column Editing Functions

Editing functions for the Operation column are displayed by right clicking within the column (see figure to the left). Clicking on one of the functions available will apply to the function to the highlighted row(s). The top items above the line ('Operation Drill-
down Screen') are specific to single rows however, and if multiple rows are selected, these items will be disabled. The operation drill-down screen function is described next.

A new operation can be added to a blank line or a different operation can be selected to replace an existing operation bu clicking the down arrow to the right in the 'Operation Name' column and selecting the desired operation. A new operation can also be added by double clicking the left mouse button with the mouse cursor in an operation cell. This action will display the "File Chooser" dialog. It allows the user to select a management operation record from within the dialog window. The user can also access this "File Chooser" dialog from the "Change Operation" menu option via the right mouse menu (described earlier under "Row Editing Functions"). Other operation column functions allow the user the option of setting or adjusting the date of the operation or inserting a blank row to be filled by the user. The user can also insert an entire management file, which is useful in building multiple crop/year rotations. Finally, there are functions that allow the user to cut, copy, paste, and delete a row or multiple rows.

Crop or Residue Column Editing Functions

Editing functions for the 'Crop or Residue' column are displayed by right clicking within the column (see figure to the left). Clicking on one of the functions available will apply to the function to the highlighted row(s). The top two items (above the line) are specific to single rows however, and if multiple rows are selected, these items will be blanked. The Crop Drill-down Screen function is described in the next section.

A Crop can be specified for planting (and subsequent harvest) only for operations that contain the "planting/seeding" process. Those that have this process defined will either display the name of the crop to be planted in the "crop" column or display the string "no crop", signifying that no crop is to be planted or it hasn't yet been selected by the user. A crop can be added or an existing crop can be replaced by clicking on the down arow to the right in the 'Crop or Residue' column and selecting the desired crop from the list. A new crop may also be selected by double clicking the left mouse button with the cursor in a crop cell. This action will pop up the "File Chooser" dialog. It allows the user to select a crop record from within the dialog window. The user can also access this "File Chooser" dialog from the "Change Crop" menu option via the right mouse menu (described earlier under "Row Editing Functions"). Other crop column functions allow the user the options of setting or adjusting the date of the operation or inserting a blank row to be filled by the user. The user can also insert an entire management file, which is useful in building multiple crop/year rotations. Finally, there are functions that allow the user to cut, copy, paste, and delete a row or multiple rows.

Operation and Crop Dialog Drill-Down Screens

Both the MCREW Operation and Crop columns have a "drill-down" function available that allows the user to display a popup screen that makes many of the specific operation or crop parameter values viewable or editable. The operation parameters specify how WEPS operations simulate soil and biomass properties that influence wind erosion. Similarly, the crop parameters specify how WEPS simulates crop planting, growth, and harvest, as well as residue decomposition. The specific content of these screens depends upon both the type of crop or operation and specific XML-format configuration files. The configuration files describe which parameters are viewable or hidden to the user and, if viewable, whether or not they are editable by the user. In addition, for each parameter that is displayed, the prompt information for the parameter is described in these XML-format files. Examples of Operation and Crop Dialog drill-down screens are shown in Figures 1.15 and 1.16.

The drill-down functions are cell specific and are available only when a single operation row is selected. The Operation drill-down screen is accessible if the selected cell is in the operation column (identified by the red rectangular box around it) and a Crop drill-down screen is accessible if the selected cell is in the crop column. To access the Operation or Crop drill-down screen, click the folder icon to the tight of the Operation or Crop name. An alternative method is to left click in the cell and selecting "Operation Drill-down Screen."

Definitions and ranges for specific crop parameters are available in the WEPS How To Guide, "Crop Database Record Development". Definitions and ranges for specific operation parameters are also available in the WEPS How To Guide, "Management Operation Database Record Development". These guides also provide guidelines for determining parameters for crops not listed in the crop or operation databases.