This is NOT a short course on GWV and so will not be complete regarding use of the GUI.
The goal is to introduce sufficiently that you can continue effective learning as you use the GUI in your work.
Notice the gwv.pdf file that you can refer to for directions on how to use GWV.
I am continually learning myself and welcome your suggestions on more efficient ways to use the GUI.

It will be most useful if you follow along with your copy of GWV on your computer.

Open GWV on your computer



Select File>New
or
Click on the New Document button

Set global parameters to initialize the model input. GWV is not completely prepared to deal with MF2K yet so we will use MF96 files to create the same model. We will represent the aquitard explicitly with a layer of similar properties, rather than the quasi 3D representation we used when we dealt with the MF2K files directly. The hydraulic result should be identical. If it is not, we should persist until we identify the source of difference.

# rows 18
# columns 18
x spacing 1000m
y spacing 1000m
#layers 3
bottom -10.
top elevation 100.
flat with elevations -10. 40. and 50.
# stress periods 1



You could set other global values at this time as well. Look over the screen to get an overview of global values that can be set here.

Click OK

Select View>Full>Screen
Adjust your window size as desired. Your grid should look like this



Change the font size for the row and columns

Select Grid>Options>Font
Set the font to 48
Select OK

Define the root file name for these MODFLOW files

Model->MODFLOW->Packages.
Change the root file name to “ex5”
Change the layers from unconfined, type 3, to confined, type 0, layers.
Choose Model->MODFLOW->BCF Package
Change the layer definitions
Click OK when you are done.
Save your work
First define the Paths you will use
Choose Model->Paths to Models...
At the bottom, change the working directory to C:\temp\yourname\MODFLOW\exer\gwvtut
Paths to the executables should be correct, but this is a good place to check if a model is not running
OK

Choose File->Save As
Use the file name ex5.gwv
OK

GWV has four modes
Analytic Elements
define and alter grid-independent boundary conditions
Grid
add, delete, and move rows, columns, and layers
Boundary condition
edit grid-dependent boundary
Property zones
assign physical properties (e.g., hydraulic conductivity) to each cell

You can select these from the Edit menu where the active option is checked
      or
use the button on the tool bar
      Buttons on the right side of the toolbar change for each mode

For Boundary conditions options include
  insert and delete windows, insert polyline or polygon, and options
For Properties options include
  default zone, zone window, digitize polygon, transpose zones, and zone database
For Grid editting options include
  delete rows, insert rows, delete columns, insert columns, and grid options
For Analytical Elements options include
  particle trace, line boundary, circle boundary, target, well

To insert, move, and delete rows, columns, and layers, you must be in “grid” mode.

The cursor behaves differently in grid mode.
When you are close to a row or column grid line, the cursor changes shape to either a left-right or up-down arrow.
Pressing the left mouse button when this cursor appears allows you to slide the row or column line to a new position.
You may insert or delete rows, columns, and layers using the menu commands

In Grid mode the right mouse button inserts a row or column into the model or deletes the nearest row or column, depending on the current grid operation (shown at the bottom of the Grid menu and as a depressed button)


Input Boundary Conditions

Add a river along the left edge of the model in layer 1.

Select Analytical Element Mode
Select Add and draw a straight line where the river should be
(click the mouse where you want to start and hold and drag to where you want to end)
Release the mouse button and a dialog appears to confirm the coordinates of the line just created, correct or press OK to accept these coordinates.
A line boundary dialog appears.
Change these values to simulate the exercise we have been doing (example flow system)
Notice that the boundary condition is steady-state. This means that the boundary cells will be active during the entire simulation.
 
This line could have been on a diagonal, in which case, gwv would determine which grid will contain a river, calculate the length of each river reach, and input the proper conductance for each reach. You can envision how time consuming individual input would be.

Add general head boundaries along the right edge of the model in layers 1 and 3 to represent flow from the crystalline rock in the hillside.

Select BCs- and choose General Head Boundary
To set a large number of boundary conditions,
Select BCs->Insert->Window
The cursor will change shape and appear like a mini-finite-difference grid
Move the cursor to the upper right corner of the model (row 1, column 18) and press the left mouse button.
Hold the mouse button down and move the cursor to the lower right corner (row 18, column 18).
Release the mouse button and a dialog appears to confirm the coordinates of the window that you just created, press OK to accept these coordinates.
A general head boundary parameter dialog appears.
Change these values to simulate the exercise we have been doing (example flow system)
Notice that the boundary condition is steady-state. This means that the boundary cells will be active during the entire simulation.
The GHB cells will appear blue REPEAT for layer 3
 
This could have been done using analytical elements and would have been more flexible if you altered the grid in the future, but this approach was used simply to illustrate the various input options.

Input Properties

Editing a model in GWV
GWV editing features      

The model definition is complete, so move on to define MODFLOW specific features, create MODFLOW files, and execute MODFLOW
MODFLOW specific settings, file creation and execution

Post Processing
View results of MODFLOW execution

There are a number of GWV assumptions and constructs that influence how you build your model
Read GV Concepts on page 29 of the manual.