# What recommended format of input parameters/options of a large hydrological model compiled as a Julia Package?
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-recommended-format-of-input-parameters-options-of-a-large-hydrological-model-compiled-as-a-julia-package/60561
**Category:** Modelling & Simulations
**Tags:** question, input-output
**Created:** [May 5, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-recommended-format-of-input-parameters-options-of-a-large-hydrological-model-compiled-as-a-julia-package/60561 "2021-05-05T04:12:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JosephPollacco](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/JosephPollacco)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-recommended-format-of-input-parameters-options-of-a-large-hydrological-model-compiled-as-a-julia-package/60561/1 "2021-05-05T04:12:31Z")
The question is what **format** (e.g. _.csv, .txt_ etc…) would you recommend to read Inputs options/ parameters values of a large model [https://github.com/manaakiwhenua/SoilWater\_ToolBox.git](https://SoilWater-ToolBox) ?
I was informed in [Discourse](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-make-standard-julia-package-with-input-options-parameters-in-non-compiled-julia-files/60549/3) that when you compile a package you cannot read as an input Julia input files (therefore my method is wrong).
In my current code (below) I would need to convert the _Options_ into a `structure` and read the parameters from a separate input file.
**Current way of reading input files which I need to find an alternative**
```julia
module option
const HydroModel = :Kosugi # <:Kosugi>*; <:Vangenuchten>; <:BrooksCorey>; <:ClappHornberger>; <:VangenuchtenJules>
const θrOpt = :Opt # <:Opt> optimises; <:ParamPsd> derive from PSD and uses α1 and α1 from parameters in Param.jl; <:σ_2_θr>
const σ_2_Ψm = :Constrained # <:Constrained> Ψm physical feasible range is computed from σ <:UniqueRelationship> Ψm is computed from σ; <:No> optimisation of σ & Ψm with no constraints
end
```
**The question is what format of input _parameters/options_ will you recommend, which will also inform the user of the different available options e.g. which hydrological model to use `# <:Kosugi>*; <:Vangenuchten>; <:BrooksCorey>; <:ClappHornberger>; <:VangenuchtenJules>`?**
Thanks for sharing your tips,
Joseph
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### Author:  [@jzr](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jzr)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2021, 5:55am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-recommended-format-of-input-parameters-options-of-a-large-hydrological-model-compiled-as-a-julia-package/60561/2 "2021-05-05T05:55:17Z")
I’d probably use TOML with [TOML.jl](https://julialang.github.io/TOML.jl/dev/). That is the same format used by Pkg.
---
### Author:  [@JosephPollacco](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/JosephPollacco)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-recommended-format-of-input-parameters-options-of-a-large-hydrological-model-compiled-as-a-julia-package/60561/3 "2021-05-16T22:59:55Z")
As a follow up I posted the following post:
[How to convert struct 2 TOML?](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/converting-structure-to-toml-back-to-structure/61265)
> [@How to convert TOML file into a Structure and vice versa?](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/converting-structure-to-toml-back-to-structure/61265):
>
> Hi I have a large SoilWater-ToolBox model and I have got all the input , [Parameters](https://github.com/manaakiwhenua/SoilWater_ToolBox/blob/master/src/Param.jl), as a mutable struct. In order to create a package I will need to read the parameters outside the model as recommended in previous post as a TOML. So the question is how to convert the structure into TOML? Then how to read TOML file into a structure? I will be delighted if one can provide me guidance how to perform this task by using the proposed simple structure: mutable struct OPTION transpiration …
Many thanks for any help you may provide