Creating a model transfer file

1. Open the desired version file.

2. From the File menu, choose Compare and transfer networks > Create model transfer file.

The Create model transfer file window opens.

3. Make the desired changes.

Element	Description
Use currently loaded network as base	If this option is selected, the opened network is the basis for the model transfer file.
Version file for base	By clicking the icon, another file can be selected as the basis for the model transfer file to be created.
Use currently loaded network as target state	If this option is selected, the currently opened network of the desired target status should be reached via the model transfer file to be created. Note The two version files must have the same system of co-ordinates.
Version file for target state	Click the button to select the file of your choice. The created model transfer file serves to transfer the base network into the selected network.
	By clicking the icon, you can swap base and target state files.
Show model transfer file after creation	If this option has been selected, the new model transfer file is displayed.

4. Confirm with OK.

The Save model transfer file window opens.

5. Select the desired folder.

6. Enter the desired file name.

7. Click the Save button.

The Save: Model transfer file window opens.

Note: The network file cannot be written in all languages the Visum program interface is available in. If you show the program interface in a language (e.g. Greek) that is not supported by the network file, the Display language section is displayed at the top of the window. Here you can select a language for display of the table elements.

8. If necessary, reduce the amount of data to be saved to file.

Element	Description
Include information on the attributes compared	If this option is selected, it is stored in the transfer file which attributes and tables have been compared.
Filtering	Hide attributes with default values If this option has been checked, only selected attributes are saved with their values. Tip Use this option to reduce the file size. If this option has not been checked, all of the selected attributes are saved with their values not regarding whether attribute value and default value are identical or not. Note You can find the default attribute values in the Attribute.xls file in the ...\Program files\ folder. Hide empty tables If this option has been selected, only those tables containing objects are saved to file. Hide calculated attributes If this option has been selected, the calculated attributes are hidden and are not saved. If this option has not been selected, calculated attributes are equally saved.
Tables and attribute selection	Display tables and attribute names in English If the option is selected, the names of the tables and attributes will be displayed in English, i.e. in the language in which they are stored in the target file. Note This option is only displayed if you have selected English (recommended) in the user settings under Files & protocols > General > Network and attribute files.

9. Select the data tables you want to save to file.

Note: When selecting the tables with network object types, make sure that the selected combination makes sense. If possible, use the Predefined cases button to have access to a number of useful combinations.

Element	Description
	The table has been selected and will be saved to file.
	The table has not been selected and will not be saved to file. Note Table $VERSION cannot be excluded.
Edit marking	In the list of tables, you can select several entries by holding down the Ctrl key. You can then use the button to include all table and attribute markings in the selection or remove them from the selection. You can also select or deselect all direct attributes of the marked tables.
Check all tables	Use this button to select all tables. Note The status of the attributes in the tables remains unchanged.
Uncheck all tables	Use this button to uncheck all tables except $VERSION. Note The status of the attributes in the tables remains unchanged.
Predefined cases	The data required for the description of a network or demand object are stored in just a single or in multiple tables. All data of a link object, e.g., is listed in the $Links table. Links with an edited shape are additionally listed in the $LinkPoly block. Use this button to select all data tables required for the description of specific objects (so-called use cases) and their attributes at the same time (Selecting data tables required to describe an object type for saving data to file).

10. Click the plus symbol of a table name.

The table opens and the names of the attributes of this table are displayed.

Tip: Click the Ctrl key and keep it pressed while clicking multiple tables one by one to show the attributes of these tables simultaneously.

Note: Due to current option settings in the upper section of the window possibly not all of the attributes might be displayed by table.

11. Select the attributes you want to save to file.

Element	Description
	The attribute has been selected and is saved to file.
	The attribute has not been selected and is not saved to file.
	The attribute is a key attribute and cannot be switched off. Key attributes are attributes which serve for unique identification of network objects.
	The attribute is a mandatory attribute and cannot be excluded.
Attribute groups	Via this button you can either select or switch off predefined groups of attributes in a separate window (Selecting or deselecting groups of attributes for saving data).
Set default values	Click this button to hide empty tables and calculated attributes. All other attributes are selected.

Note: Alternatively, you can read selected tables and attributes from a network file *.net (Reading a selection from a network file).

12. Confirm with OK.

Network and OD demand data is saved according to the current settings.

Note: The tables of network and OD demand data in the model transfer file have the following labeling:

$-<Name of object type>: data to be deleted (for the version opened at the start)
$+<Name of object type>: added data (for the version opened at the start)
$<Name of object type>: data to be changed, specifically topologically modified courses
$*<Name of object type>: data of individual attributes to be changed
$!<Name of object type>: data which have to be saved for internal reasons, even if they are matching in both models
$#<Object type name>: all the attributes that have been compared

Selecting or deselecting groups of attributes for saving data

1. Make sure that the Save model transfer file window is open (Creating a model transfer file).

2. Click the Attribute groups button.

The Switch attribute groups on/off window opens.

3. In the selection list, mark the predefined attribute group you would like to select or deselect.

4. Click the desired button.

Element	Description
Activate	All attributes of the selected groups are enabled.
Deactivate	Except key attributes and mandatory attributes, all attributes of the selected group are deactivated.
Activate exclusively	All attributes of the selected group are activated for saving data to file and all attributes of other groups - except key attributes and mandatory attributes - are excluded from saving data to file.

5. Click the Close button.

According to the current settings, the attributes are either selected or deselected.

Selecting data tables required to describe an object type for saving data to file

In Visum, several tables contain data for the description of specific network or demand objects, for example zones and corresponding polygons, timetable or line block data.

To make sure that all the tables and attributes required (so-called use case) are saved to the model transfer file, you can activate a predefined selection of tables and attributes, adapted to the data you wish to save.

1. Make sure that the Save model transfer file window is open (Creating a model transfer file).

2. Click the Predefined cases button.

The Select tables for predefined use cases window opens.

3. Make the desired changes.

Element	Description
Save polygons	If this option has been selected, all tables required for polygon definition are selected. You can decide whether the tables of the related network object types (Zones, Main zones, Main nodes, Territories, POIs, Toll systems) are to be saved, too.
Save timetable	If this option has been selected, all tables are selected that contain data with regard to the timetable. You can decide whether data regarding calendar period and valid days are to be saved. Save calendar period and valid days If this option has been selected, the tables Calendar period, Valid days and Holidays are saved to file. Note This option is only provided if a weekly or an annual calendar has been defined in the network.
Save blocks	If this option has been selected, the tables storing PuT line blocks and corresponding data is selected. Note Since line blocks refer to valid days, option Save calendar period and valid days is selected automatically.
Save main nodes	If the option is selected, the tables of the main nodes and their associated data will be selected.
Write tables for graphics & presentation	If this option is selected, the tables for graphics and presentation, such as info boards and storyboard actions, are selected.

4. Confirm with OK.

Saving selected network and demand data

You can save the currently selected tables and attributes as network file *.net without contents and read them again later as default values.

1. Make sure that the Save model transfer file window is open (Creating a model transfer file).

2. Click the Save selection button.

The Save network window opens.

3. Enter the file name and the path, if required.

4. Click the Save button.

Selected tables and attributes are saved as data block templates without data.

Reading a selection from a network file

You can read a selection of tables and attributes from a network file.

1. Make sure that the Save model transfer file window is open (Creating a model transfer file).

2. Click the Open selection button.

The Open network window opens.

3. Select the desired file.

4. Click the Open button.

The selected tables and attributes contained in the network file are adopted.