Unlimited Lock-free Online Looped Water Distribution Network Modeling with EPANET solver

I added a looped water supply pipe network modeling application to my FLOSS (GPL = totally unchained to say "I love you") suite of online engineering calculators that allow multiple units selections and serve multiple languages (recently expanded to 26 for coverage focus in the developing world). It includes a "use EPANET solver" option. Here are some introductory walk-throughs for new shoppers, new users, and new projects.

Looped Pipe Network Walkthroughs

New Shopper

1. Select an example from the gallery or use File, Open example... to start an example project. For full exercise of all features, choose Net3, EPANET's model of Novato, CA, USA.
2. Except for animation controls, everything about water network modeling is in the Water menu so you don't have to guess. And unlike EPANET, all project-wide Settings (gear icon) are in a single searchable box.
   • Use the node and link sections to change how and which labels and color spectrums are displayed on the map to visualize your model.
   • Use the Map appearance section to change sizes, alignment, positioning, and masking.
   • Use the Map and page section to hide the page titles, reset the project settings, or make your browser forget this calculator (for a new-visitor experience) with Erase everything.
3. Move some labels by dragging them, and return them home by double-clicking them. In case you accidentally drag a label, dragging makes a label highlighted for a while.
4. Use Water, Settings to change Map appearance settings including the size of Labels.
5. Start select mode (it is the normal mode) by clicking the Select toolbar button. Then
   • edit properties (inputs) of network elements by clicking,
   • move nodes or vertices by dragging them, and
   • add or delete pipe vertices by double-clicking.
6. Use Delete and Undo (Ctrl+Z) as desired. Undo history has a depth of 20 steps.
7. Start add mode to Insert a Junction, Reservoir, Tank, or Text using the toolbar or Insert menu. Then click on the map to add one or many of them. End add mode by (a) clicking on an asset to edit it, (b) clicking the same toolbar button again (to toggle), or (c) clicking the Select toolbar button. If you place Text on a node, it associates by leader with the node; just drag it away after placing it.
8. Start add mode to Insert a Pipe, Pump, or Valve by clicking any of those buttons. Then click on a start node and an end node. Repeat as you wish. End add mode by clicking (1) the same toolbar button again (to toggle) or (2) the Select toolbar button or (3) an asset to edit.
9. Scale, Move, or Remove the Background image (only present on Elm Street Center example) using the Insert menu.

New User

1. Use File.New project to start a blank project in your preferred units system.
2. Under Water, Settings, set everything to your preferences including units and friction method (Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, or Manning). Ignore anything that is unknown to you. Instead of guessing where to find things, all project water settings are under Settings with a search bar. And Settings, Libraries, Profile, and Tables are all under the Water menu.
3. Rename this project's tab to "My-Template-1" (for example).
4. Use File.Save as to create a settings template file on your system for use later and on other computers.

New Project

1. Prepare a project background image screenshot. Save it as an image file (recommended: PNG for drawings and JPG for photos).
2. If you want to use automatic pipe lengths, use one of these methods: (1) include a bar scale or other object of known length in your image so that you can scale it by picking; this is easiest, but not precise; (2) prepare the image so that you know the size of a pixel; see this blog post for help; (3) beyond method 2, prepare a World File for your image; see this blog post for help.
3. Add the Background image using the Insert menu. (You are allowed to select World File and image file at the same time, and that is the only moment you get to select a World File; the other way to use it is to paste its contents under Scale.) Then if you want to use automatic pipe lengths, Scale it using the method you prepared for above. Move it by picking if you wish and if you didn't use a World File. Adjust its opacity using Water.Settings.Map appearance.
4. Check ID prefixes and Starting values under Settings.
5. Draw part or all of your network that uses (or mostly uses) the current Starting values. Calculations are updated as you work unless you choose differently under Water.Settings (search "recalc" or go to Calculation.Hydraulics). Repeat the previous step and this one as many times as you wish.
   • Enter Pump Curve directly into your first pump.
6. Click Scenario at the lower left corner of the map to manage scenarios that let you change only what you want to change, with everything else still controlled by and synchronized with the Base scenario.
7. Adjust Settings and Labels for presentation. Add Text for presentation. Drag things around as needed.
8. Make screenshots of the map for your presentations.