====Information screen====

{{ :information_screen.png?direct&300|}} The information screen is displayed when MERLIN-Expo is launched. It is used to [[#Creating projects|create]], [[#Opening and saving projects|open]] and save [[project|projects]]. It also lets you describe the study being made and attach files related to the study. 

====Tool bar====

| {{ new24.png }}| New | Starts a new project. See [[#Creating projects]] |
| {{ open24.png }}| Open | Opens a previously saved project. |
| {{ save24.png }}| Save | Saves the current project. |
| {{ saveas24.png }}| Save As | Saves the current project to a new location with a new name. |
| {{ saveassessment24.png }}| Save Assessment | Saves the current project together with all simulation results (as an [[assessment]]) |
| {{ preferences24.png }}| Preferences | Displays the [[Preferences|preferences]] window. |
| {{ help24.png }}| Help | Displays this page | 

===Creating projects===

You create a new project by clicking the {{new24.png}} toolbar button. You can select to either start from scratch with a blank project, or choose a template model for your study.

===Opening and saving projects===

MERLIN-Expo uses the file extension .eco for [[project]] files and .eas for [[assessment]] files. An assessment file is a project file which also contains simulation results data.