							 Page 1/8

      				  TUTORIAL

      				    for

			  DEMONSTRATION OF XSTABL


      The following details are presented as an introduction to the
      slope stability program: XSTABL.  It is presented as a tutorial to
      illustrate some of the unique features that have been incorporated
      into XSTABL to take advantage of the personal computer
      environment.  The USER should print this file and follow the
      sequence of screens and respond with the commands or input data
      (shown within quotations) suggested below.

      This tutorial assumes that you have copied ALL the files included
      on the disks to an appropriate directory on a hard disk.

      If the user is restricted to a dual disk-drive system only, a
      program disk with XSTABL.EXE, XSTABL.ERR, XSTABL.HLP and SETUP1.STB
      must be prepared and the example data files should be copied to a
      second disk.  Then the program should be started from disk "A"
      (say).  The disk with the example input and output data files
      should be placed in drive "B".


      The following sequence of steps should be followed:

        1.  at the DOS prompt, type:     "XSTABL"

            The program will take a few seconds to load into memory and
            at the first screen display of the "Copyright-Notice", you
            are asked to press the ENTER key to continue.  Upon pressing
            this key, the "Main Menu" will be displayed.  From this menu
            you may select one of the five available options by moving
            the highlight-bar with the up/down cursor keys.

        2.  Move the highlight-bar with the cursor keys.... note the
            short, one-line, descriptions written below the menu for
            each selection.

        3.  Press the F1 key ......the screen will clear and an expanded
            description of the first TWO selections is presented.  Note
            the commands in the lower part of the screen.

        4.  Press the PgDn key ... to see the second page of the help
            screen and a description of the last two options in the
            "Main Menu".

        5.  Press HOME --- to see an index of the help information

            This option provides a direct access to the nineteen help
            topics.

            Notice the commands on the TOP row for moving through the
            pages of text.

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	6.  Press "u" to review the XSTABL limits on data.

        7.  Press ESC to return to "Main Menu".

      You should note that throughout the program the ESC-key will let
      you return to a previous menu or prompt, i.e. use the ESC key to
      "ESCAPE" back one step!

      Now, let us load an existing data file into the program.

        8.  Highlight the second option: "LOAD DATA FROM DISK", and
            select by pressing the ENTER key.

            You will now be prompted for a filename.  If you can recall
            this name, please type it or alternatively, you may select
            the name from a directory listing.  If you look at the lower
            part of the screen, you will see that a command associated
            with the F3 key has been offered.  At this stage, pressing
            the F3 key will allow you to change directories.

        9.  Press F3 ... and you will be prompted for the directory
            name.  To change from the current directory, enter "EXAMPLES"
            to review the example datafiles provided with XSTABL.  If a
	    directory name is indicated in the highlighted zone, it may be
	    erases by pressing the ESC key.

            The screen clears and FOURTEEN files EX_1, EX_1S ... EX_12 will
            be displayed.  Again some commands are offered at the lower
            part of the screen to show the available options.

       10.  Press "V"..... this option will allow you to view a data
            file without loading it into the program.  It is useful for
            selecting the CORRECT file and also for cases where you need
            to quickly review a previously created data file.

       11.  Using the cursor keys, highlight the EX_2 filename, and
            press the ENTER key to load file into XSTABL.

       12.  You will be returned to the same filename prompt that was
            made in (8), above.  Press ENTER to confirm selection.

       13.  Notice that the F2 key, in the lower part of the screen, now
            offers an option.  Press F2 and watch the screen clear and a
            the slope geometry included in the data file, EX_2, appear
            on the screen.  This option is useful for reviewing the
            slope geometry as most of the data preparation errors are
            usually made with the slope coordinates.

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            Also note that the filename is shown on the upper line of
            the menu-box for your convenience.

       14.  Press any key to return to the "Main Menu".		

       15.  Move the highlight-bar to the FIRST option: "PREPARE SLOPE
            DATA" and select by pressing the ENTER key.

       16.  You will now be presented with a new menu that has numerous
            options grouped into FIVE categories.  Within each category,
            labeled horizontally, there are other options and these are
            presented in a vertical-list (or pull-down menus).  In this
            menu, the left/right and up/down cursor keys are used to
            make the appropriate selections.

            Press the right cursor key several times to view the many
            options that may be selected from each category.  Again, a
            one-line description for each option is written below the
            menu box, in the lower part of the screen.

       17.  Move the cursor to the "PROFILE" category and select the
            "SURFACE BOUNDARIES" options (by highlighting, and then
            pressing the ENTER key).  You can now review or edit the
            data for specifying the surface boundary for the slope
            associated with the input data for file: EX_2.

       18.  The surface boundary data is presented in a "TABLE" with
            labeled titles.  This is the most efficient manner for
            preparing data interactively for use with computer programs.
            Within this table, the cursor keys allow you to move to any
            individual "cell" and change the existing value.

       19.  Press F2 to view the slope geometry

       20.  Press ESC to return to the table

       21.  Press F1 to review the on-screen help

       22.  Press ESC to return to the table

       23.  Using the cursor keys, move the highlight-bar to the last y-
            coord entry on the first line.  Type "100" followed by ENTER
            and note the value change in this "cell" and the second cell
            on the NEXT row.  The left and right end coordinates for the
            boundaries are the same, so the program (intelligently)
            changes the next entry to prevent errors and to save time.
            You may press F2 to see changes reflected in the slope
            geometry.

            The subsurface data is also entered into data-tables where
            it can be readily reviewed/edited.  Also, boundaries may be
            inserted or deleted to change the geometry.


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       24.  At an appropriate location in the table, Press the "INSERT"
            key to enter a new boundary for the surface slope.

            Notice that the program will ONLY prompt for the right-end
            coordinates.....and when the line of data has been entered,
            the left-end coords on the next line will be changed to meet
            the sequential criteria for all boundaries.

       25.  Press F2 to view the effects of the "newly" introduced
            boundary.

       26.  Press ESC to return to the data-table.

       27.  Delete this "new" boundary by pressing "d" (or "D") with the
            highlight-cursor on the appropriate boundary line.

            Note the changes in the adjacent boundaries to reflect the
            removal of this boundary.... i.e. essentially eliminating a
            node point!

       28.  Press F2 to view the slope geometry and to make sure
            boundary is effectively removed.

       29.  Press ESC to return to the data-table.


      You may select some of the other options and see what data is
      included in the input file, EX_2.

      Remember to press the ESC key to exit the data-tables and return to
      the "PREPARE SLOPE DATA" menu.  For your convenience, the lower part
      of the screen provides a reminder of the special use of some of the
      keys.


    *************************** SPECIAL NOTE ****************************

      Please note that when entering data for the subsurface boundaries,
      you need to press ESC to stop specifying a soil layer.  After
      pressing ESC once, the automatic prompt for the right-end
      coordinates will stop (temporarily), and you will be prompted for
      the left-end boundary coordinates.  When you have finished typing
      ALL the subsurface boundary data, you will then have to press ESC
      twice --- once to exit entry of current boundary, second to exit the
      "append" mode and return to an "editing" mode where individual
      values can be edited directly.

    **********************************************************************


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       30.  Once you have checked some of the other options, you may
            return from this menu to the "Main Menu" by pressing ESC.

            You will now be prompted for the name of a file for saving
            the data that currently exists within XSTABL.  At this
            prompt you may provide a filename, if you want to save the
            data.  This filename will default to the existing name, for
            convenience, and you will be offered a chance to edit this
            name.  If you try saving with a filename that matches an
            existing name, the program will warn you and offer you a
            chance to "ESCAPE" or replace the file.  After accepting the
            filename, the program will prompt you for a title associated
            with the data file.  This title will be included in the
            output and is useful for identifying different analyses.

            In this case, press ESC, as we do not want to save this data
            for the purpose of this tutorial.

       31.  From the Main Menu, select the "STABILITY ANALYSIS" option.


      STABILITY ANALYSIS
      ------------------

       32.  A new menu "Slope Analysis" is generated and you will be
            automatically prompted for the name of the input data file
            to be used for the stability analysis.  Please note that
            this file is ALWAYS read from the disk, in case
            computational problems lead to the program ending
            prematurely.

            The program will offer the input name as the same one used
            previously, for convenience, or you may choose a filename
            from a directory listing using the F3 option.

       33.  In this case select the default input data filename as EX_2.

       34.  Next, you are asked for the name of the output file.  This
            defaults to the same name as the input file but if prefer a
            different name you can edit the existing entry or press ESC
            to blank the filename entry area.

            Please note that the names are NOT the same.  The input
            data file has an extension .IPT and the output file will
            have the .OPT extension.

       35.  If the filenames are correct, the input file is read and
            checked for any obvious data errors.  If errors are not
            identified, the user is given the option to review and
            save a plot of the slope profile.

            Press "Y" (or "y") to request a view of the slope geometry.

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       36.  After viewing this screen plot, you have an option to save
            or NOT save this plot, for later printing, or to cancel the
            stability analysis.  Press ENTER to continue without saving
            the plot.

       37.  The screen clears and you are offered FOUR possible choices.

            Press ENTER to accept the default "n"!

            Now you can view each surface as generated by XSTABL.  The
            first 20 surfaces will be distinguishable, but after that
            the screen gets a bit "flooded" with lines.  Note that a
            counter at the top of the screen keeps track of the number
            of surfaces generated to assure the user that analysis is
            continuing successfully.  After the required number of
            surfaces have been analyzed, you are asked to press ENTER to
            continue.

            If any misleading (erroneous) FOS values are calculated during
            the automatic surface generation and analysis phase, an
            appropriate message will be written to the output (*.OPT) file. 

       38.  Press the ENTER key.... now a plot of the 10 most critical
            surfaces is presented and you have an option to save this
            for later printing.

       39.  Press "y" followed by ENTER to save this plot.  

            The program will next ask you to select the graphical format
            that should be used to save the plot, where:

		    1.	*.GP3  --->  internal XSTABL format
                                     (may be plotted using XSTABL or XPLOT)

		    2.  *.WP3  --->  WordPerfect Graphics (WPG) format
                                     (used by all WordPerfect products)

		    3.  *.HP3  --->  HPGL format 
                                     (used by many third-party
                                      software products)

	    Press ENTER to select the default *.GP3 format.

       40.  Answer the next prompt by pressing ENTER, and you will be
            presented with the output file EX_2.OPT.  You may use the
            keys suggested at the TOP of the screen to move through this
            file. e.g. pressing the END key will take you to the last
            page of the output file.  You can browse through this file
            in a forward or reverse direction using the keys indicated
            in the line at the top of the screen.

       41.  Press ESC to exit this output file and return to the Main
            Menu.

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       42.  Select the "DOS FILE OPERATIONS" option.  A directory
            listing of ALL files with a XSTABL associated extension
            (.IPT; .OPT; .GP?; .CP?; .HP?) will be displayed.  Highlight
            the EX_2.OPT name, and press "P" to print this file.  The
            graphics files (*.GP?) can be viewed or printed from menu 
            -- try viewing and printing EX_1.GP3.

            Also note the other options, shown in the lower part of the
            screen, that are available with this display for managing
            XSTABL files without exiting to DOS after each run.

       43.  Press ESC to exit back to the Main Menu.

      Next we are going to re-analyze the critical surface identified
      by the search performed using the example file: EX_2.IPT.

       44.  Load the data file:EX_2.IPT.

       45.  Select the "PREPARE SLOPE DATA" option.

       46.  Using the cursor, move to the "ANALYSIS" category and then
            select the "Noncircular Specific Surface" option.

       47.  Answer with a "y" at the prompt asking if you wish to read
            the data from an existing *.OPT file.  You will be offered a
            default choice for this filename as: EX_2.OPT; accept this
            choice.

       48.  Next you will be informed that the specified *.OPT file contains
            coordinates of several most critical failure surfaces, and you
            will be asked to select the failure surface for further analysis. 
            Select the most critical surface, i.e. surface "1".

       49.  Press F2 to view the critical failure surface.  Press any key
            to return to the data table.

       50.  Press ESC to exit the data table.

       51.  Press ESC to exit this menu.

       52.  At the prompt for the "new" filename, just add the character
            "1" to the end of the default filename offered, and save the
            file as EX_21.IPT.  If necessary, add an appropriate project
            title.  The file will be saved to the disk as EX_21.IPT.

       53.  Upon returning to the MAIN MENU, select the STABILITY ANALYSIS
            option.

       54.  Accept the default input filename as EX_21 and assign the output
            filename as EX_21A.  Press ENTER.

       55.  You will now be presented with an extensive menu for selecting
            the analytical method for calculating the FOS for the specified,
            single failure surface.  Using the cursor, move down and review
            the various method available under the GLE and FORCE EQUILIBRIUM
            categories.

       56.  After the review, select the SPENCER METHOD for this analysis.

       57.  The screen will clear, and you will be informed about the progress
            of the iterations to determine the FOS.

       58.  When the FOS value has been determined, the screen clears and FOUR
            graphs will be presented on-screen.  The graphs are:

               (a) THRUST LINE LOCATION        (upper-left)
               (b) BASE STRESSES               (lower-left)
               (c) INTERSLICE FORCES           (upper-right)
               (d) INTERSLICE FORCE ANGLES     (lower-right)

       59.  Save this plot as a *.GP4 file for later printing.

       60.  Answer the next prompt by pressing ENTER, and you will be
            presented with the output file EX_21.OPT.  You may use the keys
            suggested at the TOP of the screen to move through this file.
            e.g. pressing the END key will take you to the last page of the
            output file.  You can browse through this file in a forward or
            reverse direction using the keys indicated in the line at the top \
            of the screen.

      Go to the end of the file and review some of the data presented for
      each slice.

       61.  Press ESC to exit this output file and return to the Main Menu.


       62.  Press ESC to exit XSTABL.  You will be asked to confirm this
            decision in case you have failed to save an input data file.
            Respond with a "y' to return to the DOS prompt.


      PROGRAM XPLOT.EXE (only supplied with FULL version of XSTABL)
      -----------------

       63.  At the DOS prompt, type "XPLOT" to execute the plot program
            to obtain a hardcopy plot of the slope stability analysis.

       64.  The opening screen allows you to select the type of output
            and/or output device.  The default is initially set for the
            "HP LaserJet, 300 dpi".  This may be changed at any time
            by highlighting the appropriate option and selecting it by
            pressing the ENTER key.

       65.  Following device selection, you will be prompted for the
            directory where the plot files reside.  Press ENTER to
            accept the current directory as the default directory.

            If a different output device or directory is selected, the
            program will "offer" to save these parameters for next time.
            If you answer 'y' to this request, a file: SETUP.XTB will
            be created and saved in the current directory.  This file
            contains the default device number and the directory name.

       66.  Upon providing a directory name and pressing the ENTER key,
            the next screen will display a list of the XSTABL graphics
            files that are available for plotting.

            From this list, you may SELECT the files for plotting by
            highlighting the filename and then pressing the SPACEBAR
            for select.  Files selected in this manner will have an 
            asterisk ("*") placed on the left.  If you change your mind,
            you may cancel such a selection by pressing the SPACEBAR with
            the appropriate file highlighted.  i.e. the SPACEBAR acts as
            a "toggle" switch to select and unselect files.  An option to
            plot ALL files may be invoked by pressing "A".  Once the desired
            files have been selected, make sure the output device is switched
            ON, and then press ENTER to start plotting.  The ESC key allows
            you to return to DOS.
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       67.  In our case highlight the name: EX_1.GP3 and press the SPACEBAR
            to select .... note the blinking asterisk to the left of the
            filename.

       68.  Move the highlight bar to the name, EX_2.GP3 (created for
            the analysis performed earlier) and select by pressing the
            SPACEBAR key.

       69.  Press ENTER to start plotting .....

            Approximate relative times for each plot are:

                    HP LaserJet II . . . . . . . . . .  2 minutes

                    Low Density, Epson FX-85 . . . . .  5 minutes

                    High Density, Epson FX-85  . . . . 15 minutes

                    HP Plotter . . . . . . . . . . . .  4 minutes

            Please note that many plots may be submitted using the any
            one of these devices except the HP Plotter.  For the case of
            the plotter, the program must wait for a "new" sheet of
            paper at the completion of each plot.  For the other
            devices, the automatic feeding is a definite advantage.


      The steps presented above cover the "basics" of an introduction to
      the slope stability analysis program XSTABL.  There are many other
      unique features that can be readily explored by the user.  The
      menus, data tables and filename prompts are consistent throughout
      the program and thus help in reducing the complexities that are
      usually apparent in mainframe programs that have been ported to
      the personal computer environment.

      XSTABL has been developed exclusively for the PC environment and
      has many intelligent features to reduce errors and improve the
      productivity of the analyst.

      If you have any comments or questions, please write to:

                            Dr. Sunil Sharma
                            Interactive Software Designs, Inc.
                            953 N. Cleveland Street
                            Moscow,  ID 83843
                            U. S. A.
