Put the Sim160.zip disk in your floppy drive (or specify the path to the file). Create a directory called Simpot or else some other name. Open an MS-DOS window and type
cd \simpot (or whatever you have named this directory)
a:pkunzip -d a:sim160
See the file "Readme.1st" for brief instructions on running Simpotato.
There are several directories of data files under the simpot directory:
Metric: has our Prosser 1992-95 experimental plot data, OSU 1988-89
commercial fields data.
Eng: has American units versions of some of the fields in Metric. (There is a
program in the simpot directory, Met2Eng.exe that translates the Simpotato input
files between American and metric units.)
kmb-slv: has data files for growth experiments from Kimberly ID 1978-79
provided by Dale Westermann and from the San Luis Valley, CO 1989-91
provided by Frank Moore. (In metric units)
kmb-slv.eng: has the same files in American units.
There is a file called "Sim.bat" in each data directory that starts the Simpotato program file (Sim160.exe in the Simpot directory). You may run any of the Sim.bat files from an MS-Dos window or use Windows Explorer to create shortcuts to the Sim.bat file in each data directory. I am not able to provide you with the shortcut icons but I can guide through the process of creating them over the phone if that is needed.
Read the file Inputs.doc so you understand what files are needed to run the model.
Create a directory and copy the files Config.cfg, run.dat, Ptexp.dir, sim.bat, v., and all the *.p files from the metric (for metric unit input files) or the eng (for American units input files) into your directory.
You will also need to edit these files for each field that you want to simulate. Use any file editor or word processor and type over the text in the file in "Overlay" or "Overwrite" mode. Be sure to save it as an `ASCII" or text file. You may use any file names for your input data files, but I recommend that the first 2 letters represent your business or institution and the second 2 letters represent the site of the field to be simulated - PR for Prosser Experiment station (where I work) and PL for Prior Land fields (an experiment plot site). Use the next 2 characters for the year and then 2 more characters for a code indicating which field at this site is represented. I recommend not changing the file extensions (i.e. *.pt4 for crop residue files). Input data files may also be created by copying, changing, and renaming files with the editor in the GUICS program. If you create your input files with a file editor, first study the file Inputs.doc so you understand the units of all the variables in each input file. The water holding capacity, residual nitrogen, and soil organic matter (for low fertilizer levels), are the most critical values as they directly effect water and nitrogen availability and scheduling. When all the input files have been created and entered into your Ptexp.dir file, try running the model (sim160.exe) from your directory. If it doesn't work and you don't know why, get in touch with me and we will see what's wrong.
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