How to add a new folder connection

All data stored in a catalogue should be in a folder (or in a sub-folder under a folder) specified as a “folder connection” for that catalogue. Connected folders can be any folder on your system. By referencing them in the catalogue it enables the tool to build a relative path to each file, which should then still work if the catalogue is moved to a new location (e.g. to a different machine or system). Files not stored in a connected folder have the potential to be “lost” when a catalogue is transferred to another system. Consequently, the catalogue validation tool will try to identify any such files (for you to then correct, either by setting up additional folder connections or by moving the file into an existing connected folder).

Absolute file paths within the file will be invalid if moved, e.g. an ief file specified to write results to an absolute file path. You can still find the data (from the stored path), but not re-run the model. It is recommended that you add notes against data entries containing full paths, so 3rd parties can re-map the data when they receive the catalogue.

This section explains how a new folder connection is created:

1. After opening the catalogue you wish to work on, click the Folder Connections button on the Catalogue tab of the main toolbar.

   

   A new window is displayed, entitled Folder Connections. All current connected folders are listed in a table within the Folder Connections window.

   

2. Click the Add Folder button. A standard folder selection pop-up is displayed - browse to an existing folder (or create a new folder). After selecting the required folder, click OK. The new folder reference will be added as a new row in the Folder Connections window.

   

3. Entries in the table can be further edited by typing directly into the table or by accessing the folder selection window using the button provided on each row.

4. Descriptive notes can also be entered against each row of the table. These can help explain what data are stored in each folder, e.g. “shared GIS datasets” or “model outputs”.

5. Click Save to store the specified folders in your catalogue and then click the Red “X” to close the Folder Connections window. If you try to close the window without saving, the tool will prompt you to ensure unsaved changes are not lost. If there are unsaved changes then the window header should be displayed with a “*” symbol

   

6. Click save button in the Catalogue tab to save changes made to the new catalogue.