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To prepare for a PEST run, you must prepare three types of file. Template files and instruction files are discussed in the previous section. In many history-matching circumstances, multiple instances of each of these file types must be prepared. The third type of file is the PEST control file. There is only one of these. The PEST protocol insists that it have an extension of ".pst". (The protocol does not insist on prescribed extensions for template and instruction files.)

This section provides a high level overview of the PEST control file. It does not provide the same level of detail as the PEST manual, for these pages are not a manual substitute. Instead, they describe the role and contents of a PEST control file. The second generation of the PEST control file used by programs of the PEST++ suite is also briefly discussed.

Because of its legacy format, the PEST control file that is used by PEST can be difficult to build. However plenty of assistance is available through the PEST manual. Furthermore, a number of utility programs supplied with the PEST suite, and with the PEST groundwater and surface water utility suites, can automate construction of this file. Alternatively, start with an existing PEST control file, and modify it to suite your needs.

A PEST control file may cite one or a number of template and instruction files.