Copyright © 2013 Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Inc.

(Gemcom)
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While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, neither the authors nor
Gemcom assumes responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither will be held liable for any damages
caused or alleged to be caused from the use of the information contained herein.
Gemcom Software International Inc., Gemcom, the Gemcom logo, combinations thereof, and
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trademarks of Gemcom Software International Inc. or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Product
Surpac™ 6.6
Last modified: Monday, 12 August 2013
 Table of Contents
Introduction 8
Surpac 8
Overview 8
Requirements 8
Document conventions 8
Typographical conventions 8
Keyboard conventions 9
Menu conventions 9
Mouse conventions 10
Forms 10
Surpac concepts 12
Overview 12
Surpac data types 12
Function-centric and data-centric operations 13
Function-centric 13
Data-centric 13
Getting started 15
Installing Surpac from a DVD 15
Task: Install Surpac 15
Starting Surpac 16
Task: Start Surpac 16
Licensing Surpac 16
Task: License Surpac 16
License Surpac using a token number and a sentinel 16
License Surpac using the self-service licensing service and a sentinel 18
Setting the work directory 21
Task: Set the work directory 21
Exiting Surpac 22
Task: Exit Surpac 22
Modifying the Surpac desktop icon 22
Task: Modify the Surpac icon so that the work directory is set automatically 22
The Surpac interface 24
Menus 25
Task: Open a file using the menu 25
Toolbars 26
Task: Use the Reset graphics button from the toolbar 26
Navigator 26
Task: Open a file from the Navigator 26
 Preview pane 29
Task: Display a string file in the Preview pane 29
Legend pane 29
Graphics 30
Task: Display and view data in Graphics 30
Properties pane 30
Layers pane 31
Status bar 31
Task: View changes to the Status bar 31
Message window 31
Task: Clear the message window 31
Getting help 32
Field help and form help 32
Task: Access field help and form help 32
Online help 34
Task: Access online help from a form 34
Task: Access help from the help menu 34
Task: Use the index to search for information 35
Task: Search the online help 36
Tutorials 37
Task: Access the tutorials profile 38
Support 39
Task: Find support office contact details 39
Strings 41
String data hierarchy 41
Types of strings 42
Description fields 42
Data numbering 42
Data ranges 42
String file names 43
String directions 43
Viewing string data 44
Task: View string data 44
String file structure 47
Task: View string data in a text editor 47
Planes 49
Active plane 49
Planes panel 49
Storing planes 49
Planes viewing modes 49
 2D mode 50
3D mode 50
Planes groups 50
Planes projection distance 50
Task: Creating a temporary plane for graphical validation 50
Task: Saving a plane 52
Task: Pinning the Planes panel to Surpac 53
Task: Loading a plane from the Planes panel 53
Task: Identifying the active plane using the Status bar 54
Task: Creating planes using Quick planes 54
Task: Moving between planes 56
Task: Viewing and changing plane properties 56
Task: Changing the viewing corridor using the Planes panel 58
Viewing and saving data 59
Multiple viewports 59
Task: Work with multiple viewports 59
Attributes and styles files 64
Task: Change display style 64
Task: View point properties 70
Task: View segment properties 71
Task:  Determine bearing and distance between two points 72
Saving data 74
Task: Save a file 74
Orbit mode 76
Task: Use orbit mode to rotate data 76
Selection modes 76
Task: Change selection modes 76
Task: Use point/triangle mode to delete points 78
Task: Use segment/trisolation mode to reverse segments 79
Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments 81
Task: Use string/object mode to delete and clean strings 89
The Move tool 92
Task:  Move data along an axis 92
Task: Move data in a plane 94
Task: Move data in three dimensions 95
Creating data 98
Create a simple pit design 98
Task: Create a simple pit design 98
Managing data in layers 110
Layers and the Surpac work area 110
 Creating layers 110
Task: Create layers 110
Appending data to a layer 116
Task: Append data to a layer with the Navigator 116
Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command 118
Replacing data in a layer 123
Task: Replace data in a layer with the Navigator 123
Task: Replace data in a layer using the open file command 126
Saving workspace settings 129
Task: Save a workspace 129
Triangulated surfaces 132
Naming conventions 132
Breaklines and spot heights 132
DTM conventions 133
Viewing a DTM surface 133
Task:  View a DTM in Graphics 133
Creating a DTM surface 135
Task:  Create a DTM — graphics-based method 135
Task: Create a DTM — file-based method 136
Creating a boundary string between two DTM surfaces 141
Task: Create a boundary string – file-based method 141
Task: Create a boundary string – graphics-based method 142
Calculating cut and fill volume using DTM surfaces 143
Task:  Calculate cut and fill volumes between two DTMs 143
Viewing a solid model 145
Task: View a solid model 145
Creating and validating a solid model 145
Task: Create and validate a solid model 145
Calculating a volume using a solid model 155
Task: Calculate a volume for a solid model 155
File tools 158
String maths 158
Task: Convert section coordinates to real-world coordinates 158
Task: Adjust coordinates 160
Task: Topcut high grade samples 161
Clip data by a boundary 163
Task: Apply a boundary string to a soil sampling file 163
Classify strings 166
Task: Colour points by sample values 166
2D transformations 169
 Task: Transform data to a different coordinate system 169
Polygon intersection 171
Task: Calculate the area of an ore zone within a pit 172
Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit 175
Advanced interface operations 178
Menu bars, menus, and commands 178
Displaying and customising menu bars 178
Task: Create a customised menu bar 179
Customising toolbars and buttons 182
Task: Display toolbars and create a customised toolbar 182
Task: Creating a custom button to put on a toolbar 184
Using and creating profiles 185
Task:  Select the geology_database profile 185
Task: Saving your customisations to a profile 186
Task: Restoring the default profile 186
Using the Function Chooser 186
Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser 187
Working with forms 187
Last value if blank 188
Last value 188
Constant... 188
Application 188
Configuring windows and panes in the interface 188
Toggle floating 189
Toggle auto-hide 190
Close 190
More Surpac functions 192
Drillhole database 192
Task: Open a database, display drill hole data, and create sections 192
Block models 195
Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model 195
Plotting with autoplot 204
Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot 204
References 207
Introduction Typographical conventions

Introduction
Surpac
GEOVIA Surpac™ is the world’s most popular geology and mine planning software, supporting open
pit and underground operations and exploration projects in more than 110 countries. The software
delivers efficiency and accuracy through ease-of-use, powerful 3D graphics, and workflow
automation that can be aligned to company-specific processes and data flows.
Surpac addresses all the requirements of geologists, surveyors, and mining engineers in the resource
sector and is flexible enough to be suitable for every commodity, orebody, and mining method. Its
multilingual capabilities allow global companies to support a common solution across their
operations.
Surpac must be installed on the local computer and your user customisable files saved locally in the
share folder. Working files can be saved locally or to a network location. It is recommended that you
back up both your data and user customised files regularly.

Overview
This document is designed to help new users install Surpac and start using the software. More
detailed training information is available from within the software and from your local support office.

Requirements
Before proceeding with this tutorial, ensure you have the following items:

1. A copy of Surpac v6.6 for installation.

This is usually installed from a DVD, but you can also download the software from the
http://www.GEOVIAsupport.com web site.
2. A suitable computer with a DVD drive.
Minimum Recommended
Microsoft Windows® 32-bit Microsoft Windows® 64-bit Professional, Enterprise,
Windows
Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate Ultimate
8GB (3.xGB max for Surpac 32-bit process)
Memory 4GB
Note: 8GB allows 3.2+ Windows without paging.
CPU i5 2.3Ghz quad core i7/Xeon 2.2Ghz + quad core
500GB 2700RPM SATA or SAS 10,000RPM (data) +
HDD 1 x 500GB 7200RPM SATAII
SDD (for Windows and Applications)
Graphics
Nvidia NVS 420/Q1000m Nvidia Quadro Q2000/m or Q4000/m
card

3. The data set accompanying this tutorial.

Document conventions
Typographical conventions
Some text in this manual has special formatting to identify it as a particular element of information.
The following list describes the different formats and their meanings:

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 8 of 207 Introduction

Introduction Keyboard conventions

Text
Format Meaning

Text or data that varies with each input is shown in italic font and enclosed in angle brackets. Some
<Bold examples are installation directories, dates, names and passwords. When you substitute the text for the
Italic> variable, do not include the brackets. For example: <password> requires you to substitute a password in
place of ‘<password>’.
A word or phrase to which the author wants to give emphasis. For example: you must select an item from
Italics
the list to continue.
This typeface indicates one of the following:

l A file name, path or URL.

l Strongly emphasized text. For example, “It is very important to save the data […]”.
Bold l Text that a procedure has instructed you to type.
l A menu option, tab, button, check box, list, option button, text box, icon, field, or area of the
user interface.

For example: Open pit1.str into Graphics.

Keyboard conventions
Key Com-
Meaning
bination
Press and hold down the first key, then press the second key. For example: CTRL+Z means hold the
<key>+<key>
CTRL key down, then press Z.

Menu conventions
In this documentation, the following example demonstrates the syntax used for menus and
submenus:
Choose File > Open > Block model.
This means click the File menu, move the pointer over the Open command, and select Block model
on the submenu.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 9 of 207 Introduction

Introduction Mouse conventions

Mouse conventions
Action Description
Click Quickly press and release the left mouse button without moving the mouse.
Right-click Press and release the right mouse button without moving the mouse.
Double-click Without moving the mouse, click the left button twice rapidly.
Drag and
With the pointer over the object, press and hold down the left mouse button to select the object. Move
drop <an
the mouse until the pointer is in the position you want and then release the mouse button.
object>
Press and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the mouse in the direction that the text
Drag
specifies.
Press and hold down the right mouse button. Then move the mouse in the direction that the text
Right drag
specifies.
Use your finger to make the wheel button roll. Move it forward, that is in a clockwise direction, or
Rotate
backward, that is in an anticlockwise direction.

Forms
Forms contain elements that you will use to provide information to Surpac:

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 10 of 207 Introduction

Introduction Forms

Element Description Example

1. Title Title of the form.

Labelled group of options used for many similar

2. Tab
kinds of settings.
Rectangular box in which you can type text. If the
3. Text box box already contains text, you can select that text
and edit it.
4. Combo box or Closed version of a list box with an arrow next to it.
Drop-down list Clicking the arrow opens the list.
5. Radio button
Round button you can use to select one of a group of
or Option
mutually exclusive options.
button
Text attached to any option, box, button, or to any
6. Label
other element of a window or form.
7. Help Context-sensitive help button.
Square box that you select or clear to turn an option
8. Check box
on or off.
Rectangular or square button that initiates an action.
9. Button
Buttons have text labels to indicate their purpose.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 11 of 207 Introduction

Surpac concepts Forms

Surpac concepts
Overview
In this chapter, you will learn about:

l Surpac data types

l function-centric versus data-centric operations

Surpac data types

Surpac uses many different file types. Each file type is represented by a unique icon in the Navigator.
The following table describes the most common file types used in Surpac:
File type Example Description

String A string is a sequence of three-dimensional coordinates representing some physical feature.

pit1.str
Digital Terrain Model (DTM) files are generated from .str files and can represent surfaces or
solids.

DTM l A surface is a set of triangles that represent a surface such as topography or

pit1.dtm a pit design.
l A solid model is a set of triangles that represents a 3D shape, such as an
ore zone or an underground mine design.
Drillhole database (DDB) files are used to connect to relational drillhole databases. It is a
Geological
text file that tells Surpac which tables and fields to read from and write to in the client
database surpac.ddb database.
Survey ug_ Survey database (SDB) files are used to connect to relational survey databases. It is a text
database mine.sdb file that tells Surpac which tables and fields to read from the database.
A block model is a form of spatially-referenced database that provides a means for
Block modelling a 3D body from point and interval data such as drillhole sample data. It provides a
model block.mdl method for estimating volume, tonnage, and average grade of a 3D body from sparse
drillhole data.
Files for printing that are generated using the Plotting module. The output files are in DWF
Plot files pit_ format. You can open and edit them in the Surpac plotting window or send them to a plot
str.dwf device such as a plotter.
Macros are custom programs, created to perform a set of repetitive tasks or functionality
Macros
macro.tcl specific to an operation. You can easily record and edit TCL scripts in Surpac.
Plugins allow you to import files from other software applications directly into Surpac. If a
file has this icon next to it in the Navigator, you can open the file in Surpac. For example,
Plugins
topo2.dxf you can import any file that has one of the following extensions: .dxf, .dwg, .dgn, .dm, .shp,
.dgd.
Surpac styles files contain information such as drawing styles, colour settings for strings and
Styles file
styles.ssi DTMs, or default Surpac settings.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 12 of 207 Introduction

Surpac concepts Function-centric

Function-centric and data-centric operations

You can perform nearly all operations in Surpac using either a function-centric or a data-centric
approach. When you use a function-centric approach, you select the function, then specify the data
it is going to act on. When you use a data-centric approach, you select the data, by opening it and
using the selection tools in Graphics, and then select the function. The data-centric approach is often
faster because you do not have to wait for your data to display in Graphics to perform the function.
Function-centric
When you run a function first, and then specify the data you want to use, you are performing a
function-centric operation.

For example, when you click the icon to Open a file , Surpac displays a form. Then you select the
file you want opened.

Some non-graphical operations can only be performed using the function-centric approach..
For example, to calculate volumes between two DTM surfaces, you must use the function-centric
approach, selecting Cut and Fill between DTMs from the Volumes submenu, on the Surfaces
menu.
Data-centric
When you select data first, and then specify the function to be applied to the data, you are
performing a data-centric operation.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 13 of 207 Introduction

Surpac concepts Data-centric

For example, when you right-click a file, the shortcut menu is displayed. You then choose the
operation to be performed, such as Open.

Many graphical operations are quicker and easier to perform using the data-centric approach.
For example, you can select data in a string file, and right-click to display functions that Surpac can
perform on the data.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 14 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: Install Surpac

Getting started
Installing Surpac from a DVD
Task: Install Surpac
1. Insert the DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.
The installation menu appears.
Note: If the installation menu does not appear, use Windows Explorer to navigate to
the DVD and double-click autorun.exe. 

2. To install a 32-bit version of Surpac, click the edition you want to install.
The GEOVIA Surpac Setup Wizard appears.
3. To install a 64-bit version of Surpac:
a. Click Install 64-bit version.
b. Click the edition you want to install.
The GEOVIA Surpac Setup Wizard appears.
4. Click Next.
5. Choose to accept the licence agreement , and click Next.
Note: You must accept the terms of the license agreement or the installation will not
continue.
6. Click Next to accept the default directory, or click Change to select and installation direc-
try.
Note: GEOVIA recommends that you use the default locations.
7. Check that the Sentinel Service Driver is set to be installed on your local hard drive, and
click Next.
8. To participate in the product development program, leave the I would like to par-
ticipate and Provide contact information check boxes selected, and click Next.
Note: GEOVIA would appreciate your participation to help us improve Surpac. This
feature only collects details of the functions you use. Information about your data is not
recorded.
9. Click Install.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 15 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: Start Surpac

Note: If Microsoft .NET Framework 4 or Direct X 9.0c are not installed on your
computer, the installer for the missing component appears at the end of the Surpac
installation.
10. When Surpac is installed, click Finish.

Starting Surpac
Task: Start Surpac
Start Surpac, using either of these methods:

l Double-click the Surpac icon  on your desktop.

l Click Start, select All Programs, and GEOVIA, and Surpac 6.6.

Licensing Surpac
The instructions below are for installing a single user licence.  In order to proceed, you will need:

l Surpac v6.6 installed, as previously described

l a USB or parallel sentinel
l a valid token number or licence file

If you do not have Surpac or a sentinel, please contact your local support office.
If you do not have a valid token number or licence file you can use the self-service licensing function
when you start Surpac.
Task: License Surpac
If you already have a token number, or a licence file, complete the following steps. Otherwise, use
the self-service licensing method that is described in the second procedure.
License Surpac using a token number and a sentinel

1. Ensure that your sentinel is inserted into an appropriate port on your computer.
2. Start Surpac.
If the Surpac interface is displayed, you already have a valid licence.  Exit this procedure .

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 16 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: License Surpac

If you see the Update licence form, a valid licence does not exist. Follow the instructions
within the form to request a licence from the GEOVIA Support web site, or to read the
licence file.

3. Select local, and click Apply.

The Update Licence Token form is displayed.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 17 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: License Surpac

4. Enter the token number, and click Validate.

5. Click Apply.
To review licence details, or type a new token number:
a. Choose File > Licencing > Change/Inspect licence.
b. After reviewing or updating the licence details, click Apply.

License Surpac using the self-service licensing service and a sentinel

Note: You must have an active Internet connection to use the self-service licensing feature.

1. Ensure that your sentinel is inserted into an appropriate port on your computer.
2. Start Surpac.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 18 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: License Surpac

The Update licence form is displayed.

3. Select Request a licence from the GEOVIA Support web site.

4. If you have multiple sentinels attached to your computer, select the sentinel you want to
use for the licence.
5. Click Using the Internet.
The login page for GEOVIAsupport.com opens
6. Enter your GEOVIA Support user name and password.
A new page opens.
7. Click Download.
8. Save the tokens.ssi file in the Surpac SSI_ETC: directory.
9. Select Local, and click Apply.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 19 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: License Surpac

The Update Licence Token form is displayed, pre-filled with the token number.

10. Click Apply.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 20 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: Set the work directory

Setting the work directory

A work directory is the default directory for saving Surpac files. Files used in this tutorial are stored in
the folder <shared_files>\demo_data\tutorials\introduction.
Where <shared_files> is the directory in which the Surpac shared files were installed.
In Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, the default path is
C: \Users\Public\GEOVIA\Surpac\66\demo_data\tutorials\introduction.
In Windows XP, the default path is
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Public\GEOVIA\Surpac\66\demo_
data\tutorials\introduction.
Task: Set the work directory
1. In the Surpac Navigator, right-click the introduction folder.
2. Select Set as work directory.

The name of the work directory is displayed in the title bar of the Surpac window.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 21 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: Exit Surpac

Exiting Surpac
Task: Exit Surpac
Exit Surpac, using either of these two methods:

l Choose File > Exit.

l Click the button at the top right corner of the Surpac window.

Modifying the Surpac desktop icon

All of the files in this tutorial are stored in a specific directory.  Each time you start Surpac, you will
need to have the working directory set to that folder.  The following steps describe how to create an
icon that automatically sets the working directory when you start Surpac.
Tip: You can create multiple Surpac desktop icons with different properties.
Task: Modify the Surpac icon so that the work directory is set automatically

1. Move the pointer over the Surpac icon  on your desktop.

2. Hold down the right mouse button, drag and release.
3. From the shortcut menu, select Copy Here.
A copy of the original icon is created:

4. Right-click the new Surpac icon, and select Properties.

5. In the Start in field on the Shortcut tab, enter
<shared_files>\demo_data\tutorials\introduction
where <shared_files> is the folder where the Surpac shared files are installed.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 22 of 207 Introduction

Getting started Task: Modify the Surpac icon so that the work directory is set automatically

Windows 7

6. Click OK.
7. Right-click the icon you have just modified, and select Rename.
Alternatively, you can use the F2 key as a shortcut.
8. Type Surpac Introduction, and press ENTER.
The icon will appear with the new name.

9. Double-click this icon to start Surpac.

The work directory is automatically set when Surpac starts up.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 23 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Modify the Surpac icon so that the work directory is set automatically

The Surpac interface

So that you can see the Surpac interface with some data files in the Navigator, ensure that you have
started Surpac and set the work directory as described in the Setup for This Tutorial chapter.
The Surpac interface consists of 10 different areas:

1. Menus
2. Toolbars
3. Navigator
4. Preview pane
5. Legend pane
6. Graphics
7. Properties pane
8. Layers pane
9. Status bar
10. Message window

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 24 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Open a file using the menu

Menus
The menus organise the functions into groups according to the modules in Surpac, such as the Block
Model module.
Task: Open a file using the menu
1. Choose File > Open > String/DTM file.
2. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 25 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Use the Reset graphics button from the toolbar

The file pit1.str is displayed.

Toolbars
A toolbar is a collection of icons that have related functions. By using toolbars, you can access
commonly used functions directly without having to search through the menus.
Task: Use the Reset graphics button from the toolbar
1. Open pit1.str in Graphics.
2. Click Reset graphics .

This function removes all the data that is displayed in Graphics.

If data has been modified, Surpac will display a form to allow you to save the file.  This is
described in more detail in the chapter Viewing and Saving Data.

Navigator
The Navigator works like Windows Explorer. Using the Navigator, you can manage your files and
directories by creating new folders, cutting, copying, pasting, and deleting files and folders.
Task: Open a file from the Navigator
1. In the File Filter in the Navigator, select  Surpac Files (.mdl,.dtm,.str).
2. Right-click the file bench105.str in the Navigator.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 26 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Open a file from the Navigator

3. From the shortcut menu, select Open.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 27 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Open a file from the Navigator

bench105.str is displayed.

4. In the File Filter, select All files.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 28 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Display a string file in the Preview pane

Preview pane
The Preview pane displays string data without the need to load it into Graphics.
Task: Display a string file in the Preview pane
1. If the Preview pane is not displayed, click the Preview button at the top of the Navigator.
2. Click pit1.str in the Navigator.
3. Click and drag in the Preview pane to rotate the data, as shown.

4. Click the Preview button again to close the Preview pane.

Legend pane
This is the area where you can see the legends for data in Graphics.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 29 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: Display and view data in Graphics

Graphics
Known as the graphics area, or simply Graphics, this is the area where you perform most of the work
in Surpac. The graphics area is a three-dimensional work area. Any file loaded into Graphics has Y, X,
and Z coordinates.
Task: Display and view data in Graphics
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. To open the file, drag pit_design1.str into Graphics.
The file pit_design1.str is displayed.

3. Perform the following steps:

a. Use the left mouse button to rotate the image.
b. Use the right mouse button to zoom in and out based on the centre of the
image.
c. Use the wheel button, or both mouse buttons, to pan the image.
d. Use the wheel button to zoom in or out in relation to the current location of
the pointer.

Properties pane
This is the area where you see:

l the properties of your file data when the Navigator is active

l information about data loaded in Graphics when Surpac is in select mode and you have
data selected

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 30 of 207 Introduction

The Surpac interface Task: View changes to the Status bar

Layers pane
This is the area where you manage your data in layers. This is described in more detail in the chapter
Managing Data in Layers.

Status bar
The Status bar shows the coordinate position of the mouse pointer as well as the string number and
design gradient. The Status bar also shows whether a database or block model is loaded into
memory.
Task: View changes to the Status bar
1. Open surpac.ddb (a geological database) in Graphics.
2. Open block_model.mdl (a block model) in Graphics.
Two buttons have been added to the status area, indicating that a database named
surpac and a block model named block_model are loaded:

3. Move the pointer within Graphics .

The coordinates shown in the status area are updated as you move the mouse.
4. In the Status bar, click the surpac button, and select Close.
5. Click the block_model button, and select Close.

Message window
The message window shows the information, warnings, and error messages that Surpac produces
while it is executing functions.
Tip: Sometimes the message window also contains information such as coordinates of selected
points or properties of files in Graphics. You can copy this information and paste it into text files or
documents.

Task: Clear the message window

1. Right-click in the message window to display a shortcut menu.
2. Select Clear Window .

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 31 of 207 Introduction

Getting help Task: Access field help and form help

Getting help
You can use the following resources to help you solve a problem, understand how a function works,
or enter data into a form:

l field help and form help

l online help
l tutorials
l support
l software request

Field help and form help

When you need to enter information, Surpac will display a form. The boxes on the form where you
enter information are known as fields. From within a form you can access the Field help and Form
help.

l By accessing Field help, you can get helpful information about each field.
l By access Form help, you can get helpful information about the entire form.

Task: Access field help and form help

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Choose File > Open > String/DTM file.
3. Click the Location field, and right-click to display the shortcut menu.

4. From the shortcut menu, select Field Help.

Surpac™ 6.6 Page 32 of 207 Introduction

Getting help Task: Access field help and form help

A window with help that is specific to the field you selected appears.

5. Press TAB several times.

The help text changes as you tab to different fields in the form. This happens because the
Enable auto help check box is selected.
6. Clear the Enable auto help check box.
7. Press TAB several times.
The help text does not change.
8. Select the Enable auto help check box.
9. Click the X button in the upper right corner of the help window to close it.
10. Click and right-click in a field to display the shortcut menu.

11. From the menu, select Form Help

A window with help about the function Open file is displayed.

12. Close the form help, and click Cancel on the Open File form.

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Getting help Task: Access online help from a form

Online help
Online help contains more detailed information than field help and form help. The online help also
has examples and troubleshooting information.
Task: Access online help from a form
1. Choose Create > Digitise > Properties.
2. Click the button at the lower left corner of the form.

The online help for the DIGITISER function is displayed.

3. Close the help window.

Task: Access help from the help menu

1. In Surpac, from the Help menu, select Table of contents.

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Getting help Task: Use the index to search for information

2. In the lower left corner, click the Table of Contents tab.

3. In the table of contents, expand Modules, then Licence Manager, and click Introduction.

The help for the Licence Manager is displayed.

4. Close the help window.

Task: Use the index to search for information

You can use the Index to find the information you need.

1. In Surpac, from the Help menu, select Table of contents.

2. In the lower left corner, click the Index tab.
3. In the text box at the top, slowly type each letter of the word Block Model.
After you type each letter, the help system selects the index entry that is the closest
match.
4. Press ENTER.

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Getting help Task: Search the online help

The help for Block Models is displayed.

5. Close the help window.

Task: Search the online help

1. In Surpac, from the Help menu, select Table of contents.
2. Click the Search tab.
3. Type the words DTM Maths, and click Search.
This search returns all the help topics that contain both the words “DTM” and “Maths”.
The topics that contain the most occurrences of these words are ranked higher in the list.

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Getting help Task: Search the online help

4. Click the topic that is ranked 2 in the list, DTM Maths.

You can do a phrase search by enclosing your search in quotation marks.

5. Type “String Maths”(including the quotation marks) in the Search box, and click Search.
This search returns all the help topics that contain exact phrase “String Maths”.
6. Click the topic that is ranked 1 in the list, String Maths.
7. You can see the text “String Maths” is highlighted.

Tutorials
Tutorials are designed to teach you how specific functions work within a practical, task-based
environment, by working through exercises using a specific dataset.
Surpac tutorials are available through the tutorials profile. When you install the software from the
DVD, the tutorials are installed to the following folder location:
<shared_files>\demo_data\tutorials
where <shared_files> is the folder where the Surpac shared files are installed.
Each directory contains a tutorial in PDF format, as well as a data directory containing the files
required to perform the exercises outlined in the tutorial.

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Getting help Task: Access the tutorials profile

Task: Access the tutorials profile

1. Right-click in the blank area to the right of the main menus.
2. From the shortcut menu, choose Profiles > tutorials.

A set of menus for the tutorials are displayed.

To view the tutorials or run the macros for the tutorials, you must first click the menu item to change
the directory to your chosen tutorial.
You can then either view the tutorial document as a PDF or run the macros that appear in the
tutorial.
Internet download
You can also download the complete set of tutorials.

1. In your web browser, type http://www.GEOVIAsupport.com.

2. Log in to the GEOVIA support site.
3. Click Downloads.
4. Under GEOVIA Surpac, click Surpac Downloads.
5. Click Tutorials.

Note: You will need login credentials to enter the GEOVIA Support site. Contact your local support
office if you do not have this information.
Tip: The information offered on the support site may be more recent than those from the DVD
installation.

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Getting help Task: Find support office contact details

Support
You can contact your local support office by phone or email.
Task: Find support office contact details
1. Choose Help > Table of Contents.

2. In the lower left corner, click Table of Contents.

The table of contents is displayed on the left side of the screen.

3. Expand the Support book, click Email Support, then click your region.

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Getting help Task: Find support office contact details

The contact details of the regional office are displayed.

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Strings Task: Find support office contact details

Strings
A string file is the most common file format used to store information in Surpac. A string file contains
coordinate information for one or more points, as well as optional descriptive information for each
point. To enable you to work more efficiently with strings, it is important that you understand how
Surpac organises and uses data stored within a string file.

String data hierarchy

Data in a string file is classified into:

l points
l segments
l strings

All points in a string file are grouped into segments, which are further grouped into strings.
The example below shows conceptually how a string file contains strings, which contain segments,
which contain points.

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Strings Task: Find support office contact details

Types of strings
There are three types of strings:

l open
l closed
l spot height

The table below explains these terms.

Surpac term Common term Example
Open string Line Drill hole trace
Closed string Polygon Property boundary
Spot height string Points not associated with a line or polygon Blast hole collar locations

Description fields
Points, strings, and segments can have one or more pieces of descriptive information associated
with them. This information is stored in a description field. Description fields are named according to
the order they appear. Description fields are named in the format D<incremental number>, such as
D1, D2, D3.
For example, a closed segment representing an ore zone could have the gold grade, silver grade, and
specific gravity stored in separate description fields.  If the information is stored in that order, they
could be assigned as follows: 
D1:  gold grade
D2:  silver grade
D3:  specific gravity

Data numbering
Strings, segments, and points are identified by unique numbers. You can assign string numbers to
represent particular features, such as string 1 for toes in a pit, string 2 for crests, and string 99 for
spot heights. Surpac automatically assigns segment numbers and point numbers.

Data ranges
You can use a range to refer to groups of data numbers, such as strings, segments, and points.
The comma ( , ) is used for a range that includes a start, an end, and, optionally, an increment. You
use the following format to specify such a range in Surpac:
<start>,<end>,<increment>
Note: When the increment is 1, you can use <start>,<end> without specifying the increment.
The semicolon ( ; ) is used to identify unique values, or to separate multiple ranges.
Here are some examples:

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Strings Task: Find support office contact details

Data values Range Description

12345678 1,8 from 1 to 8, at an increment of 1 (implied)
1357 1,7,2 from 1 to 7, at an increment of 2
2000 2200 2400 2000,2400,200 from 2000 to 2400, at an increment of 200
16 1;6 1 and 6
269 2;6;9 2 and 6 and 9
234569 2,6;9 from 2 to 6 at an increment of 1 (implied) and 9
25 50 60 70 80 90 25;50,90,10 25 and from 50 to 90 at an increment of 10
3 6 9 12 15 20 30 3,15,3;20;30 from 3 to 15, at an increment of 3 and 20 and 30
5 10 15 20 40 50 60 5,20,5;40,60,10 from 5 to 20, at an increment of 5 and from 40 to 60, at an increment of 10

String file names

Surpac string file names have the following components:
Component Description Required?
Location Any combination of characters and numbers Required
ID Numbers only Optional
Extension Always .str Required

Here are some examples of file names:

File name Location ID Extension
pit.str pit .str
bench105.str bench 105 .str
2007design.str 2007design .str
2007design2.str 2007design 2 .str
grade_control135.str grade_control 135 .str
dhcomp2_50.str dhcomp2_ 50 .str
level-300.str level -300 .str

Spaces in file names are not recommended. In some situations, Surpac might not work correctly if
you are using a file that has a space in the file name.
You can use ranges to refer to the ID of filenames. For example, you can refer to the files:
geo130.str, geo140.str, geo150.str, geo160.str, geo170.str
using the following syntax:
Location: geo ID: 130,170,10

String directions
When you view closed strings in the XY plane, the points have an order that is either clockwise or
anticlockwise. This direction is important when calculating areas and volumes.

l Clockwise strings represent an area of inclusion.

l Anticlockwise strings represent an area of exclusion.

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Strings Task: View string data

Viewing string data

Here is an example that demonstrates the previous concepts.
Task: View string data
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open bench105.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Display > Strings > With string and segment numbers.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The file bench105.str is displayed.

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Strings Task: View string data

The data in this file represents a horizontal view, also known as a plan view, of a pit
design, the survey stations, and the geology for one level in a pit. 
The data is organised as follows.
String Segment
Data Type D1 D2 D3
number number
Silver
1 1 Low grade ore Closed Gold (g/t) SG
(g/t)
Medium grade Silver
2 1 Closed Gold (g/t) SG
ore (g/t)
Silver
3 1 High grade ore Closed Gold (g/t) SG
(g/t)
8 1 Footwall trace Open footwall
Hangingwall
8 2 Open hangingwall
trace
30005 30005 Pit design toe Closed
Spot Station
30008 30008 Survey stations
height name

5. Choose Display > Point > Numbers.

6. Enter a value of 1 for the String range, and click Apply.

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Strings Task: View string data

The order of points for string 1 is clockwise in the XY plane.

7. Click Reset graphics .

Note: To see all the steps performed in this task, run 01a_viewing_string_data.tcl. You need to
click Apply on any forms presented.

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Strings Task: View string data in a text
editor

String file structure

Sometimes it is helpful to view the contents of a string file in a text editor.
Task: View string data in a text editor
1. From the Navigator, right-click bench105.str, and select Edit.
The file opens in your text editor.

l The first line is known as the header record, and contains these items: file
name, date modified, purpose (which is empty in this example), styles file.
l The second line contains the axis record. This is a two-point line used in
some sectioning functions. For many string files this is not required; when it
is not required, values of zero are used for all coordinates. The Y, X, and Z
values of each of the two end points of the axis are stored in the following
order: Y(1), X(1), Z(1), Y(2), X(2), Z(2).
l The third line is the start of string data, and is stored as String number, Y, X,
Z, D1, D2, D3, … D100.
l A null record indicates the end of a segment.
l String 1 is closed, because the first point and the last point are the same.
l When the file was created, the following values were chosen: D1 = gold (g/t),
D2 = silver (g/t), and D3 = SG.  String 1 outlines an area of low grade ore with:
l a gold value of 1.23 grams/tonne.

l a silver value of 14.23 grams/tonne.

l a specific gravity of 2.7.

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Strings Task: View string data in a text
editor

2. Scroll down in the file to see the data as shown.

l String 8 is open, since the first and last points are different.
l String 8 consists of two segments.
l String 30005 is closed, since the first and last points are the same.
l String 30008 is a spot height string with the survey station name in the D1 field.

3. Exit the text editor without saving any changes.

Note: Manually editing string files is not recommended. If the format becomes corrupt, Surpac
may not work correctly when using the file.

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Planes Task: View string data in a text
editor

Planes
Planes definitions are "corridors" in space used for displaying data. The definitions are created by
defining a flat plane (horizontal, vertical, or inclined) with a "towards" and "away" distance. The
corridor width is equal to the towards distance plus the away distance. Planes definitions are simply
referred to as planes. When a plane is active, data within the corridor is displayed, and data outside
the corridor is hidden.
Viewing planes can be useful for a number of tasks. Geologists use planes to view vertical cross-
sections of drillhole and surface topography data. Engineers use planes to view horizontal sections of
a block model while creating a pit design. Surveyors use planes to create cross-sections of areas
which have been mined to display the cut for a specified period.

Active plane
The "active plane" is the plane on which the data is projected in Graphics. By default, if you have not
selected a plane, the initial plane that is active when you start Surpac is a horizontal plane that has an
elevation of zero with projection distances of 10000 above and below. Any data beyond the
projection distances from this plane (that is, outside the corridor) is hidden.
You can find out which plane is active in Graphics by looking at the Status bar or the Planes panel.
The Status bar shows you the name of the active plane.

The Planes panel shows a check mark next to the active plane.

Planes panel
The Planes panel is available on start-up at the upper right of Graphics. By default, the panel is
collapsed. You can view the panel by clicking it, and you can unpin the panel to change its location.

Storing planes
You can create, view, and interact with a group of planes and store them temporarily or permanently
to planes files in the Plan view, Vertical sections, or Incline sections folders. If you store planes
temporarily, when you exit Surpac, the planes are removed from the planes folders. However, if you
store planes permanently, the planes will be available for future sessions in Surpac.

Planes viewing modes

You can view your data in Graphics in two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) mode. The
Status bar in the lower-left corner of the Surpac window shows you the current setting (2D or 3D).

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Planes 2D mode

2D mode
In 2D mode, all data is projected onto a single active plane; Vertical, Inclined, or Plan. The view in
Graphics is perpendicular to this plane. When you view data in 2D mode, a grid with the same
position as the active plane is displayed. If you have not set an active plane, then the view is Plan,
and the elevation is zero.
2D mode locks the data to the active plane, so you can digitise onto the active plane, zoom in or out,
or pan, but you cannot rotate the data.
3D mode
In 3D mode, the data is displayed in Graphics in three dimensions. In this mode you can zoom in and
out, pan, and rotate the data.

Planes groups
Planes groups are a collection of one or more parallel planes saved to the Plan, Vertical, or Inclined
folders in the Planes panel.
The group name is the name of the folder in which the planes are stored.

Planes projection distance

When you set up planes, you define the default thickness of the corridor. The corridor thickness is
also known as the projection distance. You can modify the projection distance of a plane.
Usually, Surpac displays, selects, and reports data that is inside the projection distance of the active
plane.
A plane has projection distances on each side:

l toward the view plane

l away from the view plane

The orientation of the plane determines which projection distance is towards and which is away.
Together, the two projection distances determine the total thickness of the plane corridor.
In the following example, the plane thickness is a + b. The projection distance away is a. The
projection distance towards is b. D1 is the drillhole trace, and D2 is the trace orthogonally projected
onto the plane. Point e shows where the drillhole trace exits the plane.

Task: Creating a temporary plane for graphical validation

1. Open ore_solid1.dtm.
2. Choose Planes > Vertical > Looking north.
3. Move the slider and click at 7400.00.
The Plane Position form appears.

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Planes Task: Creating a temporary plane for graphical validation

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

A temporary plane is created at 7400 N.

5. Click the Planes tab.

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Planes Task: Saving a plane

The Planes panel is displayed. Because the plane you have created is temporary it is not
listed in the Planes panel.

Task: Saving a plane

1. Choose Planes > Save current plane as.
The New plane form appears.
2. Enter the information as shown and click Apply.

The plane is saved.

3. Click the Planes tab.

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Planes Task: Pinning the Planes panel to Surpac

The Planes panel is displayed. Because the plane you have created is saved, it is listed on
the Planes panel.

Task: Pinning the Planes panel to Surpac

1. Click the Planes tab.
2. Click the pin icon.

The Planes panel is pinned to the interface, and the pin icon is oriented down. The Planes
panel remains to the right of Graphics regardless of the position of the cursor.

Task: Loading a plane from the Planes panel

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open ore_solid1.dtm.

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Planes Task: Identifying the active plane using the Status bar

3. In the Planes panel, right-click 7400N, and choose Set active.

7400N is the active plane.

Note: Plane 7400N has a check mark on the plane icon to show that it is the active
plane.

Task: Identifying the active plane using the Status bar

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Look at the Status bar.
The plane is Dynamic.
3. In the Planes panel, right-click 7400N, and choose Set active.
7400N is now the active plane.
4. Look at the Status bar.
The plane name has changed to 7400N.

Task: Creating planes using Quick planes

1. Choose Planes > Quick planes.
The Quick Planes form appears.

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Planes Task: Creating planes using Quick planes

2. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The plane group is listed in the Planes panel.

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Planes Task: Moving between planes

The first plane in the sequence is displayed in Graphics.

Task: Moving between planes

1. In the Planes panel, click the Next Plane and Previous plane buttons .
2. Press F11.
The previous plane is displayed.
3. Press F12.
The next plane is displayed.

Task: Viewing and changing plane properties

1. In the Planes panel, right-click 7300N.
2. Choose Properties.

The Vertical Plane Properties form appears.

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Planes Task: Viewing and changing plane properties

Notice that the sequence number for the plan is 400, and that the plane is the fourth in
the group.
3. Type 1100 for the Sequence number, and click Apply.
Plane 7300N is now listed last in the group.

4. In the Planes panel, right-click 7200N.

5. Choose Properties.

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Planes Task: Changing the viewing corridor using the Planes panel

The Vertial Plane Properties form appears.

6. In the Away field, type 50.
7. In the Toward field, type 50.
8. Click Apply.
9. In the Planes panel, right-click 7200N and select Set active.
The plane corridor is now 100 units wide.
10. Press F12.
Plane 7250N is now active. Notice that plane 7250N is still 50 units wide. The change you
made was to the width of only plane 7200N.
Note: To modify the properties for every plane in the group in one action, right-click on
the plane group and choose Properties.

Task: Changing the viewing corridor using the Planes panel

1. In the Planes panel, right-click 7400N, and choose Set active.
2. In the Away field , type 50.
3. In the Towards field , type 100, and click out of the field.
The view corridor is changed to display the data 50 units away from the view, and 100
units towards the view.

4. Press F12.
Plane 7450N is displayed with the default viewing corridor.
5. In the Away field, type 50.
6. In the Towards field, type 100.
7. Click Lock plane corridor .
8. Press F12.
Plane 7500N is displayed with a viewing corridor that contains the data 50 units away
from the view, and 100 units towards the view.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Work with multiple viewports

Viewing and saving data

Multiple viewports
You can view data in different ways using multiple viewports.
Task: Work with multiple viewports
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.
3. Right-click in Graphics to display the shortcut menu.

4. From the shortcut menu, select Viewport, and choose Copy view.
A maximised copy of the current view on a tab called View 2 is displayed.
5. Right-click the View 2 tab, and choose Close .

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Viewing and saving data Task: Work with multiple viewports

6. Right-click in Graphics, and choose Viewport > Split vertically.

Each viewport now displays the same view of the same data.

7. Right-click the left viewport, and choose Viewport > Split horizontally.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Work with multiple viewports

The left viewport is split horizontally as displayed.

8. Right-click the right viewport, and choose Viewport > Split horizontally.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Work with multiple viewports

Four viewports are now displayed.

9. Click and drag in the upper left viewport to rotate the data.
The data is shown in an oblique view.
10. Click in the lower left viewport.
11. Click the icon to view the data in the XZ plane.
12. Click in the top right viewport.
13. Click the icon to view the data in the YZ plane.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Work with multiple viewports

Four viewports with different views of the data are displayed.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

Attributes and styles files

Styles files control how strings, digital terrain models and solid models (DTM files) are displayed. You
can change them to suit your needs.  With styles files, you can specify many attributes, such as line
colour, marker size, and drawing method (lines, markers, attributes, values).
Every time you save a string file, the associated styles file is also saved so that when the string file is
next opened, it will automatically use the correct styles.
Task: Change display style
The dataset in this task represents a soil sampling study that measured arsenic concentrations at
various locations. In this task you will change the display style for the points to make it easier to see
where the concentrations of arsenic are highest.

1. Open samp_classified1.str in Graphics.

This file contains a series of points that show the concentration of arsenic in the soil.  The
default style settings showing the strings as coloured lines is displayed. Representing the
data in this way does not help you to see where the arsenic concentration is high or low.

The points have been classified into four levels of concentration, each represented by a
separate string.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

A point with an arsenic concentration of 350 parts per million (ppm), for example, forms
part of string 3.
In this task, you will display the strings as spot heights to show the areas that have the
highest concentration of arsenic.
2. Click the Legend tab to show the Legend pane.
3. In the Legend pane, click on the "+" sign next to Strings under the file samp_clas-
sified.str.
The legend shows that string 1 is white, string 2 is blue, string 3 is blue-green, and string 4
is green.

4. In the Legend, double-click string 1.

The Set Drawing Styles form is displayed.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

5. Enter the information as shown to select the drawing method, colour, marker type, and
text properties for displaying the four spot height strings.

Specifically, do the following steps for each of the Custom Styles rows 1 to 4:
a. Type marker,d1 in the Drawing Method cell.
Note: marker,d1 instructs Surpac to draw a marker for each point, using
the d1 field as a label.
b. Select the line colour by clicking the line in the line cell and selecting
Properties.

c. Click Edit.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

d. Select the colour — blue, green, orange and red for each of the four rows
respectively.
Note: You can use any of the four colour tabs shown below to select the
colour of the markers and the d1 field labels.

This tab… allows you to choose a colour by …

Swatches clicking in a box on the display.
HSB specifying its Hue, Saturation, and Brightness.
RGB specifying its Red, Green, and Blue values
Crayola selecting the name of the colour  from a standard list of colour names.

e. Click OK to finish the colour selection.

f. Click the Markers cell, select Properties and then select the marker type.
For this row… Select this marker type…
1

g. Click in the Text cell, select Properties, and enter oru for the Units and 8.5 for
the size.
h. Click Apply.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

With object relative units (oru), the size of the text is set to the same units as the object.
In our example, the text size for range 1 is set to 8.5 oru.  The text size will be equivalent
to an object that is 8.5 metres high and so will appear larger when you zoom in and
smaller when you zoom out.
Note: For more information on choosing text sizes, see the Online help.

6. Click the check box in the lower left part of the form, and in the Filename box, type ssi_
styles:marker.ssi.

7. Click Apply.
The styles are now stored in the file marker.ssi in the styles directory.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change display style

If you double click a string in the Legend pane, the Set Drawing Styles form will now look
like the following.

A sample of the points is displayed below. By looking at the colours, you can quickly see
the areas of lowest arsenic concentration (blue), intermediate concentration (green and
orange) and highest concentration (red).

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Viewing and saving data Task: View point properties

8. Zoom in and you will see numbers and symbols displayed.

9. Click the Save icon on the toolbar .

10. Click Apply in the Save File form.

The file samp_classified1.str is associated with the styles file marker.ssi. This means that when
samp_classified1.str is next opened, this styles file will also load.  In this way it is possible to have a
collection of styles files suitable for a range of display purposes.
Note: If you want to see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02a_change_display_
styles.tcl. You need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Task: View point properties
The Point properties function displays point attribute information including string, segment, and
point numbers, y, x, z coordinates, and description fields.

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

2. Open lev1665.str in Graphics.
3. Right-click in the area next to the menu titles and select Toolbars.
4. Select the Tools toolbar.
5. On the Select tool drop-down, choose Select Point/Triangle.

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Viewing and saving data Task: View segment properties

6. Hold the CTRL key and click to select any four points.

7. Choose Inquire > Point properties.

The message window displays the point properties for all of the selected points.

Note: If you want to see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02b_view_point_
properties.tcl. You need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Task: View segment properties
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open lev1665.str in Graphics.
3. On the Select tool drop-down, choose Select  Segment/Trisolation.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Determine bearing and distance between two points

4. Select the segment as shown.

The segment properties are displayed in the Properties pane.

Note: If you want to see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02c_view_segment_
properties.tcl. You need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Task:  Determine bearing and distance between two points
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open lev1665.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Inquire > Bearing and distance between 2 points.
A prompt to select the setup point is displayed.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Determine bearing and distance between two points

4. Click the setup point.

A prompt to select the foresight point is displayed.

5. Click the foresight point.

The message window displays the bearing, distance and gradient between the two
points in the order in which they were selected.

6. Press ESC to exit the fuction.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02d_bearing_and_distance.tcl. You need
to click Apply on any forms presented.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Save a file

Saving data
You can save a file to a text or binary format.

In most cases you will save strings as text files. However, if the text string files are very large (more
than 5 MB), it may be worth saving them as binary files to reduce the time it takes to load the data
into Graphics.
Typically, you can expect a saving of up to 15% in the size of the string file and up to 30% in the time
to load the data into Graphics.
Task: Save a file
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open lev1665.str in Graphics.
3. On the Select tool drop-down, choose Select  Point/Triangle.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Save a file

4. Click on a point in Graphics.

5. Right-click and select Delete from the shortcut menu.

6. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.

7. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The Save function saves the contents of the active layer to a file.

Tip: An alternative method to show the Save File form is to click the icon in the toolbar.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use orbit mode to rotate data

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02e_saving_data.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

Orbit mode
Orbit mode is the default Graphics mode, where you can rotate data in three dimensions.  When you
are using the orbit tool, Surpac operates in function-centric mode.
Task: Use orbit mode to rotate data
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open survey1665.str in Graphics.

3. On the Tools toolbar , click the Orbit tool .

4. Click and drag in Graphics to rotate the data.
The data rotates in three dimensions.

Selection modes
There are several ways of selecting data:

l Select mode
l Point/Triangle mode
l Segment/Trisolation mode
l String/Object mode
l Box selection

When you use any of these section tools, Surpac operates in data-centric mode.
Task: Change selection modes

1. On the Tools toolbar , click the drop-down triangle on the

Select tool .
2. Click Select Point/Triangle.

The Select tool now displays the Point/Triangle selection mode .

3. Click the Select tool (not the drop-down triangle ).
The icon now displays Segment/Trisolation selection mode .
4. Click the Select tool again.
The icon now displays String/Object selection mode .

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Viewing and saving data Task: Change selection modes

5. Click the Select tool icon again.

The icon now displays Select selection mode .

6. On the Tools toolbar , click the Box selection icon .

The Tools toolbar now displays Box selection mode: .

7. Right-click anywhere in Graphics to display a shortcut menu.
8. At the bottom of the menu, click the Select tool .

The Tools toolbar now displays Select selection mode .

9. Right-click anywhere in Graphics to display a shortcut menu.
10. At the bottom of the shortcut menu, click the Orbit view tool.

The Tools toolbar now displays Orbit view mode .

11. On the Tools toolbar, click the Select tool .

The Tools toolbar now displays Select selection mode .

12. Press the ESC key.

The Tools toolbar now displays the Orbit view mode .

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use point/triangle mode to delete points

Task: Use point/triangle mode to delete points

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open survey1665.str in Graphics.
3. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Point/Triangle.

4. Click the point as shown.

5. Right-click anywhere in Graphics to display a shortcut menu.

6. From the shortcut menu, select Delete.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use segment/trisolation mode to reverse segments

The point is deleted.

7. Hold the CTRL key, and click the points as shown.

8. Press the DELETE key.

The points are deleted.

Task: Use segment/trisolation mode to reverse segments

1. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Segment/Trisolation.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use segment/trisolation mode to reverse segments

2. Hold the CTRL key, and click the segments as shown.

3. Right-click anywhere in Graphics to display a shortcut menu.

4. From the shortcut menu, select Reverse.

The new segment directions are displayed in the message window.

String 2 Segment 1 is now Anti-clockwise
String 2 Segment 3 is now Anti-clockwise

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

With select mode, you can select either points or segments.  This mode allows you to perform many
string editing tasks quickly.

1. Choose Display > Point > Numbers.

2. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Point numbers are displayed.

Note: It is not necessary to display point numbers. This is only done to clearly identify
points that you will select in the following steps.
3. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

4. Hold the CTRL key, and click points 11 and 14.

5. Right-click anywhere in Graphics to display a shortcut menu.

6. From the menu, select Break segments at selected points.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

7. Click at a location between the two points on the segment to be deleted, as shown.

8. Right-click anywhere in Graphics and select Delete from the shortcut menu.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

9. Hold the CTRL key, and select two points to be joined (105 and 216).

Note: If two segments of different string numbers are connected, the string number of
the first point selected is used for the result. In the preceding example, if point 105 is
selected first, then the resulting string number will be 1. If point 216 was selected first, the
resulting string number will be 8.
10. Right-click anywhere in Graphics and select Connect points from the shortcut menu.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

11. Hold the CTRL key, and select two points to be joined (130 and 25).

12. Right-click anywhere in Graphicsand select Connect points from the menu.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

The points are joined.

13. Repeat steps 4 to 12 for other locations, until you get the final result is as displayed
below.

14. Choose Display > Strings > With string numbers.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

15. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Next, you use the select tool to select and renumber all segments of string 2 to string 1.

16. Click at a location between two points on the segment that you will renumber.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use select mode to break, join, and renumber segments

17. Right-click anywhere in Graphics and choose Select strings from the shortcut menu.

Both segments of string 2 are selected.

18. Choose Edit > String > Renumber.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use string/object mode to delete and clean strings

19. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Task: Use string/object mode to delete and clean strings

1. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select String/Object

2. Click string 30008 as shown.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use string/object mode to delete and clean strings

3. Right-click anywhere in Graphics and select Delete from the shortcut menu.

4. Click string 1, as shown.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Use string/object mode to delete and clean strings

5. Right-click anywhere in Graphics and select Clean from the shortcut menu.

6. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

7. Choose File > Save as.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data along an axis

8. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The Move tool

After you select data, you can use the Move Tool to move it:

l constrained along an axis

l constrained in a plane
l unconstrained

Task:  Move data along an axis

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open lev1665.str in Graphics.
3. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Point/Triangle.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data along an axis

4. Hole the CTRL key, and click the two points as shown.

5. From the Tools toolbar, click the Move Tool .

6. Click and drag the X axis (red), as shown:
Before After

The Status bar displays coordinate values as well as the movement.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data in a plane

Task: Move data in a plane

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

3. Open ore1.str in Graphics.

4. Rotate the data as shown in the image in step 6 below.
5. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Segment/Trisolation.

6. Click the segment as shown.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data in three dimensions

7. On the Tools toolbar, click the Move Tool icon .

8. Click and drag the red and blue corner to constrain the movement to the XZ plane.
Before After

Only the X and Z values in the Status bar change as you move the segment.

9. Click Reset graphics .

10. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Task: Move data in three dimensions

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open und1.str in Graphics.
3. Open und_layout.str in Graphics.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data in three dimensions

4. Click and drag in Graphics to rotate the data as shown.

5. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select String/Object.

6. Click the string in und_layout.str.

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Viewing and saving data Task: Move data in three dimensions

7. Right-click and select the Move Tool from the shortcut menu.

8. Click inside the yellow square at the intersection of the three axes and move the string as
shown.

All three coordinates in the Status bar change as you move the string.

9. Click Reset graphics .

10. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

Creating data
Create a simple pit design
You will design a pit base around an ore zone at an elevation of 150, and then extend it up to an
elevation of 250 with a pit wall angle of 45 degrees.
Task: Create a simple pit design
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open ore150.str in Graphics.
You can see a horizontal slice of ore zones at an elevation of 150.

3. Choose Create > Digitise > Properties.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

5. Choose Create > Digitise > New point.

6. Click in Graphics to create points 1, 2, and 3 as shown.
Notes:
l Do not press ESC. You have not finished creating the string.
l Numbers 1, 2, and 3 are not displayed in Graphics. They are shown on the
images so you know the order in which to create the points.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

7. Right-click in Graphics and select Point.

8. Click three points at the northern end of the segment as shown, to create points 4, 5, and
6.

9. Choose Create > Digitise > By following a segment.

10. Click and hold down the left mouse button at point 7, then drag to point 8 and release.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

11. Click and hold down the left mouse button at point 9, then drag to point 10 and release.

12. Choose Create > Digitise > Close current segment.

The closed segment is displayed.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

Note: When you create closed segments in the XY plane (plan view), you will usually
create them in a clockwise direction. Clockwise segments are regarded as an area of
inclusion, and give expected results when you intersect them with other clockwise
segments.
13. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.
14. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.

15. Click Reset graphics .

16. Open pit150.str in Graphics.
17. Choose Display > Point > Numbers.
18. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

The numbered points on the segment are displayed.

Next, you will delete some points to make the outline more convex.
19. Set the selection mode to Select Point/Triangle.

20. Hold the CTRL key and click several points as shown.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

21. Right-click in Graphics to display a shortcut menu, and select Delete.

The renumbered segment is displayed.

Next, you will set the slope wall angle to 45 degrees.

22. Choose Design > Pit design > Set slope gradient.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

23. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The Design grade button displays the current design gradient. 

Next, you will set the string number for the top of the pit.
Note: This step is optional.
24. From the Status bar at the bottom of the Surpac window, click the Design string button
.
25. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The Design string button displays the current design string number .
Next, you will expand the segment horizontally by a distance of 100. At an angle of 45
degrees, this will create a pit crest 100 meters above the base, at an elevation of 250.
26. Choose Edit > Segment > Expand/Contract.
27. Click anywhere in Graphics to select the segment for expanding.
28. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

29. Press ESC to finish expanding.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

The segments representing the top and bottom of the pit are displayed.

30. Hold down the right mouse button and drag down or to the left to zoom out.

31. Click the Plan View button .

32. Choose Display > Dynamic 2D Grid.
The pit strings and the Dynamic 2D grid are displayed.

This procedure can be useful for determining the limits of a block model. 
Next, you will create a DTM from this data.
33. Choose Surfaces > Create DTM from Layer.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

34. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

35. Choose Display > Hide grid.

36. Choose Display > 3D Grid.
37. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

38. To rotate the data, choose Planes > 2D planes mode, then click and drag in Graphics.
The pit and 3D grid are displayed.

Next, you will save the DTM file.

39. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.
40. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Creating data Task: Create a simple pit design

41. In the verification form, click Yes.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

Managing data in layers

Many computer-aided design (CAD) packages use the term “layer” to define a set of information
contained within one file. In this way, a Surpac string number is the same as a CAD package “layer”.
However, in Surpac, a layer is an area in memory that contains data displayed in Graphics.  Layers
can contain strings from one or more string files. With this in mine, you can append data from
different files into one layer, and create a new file.  All layers are contained within the Surpac Work
Area (SWA).

Layers and the Surpac work area

When Surpac starts, it creates an area in memory called the Surpac Work Area (SWA). All data that is
displayed in Graphics is stored within one or more layers, which are located within the SWA. Before
you have displayed any data in Graphics, the SWA contains one layer, called the “main graphics
layer”.

All layers in the SWA are displayed in the Layers pane, at the lower left corner of the Surpac window:

Creating layers
When you open a file by dragging it from the Navigator into Graphics, you create a new layer with
the same name as the file. You can also create a new layer using the New button on the Layer pane.
Task: Create layers
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open pit1.str in Graphics.
The Layers pane now shows two layers, the main graphics layer and a new layer called
pit1.str that becomes the active layer.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

This symbol… indicates that the layer is…

active
visible
selectable

The SWA now contains:

3. Open map1.str in Graphics.

The Layers pane now shows three layers, and map1.str is the active layer.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

The SWA now contains:

Next, you create a circular area, which is the boundary of a waste dump, and save the
data to a separate file. As part of this process, you will create a new layer where the data
is stored.
4. On the Layers pane, click .
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

The new layer is now the active layer.

6. Choose Create > Circle by drag.

7. Click the centre of the circle, drag to the location shown, and then release the mouse but-
ton.

8. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply

9. Press ESC to finish using the function.

The waste dump layer is now displayed in red, and it is preceded by an asterisk (*). This
occurs when you have changed data in a layer, but you have not saved it to that layer.

10. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

11. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The waste dump layer is now displayed in black.

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Managing data in layers Task: Create layers

The SWA now contains:

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the Navigator

Appending data to a layer

You can append data to a layer by holding the CTRL key when dragging a file into Graphics. You can
also use an option on the Open File form to append data to a layer.
You can combine data from different files by appending them into one layer, and then saving the file.
Task: Append data to a layer with the Navigator
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Hold the CTRL key, then drag pit1.str into Graphics.
Note: When you hold the CTRL key and drag a file into Graphics , the cursor is

displayed with a plus sign ( + ) .

After releasing the mouse button, the Layers pane still only shows one layer, the main
graphics layer.

The SWA now contains:

3. Hold the CTRL key, and then drag map1.str into Graphics.
The Layers pane still only shows one layer, the main graphics layer.

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the Navigator

The SWA now contains:

Next, you save the data from both files to a new file.
4. Choose File > Save > String/DTM file.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The file map_and_pit.str contains all data from pit1.strand all data from map1.str.

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Choose File > Open > String/DTM file.
3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

Setting String Range to 2, means that only string 2 from pit1.str is opened in the main
graphics layer.

4. Choose File > Open > String/DTM file.

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

Setting String Range to 2;12;52 means that only those three strings are opened.  Also,
because the Replace current data check box was cleared, the data is appended to the
main graphics layer.

The SWA now contains:

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Managing data in layers Task: Append data to a layer with the open file command

6. Choose File > Save > string/DTM file.

7. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The file pit_and_buildings.str now contains string 2 from pit1.str and strings 2, 12, and 52
from map1.str.

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer with the Navigator

Replacing data in a layer

You can replace data in a layer by holding the SHIFT key when dragging a file into Graphics. You can
also use an option on the Open File form to replace data in a layer.
Task: Replace data in a layer with the Navigator
1. Click the Reset graphics icon .
2. Open map1.str in Graphics.
The Layers pane shows the two layers:

The SWA now contains:

3. Click pit1.str so that it is highlighted Navigator.

4. Hold the SHIFT key, and then drag pit1.str into Graphics.
When you hold the SHIFT key and drag a file into Graphics, the cursor is displayed with an

X.  .
The Layers pane still shows both layers:

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer with the Navigator

However, the contents of the map1.str layer has been replaced by the data in pit1.str:

The SWA now contains:

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer with the Navigator

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer using the open file command

Task: Replace data in a layer using the open file command

1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Choose File > Open > String/DTM.
3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer using the open file command

All the data in pit1.str is displayed in the main graphics layer.

4. Choose File > Open > String/DTM.

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Managing data in layers Task: Replace data in a layer using the open file command

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

All data in the main graphics layer is replaced by the data in map1.str.

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Managing data in layers Task: Save a workspace

Saving workspace settings

You can save all the data, layers, and settings in a Surpac Work Area (SWA) file. You can restore all of
the information saved opening the SWA file.
Task: Save a workspace
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open ore1.dtm in Graphics.
3. Choose View > Surface view options > Lighting options.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

5. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.

6. Open topo1.str in Graphics.
7. Click in Graphics and drag to rotate into the position shown below.

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Managing data in layers Task: Save a workspace

Four layers exist in the Layers pane.

8. Choose File > Save > Graphics workspace.

9. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The file ore_pit_topo.swa is created.

Note: The terms “Graphics workspace” and “SWA” both refer to the Surpac Work
Area.  When you save a workspace, you create a file with a .swa extension.
10. Click Reset graphics .
All the layers are deleted except the default main graphics layer.

11. Open ore_pit_topo.swa in Graphics.

You have restored the layers in the Layers pane, as well as the lighting settings and the
view direction.

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Managing data in layers Task: Save a workspace

Note: SWA files are text files that store information about other files. If you want to
open a SWA file on another computer, you need to make sure that the files that are
referenced by the SWA file are available on the alternate computer, using the same folder
structure.
12. Choose View > Surface view options > Lighting options.
13. Enter the following information, and click Apply.

The lighting is reset to its original state.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Save a workspace

Triangulated surfaces
Surpac supports two types of triangulated surfaces:

l digital terrain model surfaces (DTMs): A DTM surface is a set of triangles which rep-
resent a surface, such as topography or a pit design.
l three-dimensional solid models (3DMs): A solid model is a set of triangles which rep-
resents a three-dimensional shape, such as an ore zone or an underground mine
design.

Naming conventions
The objects you create in Surpac are numbered by a system similar to that of string and string
segment numbers. The hierarchy of triangles, trisolations, and objects of a .dtm file is analogous to
the points, segments, and strings of a string file.
String => Object
Segment => Trisolation
Point => Triangle

When you define an object, you explicitly assign it both an object number and a trisolation number.
Surpac refers to the object by the object and trisolation number that you assigned.  The object
number must be an integer within the range of 1 to 32000.  The trisolation number must be a
positive integer.

Breaklines and spot heights

Breakline strings are those which represent linear physical features that you can see in the real world
e.g. crest of a pit, a fault in a geological model, a contour in a pit.

Spot height strings contain points which represent non-linear or point features, such as hill peaks,
surface low points, gridded points, borehole collars etc. The lines connecting the points in the spot
height string in graphics do not infer a physical line.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: View a DTM in Graphics

DTM conventions
l DTMs cannot model overhangs or vertical surfaces.
l When creating a DTM, strings identified as spot heights are interpreted differently to
strings identified as breaklines.

This chapter describes how to using use strings to act as break lines. A breakline string is a string that
represents physical features you can see in the real world, such as a crest of a pit, a fault in a
geological model, or a contour in a pit.  Spot height strings contain random points that, when
connected by a string line, do not represent any physical feature. For example, randomly surveyed
points or borehole collars.

Viewing a DTM surface

Task:  View a DTM in Graphics
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open waste_dump.dtm in Graphics.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: View a DTM in Graphics

The waste dump is displayed.

3. Click and drag the mouse to rotate the data and view it from different angles.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — graphics-based method

Creating a DTM surface

It is important to understand how a string file relates to a DTM. In order for a DTM file to remain
valid, the string file from which it was created must remain unchanged from the time when you
created the DTM.  Therefore, if you modify the string data, you must also recreate the DTM.
Task:  Create a DTM — graphics-based method
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open topo1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Surface > Create DTM from layer.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The string file contours and the DTM of the topography are displayed.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

5. Choose File > Save > string/DTM file.

6. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

7. Click Yes to overwrite the files.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 03a_create_dtm_graphics.tcl.
You need to click Apply on any forms presented.

Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

You will now create a DTM from the string file pit_design1.str using the file-based DTM creation
option. This task demonstrates the impact of using strings as breaklines.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Choose Surfaces > DTM File functions > Create DTM from string file.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: This time the Strings to act as break lines check box is not selected.
Progress is reported in the message window. When the DTM is created, a log file opens
in the default text editor. The log file is a report containing information about the DTM.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

4. Open pit_design1.dtm in Graphics.

Several triangles in the DTM do not reflect the desired results. Next, you repeat the
procedure, but using the Strings to act as breaklines option.
5. Click Reset graphics .
6. Choose Surfaces > DTM File functions > Create DTM from string file.
This time ensure that the Strings to act as break lines check box is selected.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

7. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: This time the Strings to act as break lines check box is selected.
Progress is reported in the message window. When the DTM is created, a log file opens
in the default text editor. The log file is a report containing information about the DTM.
8. Close the log file window.
The DTM file is saved automatically as pit_design1.dtm.
9. Open pit_design1.dtm in Graphics.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a DTM — file-based method

The pit is displayed.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 03b_create_dtm_file_based.tcl. You need
to click Apply on any forms presented.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a boundary string – file-based method

Creating a boundary string between two DTM surfaces

You will now create a boundary string at the location where a pit intersects the topography.
A boundary string file is used for:

l delineating cut and fill material for calculating volumes

l finding the intersection of a fault plane with a surface
l finding where a pit design breaks the natural surface

There are two methods of creating the boundary string in Surpac:

l file-based method: In this method, you do not need to display the DTMs. Surpac auto-
matically saves the boundary string to the nominated file.
l graphics-based method: In this method, you must display the DTMs in Graphics. Sur-
pac does not automatically save the boundary string. The boundary string is displayed
in its own Graphics layer. If you use the graphics-based method you must save the
boundary string to a file after it is generated.

Task: Create a boundary string – file-based method

Note: To help you understand the purpose, and result, of this task, you will open the DTMs in
Graphics. However, for the file-based method to work, you do not need to open any files in
Graphics.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open pit_design1.dtm and topo1.dtm in Graphics.
The pit extends past the natural topography. To determine the volume of the pit, you
need to define the boundary where the topography cuts the pit design.  You do this by
creating a boundary string of the intersection between both DTMs.

3. Choose Surfaces > DTM File functions > Line of intersection between two DTMs.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create a boundary string – graphics-based method

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

5. Open intersection1.str in Graphics.

The boundary string is displayed.

Task: Create a boundary string – graphics-based method

Note: When using the graphics-based method you must open the DTMs in Graphics. This is
because the function uses graphics layers to determine inputs and outputs.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open topo1.dtm and pit_design1.dtm in Graphics.
3. Choose Surfaces > Clip or intersect DTMs > Line of intersection between DTMs.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Calculate cut and fill volumes between two DTMs

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The output is the same result as the file-based function, but it does not automatically
save the new string file. To save the line of intersection, use File > Save> string/DTM.

Calculating cut and fill volume using DTM surfaces

Task:  Calculate cut and fill volumes between two DTMs
One of the most common uses of DTMs is to calculate volumes. You can use DTM VOLUMES to
compute the volume between two DTM surfaces, contained within a boundary string.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Choose Surfaces > Volumes > Cut and fill between DTMs.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Calculate cut and fill volumes between two DTMs

3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

4. Open cfill_volume.not.
The report opens in the default text editor.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: View a solid model

Viewing a solid model

A 3DM, or solid, is a closed shape that represents a closed structure.
Task: View a solid model
1. Open solid_model.dtm in Graphics.
The solid is displayed.

2. Click and drag your mouse to rotate the solid and view the ore body from different
angles.

Creating and validating a solid model

Task: Create and validate a solid model
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open ore1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Display > Strings > With string and segment numbers.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The segments are displayed.

Note: Triangulation uses segment numbers. This means that segment 1 will triangulate
to segment 2, segment 2 will triangulate to segment 3, and so on.
5. Choose View > Zoom > Out.

6. On the Tools toolbar, click Box Select Points .

7. Click and drag to create a box around all of the segments.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

8. Right-click in Graphics, and select Select segments.

9. Right-click in Graphics, and select Triangulate.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

The 3DM orebody is displayed.

10. Hold the ALT key, then click and drag in Graphics to rotate the data to the view shown
below.
The solid is not closed.

11. Move your pointer near the end segment, and click to select one point.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

12. Right-click in Graphics, and select Select segments.

13. Right-click in Graphics, and select Triangulate.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

The solid is now closed at the end segment.

14. Hold the ALT key, then click and drag in Graphics to rotate the data to expose the other
end of the object.

15. Move the pointer near the end segment, and click to select one point.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

16. Right-click in Graphics, and select Select Segment.

17. Right-click in Graphics and select Triangulate.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

The solid is now closed at the end segment.

18. To validate the solid, choose Solids > Validation > Validate object/trisolation.
19. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The validation status is written to the message window.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

The results are also written to the valid1.not file.

20. Choose File > Save > string/DTM file.

21. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 04a_create_and_validate_
solid.tcl. You need to click Apply on any forms presented.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Create and validate a solid model

Tip: You can also validate your solid using the solids repair functions (Solids >
Validation > Solids repair).

The Solids Repair panel is displayed. The green check mark at the top of the panel
means that the solid is valid.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Calculate a volume for a solid model

Calculating a volume using a solid model

Task: Calculate a volume for a solid model
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open ore_solid1.dtm in Graphics.
The solid is displayed.

3. Choose View > Data view options > Long section view.
4. Choose Display > 2D Grid.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Calculate a volume for a solid model

6. Choose View > Zoom > Out.

7. Choose Solids > Solids tools > Report volume of solids.

8. Enter the information as shown below, and then click Apply.

The report is displayed.

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Triangulated surfaces Task: Calculate a volume for a solid model

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 04b_solid_volume.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

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File tools Task: Convert section coordinates to real-world coordinates

File tools
The File tools menu contains several different functions that you can use to filter, classify, transform,
split, combine, intersect, and perform mathematical operations on string files.
For the tasks within this section, the data is displayed in Graphics to help you understand how the
functions work. However, you do not have to view the data to run any of the File tools functions.

String maths
You can use String Maths to perform mathematical operations on string files, such as:

l convert section coordinates to real-world coordinates.

l add a constant value to a coordinate (such as the northing) of all strings.
l apply a topcut to sample values.

Task: Convert section coordinates to real-world coordinates

You will use String Maths to convert a string file in which the Y field represents the real-world Z value,
and the Z field represents the real-world Y value. This is a common approach used when data on a
cross section has been digitised from a tablet.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open ore_section1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Display > Dynamic 2D grid.
4. Choose Display > Point > Attributes.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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File tools Task: Convert section coordinates to real-world coordinates

The strings in ore_sections1.str are sectional interpretations of ore zones that have been
digitised from a digitising tablet. The Y field of ore_sections1.str represents the real-world
elevation, or Z value. The Z field of all points on each segment of ore_sections1.str
represents the real-world northing, or Y value. The X field is the real-world easting.

Next, use String maths to convert this data to real-world coordinates by swapping the Y
and Z values.
6. Choose File tools > String maths.
7. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

8. Click Reset graphics .

9. Open ore_plan1.str in Graphics.

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File tools Task: Adjust coordinates

10. Choose Display > Dynamic 2D grid.

The strings in ore_plan1.str represent the real-world coordinates.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05a_string_maths1.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.
Task: Adjust coordinates
You will use String Maths to adjust the easting, or X value of all data in a string file. You would adjust
the coordinates when there are two coordinate systems that are used for a string file or when you
need to correct an error made in the coordinate values when the data was created.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose File tools > String maths.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

5. Open pit_new1.str in Graphics.

6. Choose View > Zoom > All.

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File tools Task: Topcut high grade samples

7. Choose Display > Dynamic 2D grid.

The easting of pit_new1.str is 10,000 meters greater than pit_design1.str.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05b_string_maths2.tcl. You
need to click Apply on any forms presented.

Task: Topcut high grade samples

You will use String Maths to set values in a string file that are above a maximum value equal to a
given value. You would want to do this if you have sample data that you want to use for a resource
estimation in which you do not want to allow extreme data values to have too much influence on the
estimation.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open high_grade.str in Graphics.
3. From the Navigator, right click high_grade.str, and select Edit.
The file opens in a text editor. The sample values in the D1 field are displayed in Graphics.

Most of the data values are between 1 and 10, but there are a few values above 10. You
will now use String Maths to "topcut", or convert values that are above 10 to the value of
10.
4. Choose File tools > String maths.

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File tools Task: Topcut high grade samples

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

6. Click Reset graphics .

7. Open top_cut.str in Graphics.
8. Choose Display > Point > Markers.
9. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

10. Choose Display > Point > Attributes.

11. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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File tools Task: Apply a boundary string to a soil sampling file

12. In the Navigator, right click top_cut.str, and select Edit.

The file opens in a text editor. The values in the D2 field represent the "topcut" values,
and are displayed to the left of the point in Graphics.

Notice that where the D1 value is less than 10, the D2 value is equal to the D1 value.
Where the D1 value is greater than 10, the D2 value has been topcut to 10.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05c_string_maths3.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

Clip data by a boundary

You can use Apply boundary string to remove data inside or outside a closed, clockwise boundary
string.
Task: Apply a boundary string to a soil sampling file
You will use Apply boundary string to remove data outside a boundary string.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open soil1.str in Graphics.
3. Open bdy100.str in Graphics.
4. Choose Display > Strings > With string numbers.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

6. Choose Inquire > Point Properties.

7. Select one of the markers (a spot height string).

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File tools Task: Apply a boundary string to a soil sampling file

Strings 1 to 99 are labelled and displayed in Graphics. The spot height string number
30003 is displayed in the message window.

You will clip the data in soil1.str by string 1 in bdy100.str. String 30003 in soil1.str is the
only spot height string.
8. Choose File tools > Apply boundary string.

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File tools Task: Apply a boundary string to a soil sampling file

9. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: When you apply a boundary string to spot heights, only those points that lie
inside or on the boundary are saved. For strings that are not defined as spot height
strings, new points are created where the boundary string intersects the line. 
10. Click Reset graphics .
11. Open soil2.str in Graphics.
12. Open bdy100.str in Graphics.

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File tools Task: Colour points by sample values

Data in soil2.str is contained within the boundary.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05d_apply_boundary.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

Classify strings
You can use Classify strings to assign a string number based on the value of the Y, X, Z, or description
field. You can also display the data with different colours or line thicknesses.
Task: Colour points by sample values
You will use Classify strings by numbers to display sample values of points in different colours.

1. Open samp1.str in Graphics.

2. Choose Display > Point > Attributes.
3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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File tools Task: Colour points by sample values

The D1 value for each point is displayed.

4. Choose File tools > Classify strings by numbers.

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: Press TAB to create a new row in the classification table.

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File tools Task: Colour points by sample values

6. Click Reset graphics .

7. Open samp_classified1.str in Graphics.
8. Choose Display > Hide everything.
9. Choose Display > Point > Markers.
10. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

11. Choose Display > Point > Attributes.

12. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

13. Select the Legend tab, and expand the Strings legend for samp_classified1.str as shown
below.

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File tools Task: Transform data to a different coordinate system

The points have been classified and are displayed according to the colour of each string.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05e_classify_strings.tcl.  You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

2D transformations
You can use 2D transformations to transform data from one coordinate system to another. Before
you run this function, you must know what the coordinates of two points are in each of the two
systems. You can also add or subtract a constant value to the Z coordinates between the two
systems.
Task: Transform data to a different coordinate system
You will transform pit1.str into the same coordinate system as pit2.str using 2D transformation. You
will be provided with the coordinate values of the two points in each of the two systems, as well as a
Z correction.

1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open pit1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Inquire > Report layer extents to show the coordinate extents in the message
window.

4. Open pit2.str in Graphics.

5. Choose Inquire > Report layer extents to show the coordinate extents in the message
window.

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File tools Task: Transform data to a different coordinate system

6. Click Zoom to data extents .

7. Choose File tools > Transformations > 2D transformation of string file.

8. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note:
l Old points are the coordinates of the two points in the existing coordinate
system. New points are the coordinates of the same two points in the coor-
dinates system to which you are transforming the data.
l The Z coordinates of the new system are 750 meters below the Z value of

the existing system.

The transformation parameters are displayed.

Note:

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File tools Task: Transform data to a different coordinate system

If the grids are plane metric grids, the scale should be very close to 1.0. In
l

this example, there is an error of 0.5 mm in per meter.

l The rotation is displayed in DDD.MMSS format.

l Shift Y is the difference between Y1 (old) and Y1 (new) as entered on the

first form.
l Shift X is the difference in easting between X1 (old) and X1 (new).

9. Select the Accept these adjustmentscheck box, and click Apply.

10. Open transformed_pit1.str in Graphics.
11. Click Zoom to data extents .

At the top of the screen you can see both pits in the same coordinate system. Notice
transformed_pit1.str has been shifted north and east, and it has also been rotated.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05f_2d_transform.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

Polygon intersection
You can use Intersect polygons to perform an intersection, outersection, or union of two or more
closed segments.
Operation Example of Usage
Determining the area which is common to two closed strings. By intersecting two closed strings you
Intersection produce a string which has one or more segments which represent the area common to the two
strings.
Determining the material which might remain after an excavation is completed, for example the
Outersection
excavation of an open pit.
Joining two strings together to represent the total area of both strings, for example to represent the
Union
shape which will remain after two intersecting pits are excavated.

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File tools Task: Calculate the area of an ore zone within a pit

Task: Calculate the area of an ore zone within a pit

You will intersect closed, clockwise ore zone strings at a midbench elevation (105) with a closed,
clockwise midbench contour of a pit design at the same elevation. Afterward, you will display the
clipped strings and the area of each segment.

1. Click Reset graphics

2. Open bench105.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Display > Hide everything.
4. Choose Display > Strings > With string numbers.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Strings 1, 2, 3, and 30005 are displayed.

6. Choose File Tools > Intersect polygons.

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File tools Task: Calculate the area of an ore zone within a pit

7. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

Note: Strings 1,2, and 3 will be intersected by string 30005.

8. Click Reset graphics .

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File tools Task: Calculate the area of an ore zone within a pit

9. Open int_bench105.str in Graphics.

The clipped strings are displayed.

10. From the Selection menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Segment/Trisolation.

11. Select each segment.

The area of the segment is shown in the bottom row of the Properties pane.

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File tools Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05g_intersect_polygons.tcl. You need to
click Apply on any forms presented.
Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit
You will intersect closed, clockwise block model strings at a midbench elevation (135) with a closed,
clockwise midbench contour of a pit design at the same elevation. Afterward, you will display the
clipped strings.

1. Clear Reset graphics .

2. Open kbb135.str in Graphics.
3. Open con135.strin Graphics.
The two files are displayed in Graphics. Some of the ore blocks are outside the pit
boundary.

Note: The file kbb135.str contains strings 1,2,3,4, and 5. The file con135.str contains
strings 1. All strings are at the same elevation.
4. Choose File tools > Intersect polygons.

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File tools Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

6. Click Reset graphics .

7. Open kbi135.strin Graphics.
8. Open con135.str in Graphics.

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File tools Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit

The blocks inside the boundary are displayed.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05h_clip_ore_blocks.tcl. You need to click
Apply on any forms presented.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Clip ore blocks inside a pit

Advanced interface operations

Menu bars, menus, and commands
If you do not understand the meaning of the terms menu bar, menu, and command, you could
easily become confused when you try to create a customised menu bar.
The following image shows the Main menu bar.

Each menu contains commands (or menu items). The commands are located on the menu or on a
submenu. For example, the Plotting menu contains the Autoplot, Plotting window, Plotting sheet
setup window, and Print plot file commands, and it also contains the Entity, Map, Process, and
Plotting colours submenus. Each submenu contains more commands.

Displaying and customising menu bars

You can activate most Surpac functions using the menu system.
A black triangle on the right side of a menu item indicates that you can select it to display a
submenu.
To see the list of menu bars and toolbars you can view, right-click in empty space on the menu bar or
in the toolbar region.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Create a customised menu bar

The following image indicates that the Blast design and the Main Menu menu bars are displayed.

Click a menu bar to switch between displaying and hiding it.

You can also create your own customised menu bars or toolbars to group together the functions
that you use frequently, or to group together all the functions that you need to use to do a specific
task.
Task: Create a customised menu bar
1. Choose Customise > Customise menus/toolbars.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Create a customised menu bar

The Modify Menus and Toolbars form is displayed.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Create a customised menu bar

2. To create a new menu bar, in User Menus/Toolbars, click Menubars, and click New.

3. To rename the menu bar:

a. Click MenuBar_1.
b. Click Edit.
c. Type pit_design and press ENTER.
4. Select the menus to place in the menu bar:
a. In Surpac Menus/Toolbars, expand Menubars, and then expand the Surface
design menu bar.

b. Hold the CTRL key, and select the Pit Design, Expand segment, and Expand
string folders.

c. Click Copy.
5. Select the new pit_design menu bar.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Display toolbars and create a customised toolbar

6. Click Paste.
7. In theSave Profile As box, type pit_design.
8. Click Apply.
Note: The new pit_design menu bar “floats” above the Surpac window.
9. Drag the pit_design menu bar to a location where there is some space at the top of the
Surpac window.

Customising toolbars and buttons

Task: Display toolbars and create a customised toolbar
You might find that you only are using only a small number of the digitising functions, for example,
Start new string, Start new segment, Digitise New Point at Mouse Location, New midpoint, and
Close current segment.
You could create a toolbar that has only the functions that you need by taking a copy of the Digitise
toolbar, removing the functions you don't use and adding the New midpoint function.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Display toolbars and create a customised toolbar

1. Right-click in the empty space in the menu bar or toolbar region.

2. Select Toolbars to see which toolbars are currently displayed.

3. Choose Customise > Customise menus/toolbars.

4. In User Menus/Toolbars, click Toolbars, and click New.
This creates a new menu, called Toolbar1.
5. Click Toolbar1 and clickEdit.
6. Type pit_design and press ENTER.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Creating a custom button to put on a toolbar

7. In Surpac Menus/Toolbars, expand Menubars, and then expand the Surface design tool-
bar.

8. Hold the CTRL key, and select several of the surface design commands as shown.

9. Click Copy.
10. Select the new pit_design toolbar, and click Paste.

Task: Creating a custom button to put on a toolbar

1. Choose Customise > Customise menus/toolbars.
2. In the Modify Menus and Toolbars form, select the pit_design toolbar and click New.
3. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.
This creates a new button on the Pit design toolbar.

Note: To fill in the Command box, you have to click the Ellipsis button and navigate
to a TCL file. Similarly, to fill in the Image box, you must click the Ellipsis button and
navigate to an icon file in the icons folder.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Select the geology_database profile

Note: If you have installed Surpac in the default directory, the full path to the TCL
command scripts folder is:
C:/Users/Public/GEOVIA/Surpac/66/share/resource/scripts/toolbars/
4. Click Apply.
5. Right-click in an empty area near the toolbars.
6. From the Toolbars menu, select pit_design.
7. Drag the pit_design toolbar to a location where you can clearly see it.

8. To see the tool tip description for an icon on a toolbar, hover the cursor over the icon.

Using and creating profiles

A profile is a set of menus and toolbars grouped together into modules. The profiles are available by
right-clicking in the empty space and selecting from the available profiles.
Task:  Select the geology_database profile
1. Right-click in the empty space at the top of the Surpac interface.
2. Select Profiles > geology_database.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Saving your customisations to a profile

The menus and toolbars in the geology_database profile are displayed.

The interface now contains a new set of menus and toolbars that cover the functionality for
processing data from a geological database.
Profiles allow you easy access to all of your customisations.
Task: Saving your customisations to a profile
If you are an experienced Surpac user, you might want to create your own profile to get faster access
to the toolbars, menus, and commands that you need for your work.

1. Make sure that Surpac is displaying the menu bars and toolbars that you use frequently,
and that the menu bars and toolbars that you do not need are hidden.
2. Right-click in the empty space at the top of the Surpac window.
3. From the Profiles menu, click Save.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

When you open Surpac again, you can choose the profile you just saved to reload your customised
settings for menus, toolbars and buttons and automatically configure your workspace.
Task: Restoring the default profile
1. Right-click the empty space beside the toolbars at the top of the Surpac window.
2. Click Restore.

3. Click Apply to restore to the default profile.

Using the Function Chooser

A quick way for you to run a function is to use the Function Chooser. You can type an “alias” into the
Function Chooser to run a function. An alias is an abbreviation of the function name.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

1. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.
2. Type CS (for Clear Screen) directly into the function chooser.

3. Press ENTER.
Running the Clear Screen function makes the graphics viewport empty but, unlike the
Reset graphics function, it leaves the data in the layer.
4. Type the alias PS (for Plot Strings) into the Function Chooser.
5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

pit_design1.str is displayed in Graphics.

Note: You can find a complete list of aliases in the files SSI_ETC:short.ssi and SSI_ETC:Surpac.mst.

Working with forms

You control how a function works by entering parameters into a form. The terms form and dialog
box mean the same thing.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

The Open File form and its components is a typical form.

By clicking once to highlight a field on a form, and then right-clicking, you see options to help you fill
in the form.
Last value if blank
Selecting this command causes the field to keep the last value you entered when the application
does not supply a value. For example, if you select Last value if blank for the Layer field of the Open
File form, the text in the Layer field does not change, but if you select Last value if blank for the
Location field, the last file name used is shown.
Last value
Selecting this item causes the field to keep the last value regardless of the value that Surpac inserts.
For example, if you select Last value in the Layer field of the Open File form, the Layer field displays
the name of the layer that you used on the last occasion you used this form.
Constant...
Selecting this item allows you to enter a value to use for this field every time you use the form.
Application
Selecting this item causes the field to display the value supplied by Surpac. This is how Surpac
worked in previous versions.

Configuring windows and panes in the interface

You can modify panes in the interface using the three buttons on the top right side of the pane:

l toggle floating
l toggle auto-hide
l close

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Advanced interface operations Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

Toggle floating
The Toggle floating button aloows you to “dock” or “undock” the pane. When the pane is docked, it
is fixed to an area of the Surpac window. When the pane is undocked, it floats so you can move it to
any part of the Surpac window. You can also dock the pane by moving it to one of the edges of the
screen, or to an existing pane. To restore the pane to its original position, click again on the Toggle
floating button or right-click on the top part of the pane and click Floating.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

Toggle auto-hide
The Toggle auto-hide button enables you to hide the pane so that you have more workspace for
other panes.

When you click Toggle auto-hide, the pane is minimised and attached to the side of the Surpac
window. The following image shows the Properties pane attached to the side of the Surpac window.

To show the pane when it is minimised, move the cursor over the minimised pane. To restore the
pane to its original position, click Toggle auto-hide again.
Close
To close a pane, click the X button in the top right corner.

To restore a pane that you have closed, select View > Dockable windows, and click the pane that
you want to restore.

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Advanced interface operations Task: Run two functions from the Function Chooser

In the example below, the Tool properties pane was closed, so it is not selected as a dockable
window. By clicking on Tool properties, you can restore the pane to its original position.

To restore the whole interface to its default state, right-click an empty area in the toolbar region, and
click Restore.

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More Surpac functions Task: Open a database, display drill hole data, and create sections

More Surpac functions

Drillhole database
You can display drillhole data, stored in a database, in any orientation such as plan or section view.
Task: Open a database, display drill hole data, and create sections
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open surpac.ddb in Graphics.
When a database is open, the name of the database is displayed on the Status bar at the
bottom of the Surpac window.

Note: surpac.ddb connects to the MS Access database surpac.mdb.

3. Click the surpac database icon on the Status bar and select Display drillholes.

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

5. Choose Display > Dynamic 2D grid .

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More Surpac functions Task: Open a database, display drill hole data, and create sections

6. Choose View > Zoom > In, or use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in.

Note: The drill holes and gold values are displayed.

7. Choose Database > Sections > Define.
8. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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More Surpac functions Task: Open a database, display drill hole data, and create sections

The drillholes on section 7280 North are displayed.

9. Use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in to a drillhole as shown below.

Different sample values are displayed using different colours.  These colours are
controlled by a styles table in the database.
10. Click the surpac database icon at the bottom of the screen, and then click Drillhole dis-
play styles.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

11. Expand the sample tree and the gold field to see the display attributes for gold.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06a_display_drillholes_and_
create_sections.tcl. You need to click Apply on any forms presented.

Block models
A block model contains three dimensional spatial data. For example, specific gravity, rock type, and
estimated sample values.
Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model
1. Click Reset graphics  .
2. Open block_model.mdl in Graphics.
When a block model is open, the name of the block model is displayed on the Status bar
at the bottom of the Surpac window.

3. Click the block_model icon, and select Display.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

The block model displayed in Graphics.

Next, you will display only those blocks which have a gold value greater than zero, using a
"constraint". A constraint can be thought of as a filter which selects blocks that meet a set
of conditions.
5. Click the block_model icon, and select New constraint.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

6. In Constraint type, select BLOCK and fill in the three input boxes below so that the con-
straint is “gold > 0”.

7. Click Add to add the constraint, and then click Apply.

The blocks that have a gold value greater than zero are displayed.

Next, you will colour the blocks by gold values.

8. Click the block_model icon, and select Colour by attribute.
9. Select gold for the Attribute to colour by.
10. Select the Apply transition when scanning check box.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

11. Click Scan.

A default set of colours are displayed.

12. Click Apply.

The blocks are coloured by gold values.

Note: You might need to click and drag the model to see the colours.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

13. Choose Block Model > Display > Edge and face visibility.

14. Clear the Display block edges check box, and click Apply.

Only the block faces are displayed.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

15. Choose Block Model > Attributes > View attributes for one block.

16. Click any block.

The selected block is highlighted, and the attribute values for the block are displayed.

17. Click Cancel.

Next, you create a report of the volume, tonnes, and average gold grade.
18. Choose Block model > Block model > Report.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

19. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

20. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

Note: To add a new report attribute row, right-click below the row and selectAdd.

21. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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More Surpac functions Task: Display, constrain, and report a block model

The report contains volume, tonnes, average gold (grams per tonne) and aggregate gold
(total grams of contained metal) for each grade range.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06b_block_model.tcl. You
need to click Apply on any forms presented.

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More Surpac functions Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot

Plotting with autoplot

There are two ways to create plots in Surpac:

l to create simple plots from data displayed in graphics, use Autoplot

l to create complex plots from files on disk:
l use the Plotting > Entity submenu to create or modify entity definitions

l use the Plotting > Map submenu to create or modify map definitions

l use the Plotting > Process submenu to create the final plot

This section describes Autoplot only. The Plotting Tutorial describes how to create complex plots.
Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot
1. Click Reset graphics .
2. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.
3. Choose Plotting > Autoplot.
4. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.
Note: Make sure you select the Lock X/Y scale check box.

5. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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More Surpac functions Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot

6. Use the scroll wheel to zoom out, then click and drag with the left mouse button in Graph-
ics to move the plot outline.

7. When the plot border is positioned where you want it, Press F2.
8. Enter the information as shown, and click Apply.

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More Surpac functions Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot

The plot is displayed in the plot preview window.

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06c_plotting_with_autoplot.tcl. You need
to click Apply on any forms presented.

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References Task: Produce a plot of a pit using autoplot

References
For further information on this topic and related articles, log onto Gemcom's Knowledge Base at
www.gemcomsupport.com

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