Scenarios

Scenarios are not structured in the same way as most InfoWorks ICM objects therefore it is important to highlight the following points:

• Scenarios can be created from a base network. Any subsequent change to the base will cascade down to the scenarios.
• It is also possible to create copies of scenarios. This is equivalent to the Copy/ Paste operation that computer users are accustomed to using, i.e.:
  • Copied scenario are duplicates or direct copies of the scenario they originate from.
  • Copied scenarios are independent from the original scenario.
  • Scenarios that are copies of the same scenario are not linked in any way. Changes made to the original scenario do not cascade down to the scenario copies.

If we take the example below, where two scenarios, Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 have been generated from the base. Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 are independent from each other. However, changes made to the base will be cascaded down to both scenarios.

Scenario structure

Scenario 1_A and Scenario 1_B are duplicates of Scenario 1, and were obtained by copying Scenario 1. Scenario 1_A and Scenario 1_B are independent from each other. Making changes to Scenario 1_A will have no impact on Scenario 1_B and vice-versa. Similarly, editing or even deleting Scenario 1 will have no influence whatsoever on Scenario 1_A and Scenario 1_B. This is why the structure of scenarios can be represented by the image on the left (green tick) rather by than the one on the right (red cross).

To create a new scenario:

• Click the Create Scenario button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar

OR 

• Select Scenarios | Create scenario from the Network menu

OR 

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
  • This displays the Managing Scenarios dialog.
  • Click on the Create buton.
• The Create New Scenario Dialog is displayed.
• Enter a name for the scenario in the New Scenario Name box.
• A scenario ALWAYS originates from a base network (network in GeoPlan). However, should you want your newly created scenario to be the copy of another scenario rather than a copy of the base network, tick the Copy an existing scenario checkbox. This is particularly useful if you have scenarios on which you have made a large amount of changes and that you want to keep these changes to investigate further in subsequent scenarios. This saves you having to make all of these changes in a scenario copied from the base network.
• If the checkbox is ticked, select the scenario you want to make a copy of in the Scenario to copy drop-down box.
• The Notes box allows you to enter any desired notes about the new scenario.
• Click on OK to save your changes.

To rename a scenario:

• Ensure that the scenario to be renamed is the current scenario and click the Rename Scenario button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar
• The Rename Scenario dialog is displayed
• Type in the new name for the scenario
• Click on OK to commit your changes

To delete a scenario:

• Ensure that the scenario to be deleted is the current scenario and click the Delete Scenario button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar
  • A message asking the user to confirm deletion is displayed. Click on Yes to confirm or on No to abort.

OR 

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
  • This displays the Managing Scenarios dialog.
  • Select the scenario to be deleted and click on the Delete button.
  • The scenario is deleted.
  

  Note

  You will not get prompted for confirmation when deleting a scenario via the Manage Scenarios dialog.

To compare a scenario with the base network:

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
• Select the desired scenario
• Click the Diff button
• A report is displayed, highlighting the differences between the scenario and the base network it derives from.
• Close the Manage Scenarios dialog
• Close the report.

To compare two scenarios:

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
• Select two scenarios by using a combination of the mouse and the CTRL keyboard key.
• Click the Diff button
• A report is displayed, highlighting the differences between the scenario and the base network it derives from.
• Close the Manage Scenarios dialog
• Close the report.

It is possible to make a scenario the base. This is particularly useful if you have a scenario that you are happy with and that is the final result of your feasibility study.

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
• Select the scenario you want to be the base network
• Click the Reintegrate button
• The scenario is promoted to base network and the "old" scenario disappears from the list of scenarios.

It is possible to copy an existing scenario and make the new network the base. This is particularly useful if a particular scenario is favoured amongst other management options and that users wish to create a brand new network for this one scenario with a view of creating scenarios from it.

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
• Select the scenario you want to copy.
• Click the Duplicate button
• The Common Tree Selection dialog is displayed. Type in a name for the new network and select a location within the model group.
• The new base network is checked out and appears in the Explorer window. The selected scenario and base network it is derived from are still present.

It is possible to add to or edit the notes for a scenario after the scenario has been created.

• Open the Manage Scenarios dialog by clicking the Manage Scenarios button ( ) of the Scenarios toolbar or selecting the Scenarios | Manage scenarios option from the Network menu.
• Select the scenario that you want to edit notes for
• Click the Edit Notes button
• The Edit Scenario Notes dialog is displayed. Carry out edits required and click Save
• If you also want to edit the notes for another scenario in the Manage Scenarios list, then use the Next or Previous buttons to step through the scenario notes until the required notes are display.
• When you have finished editing and have saved the notes, click Close to close the Edit Scenario Notes dialog.