You can use the File menu to open or close files and to save them. Some options should be familiar to you, since they are used in familiar Windows applications, such as word-processors and spreadsheets.

The options available are:

• Selecting Open takes you to a window in which directories and files are displayed. The names of any DRAINS data files ending with .drn will appear. A file can be brought into DRAINS by double clicking its name.

• Selecting Close closes a file and removes it from the DRAINS window, leaving the contents of all five databases still in place.

• Choosing Save Ctrl+S saves a file under its original name.

• Selecting Save As saves a file under a different name. The program will prompt you for this name, and will add the suffix .drn.

If a run has occurred and DRAINS is displaying results, the following message will appear when Save or Save As is chosen:



If Yes is selected, the complete calculated results will be saved, if No is selected only the input data will be saved.  Files containing a lot of results may be quite large.

• Selecting Import  ► when no drainage elements are present in the Main Window, the menu shown below opens:
  

            

      When drainage elements are already present, only a DXF background can be imported:

            

 This has the following options for importing data into DRAINS:

*   Import DXF File imports information from a DXF file containing pipes and pits into DRAINS. See Importing DXF Files for more information about this feature.

*   The alternative Import DXF background replaces or adds to the existing background. See Importing DXF Files for more information.

*    ESRI Shapefiles imports information from a set of shapefiles in a specific format.

*    MapInfo MIF Files imports data from a set of files in a specific format.

*    LD File brings in information generated by the Autodesk Land Desktop (LD) interface with DRAINS.

*    Civil Site Design File imports data from the Civil Site Design program from Civil Survey Solutions (see www.civilsurveysolutions.com.au).

*    ILSAX files
 initiates a process for transferring information in the ILSAX Run & Rainfall and Pipes files into a DRAINS drn file format. This involves nominating a pair of ILSAX files, drawing the layout of pits on a screen and entering the extra data required by DRAINS. See Importing ILSAX Files for more information about this feature, which is now obsolete.

*    Merge file imports a merge file created from another DRAINS drainage system.

*   DRAINS Database (DB1) file.. imports a data base of pipe, pit and overflow route information, that can replace or be appended to the existing data bases (note that replacement of pipe and pit data is only possible if the system does not already have pipes and pits drawn into it).

• Selecting Export  ► opens the menu shown below:
  

            

*    DXF Long Section sets up a process that displays a long section with pipe chainages, invert levels and ground surface levels, and allows this to be exported as a DXF file. Consult Exporting DXF Longitudinal Section Drawings for more information.

*    DXF Plan produces a DXF drawing file containing a plan view of pits, pipes and background. Consult Exporting DXF Files for more information about this feature.

*    ESRI Shapefiles exports a set of six files readable by ArcView and other ESRI GIS programs, containing information on the positions of components and associated results from analyses.

*    Mapinfo Files exports a set of MID/MIF files readable by the MapInfo GIS program.

*    12D Connection Data File exports a text file containing the names of the pits and pipes in the data bases, to be used by the 12d program.

*    Civil Site Design File exports a file in the format used by the Civil Site Design program.

*   Tuflow TS1 Files exports sets of  hydrographs in a comma-separated variable format that can be read by spreadsheets and text editors.  This is done for all sub-catchment, pipe, overflow route and channel flow hydrographs for all storms modelled.  Consult the topic Exporting TS1 hydrographs.

*    Merge File creates a merge file for addition of the current system to another DRAINS drainage system.

*   Drains Template File exports a template file that can be used to build new models, with the same date bases as the model from which it is created.

• Choosing Print Diagram Ctrl+P prints the current window. This will show the network with names of system components before a run or flowrates and other results after a run. You can choose whether to print the full system diagram or the current window view, and to vary the size of the font being used.
• The most recent data files used with DRAINS are shown below the Print Diagram option. Clicking their names will open them.
• Selecting Exit terminates the program. A message will appear offering to save the current file if this has not yet been done.