Many of the slots in the model have the capacity to accept a user defined time series as input. Mechanically, defining such a series is quite simple. Simply open the object ( reservoir, confluence, diversion or table) which contains the slot for which you wish to define a series. Right click on the line representing that slot. A menu will pop up which has a "User Series" entry. That will get the following dialog:

The time display is editable. Set the start time for the series and then click "Update Time". At this point, you may either begin typing in the series, or you may paste it in from a spreadsheet (recommended).

Once you have the series, click OK and close the dialog. Now, turn on the check box on the slot under "User Defined Series". The series will be a part of the model whether this is turned on or not. If the box is not turned on, the series will be ignored by the model.

It is recommended that you store time series in an external spreadsheet. The input dialog is not a full featured spreadsheet. It is primarily useful for entering data and has very little other functionality.

The user series means different things depending on context:

• In a table slot: The series has no particular meaning. It is just data to the slot. Generally table user series are used in rules.

• In an inflow slot: This represents a virgin or unregulated inflow.

• In an outflow slot: This represents a demand.

• In a reservoir storage slot: This represents a storage guide curve. This is the weakest of policy tools and will be over ridden if there are conflicting constraints in the system. If you want a reservoir to follow a guide curve, a constraint is more reliable.

• In a diversion slot: This represents a demand.