Step 1. Starting the FRAGSTATS GUI

To start FRAGSTATS, simply double click on the Fragstats.exe file and (hopefully) the opening FRAGSTATS window will display (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Anatomy of the FRAGSTATS opening user interface.

The anatomy of this opening window is quite simple, as it is similar to most windows-based programs. The title bar lists the name of the current or open parameterization file. The parameterization file contains the current parameterization scheme. When you first start FRAGSTATS, a parameterization file does not exist. Consequently, the title is listed as “untitled” until you save the current parameterization scheme under the File-Save option. Once you have saved the current parameterization or have retrieved a previously saved scheme, the title bar will list the open parameterization file. The menu bar consists of a few items that allow you to parameterize a FRAGSTATS run, edit certain files, and save and retrieve parameterization files. Each menu item has a drop-down list of options. The toolbar provides quick access to the frequently used File and Fragstats menu options. The log window provides a running log of the analysis. The status bar indicates the status of the program. Details of the parameterization process are described in Step 2. Here, each of the menu bar items are briefly described:

File Menu.–The File menu allows you to open an existing parameterization file or save the current parameterization file. Note, parameterization files are given the file extension .frg.

1.   New.–Creates a new (or blank) parameterization file. It is not necessary to begin by creating a new file. A new file is automatically opened when you start FRAGSTATS. This option is used when you have a parameterization file currently open and wish to create a new file from scratch.

2.   Open.–Opens an existing (previously saved) parameterization file.

3.   Save.–Saves the current parameterization to a file with the extension .frg. Note, if you are saving a parameterization file for the first time, you will be prompted to specify a location and file name. If you are saving from an open parameterization file, this will overwrite the existing file without prompting you for a file name. This file contains all the parameter settings in the dialog boxes at the time the file was saved. This can be very useful if you are running FRAGSTATS repeatedly with the same or similar parameterization schemes.

4.   Save as.–Saves the current parameterization file to a location and file name that you specify.

5.   Exit.–Closes the program. The same effect is achieved by clicking on the X in the upper right corner of the window.

Fragstats Menu.–The Fragstats menu allows you to parameterize the analysis.

1.   Set Run Parameters.–Opens a new dialog box that allows you to specify necessary parameters for running FRAGSTATS (see Step 2).

2.   Select Patch Metrics.–Opens a new dialog box that allows you to select and parameterize the desired patch-level metrics. Note, this function is not active until the Run Parameters dialog box is successfully completed, and then only if patch metrics are selected in the run parameters.

3.   Select Class Metrics.–Opens a new dialog box that allows you to select and parameterize the desired class-level metrics. Note, this function is not active until the Run Parameters dialog box is successfully completed, and then only if class metrics are selected in the run parameters.

4.   Select Landscape Metrics.–Opens a new dialog box that allows you to select and parameterize the desired landscape-level metrics. Note, this function is not active until the Run Parameters dialog box is successfully completed, and then only if landscape metrics are selected in the run parameters.

5.   Clear All Menus.–Clears the Run Parameters, Patch-, Class-, and Landscape Metrics dialog boxes.

6.   Execute Fragstats.–Executes a FRAGSTATS run. An “execution finished” message will appear in the log window when FRAGSTATS processing is complete.

Tools Menu.–The Tools menu provides you with several miscellaneous options for creating and editing batch files, reclassifying classes and controlling class-level output, browsing results, and saving the log file.

1.   Batch File Editor.–Allows you to create and edit batch files. See Step 4 on Using Batch Files for details on the batch file editor.

2.   Class Properties.–Allows you to edit the properties of each class; that is, designate classes as background and disable the output for selected classes. See Step 5 on Modifying Class Properties for details.

3.   Browse Results.–Allows you to browse and save the results of the analysis. See Step 7 on Browsing and Saving Results for details.

4.   Clear Log.–Clears the log window of all text.

5.   Save Log.–Saves the log window as an ASCII text file with the extension .log to a location and file name that you specify.

Help Menu.–The Help menu provides you with online help.

1.   Help Content.–Allows you to access a familiar windows-based help interface with the standard content, index, and find options. The online help information is essentially the same as provided in this document and the FRAGSTATS Metrics document.

2.   About Fragstats.–Lists the authors and the software release version.