The title bar of the Model Linking Editor indicates whether the linking pertains to the "Base" watershed or a specific forecast.

At the top of the Model Linking Editor, from the Forecast Run list (Model Linking Editor) you will select the forecast run that needs to be linked. The Model Requiring Input list (Model Linking Editor) displays the model alternatives configured for use in the selected forecast run. To complete the model linking process for a given forecast run, you will need to step through all the model alternatives listed in the Model Requiring Input list. The remaining portion of the Model Linking Editor is the table which lists the inputs required by the model alternative selected in the Model Requiring Input list and the source of that input. Figure 1 shows an example of the Model Linking Editor for a watershed with an HEC-HMS model alternative requiring input.

Figure 1 Model Linking Editor - Example Linking

This table has four columns: 

  • Location. This column identifies the name of the required input. For example, this could be:
    • The precipitation grid name or discharge gage name specified in the HEC-HMS model alternative.
    • The local flow name specified in the HEC-ResSim model alternative.
    • The river station and node name specified in the HEC-RAS model alternative.
  • Parameter. This column identifies the type of data or information required by the model alternative. For example, this could be: flow, stage, or precipitation.
  • Input From. This column consists of lists that identify the source of the input. These lists display each available model alternative from the selected forecast runs and Extract List. Extract List is used to bring data and information from external sources (i.e., the CWMS database, a DSS file), into the watershed. Refer to Data Extract and Post Editors for additional information on the Extract Editor.
  • Location/Parameter. If the Input From column displays the name of a model alternative, this column provides a list that contains all of the model alternative results for the parameter specified in Parameter column. For example, in Figure 1, the first row in the table indicates that the Interpolation precipitation input should come from the MFP model alternative named MFP-winterNexradManual. If the Input From column displays Extract List, this column will display either a DSS pathname or a CWMS database pathname.

The Select Input Model Alternative (Figure 1) provides a user with a way set all of the Input From values equal to a specific model alternative or Extract List. For example, you may want all the HEC-ResSim model alternative input to come from the HEC-HMS model alternative results. Click Select Input Model Alternative, the Select Input Model Alternative dialog (Figure 2) opens. In the dropdown, select a model alternative (or Extract List), click OK, the Select Input Model Alternative dialog (Figure 2) closes.

A Confirm Input Selection window will open, asking you do you want to link all unlinked rows to the selected Input Model Alternative. Click Yes, the Confirm Input Selection window will close. All row in the table that were not linked, will now be linked to the selected Input Model Alternative.

Figure 2 Select Input Model Alternative Dialog

At the bottom of the Model Linking Editor is the Browse button that opens the Select Source Data Location dialog (Figure 3). In this dialog you can scroll through the entire list of available locations and parameters for the model alternative specified in the drop-down list at the top of the dialog. To set a Location/Parameter, highlight a row in the Model Linking Editor, and then highlight the desired row in the Select Source Data Location dialog. Click the Set Location button at the bottom of the dialog.

Figure 3 Select Source Data Location Dialog