Stand Visualization System Version 231 Sep 26, 1997 SVS README -- February, 97 -- 1 Stand Visualization System (SVS) February, 97 Robert J. McGaughey USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station SVS README -- February, 97 -- 2 For information about SVS contact: Bob McGaughey USDA Forest Service University of Washington, Bloedel 361 PO Box 352100 Seattle, WA 98195-2100 (206) 543-4713 email: mcgoy@u.washington.edu DG: R.MCGAUGHEY:R06F05A SVS and the related programs are updated frequently. You can call me to find out about the latest versions or you can check the world wide web pages at: http://forsys.cfr.washington.edu/svs.html The current version of SVS can also be retrieved using anonymous FTP from: forsys.cfr.washington.edu in the /pub/software/svs directory SVS README -- February, 97 -- 3 Contents Computer Requirements for SVS 4 Distribution Files 4 Installation 5 Documentation 5 Getting Started with SVS 6 Background 7 Data Requirements 8 256-color, high resolution graphics 10 Command line options 13 Designing tree/plant forms 17 TBL2SVS utility 20 FVS2SVS utility 20 Other utilities 20 SVS tree list format 25 Ground definition files 31 SVS README -- February, 97 -- 4 Computer Requirements for SVS SVS is designed for IBM-compatible personal computers running the MS-DOS operating system. SVS requires the following minimum computer configuration: * 80386, 80486, or Pentium CPU * 1 Mb RAM (4 Mb or more recommended) * Color monitor * Mouse or other pointing device * VESA compatible graphics adapter (VESA, in this case, does not refer to VESA local bus. The graphics adapter should be compatible with the protocol developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association...consult the manual for your graphics adapter for further information. SVS can utilize a standard VGA graphics adapter to display 16 colors. With a VESA compatible graphics adapter, SVS displays 256 colors at resolutions of up to 1280 by 1024 pixels. For additional information regarding 256-color operation, continue reading this file. Distribution Files An SVS distribution diskette contains four files: INSTALL.EXE ADD_FVS.EXE README README.FVS The first two files are self extracting archives containing SVS, companion programs, and example data files. The ADD_FVS.EXE archive contains the FVS2SVS utility and related files. FVS2SVS is used to convert tree lists produced by the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) into tree lists for use with SVS. If you are not using FVS, you do not need to install the ADD_FVS archive. The README file contains introductory information about SVS including installation instructions. The README.FVS file contains information regarding the FVS2SVS utility. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 5 Installation To install SVS: * Make a directory for SVS using the MD or MKDIR commands in DOS or the Windows file manager * Change into the new directory using the CD command in DOS or open a DOS shell in Windows and then use the CD command to move into the new directory. * Run the INSTALL.EXE program from the floppy disk by typing the following command at the DOS prompt: A:INSTALL * If your floppy disk drive is designated with a letter other than A, make the appropriate changes. * To run SVS...use the GO batch file. This will set the environment variables to enable 256 colors support. For additional information regarding 256 color support continue reading this file. * If you want to install the programs necessary for converting treelists produced by the Forest Vegetation Simulator, run the ADD_FVS.EXE program from the floppy disk by typing the following command at the DOS prompt: A:ADD_FVS * If your floppy disk drive is designated with a letter other than A, make the appropriate changes. * Refer to the FVS2SVS.TXT file for more information about the use of FVS treelists. Documentation The following file contain documentation for SVS and related programs: README General information about SVS README.FVS General information about using SVS in conjunction with the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) TBL2SVS.TXT Instructions for the TBL2SVS utility used to convert simple stand table data files into SVS tree lists MAKESVS.TXT Instructions for the MAKESVS utility used to convert stand tables and other formats into SVS tree lists SVS README -- February, 97 -- 6 FVS2SVS.TXT Instructions for the FVS2SVS conversion utility used to convert tree lists output by the Forest Vegetation Simulator into tree lists for use with SVS UTILITY.TXT Instructions for miscellaneous utility programs distributed with SVS Getting Started with SVS SVS uses a simple, easily understood graphical interface. The best way to get started is to "learn by doing". The following procedure outlines the steps necessary to load a tree list into SVS, manipulate the perspective view, and change the plant drawing qualities: * Run SVS by typing the following at the DOS prompt, then press [Enter]: GO If you see a message indicating that you are in 16-color graphics mode, refer to the section titled "High resolution/256-color graphics" for information regarding the use of 256-color graphics modes. * Load a tree list by clicking the left mouse button when the mouse is positioned over the button labeled "Open tree list". Select the file named "TREE3.SVS" (click once on the file name to highlight it, then click again (or select "Ok") to select the file). * You should see a perspective, overhead, and profile view of the stand. You can stop drawing in a given view by pressing the [Esc] key or by clicking the right mouse button. * Manipulate the view using the controls below the perspective view. Select the button labeled "Head up" to raise your viewpoint or "Head down" to lower you viewpoint. The buttons labeled "Focus up" and "Focus down" tilt you head up and down. The buttons labeled "<>" rotate the stand to the left or right. The button labeled "Closer" move you closer to the stand and the button labeled "Farther" moves you away from the stand. The button labeled "Zoom in" makes the stand appear larger and the button labeled "Zoom out" makes the stand appear smaller. * Change the plant drawing quality by selecting one of the buttons labeled "No stems", "Stems only", "Wireframe trees", "Solid trees", and "Realistic trees". You should see the perspective image redraw using the selected plant quality. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 7 The button labeled "Tree designer" lets you modify the appearance of different plant species and the button labeled "Default parameters" lets you change the colors used for drawing. ****NOTE**** You can save any screen in SVS to a PCX file by pressing [Ctrl]&[Backspace] and specifying the file name. The easiest way to produce files for use in SVS is by converting stand tables into SVS files using the TBL2SVS utility. For more information, refer to the TBL2SVS.TXT file. The FVS2SVS utility converts tree lists produced by the Forest Vegetation Simulator into SVS tree lists. For more information, refer to the FVS2SVS.TXT file. Background The Stand Visualization System (SVS) generates graphic images depicting stand conditions represented by a list of individual stand components, e.g., trees, shrubs, and down material using detailed geometric models. The images produced by SVS, while abstract, provide a readily understood representation of stand conditions and help communicate silvicultural treatments and forest management alternatives to a variety of audiences. SVS provides the following capabilities: * Displays stand information represented by a list of individual plant and log components in a realistic, although abstract, fashion * Displays stand information in a manner that communicates the overall structural diversity present within the stand * Differentiates between stand components using different plant forms, colors, or other types of marking * Displays overhead, profile and perspective views of a stand SVS README -- February, 97 -- 8 * Provides a mechanism that allows users to define plant forms and colors based on species, growth form, and plant position within the canopy * Provides tabular and graphical summaries of stand information before and after a silvicultural treatment * Facilitates the design of silvicultural treatments by allowing users to select (or "mark") stand components and specify treatments * Displays information describing individual stand components as they are selected by the user SVS is executable on IBM-compatible personal computers using the MS-DOS operating system (or a compatible operating system) and requires no specialized hardware or additional software. Data Requirements SVS uses two basic types of data: a stand component, or tree list and plant form definitions. The stand component list describes the species, size and location of each component object in a stand. Plant form definitions describe the appearance of each species and, optionally, the appearance of individuals exhibiting different growth forms within a species. Stand Component List The primary data set used by SVS is a list of individual stand components. SVS represents the following stand components: Tree Standing tree, may be live or dead, with branches and needles or leaves or without. Down tree Fallen or cut tree, severed from the stump, with branches and needles or leaves or without. Log Fallen or cut tree, dead, no branches, needles, or leaves, need not be an entire tree stem. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 9 Shrub Herbaceous plant, may be live or dead, with branches and needles or leaves or without. Specialty Special objects that can be added to a object stand to enhance the interpretation of the stand information. Examples include a scale indicator and a position marker. SVS users can define the appearance and form of each plant species. As a result, stand component classifications are not necessarily distinct. SVS essentially represents plants and specialty objects. The user controls the appearance of the plants or the data describing a plant to create down trees, logs, and shrubs. The appearance of specialty objects is relatively fixed. In most cases, only the color and overall size of a specialty object can be changed. The following parameters describe each stand component: Species code Height Crown radius 2 Expansion factor Plant Lean angle Crown ratio 2 Marking identifier status Tree class Felling angle Crown radius 3 X Crown class End diameter Crown ratio 3 Y Plant status Crown radius 1 Crown radius 4 Elevation Diameter Crown ratio 1 Crown ratio 4 Utilities included with SVS (see TBL2SVS.TXT and FVS2SVS.TXT for details) convert stand table input consisting of species, dbh, height, and number of plants per unit area into a list of individual components. Plant Form Definitions Users define the appearance of each species represented in a component list using a plant form definition. Form SVS README -- February, 97 -- 10 definitions describe the overall growth form; geometry and number of branches or leaves; and color of the stem, branches and foliage. SVS provides a "tree designer" to help users develop form definitions for the species and growth forms in their area. SVS uses the species identifier as the primary link between the component list and the plant form definitions. However, two additional parameters, tree class and crown class, can be used to distinguish individuals within a species. Interpretation and use of these two parameters is user defined except SVS reserves the value of 99 for the tree class and crown class in a plant form definition to represent a "wild-card" value. Revisions See the CHANGES.TXT file for the most recent changes to the SVS package. 256-color, high resolution graphics SVS can support graphics resolutions up to 1280x1024 with 256 colors. However, you will have to do a little trial and error to make this work. You also need a computer equipped with a VESA compliant video adapter. Most computers manufactured after 1990 have this capability. You may have to use a utility that came with your computer to enable VESA support. Refer to your computer's operating manuals for information regarding VESA capabilities. When the extended mode drivers are used, SVS can produce rendered 3D perspectives. This means that a light source is simulated and various shades of color are computed to add realism to a scene. SVS uses 256-color palettes that can be modified using the "Default parameters" option in SVS. Included in the distribution archive are several files with a .BGI extension. These are graphics drivers for SVS. To use the high resolution drivers you must take advantage of a feature in DOS known as environment variables. Environment variables allow you to specify parameters that can be accessed by any program run on your computer. To examine the environment variables currently in use on your computer, type the following and press [Enter]: SET SVS README -- February, 97 -- 11 You should see a list of variables and their current settings. To set the value for an environment variable, you simply specify the variable name and the value you would like to assign to the variable like this: SET MYVAR=HELLO_WORLD NOTE: It is very important that you do not have a space before or after the "=". For further explaination of environment variables, consult you DOS manuals. If you find that you DOS environment does not provide enough memory space for the additional variables needed for SVS, refer to documentation for COMMAND.COM, the DOS command processor, for information about the /e:#### option. This option allows you to set aside additional memory for enviroment variables. To use the high resolution drivers with SVS, you will need to set two environment variables, BGIDVR and BGIMODE. The BGIDVR variable controls the driver that is used and the BGIMODE variable specifies the video mode for the driver (resolution and number of colors). The following table provides information regarding the drivers and applicable video modes: Screen mode SVGA256 BGI256V2 VESA ------------------------------------------------------- 640 * 480, 256 color 2 2 2 800 * 600, 256 color 3 3 3 1024* 768, 256 color 4 4 4 (1Mb video) 1280*1024, 256 color 6 5 NA (2Mb video) Specialized drivers that may work with SVS. Remember that SVS requires at least 640*480 resolution. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 12 Modes for SVGA16.BGI (this is a 16-color driver that can be used to access higher resolutions) SET BGIDVR=SVGA16 SET BGIMODE=? 0 320x200x16 Standard EGA/VGA 1 640x200x16 Standard EGA/VGA 2 640x350x16 Standard EGA/VGA 3 640x480x16 Standard VGA 4 800x600x16 SuperVGA/VESA 5 1024x768x16 SuperVGA/VESA Modes for TWK256.BGI (this driver works on some older VGA cards to provide 256-colors at low resolutions) SET BGIDVR=TWK256 SET BGIMODE=? 0 320x400x256 all modes for standard VGA card 1 320x480x256 2 360x480x256 3 376x564x256 4 400x564x256 5 400x600x256 The XVGA256.BGI driver can autodetect several video cards. To use the auto-detection feature set BGIDVR=XVGA256 and set BGIMODE=127. I have not had particularly good luck with this driver but if it works for you...use it. If you find that the autodetection does not work, try setting the environment variable, CHIPSET=VESA and the XVGA256 driver will use VESA compatible graphics commands. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 13 You can also specify the following modes for XVGA256: SET BGIDVR=XVGA256 SET BGIMODE=? Screen mode XVGA256.BGI ------------------------------------------- 640 * 480, 256 color 2 800 * 600, 256 color 3 1024* 768, 256 color 4 (1Mb video) 1280*1024, 256 color NA (2Mb video) You will have to experiment with the drivers to find the best combination for you computer system. I have found that the VESA driver works well on most computers (not all, but most). The BGI256V2 driver has a bug in its line drawing that results in a few missing pixels (not serious). Command line options SVS is designed as an interactive program, however, command line options provide some batch mode functionality. All command line parameters are optional. Syntax SVS [-Cfile] [-Ddist] [-Eelev] [-F] [-H] [-Lfl] [-N] [- Qqual] [-Selev] [-T"title"] [-Vpt] [-Pstr] [-Reyesep] [treefile] Parameter Description Parameter Description SVS README -- February, 97 -- 14 treefile Name of stand file to load and display at startup (default extension .SVS). Titles specified using a #TITLE command in a tree list will override a title specified on the command line. This parameter should be the last parameter on the SVS command line. -Cfile Capture screen to a file named file.PCX and exit. -Ddist Distance from the viewpoint to the center of the stand. The value dist can be any distance greater than zero so long as the resulting viewpoint location does not end up within the plot represented in SVS. -Eelev Initial viewpoint elevation for the perspective view. elev can be any value greater than zero. -F Shift to full screen display at startup. -H Display command line syntax and exit. -Lfl Focal length for the lens used to generate the perspective view. Changing the focal length allows you to zoom in (larger picture) or out (smaller picture). Valid values for fl range from 20 to 400 millimeters. -N Suppress the warning message regarding 256-color operation when SVS is run in 16-color modes. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 15 -Pstr Control the layout of the stand view windows. The characters P, O, and C are used to indicate the arrangement of the views. For example -POPC will place the overhead view in the large window, the perspective view in the upper right window and the cross-section view in the lower right window. These settings also affect full screen displays. -Qqual Tree quality for the perspective view where # is one of the following 0 -- no trees 1 -- stems only 2 -- wireframe trees 3 -- solid trees 4 -- brushy trees. -Selev Initial focus point elevation for the perspective view. elev can be any value greater than zero. Changing the elevation of the focus point simulates tilting your head up and down. -T"title" Display the title "title" across the top of the screen. the title must be enclosed in quotation marks. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 16 -Reyesep Eye separation ration used to produce stereo pairs. Pressing Alt-R in SVS moves the viewpoint for the perspective view to the right-eye position (default viewpoint is considered the left- eye position). The eye separation ratio is used to specify the distance between the left and right viewpoints. The eyesep parameter is multiplied by the distance from the viewpoint to the center of the stand to determine the actual separation. A value of .01 produces reasonable image pairs. -Vpt Initial viewpoint location for the perspective view. Valid pt locations are shown below. 2 5 8 +----------------+ | stand area | | | | | 1 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | +----------------+ 0 3 6 Automating the process The most common use of command line parameters is to specify a tree list for display as follows (in this case a file named TREE5.svs): SVS TREE5 The command line options can also be used to automate stand image generation and capture. The command line: SVS README -- February, 97 -- 17 SVS -F -CIMAGE.PCX TREE5 tells SVS to load the tree list named TREE5.SVS, display the perspective image in full screen mode, capture the screen to a PCX file named "IMAGE.PCX" and exit. Use of the -D, -E, -L, - S, and -V options allow you to control the initial viewpoint for the captured stand image. If the SVS tree list filename represents a tree list index file, each tree list named in the index will be drawn and the image stored in a file with the same base filename as the PCX file and the extension .I##. The ## portion will reflect the image number. A list of image names is also generated and stored in a file named using the base filename of the PCX file and the .LST extension. This list file can be used with the VIEWPCX utility to display the set of images. Using the example files included with SVS, the following command line will create a series of PCX images depicting the growth predicted by the Forest Vegetaion Simulator: SVS -F -CIMAGE.PCX FVSRUN The resulting images will be named IMAGE.I01, IMAGE.I02, IMAGE.I03, and IMAGE.I04 and there will be a file containing a list of the image files named IMAGE.LST. The following command line for the VIEWPCX utility will display the resulting images sequentially, looping until a key is pressed: VIEWPCX -X -L -FIMAGE.LST You can use the "Viewpoint info" button in SVS to obtain command line settings to duplicate the current SVS view. SVSHOME evironment variable SVS also recognizes the environment variable SVSHOME to locate the directory where the SVS executables and drivers are located. By setting this variable, you can run SVS from any directory on you computer. You do not need a copy of the BGI driver specified in the BGIDVR variable in the local directory. When SVS is run, it will look for the needed driver and if it cannot find the driver in the current directory it will copy it from the directory identified in the SVSHOME variable, use the driver, then delete the driver when it terminates. The VIEWPCX utility also recognizes this environment variable. Designing tree/plant forms SVS represents four plant forms, one single and three multiple leader forms, and a special object form. The single leader form, intended to represent coniferous species, consists of a SVS README -- February, 97 -- 18 single, central stem with branches projecting from the stem center. Branches may be arranged in whorls or evenly distributed along the stem. The multiple leader forms, intended to represent deciduous species, consists of a stem base below the crown, a central leader within the crown, branches, and leaves. The three different multiple leader forms represent growth forms that have a strong central leader with branches uniformly distributed throughout the live crown, growth forms that have a central bole in the live crown but most of the branches are located in the lower portion of the live crown, and growth forms that have no central bole in the live crown. For all multiple leader plant forms, the height of the base stem (below the first branch) relative to the total plant height can be controlled along with the distribution, number and insertion angle of the branches. Leaves are represented as a cloud of triangles positioned around the perimeter of the crown. Special objects are predefined by SVS. Only their size, color, and orientation can be changed. Basic process The tree designer dialog box, accessed by selecting the button labeled "Tree designer", is designed to provide flexibility in the procedure used to define plant forms. Parameters can be changed in any order, however, the following procedure is recommended when adding new plant forms: 1 Click the "Add form..." button to initiate the process of adding a plant form definition. 2 Enter the species, tree class and crown class. Using values of 99 for both the tree and crown classes will provide a "wild card" plant form definition that will match any combination of tree and crown classes for a given species in a tree list. Plant forms defined with other values for tree and crown class will match only individuals in a tree list with the same tree and crown class values. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 19 3 Select the plant growth form, either single leader or one of the multiple leader forms. If you are defining new characteristics for a special object, select "Special object form". You cannot add definitions for new special objects. You can only define a new set of attributes for a new instance of a special object . When adding new special object instances, use the tree and crown class values to differentiate between attribute sets. 4 Set the crown ratio, crown width and total plant height using the controls in the lower right window of the tree designer. Set the values to correspond to those typical for the species or plant form being created. Remember that these values do not affect the size of stand components or special objects drawn by SVS, only the size of the plant or object drawn in the tree designer dialog box. 5 Select the scaling option for the lower right window. "Tree" is appropriate for large plant forms and tall special objects (RANGEPOLE, CRANETOWER, CRANEBOOM), "Shrub" and "Small shrub" are appropriate for small plant forms and short special objects (ROCK, CAR, TRUCK, MARKER). 6 Modify the crown shape parameters to achieve the desired crown shape. You can temporarily reduce the number of branches to make the wireframe crown shape indicator more visible. 7 Modify the number of branches or leaves and the branch arrangement parameters to achieve the desired crown density and branching structure. 8 Modify the colors used for the various plant components. 9 The new form is automatically saved in the current plant form definition file, specified at the top of the tree designer dialog box, when you select the "Done" button. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 20 Multiple forms for a single species The simplest method for developing plant form designs is to represent all individuals of a particular species using the same form definition. This method works well if there is little variation in tree size and growth form. However, nature is seldom so perfect. SVS allows multiple form definitions for a single species by providing two user defined, numeric parameters: the tree class and the crown class that can be used to differentiate multiple form definitions for a single species. For example, lets say you want to define a tree form for a young Douglas-fir tree that looks different from the form defined for a mature Douglas- fir. You might use a tree class value of 1 to designate a mature individual and a tree class value of 2 to designate a young individual (use a crown class of 99 for both individuals). The two tree forms might have a different crown shape or foliage color. When drawing your stand, SVS (reading the tree list) would use the mature tree form for all Douglas- fir trees with a tree class of 1 and the young form for all tree with a tree class of 2. If SVS finds any other douglas- fir trees in the stand with tree class values other than 1 or 2, it will use the "default" tree form for the species, the form with values of 99 for the tree and crown class. TBL2SVS utility Refer to TBL2SVS.TXT manual for details FVS2SVS utility Refer to FVS2SVS.TXT manual for details Other utilities SVS2UP Purpose SVS2UP combines two tree lists for use with SVS into a single tree list such that the two stands are positioned side by side, separated by a narrow strip. SVS2UP is designed to facilitate the comparison of two stands or the same stand at two different points in time. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 21 Syntax SVS2UP stand1 stand2 new_stand Parameter Description stand1 Name of the first tree list file. This stand will be placed on the left side of the new stand. The extension, .SVS, is optional. stand2 Name of the second tree list file. This stand will be placed on the right side of the new stand. The extension, .SVS, is optional. new_stand Name for the new tree list file. The extension, .SVS, will be added to the file if an extension is not specified. Tree lists merged using SVS2UP should be the same size, i.e., they should have the same width and length. TLS2SVS Purpose The TLS2SVS utility is designed to convert a tree list file produced by FORSEE into an SVS input file. FORSEE is a silvicultural treatment editor designed to assist forest managers and logging planners as they evaluate potential harvest operations. Syntax TLS2SVS tlsfile Parameter Description tlsfile is the name of the FORSEE tree list file, including the .TLS extension, to be converted to an SVS tree list file. The normal behavior of TLS2SVS is to print the converted file to the screen. DOS redirection, using the ">" pipe, allows you to send the output of TLS2SVS to a file. For example, to convert the FORSEE file named STAND01.TLS to an SVS tree list named STAND01.SVS the following command line would be used: TLS2SVS STAND01.TLS > STAND01.SVS Consult the FORSEE (Ward et. al., 1995) users manual for information regarding it use. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 22 STRWHITE Purpose The STRWHITE utility is designed to facilitate the transfer of SVS tree list to spreadsheet programs. STRWHITE strips extra white space characters from a text file and,optionally, produces a comma-delimited file. The tree list files used by SVS contain several extra spaces between data fields. These extra spaces can make it difficult to import the tree lists into spreadsheet programs. By eliminating the extra spaces, ending up with a file with one space seperating each data field, STRWHITE creates a file that can be imported into most spreadsheet programs. Syntax STRWHITE [-c] [-h] [-v] oldfile [newfile] Parameter Description -c Make the file comma-delimited, i.e., separate fields using a single comma instead of a single space. -h Display syntax information. -v Echo the converted data to the screen while creating the new file. oldfile Name of the file to be processed. newfile Name of the file to contain the processed data. if newfile is omitted, the processed data will overwrite the original data contatined in oldfile. VIEWPCX Purpose The VIEWPCX utility is designed to display one or a series of PCX image files. The PCX image files can be captured in SVS using [Ctrl]+[Backspace] or they can be created using a "paint" program. VIEWPCX was originally designed to display animation sequences. The utility can display at least one frame per second using images that are 640 by 480 pixels and the /X command line switch (timing tests were conducted on a 50 MHz 486 processor). The VIEWPCX utility uses the SVS README -- February, 97 -- 23 environment variables, BGIDVR and BGIMODE, to control the screen resolution and number of colors. Syntax VIEWPCX [file] [[/Ffile] [/Ddelay] /L /C /X] Parameter Description The following command line options control the behavior of VIEWPCX: Option Description file Name of PCX to view. You must include the file extension. /Flistfil Read PCX file names from list stored in e listfile. /Ddelay Delay (in milliseconds, 1/1000 second) between images when displaying a list of PCX files. /L Loop through list of PCX files until a key is pressed. You can use [+] to increase and [-] to decrease delay between PCX files while VIEWPCX is running. /N Display file name in upper left corner of screen. /C Clear screen before each PCX file in a list is displayed. You should not use the clear screen option to view a series of frames in an animation sequence as it will cause a noticable flicker in the display. /S Wait for keystroke before displaying next PCX file in list. /X Use XMS memory to load and display PCX file (much faster). Description In its simplest use, VIEWPCX displays a single PCX image file and waits for a keypress before clearing the image and returning to the DOS prompt. VIEWPCX can display a series of images with several options for controlling the delay or pause between each image. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 24 VIEWPCX uses two methods for displaying PCX images. First, the image is read from disk and displayed one scan line (or row) of pixels at a time. Second, the entire image is read into XMS memory and then quickly displayed. Of course, to use the second method you must have XMS memory installed and enabled using a driver such as HIMEM.SYS. To view a single image, simply specify the image file name (with extension) on the command line for VIEWPCX as follows: VIEWPCX pcxfile The image will be displayed until a key is pressed. You can use the /X option to take advantage of XMS memory for faster displays. To view several images in succession, you must first create a text file that contains the names of the image files to display listed one file per line. See your DOS documentation for the DIR command and the /B option for an easy way to create the list file. You can include a full path in the file names. The list is specified using the /F command line option as follows: VIEWPCX /Flistfile where listfile is the name of the file containing the list of image file names. To stop VIEWPCX, press [Esc]. TREEFORM Purpose Displays tree form definitions stored in SVS tree form files (designated with the .TRF extension). TREEFORM provides an easy way to "browse" .TRF files. Syntax TREEFORM [-cbase] formfile Parameter Description Option Description formfile Name of TRF to view. You must include the file extension. -cbase Capture screens showing the tree forms to PCX files having the form base####.pcx. The #### portion of the file name will be replaced with a sequential number. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 25 SVS tree list format The tree, or plant, lists used by SVS are simple ASCII text files containing a listing of all the components in a stand. The data files are organized with one individual component per line in the file. Fields are separated by spaces. The first field containing the species indicator must occupy the first 15 characters of each line. The species code need not be 15 characters long but it must be padded with trailing spaces to occupy at least 15 characters in the data file. Comments may be included in the list by using a semi-colon (";") in the first column. Commands in the list begin with "#" in the first column. Commands available for use in tree lists are: Command Description and use #GROUNDFILE file file specifies a ground definition that should be loaded and displayed with the stand. #FORMAT number number indicates the format of the individual tree records. The following formats are recognized: 1 Original SVS tree list format. This format does not include the tree identifier or lean angle fields. 2 Extended SVS tree list format. This format includes the tree identifier and lean angle fields. #PALETTE file file specifies a palette file that should be loaded for use with the stand. Palette files are created when users save a palette while modifying the 256-color configuration parameters. Palette files can be used only when SVS is configured for 256-color operation. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 26 #PLOTORIGIN x y (x,y) specifies the coordinate location of the lower left corner of the stand. #PLOTSIZE width width specifies the width of the height area represented in the tree list measured along the x-axis and height specifies the the height of the area represented in the tree list measured along the y-axis. #R6CVSPLOT radius specifies that the tree list represents a circular plot with five subplots. This plot design is used by the U.S. Forest Service Region 6. #ROUNDPLOT radius specifies that the tree list represents a circular plot. radius specifies the plot radius in feet or meters. #TITLE text text is the title that should be displayed in SVS. #TREEFORM file file specifies the plant form definition file to be used with the tree list. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 27 #TREELISTINDEX specifies that the file is a tree list index file containing a list of SVS tree list files and titles. When this command is used, all other command in the file are ignored. The format of a tree list index consists of one line per SVS file with a title enclosed in quotation marks and the corresponding SVS tree list file name enclosed in quotation marks: #TREELISTINDEX "Stand 1005 at year 30" "1005_30.SVS" "Stand 1005 at year 60" "1005_60.SVS" "Stand 1005 at year 90" "1005_90.SVS" File names can include a full path to the SVS file. When a tree list index file is loaded into SVS, the user is presented with a list of titles (that correspond to SVS tree list files) to choose from. #UNITS name name can be either ENGLISH or METRIC. English units represent diameters in inches and all other dimensions in feet. Metric units represent diameters in centimeters and all other units in meters. Parameter Description Each individual stand component requires parameters describing its size, location, overall shape, and special characteristics. SVS uses the following parameters to describe an individual stand component: Parameter Description SVS README -- February, 97 -- 28 Species code Alphanumeric code describing the species. May be numeric or text or a combination of numbers and letters. Length may not exceed 15 characters. The species code must occupy all 15 spaces. If the species code contatins fewer than 15 characters, it must be right padded with spaces. Plant Unique alphanumeric identifier for the identifier plant. May be numeric or text or a combination of numbers and letters. The plant identifier cannot contain any embedded spaces. The length of the plant identifier cannot exceed 15 characters. This parameter is only present in tree lists using the extended SVS format. The plant identifier does not need to be padded with spaces to occupy the full 15-character length. Tree class User-defined code used to distinguish different growth forms or plant appearences within a species. Values used for the tree class can range from 0 to 32768. Crown class User-defined code used to further distinguish different growth forms or plant appearences within a species. Values used for the crown class can range from 0 to 32768. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 29 Plant status Code designating the status of the plant component. The following status codes are recognized: 0 or 10 indicates the plant is cut, has branches, and is lying on the ground 1 or 11 indicates the plant is standing and has branches 2 or 12 indicates the plant is no longer present and only a stump remains 3 or 13 indicates the plant is cut, has no branches, and is lying on the ground Plants with status codes of 0, 1, 2, or 3 can have their status codes modified using the marking and treatment features of SVS. Plants with status codes of 10, 11, 12, or 13 cannot have their status codes modified by any marking or treatment activity within SVS. Diameter Diameter at breast height (inches or centimeters). Height Total height of the plant (feet or meters). Lean angle Angle of lean for the stand component. The angle is specified as the lean from a vertical. Thus 0 degrees indicates that a plant is standing perpendicular to the ground (degrees). This parameter is only present in tree lists using the extended SVS format. Felling angle Azimuth of the stem for down material relative to the stump end of the stem (degrees, 0 degrees is at 12 o'clock). SVS README -- February, 97 -- 30 End diameter Small end diameter of plant stem (inches or centimeters). Normally, the end diameter is 0.0 for standing, live trees. The end diameter can be used to describe down logs or standing trees with a broken top. Crown radius 1 Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 0 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). Crown ratio 1 Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 1". Crown radius 2 Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 90 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). Crown ratio 2 Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 2". Crown radius 3 Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 180 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). Crown ratio 3 Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 3". Crown radius 4 Radius of the plant's crown measured along a radial line at 270 degrees azimuth (feet or meters). Crown ratio 4 Ratio of live crown to total plant height corresponding to "Crown radius 4". Expansion Number of individuals represented by an factor individual listed in the component list (usually plants per acre or hectare). SVS README -- February, 97 -- 31 Marking status A code indicating the inclusion of the plant in various, user-defined, marking scenarios. This integer can range from 0 to 255. Individual bits in the integer correspond to the eight possible marking scenarios with the least significant bit corresponding to scenario 1. X Location of the base of the stem (ordinate in feet or meters). Y Location of the base of the stem (abscissa in feet or meters). Elevation Elevation at the base of the stem (feet or meters). SVS assumes that the ground is at an elevation 0.0. If plant elevations other than 0.0 are given, the plant will "float" above or below the ground. Crown Dimensions SVS can display asymmetric crowns represented by crown dimensions measured at four points in the crown. Most data sources will produce data describing crown diameter as a constant value for each tree. Many research studies and some stand growth models produce asymmetric crown data. SVS displays the asymmetric crowns in the perspective view when drawing "realistic trees" and in the overhead view when drawing "solid trees" or "realistic trees". Display of asymmetric crown in the overhead view when marking trees is controlled by the configuration parameter: "Use irregular crown on overhead view". Ground definition files SVS can "drape" a simple raster map over the ground surface. Using this feature, you can delineate specific features such as sample plot locations, roads, and streams on the ground surface. Ground surface definitions are stored in "Ground surface definition files", ASCII text files containing an array of single character attribute data with one character representing one grid cell. Ground surface information is independent of stand component information. SVS README -- February, 97 -- 32 A ground definition file contains of the following information: * Header containing the number of rows and columns in the array * Translation table containing all possible array attributes and the color used to represent the attribute in SVS displays. Color values can range from 0 to 255. * Table showing the attribute assigned to each cell in the array. The attribute table can include up to 256 rows and 256 columns. The translation table must end with a line containing an asterisk (*) and the color used to represent all attribute values not explicitly listed in the translation table. SVS orients the attribute table so that the first entry in the table corresponds to the upper left corner (northwest) of the stand. An example file might look like this: Example Ground Definition File 10 12 A 0 B 3 C 14 * 0 CCCCCCCCCCCC CAAAAAAAAAAC CAAAAAAAAAAC CAAAABBAAAAC CAAABBBBAAAC CAAABBBBAAAC CAAAABBAAAAC CAAAAAAAAAAC CAAAAAAAAAAC CCCCCCCCCCCC