Objective:
When conducting parameter estimation (inverse modelling) in GeoStudio products, the *.gsz file must be converted to the uncompressed *.xml format to be used with products such as PEST.
Resolution:
GeoStudio input and output files are generally saved in a *.gsz file format. This format is a zipped file that can be opened with any ZIP utility. The files can also be saved in an uncompressed format in a separate and empty folder. To save your GeoStudio file in an uncompressed format, open the File Save As dialog box while in GeoStudio and set the Save As type equal to GeoStudio Uncompressed File (*.xml).
The uncompressed files then become readily accessible in File Explorer. The analyses in the *.xml file can be solved using either the GeoCmd application or within GeoStudio. The application should ideally be launched from a command line prompt. Once the analyses are solved, the GeoCmd application can be used to generate reports (.HTML files) from which a number of model outputs can be extracted. All of this can be simplified by creating a batch (*.bat) file that contains all of the commands. Batch files can also be run from within a code programmed in the language of your choice.
Further information pertaining to the GeoCmd application can be found in the following tutorial video
The input file has an *.xml extension, whereas the output files have *.csv extensions. The data found in a graph is also stored in a specific *.csv file. The name of the file is appended with a cache identifier (the first number) and a cache sequence number (the second number). The cache numbers associated with each graph can be found in the *.xml file. The first number always remains unchanged, whereas the second number changes each time the graph is changed/altered. It is thus recommended that the graphs be defined in advance (and not changed) when used in calibration, sensitivity, or uncertainty analyses. The data found in these files can easily be extracted using PEST instruction files.