List of Figures

Figure 1. The WIMOVAC context sensitive on-line hyper-help system. i). The search button provides search abilities for keywords and topics from within the help system. ii). The back and History buttons allow the user to step backwards through previously read material and allow the help system to be used like an on line book. iii). Coloured underlined text indicates a hyper help topic on which further information is available. Double clicking on this jumps the user to further information. iv). Equations, segmented hyper-graphics, bitmaps and metafiles have been introduced into the help system to clarify textual information. v). The contents button gives access to an alphabetical list of all keywords and topics contained in the help system. This list is automatically produced by the help compiler.

Figure 2. The WIMOVAC model schematic indicating main sub-model components available as separately interactive sub-model dialogs and as integrated functions within the whole plant canopy model.

Figure 3. A typical WIMOVAC model dialog. i). Selecting this prints the model dialog form to the currently selected Windows printer. This is useful for keeping a hardcopy of model dialog run settings. ii). This menu option provides access to the model parameters database. iii). Selecting this gives access to the context sensitive help system. iv). Input box for user input of values used to drive the model. v). Selecting the cancel button stops execution of the model and returns the user to the model component selection list. vi). Selecting the start button begins the simulation. vii). C₃/C₄ submodel selector. viii). Dynamically changing labels. ix). Multiple choice selector.

Figure 4. The model parameter database dialog. i). User input box, with automatically validated checking for datatype. ii). Selecting this initiates the automated search facility which makes it possible to search for parameter values, descriptions or literature sources. iii). Spreadsheet cursor operated with cursor keys allows entry and modification of text and parameter values. iv). This column contains a compulsory and unique search context used internally by WIMOVAC to find the model parameter within the database. v). This is an optional field which contains the literature citation from which the model parameter is obtained. vi). This compulsory field contains the model parameter value. vii). This optional field contains the parameter description and where applicable the range of acceptable values which may be entered into the parameter value field.