What is this new file extension that is beginning to appear in the manual and other places? As you know, we have long had the .LNX file, which is a link file without volumes or times. It is used as the source file for distribution and assignment runs. And we have long had the .LLX file, or loaded link file, which is the result of a distribution and assignment run and contains volumes, times, and perhaps select zone or link volumes. What we did not have was a file designated specifically for containing actual volumes (ground counts, ground data, whatever. As the tools for analysis improved and we were able to make the direct comparisons of assignment volumes versus actual volumes, this need became apparent and we created a .LVX extension for link volumes files.

This file is now available for use in a) 1.2.3 COMPARE LINK FILES, b) 2.7.2.2 ENTER GROUND COUNTS FROM LINK FILE into a screenline analysis file, c) several options in 1.6.5 ALLOWABLE LINK CALIBRATION ERRORS, and, of course, in the link file and graphics editors.

Now that we have this, our inhouse practices have changed. Because it is very important to keep actual volumes available for comparison at all times, we now consider the .LVX file as our basic link file for all editing purposes. Any time we make a change to our network or do any editing in the Network Graphic Editor (NGE), we load and use the .LVX file. This necessitates overriding the .LNX extension when loading files for the NGE but we feel the benefits are worth it.

Where, then, do we get an .LNX file for a run? When ready to make a run we load the .LVX file into 1.2 LINK LINE EDITOR and use option 1.2.8) CLEAR LINK MEMORY to clear R) All Volumes and Times. We then 1.2.6) SAVE LINK FILE under the extension .LNX.

So, the .LNX file is now very fleeting (ephemeral, temporary, part-time) in its existence. However, we now know that we have an actual volumes file which is exactly the same as the .LNX source file which was used for the D&A run and that we won't accidentally use an .LNX file for a run which contains volumes and would act as a preload. Try it . . . you'll like it!