Unlock SMS 14.0 Map Undo Features

Building a hydraulic model in the Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) often involves extensive editing of arcs, nodes, points, and polygons. A small change to a coverage can sometimes have unintended consequences, particularly when working with complex geometries. SMS 14.0 introduces an experimental Undo/Redo for Map module coverages feature that gives users a new way to recover from editing mistakes and move more confidently through the conceptual modeling workflow.

The feature allows many common coverage-editing operations to be reversed using Edit | Undo or repeated using Edit | Redo, along with the standard keyboard shortcuts. For users who spend significant time developing model geometry in the Map module, this can make the editing process considerably more flexible.

Enable Coverage Undo/Redo in SMS 14.0

There is one important detail: Map module coverage Undo/Redo is experimental in SMS 14.0 and is turned off by default.

To enable it:

1. Open the Preferences dialog.

2. Select the General tab.

3. Find Undo/Redo for Map module (experimental).

4. Check Enable.

Once enabled, SMS can track many edits made to supported coverages. This means you can experiment with geometry changes without being as concerned about permanently committing an unwanted edit.

SMS Preferences documentation

What Can Be Undone and Redone?

The new capability covers many of the operations modelers regularly perform when developing conceptual geometry. These include:

• Cleaning a coverage

• Editing feature object attributes

• Deleting selected feature objects

• Deleting a coverage

It also extends to several important geometry-editing operations, including:

• Building polygons

• Creating arc groups

• Converting between vertices and nodes

• Reversing arc direction

• Redistributing vertices

• Transforming a coverage

• Stamping features

• Changing a coverage's type

This is particularly useful when working on complex geometries where a single operation can affect numerous feature objects.

For example, suppose you redistribute vertices along a channel bank and decide that the new spacing is not appropriate. With coverage Undo/Redo enabled, you can undo the redistribution rather than manually reconstructing the original geometry.

A Useful Tool for Complex Geometry

Undo/Redo can be especially valuable when preparing coverages that will eventually be converted into a mesh or grid. Modelers often need to experiment with vertex spacing, arc placement, polygon boundaries, and other geometric details before reaching a satisfactory computational geometry.

Instead of treating each change as permanent, users can test an approach, review the resulting geometry, and undo it if it does not produce the desired result.

This can encourage a more iterative approach to conceptual modeling—particularly when refining complicated channels, shorelines, structures, or other features.

Know the Limitations

Because the feature is experimental, users should understand that it does not apply to every coverage type in SMS 14.0.

Undo/Redo is available for most newer coverage types and most generic coverages. However, it is not available for several older built-in model coverages, including BOUSS-2D, CGWAVE, PTM, WAM, and classic TUFLOW coverages. It is also unavailable for generic mapping and observation coverages.

Therefore, enabling the feature does not mean that every operation in every SMS coverage can be reversed.

Why Try It?

The addition of coverage Undo/Redo is a quality-of-life improvement that can make SMS 14.0 conceptual modeling more forgiving. Instead of spending time carefully avoiding experimentation, users can make changes, evaluate them, and undo unsuccessful edits when working with supported coverage types.

For anyone who regularly edits complex Map module geometries, it is worth enabling the experimental feature and incorporating it into the workflow.

Conclusion

SMS 14.0's experimental Map module Undo/Redo capability gives users greater flexibility when creating and editing model coverages. From redistributing vertices to building polygons, cleaning geometry, transforming coverages, and editing feature attributes, many common operations can now be reversed or reapplied.

For modelers working with complex geometries, this means fewer headaches when experimenting with the feature objects that ultimately become the foundation of a computational mesh or grid.

Upgrade to SMS 14.0 and enable the new Map Undo/Redo feature to take the stress out of your conceptual modeling workflow. Download SMS 14.0 today!