# 6.1 Overview

**6.1.1 Introduction to the GUI**

The SPHY model preprocessor GUI has been developed with the goal to make the creation of SPHY model input data more user-friendly, and thus more applicable to a larger user-group world-wide.&#x20;

The SPHY model preprocessor interface consists of a top menu with three buttons and a tab widget that contains 6 tabs (Figure 56). The use of the top menu buttons is explained in Section 5.1.3. When working on a SPHY model preprocessor project, the user has to go through the individual taps: general settings, area selection, modules, basin delineation (if routing is enabled), stations, and meteorological forcing. The user has to complete these tabs in the order they appear from left to right. The use of each of these tabs is described in detail in the Sections 5.2 through 5.7.&#x20;

The current version of the SPHY model preprocessor GUI is compatible with the following databases/extents: HMA (Appendix 2).&#x20;

If it is the first time you use the SPHY model preprocessor GUI, then please first read Section 5.1.2 before continuing with the other sections.

<figure><img src="https://4210278315-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F68y0QNUHmAMyqeH7yW67%2Fuploads%2FP4GZ75bSPLnTwtaTxj8w%2Fafbeelding.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e00c297e-f9d8-4da2-a9c5-ccfc6cb3e2eb" alt=""><figcaption><p>Figure 56: Overview of the SPHY model preprocessor GUI top menu (buttons in blue box) and tab widget, consisting of 6 tabs (red box).</p></figcaption></figure>

**5.1.2 Using the preprocessor GUI for the first time**

The SPHY model preprocessor GUI is always started by clicking the SPHY model preprocessor GUI button (Figure 5). Since it is the first time you use the interface, the registry settings will be empty. This means no previous SPHY preprocessor projects can be found by the interface. If this is the case, then the interface looks like Figure 57. The only options available are:

* New project
* Open project

<figure><img src="https://4210278315-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F68y0QNUHmAMyqeH7yW67%2Fuploads%2FIRKtVNSCBZT9GG8eAY14%2Fafbeelding.png?alt=media&#x26;token=87f54221-7edb-4728-be57-cb5915e009c1" alt=""><figcaption><p>Figure 57: SPHY model preprocessor GUI for first-time use.</p></figcaption></figure>

The _New Project_ button logically asks the user to save a new SPHY model project, whereas the _Open Project_ button asks the user to open an existing SPHY model project. After one of these options has been selected, the tabs will be activated (Figure 8) such that the user can go through these tabs to complete preprocessing input data.

**6.1.3 Top menu buttons**

A SPHY model preprocessor project involves editing a SPHY preprocessor configuration file (\*.cfg). If the _New Project_ button is clicked, then the user is asked where to save the new project and to provide a filename (XXXX.cfg) for the project. You can choose any filename, but make sure you do not choose the same filename as you will use later for the SPHY model GUI project (Section 4). If a current SPHY model preprocessor project was open in QGIS, then it will be asked to save the current project first before creating a new project.

After creating a new project, the GUI looks like Figure 8. The user may now continue completing the different tabs.

Opening an existing project allows you to continue with a previous SPHY model preprocessor project. By clicking the _Open Project_ button you will be asked to select a \*.cfg project file to be opened. If a current SPHY model preprocessor project was open in QGIS, then it will be asked to save the current project first before opening another project. All model settings present in the \*.cfg file will be added to the SPHY model preprocessor GUI.

When working on an active preprocessor project, all the changes you make in the GUI will automatically be saved to the \*.cfg file. The _Save As_ button allows you to save the SPHY model preprocessor project under another filename.
