SUR Foundation V6.2 0

Copyright 2010 Gemcom Software International Inc. (Gemcom).
This software and documentation is proprietary to Gemcom and, except where expressly provided
otherwise, does not form part of any contract. Changes may be made in products or services at
any time without notice.
Gemcom publishes this documentation for the sole use of Gemcom licensees. Without written
permission you may not sell, reproduce, store in a retrieval system, or transmit any part of the
documentation. For such permission, or to obtain extra copies please contact your local Gemcom
office or visit www.gemcomsoftware.com.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, we assume no
responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damage resulting from the
use of the information contained herein.
Gemcom Software International Inc. Gemcom, the Gemcom logo, combinations thereof, and
Whittle, Surpac, GEMS, Minex, Gemcom InSite and PCBC are trademarks of Gemcom Software
International Inc. or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Product
Gemcom Surpac v6.1
Table of Contents
Introduction 9
Overview 9
Requirements 9
Document Conventions 9
Typographical Conventions 9
Keyboard Conventions 9
Menu Conventions 10
Mouse Conventions 10
Forms 11
Elements of Forms 12
Getting Started 13
Installing Surpac v6.2 from a CD 13
Activity: Install Surpac 13
Starting Surpac 14
Activity: Start Surpac 14
Licencing Surpac 14
Activity: Licence Surpac 14
Setting the Work Directory 16
Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP) 16
Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista or Windows 7) 17
Exiting Surpac 17
Activity: Exit Surpac 17
Modifying the Surpac Desktop Icon 18
Activity: Modify the Surpac Icon to Set the Work Directory Automatically 18
Switches 19
Review 21
Questions 21
Exercises 21
Surpac Concepts 22
Overview 22
Surpac Data Types 22
Function-centric vs Data-centric Operations 23
Function-centric 23
Data-centric 23
Review 24
Questions 24
Exercises 24
The Surpac Interface 26
Menus 27
Activity: Open a File Using the Menu 27
Toolbars 28
Activity: Use the Reset Graphics Button from the Toolbar 28
Navigator 28
Activity: Open a File from the Navigator 28
Preview Pane 30
Activity: Display a String File in the Preview Pane 30
Legend Pane 30
Graphics 31
Activity: Display and View Data in Graphics 31
Properties Pane 31
Layers Pane 32
Status Bar 32
Activity: View Changes to the Status Area 32
Message Window 32
Activity: Clear the Message Window 32
Multiple Viewports 33
Activity: Work with Multiple Viewports 33
Using and Creating Profiles 37
Activity: Select the geology_database Profile 37
Activity: Saving your Customisations to a Profile 38
Activity: Restoring the Default Profile 39
Review 39
Questions 39
Exercises 39
Advanced Interface Operations 41
Menu Bars, Menus and Commands 41
Displaying and Customising Menu Bars 41
Activity: Create a Customised Menu Bar 42
Customising Toolbars and Buttons 44
Activity: Display Toolbars and Create a Customised Toolbar 44
Activity: Creating a Custom Button to Put on a Toolbar 46
Using the Function Chooser 47
Activity: Run Two Functions from the Function Chooser 47
Working with Forms 47
Last value if blank 49
Last value 49
Constant.. 49
Application 49
Configuring Windows and Panes in the Interface 49
Toggle floating 49
Toggle auto-hide 49
Close 50
Default Preferences 51
Task: Changing setting in Defaults Preferences 52
Review 54
Questions 54
Exercises 54
Getting Help 55
Field Help and Form Help 55
Activity: Access Field Help and Form Help 55
Online Help 57
Activity: Access Online Help from a Form 57
Activity: Access Help from the Help Menu 58
Activity: Use the Index to Search for Information 59
Activity: Search the Online help 60
Tutorials 62
Activity: Access the Tutorials Profile 63
Support 64
Activity: Find Support Office Contact Details 64
Software Request 65
Activity: Log a software request 65
Review 67
Questions 67
Exercises 68
Managing Data in Layers 69
Layers and the Surpac Work Area 69
Creating Layers 69
Activity: Create Layers 69
Appending Data to a Layer 75
Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Navigator 75
Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Open File Command 77
Replacing Data in a Layer 80
Activity: Replace Data in a Layer with the Navigator 80
Activity: Replace Data in a Layer Using the Open File Command 82
Saving Workspace Settings 84
Activity: Save a Workspace 84
Review 87
Questions 87
Exercises 87
Strings 89
String Data Hierarchy 89
Types of Strings 90
Description Fields 90
Data Numbering 90
Data Ranges 90
String File Names 91
String Directions 91
Viewing String Data 92
Activity: View String Data 92
String File Structure 95
Activity: View String Data in a Text Editor 95
Review 96
Questions 96
Exercises 96
Viewing and Saving Data 98
Attributes and Styles Files 98
Activity: Change Display Style 98
Activity: View Point Properties 104
Activity: View Segment Properties 105
Activity: Determine Bearing and Distance Between Two Points 106
Saving Data 108
Activity: Save a File 108
The Display Menu 109
Task: Using the Display Menu 111
Viewing and Saving Data Review 112
Questions 112
Exercises 112
Editing Data 114
Orbit Mode 114
Activity: Use Orbit Mode to Rotate Data 114
Selection Modes 114
Activity: Change Selection Modes 114
Activity: Use Point/Triangle Mode to Delete Points 116
Activity: Use Segment/Trisolation Mode to Reverse Segments 117
Activity: Use Select Mode to Break, Join, and Renumber Segments 119
Activity: Use String/Object Mode to Delete and Clean Strings 127
The Move Tool 129
Activity: Move Data Along an Axis 129
Activity: Move Data in a Plane 131
Activity: Move Data in Three Dimensions 132
The Edit Menu 134
String Maths 135
Activity: Convert Ore Zone Interpretations from Section Coordinates to Plan (Real-World)
Coordinates 136
Activity: Move a Pit 200 Metres North to Correct Survey Station Error 139
Activity: Create a Cut Off Grade 140
Further Examples of String maths functions 146
Review 147
Questions 147
Exercises 147
Creating Data 148
The Create Menu 148
Snap Mode 148
Simple Underground Mine Design 151
Task: To Create an Underground decline centreline with cross-cuts 151
Create a Simple Pit Design 153
Activity: Create a Simple Pit Design 153
Review 165
Questions 165
Exercises 165
File Tools 167
Applying a Boundary String 167
Activity: Apply a Boundary String to a Soil Sampling File 167
Classifying Strings 169
Activity: Display Soil Samples using String Classification 169
Transforming data 173
2D Transformations 173
Activity: Transform a Pit to a Different Coordinate System 173
Polygon Intersection 176
Activity: Intersect Polygons to Calculate the Area of an Ore Body within a Pit Boundary 176
Activity: Clip Ore Blocks Inside a Pit 180
Review 182
Questions 182
Exercises 182
Triangulated Surfaces 184
Surface Modelling Concepts 184
Naming Conventions 185
DTM Conventions 185
Breaklines and Spot Heights 185
DTM Data Preparation 186
Cleaning Data 186
Normalising Data 187
Smoothing Data 187
Graphical vs File-based options 188
Creating a DTM Surface 189
Activity: Create a DTM Graphics based Method 189
Activity: Create a DTM File Based Method 191
Viewing a DTM Surface 194
Activity: View a DTM in Graphics 194
Viewing Transparent Surfaces 195
Calculate The Volume Between Two DTMs. 197
Creating a Boundary String Between Two DTM Surfaces 202
Activity: Create a Boundary String - File-based Method 202
Activity: Create a Boundary String - Graphics-based Method 204
Calculating Cut and Fill Volume Using DTM Surfaces 205
Activity: Calculate Cut and Fill Volumes Between Two DTMs 205
Solids 206
Activity: View a Solid Model 206
Activity: Create and Validate a Solid Model 207
Activity: Calculate a Volume for a Solid Model 216
Review 218
Questions 218
Exercises 219
Plotting with Autoplot 220
Activity: Produce a Plot of a Pit Using Autoplot 220
Review 222
Questions 222
Exercises 223
More Surpac Functions 224
Drillhole Database 224
Activity: Open a Database, Display the Drill Holes and Create Sections 224
Block Models 228
Activity: Display, Constrain, and Report a Block Model 228
References 237
Introduction Typographical Conventions
Introduction
Overview
This document is designed to help new or prospective users install Surpac and start using the
software. More detailed training information is available 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 v6.1 for installation.

This is usually installed from a CD, but you can also download the software from the
http://www.gemcomsupport.com web site.
2. A suitable computer with a CD ROM drive.
Minimum Recommended
Windows XP Professional XP Professional or Vista
RAM 512 Mbytes 1-4 Gbytes
Processor P4 >1.75 gigahertz (GHz) P4 Duo >2.5 GHz
A graphics adapter with 256 MB An NVIDIA or ATI graphics card,
Graphics card memory, from a major separate from the motherboard, with
manufacturer such as NVIDIA or ATI. 512 MB memory.
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:
Text Format Meaning
Text or data that varies with each input is shown in italic font and enclosed in angle brackets.
Some examples are installation directories, dates, names and passwords. When you substitute
<Bold Italic>
the text for the 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
Italics
item from 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 or icon.
For example: Drag and drop the file pit1.str into graphics.
Keyboard Conventions
Key Combination Meaning
Press and hold down the first key, then press the second key. For example: CTRL+Z
<key>+<key>
means hold the CTRL key down, then press Z.
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Introduction Menu Conventions
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 cursor over the Open command and then select Block
model on the submenu.
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.
With the cursor over the object, press and hold down the left mouse button to select the
Drag and drop <an
object. Move the mouse until the cursor is in the position you want and then release the
object>
mouse button.
Press and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the mouse in the direction that
Drag
the text specifies.
Press and hold down the right mouse button. Then move the mouse in the direction that
Right drag
the text specifies.
Use your finger to make the wheel button roll. Move it forward, that is in a clockwise
Rotate
direction, or backward, that is in an anticlockwise direction.
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Introduction Forms
Forms
Forms contain several components that you will use to provide information to Surpac:
1. Title 4. Combo box or Drop-down list 7. Help
2. Tab 5. Radio button or Option button 8. Check box
3. Text box 6. Label 9. Button
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Introduction Elements of Forms
Elements of Forms
Forms can contain the following elements:
Element Description Example
1. Title Title of the dialogue box.
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
or Option button of mutually exclusive options.
Text attached to any option, box, button, or to any

6. Label
other element of a window or dialogue box.
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

9. Button action. Buttons have text labels to indicate their
purpose.
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Getting Started Activity: Install Surpac
Getting Started
Installing Surpac v6.2 from a CD
Activity: Install Surpac
1. Insert the CD into your computers CD-ROM drive and the installation menu will appear.
Note: If the installation menu does not appear, use Windows Explorer to navigate to
the CD and double-click Autorun.exe. You will see the following page:
2. Click Next.
3. When you are prompted to click Next, do so.
4. When you are prompted to accept the licence agreement, click Accept, and then click
Next.
Note: You must accept the terms of the license agreement or the installation will not
continue.
5. When prompted to choose an installation directory, select the default installation direc-
tories.
Note: Although you can use the Change option to select other destination folders for
the program, it is recommended that you use the default locations.
6. When prompted to enter a product, ensure that Surpac is selected, and click Next.
7. Click Install, and then click Finish when the Finish button becomes available.
Note: There is no limit on the number of computers on which you can install Surpac. There are
certain functions which can be performed without a license (mostly opening and displaying data),
but the majority of functions (any which produce some sort of output) require a valid license.
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Getting Started Activity: Start Surpac
Starting Surpac
Activity: 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 then Gemcom Software, and then Surpac 6.1.
Licencing Surpac
The instructions below are for installing a single user licence. In order to proceed, you will need:
l Surpac v6.2 installed, as previously described.

l A USB or parallel sentinel.
l A valid token number.
If you do not have all of these, please contact your local support office.
Activity: Licence Surpac
1. Insert the sentinel into a USB or parallel port as appropriate.
2. Start Surpac.
If the Surpac interface is displayed, you already have a valid licence. Proceed to step 6.
If you see the form below, a valid licence does not exist.
3. Select local, and then click Apply.

4. In the Token field, enter the token number, and click Validate.
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Getting Started Activity: Licence Surpac
5. Click Apply.
To review licence details, or enter a new token number:
a. Choose File > Licencing > Change/Inspect licence.
b. After reviewing or updating the licence details, click Apply.
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Getting Started Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP)
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:
<installation directory>\demo_data\tutorials\introduction
where <installation directory> is the directory in which Surpac was installed.
Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows XP)
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.
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Getting Started Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista or Windows 7)
Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista or Windows 7)

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.
Exiting Surpac
Activity: 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.
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Getting Started Activity: Modify the Surpac Icon to Set the Work Directory Automatically
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.
Activity: Modify the Surpac Icon to Set the Work Directory Automatically
1. Move the cursor over the Surpac icon on your desktop.

2. Hold down the right mouse button, drag and release.
3. From the popup 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
<install_directory>\demo_data\tutorials\introduction
where <install_directory> is the folder where Surpac is installed.
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6. Click OK.
7. Right-click the icon you have just modified and select Rename.
Alternatively, the F2 key can be used as a shortcut.
8. Type Surpac Surveying 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.
Switches
Various switches can be added to the end of the Target line in the Desktop icon to control how
Surpac operates, for example to change the profile (screen setup with menus & toolbars) you can
add a profile as follows:
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1. Right-click the new Surpac icon, and select Properties.

2. In the Target field on the Shortcut tab, append -profile block_model at the
end.
C:\SurpacMinex\Surpac_60\nt_i386\bin\surpac2.exe -profile
block_model
3. Click OK.
The profile switch is very useful after you have set up your own profiles.
More advanced settings to be aware of are:
Switch Description
-trans followed by a nominated
Will allow Surpac to start with a particular Translation file.
translation file.
This will start Surpac and only search for a local sentinel. (lm stands for
-lm **local**
licence manager).
-lm <ip address> This will start Surpac and only search for a server with that ip address.
This will start Surpac and run examplemacro.tcl in the startup directory
Examplemacro.tcl arg1 arg2
with two variables.
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Getting Started Questions
Review
Questions
1. What is a working directory?
2. What does modifing the 'Start in:' line in the Surpac icon properties do?
3. Why would you want to have multiple desktop icons for the same version of Surpac?
4. Does Surpac need a valid surpac dongle/network license to run?
5. On how many computers can Surpac be installed?
6. What is needed to run a licensed copy of Surpac?
Exercises
1. Determine if your copy of Surpac is licensed for a particular module.
A. Start Surpac.
B. Choose File>Licencing>Change /Inspect Licence.
C. View the current licensing details.
Question:
i. Is your copy of Surpac licensed to use the Autoplot module?
2. Run Surpac without a license.
A. Start Surpac.
B. Choose File>Licencing>Change /Inspect Licence.
C. When the License Request form is displayed, select none.
D. In the function chooser, type: FUNCTION LIST, and press Enter.
E. In the current working directory, open the file surpac2.txt.
All of the functions available without a licence are listed under the none mod-
ule.
Questions:
Use the file surpac2.txt to answer the following questions.
i. Can you display a 2D grid without a Surpac license?
ii. Can you run Autoplot without a license?
3. Start Surpac in a specific folder from a desktop icon.

A. Exit Surpac.
B. Using Windows Explorer, create a new folder (for example: C:\MyData).
C. Create a new icon on the desktop by copying and pasting an existing icon.
D. Right click on the new icon and choose Properties.
E. Edit the Properties so that Surpac automatically starts in the MyData folder.
F. Change the name on the icon to Surpac _MyData.
G. Double-click the icon.
Question:
i. Does Surpac start up in the correct folder?
ii. Setup the Surpac icon to look for a local licence only.
A. Exit Surpac.
B. Right click on the Surpac icon and choose Properties.
C. Edit the Target line, by appending the Licence Manager "local" switch.
D. Start up Surpac.
Question:
i. Under what circumstances would you need to use the license Manager "local"
switch?
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Surpac Concepts Exercises
Surpac Concepts
Overview
In this chapter, you will learn about:
l Surpac data types.

l Function-centric vs data-centric operations.
Surpac Data Types

Surpac uses many different file types. Each file type is represented by a unique icon in the Navigator.
Following is a list of the most common file types used in Surpac:
File type Example Description
A string is a sequence of three-dimensional coordinates representing some
String pit1.str physical feature.
Digital Terrain Model (DTM) files are generated from .str files and can represent
surfaces or solids. A DTM surface is a set of triangles that represent a surface
DTM pit1.dtm such as topography or a pit design. 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
Geological
surpac.ddb databases. It is a text file that tells Surpac which tables and fields to read from
database
the database.
Survey Survey database (SDB) files are used to connect to relational survey databases. It
database ug_mine.sdb is a text 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 modelling a 3D body from point and interval data such as drillhole sample
Block model block.mdl data. It provides a method for estimating volume, tonnage, and average grade of
a 3D body from sparse drillhole data.
The files output from the Plotting module are in DWF format. You can open and
Plot files pit_str.dwf edit them in the Surpac plotting window or send them to a plot device such as a
Plotter.
Macros are custom programs, created to perform a set of repetitive tasks or
Macros macro.tcl functionality specific to an operation. You can easily record and edit TCL scripts
in Surpac.
This icon identifies a type of file that you can import directly into Surpac. For
Plugins topo2.dxf example, 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
Styles file styles.ssi strings and DTMs, or default Surpac settings.
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Surpac Concepts Function-centric
Function-centric vs Data-centric Operations

Many graphical operations in Surpac can be performed more quickly via a data-centric approach - by
selecting the data first, then specifying an operation to be performed on the data.
Function-centric
When you invoke 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 to be opened.
You can perform nearly all operations using the function-centric approach. For non-graphical
operations, this is often the only option.
For example, to calculate volumes between two DTM surfaces, you must use the function-centric
approach, such as by selecting Cut and Fill between DTMs from the Volumes 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.
For example, when you right-click a file, a popup menu is displayed. You then choose the operation
to be performed such as Open.
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Surpac Concepts Questions
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 then right-click to display functions that Surpac
can perform on the data.
Review
Questions
1. What is a function-centric operation?
2. How are functions accessed in a data-centric operation?
3. How many different surpac file types can you name?
Exercises
For these exercises, set the Work Directory to /demo_data/tutorials/introduction.
1. Identify file types by icons.

A. In the Navigator, identify and open each of the following file types:
l String File
l DTM File
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Surpac Concepts Exercises
Block Model
l
Geological Database.
l
2. Selecting data in graphics.

A. Open bench105.str into Graphics.
B. Using the select tool, select a segment.
C. Right click in Graphics.
Question:
i. What happens to the way a segment is displayed when it is selected?
3. More selecting.
A. Using the same data in Graphics.
B. Using the select tool, select a point.
C. Right click in Graphics.
Question:
i. Are the data-centric options the same for selecting a point or a segment?
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The Surpac Interface Exercises
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
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Open a File Using the Menu
Menus
The menus group functions from a particular module, such as the Block Model module.
Activity: Open a File Using the Menu
1. Choose File > Open > String/DTM file.
2. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.
The file pit1.str is displayed.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Use the Reset Graphics Button from the Toolbar
Toolbars
A toolbar is a collection of icons that have related functions. Toolbars allow you to access commonly
used functions directly, without the need to search through the menus.
Activity: Use the Reset Graphics Button from the Toolbar
1. Open pit1.str in graphics.
2. Click the Reset graphics icon .
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 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.
Activity: Open a File from the Navigator
1. Using File Filter drop down in the Navigator, select Surpac Files (.mdl,.dtm,.str).
2. Right-click the file bench105.str in the Navigator.
3. From the popup menu, select Open.
bench105.str is displayed.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Open a File from the Navigator
4. In the File Filter, select All files.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Display a String File in the Preview Pane
Preview Pane
The Preview pane displays string data without the need to load it into graphics.
Activity: 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.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: 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.
Activity: Display and View Data in Graphics

2. Drag and drop the file pit_design1.str into graphics.
The file pit_design1.str is displayed.
3. Perform the following steps:
l Use the left mouse button to rotate the image.

l Use the right mouse button to zoom in and out based on the centre of the image.
l Use the wheel button, or both mouse buttons, to pan the image.
l Use the wheel button to zoom in or out in relation to the current location of the cursor.
Properties Pane
This is the area where you see:
l The properties of your file data when the Navigator is active.

l Information about graphics data when Surpac is in select mode and you have data
selected.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: View Changes to the Status Area
Layers Pane
This is the area where you manage your data in layers. This is described in detail in the chapter
Managing Data in Layers.
Status Bar
The Status bar shows the coordinate position of the mouse cursor as well as the string number and
design gradient. The Status bar also shows whether a database or block model is loaded into
memory.
Activity: View Changes to the Status Area
1. Drag and drop surpac.ddb (a geological database) into graphics.
2. Drag and drop block_model.mdl (a block model) into graphics.
Notice that 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 mouse within the graphics area.

Notice that 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.
Activity: Clear the Message Window

1. Right-click in the Message window to display a menu.
2. From the popup menu, select Clear Window .
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Work with Multiple Viewports
Multiple Viewports
You can view data in different ways using multiple viewports.
Activity: Work with Multiple Viewports
1. Drag and drop pit_design1.str into graphics.
2. Right-click in graphics to display a popup menu.
3. From the popup menu, select Viewport, then Copy view.

A maximised copy of the current view is displayed on a tab called View 2.
4. Right-click the View 2 tab, and then choose Viewport > Close.
5. Right-click in graphics, and then choose Viewport > Split vertically.
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Each viewport now displays the same view of the same data.
6. Right-click the left viewport, and then choose Viewport > Split horizontally.
The left viewport is split horizontally as displayed.
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7. Right-click the right viewport, and then choose Viewport > Split horizontally.
Four viewports are now displayed.
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8. Click and drag in the top left viewport to rotate the data.
The data is shown in an oblique view.
9. Click in the bottom left viewport.
10. Click the icon to view the data in the XZ plane.

11. Click in the top right viewport.
12. Click the icon to view the data in the YZ plane.

Four viewports with different views of the data are displayed.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Select the geology_database Profile
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.
Activity: 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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The Surpac Interface Activity: 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.
Activity: Saving your Customisations to a Profile
If you are an experienced Surpac user, you might wish 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.
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The Surpac Interface Activity: Restoring the Default Profile
When you open Surpac again, you can choose your profile which will reload your customised
settings for menus, toolbars and buttons and will automatically configure your workspace.
Activity: Restoring the Default Profile
1. Right-click the empty space beside the toolbars at the top of the Surpac window.
2. Click Restore.
Review
Questions
1. Name four panes on the Graphics interface.
2. What are profiles?
3. What does the Navigator do?
4. How do you change profile?
5. How many viewports can there be?
6. How is a second viewport created?
7. How can you unhide hidden panes?
8. What information can be displayed on the status bar?
Exercises
1. Changing profiles, menus and toolbars.
A. Reset graphics .
B. Right click in the empty menu space and choose the Minedesign Profile.
C. Add the Solids Menu.
D. Remove the Macro Toolbar.
Questions:
i. Would you want all the menus open on graphics? Why?
ii. How many menus/toolbars can you add/remove at a time?
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The Surpac Interface Exercises
2. Changing the screen layout.

A. Move the Layer Pane to the right of the Message Window.
B. Delete the Properties Pane.
C. Choose Customise > Auto Save window layout.
Question:
i. What would be an advantage of setting the screen up like this?
3. Creating and using personalised profiles
A. Choose No Profile.
B. Move the Layer Pane to the left side of the Message Window.
C. Move the Properties Pane to the right side of the Message Window.
D. Add the Database Menu.
E. Add the Scale and Transparency Toolbar.
F. Re arrange menus and toolbars for maximum graphics space.
G. Save profile to a new personal name.
Questions:
i. When you bring up the list of available profiles, what has changed?
ii. How do you ensure that every time you open Surpac, your personal profile
appears?
4. Using viewports.
A. Make //tutorials/introduction the working directory.
B. Open pit_design1.str in Graphics.
C. Right click in Graphics, choose Viewport>Split vertically.
D. Click in each viewport and rotate the string file.
E. Open topo1.str into Graphics.
Question:
i. When one viewport is rotated, what happens in the other?
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Advanced Interface Operations Exercises
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 (Short) menu bar.
Each menu contains commands (or menu items, which means the same thing). 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 contours 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.
The following image indicates that the Blast design menu bar and the Main (Short) menu bar are
displayed.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Create a Customised Menu Bar
You can click on 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.
Activity: Create a Customised Menu Bar
1. Choose Customise > Customise menus/toolbars.
The Modify Menus and Toolbars form is displayed.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Create a Customised Menu Bar
2. To create a new menu bar, right-click on Menubars under User Menus/Toolbars and
select New from the list.
3. To rename the menu bar:

a. Right-click MenuBar_1.
b. Select Edit from the list.
c. Type pit_design and press ENTER.
4. Select the menus to place in the menu bar:
a. Expand the Surface design menu bar.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Display Toolbars and Create a Customised Toolbar
b. Hold down CTRL and select the Pit Design, Expand segment and Expand
string folders.
c. Click Copy.
d. Select the new pit_design menu bar.
e. Click Paste.
5. Enter pit_design in the Save Profile As field.
6. Click Apply.
Note: The new pit_design menu bar floats above the Surpac window.
7. 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

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 some of the functions from it and adding the New Midpoint function to it.
Activity: 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.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Display Toolbars and Create a Customised Toolbar

4. Right-click on the Toolbars folder (under User Menus/Toolbars) and select New from the
list.
Note: This will create a new menu, called Toolbar1.
5. Right-click on Toolbar1 and select Edit.
6. Type pit_design and press ENTER.
7. Under Surpac Menus/Toolbars,expand the Surface design toolbar.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Creating a Custom Button to Put on a Toolbar
8. Hold down CTRL and select several of the surface design commands as shown.
9. Click Copy.
10. Select the new pit_design toolbar and click Paste.
Activity: Creating a Custom Button to Put on a Toolbar

2. In the Modify Menus and Toolbars form, select the pit_design toolbar and click New.
This will create a new button on the designated toolbar.
Note: To fill in the Command field you will have to click the Ellipsis button and
navigate to a TCL file. Similarly, to fill in the Image field, you must click the Ellipsis button
and navigate to an icon file in the icons folder.
Note: The full path to the TCL command scripts folder is:
C:/Users/Public/Gemcom/Surpac/62/share/resource/scripts/toolbars/
4. In the Modify menus and toolbars form, 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. Move the cursor over the icon on the right of the toolbar to see its Tool Tip.
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Advanced Interface Operations Activity: Run Two Functions from the Function Chooser
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.
Activity: Run Two Functions from the Function Chooser
2. Type CS (for Clear Screen) into the function chooser.
Note: The function chooser field is located in the lower part of the Surpac window.
3. Press ENTER to run the function.

Running the Clear Screen function makes the graphics area empty but, unlike the Reset
graphics function, it leaves the data in the layer.
4. Type the alias DRWS (for Draw Strings) into the function chooser.
survey1665.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 is a type of
dialogue box and these terms can be used interchangably.
The Open File form and its components is a typical form.
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By clicking once to highlight a field on a form, and then right clicking, you see options to help you fill
in the form.
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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 the way that
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.
Toggle floating
The Toggle floating button enables you to "dock" or "undock" the pane. When the pane is docked it
is fixed to an area of the Surpac window. When it 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.
Toggle auto-hide
The Toggle auto-hide button enables you to hide the pane so that you have more workspace for
other panes.
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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 on the pane that
you want to restore.
In the example below, the Tools 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.
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To restore the whole interface to its original state, right-click an empty area in the toolbar region, and
click Restore.
Default Preferences
The Default Preferences menu option allows you to manage user settings. You can change the
system to customise it.
Here are some useful examples:
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Advanced Interface Operations Task: Changing setting in Defaults Preferences
Task: Changing setting in Defaults Preferences

1. Customise>Default preferences>Graphics>Viewer settings.
Change the WINDOW IN mode from 'centre to corner' to 'corner to corner'.
2. Customise>Default preferences>Graphics>Hardware settings.
These are the optimal settings for Surpac BUT if there are problems with your graphics
card, try changing some of these settings.
a. Change the Processor Affinity on a dual core machine to 1 instead of all.
b. Change the graphics display driver from Open GL, some graphics cards work
better on direct 3d and give graphics problems with Open GL.
c. Change the Hidden Surface removal algorithm.
3. Customise>Default preferences>Lighting>Directional lights.
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Advanced Interface Operations Task: Changing setting in Defaults Preferences
Taking the centre of the graphics area being 0,0,0 with the screen area going -2 to 2 (x), -1
to 1 (y) and -1 to 1 being above or below the screen, setting up lights in 3 directions
ensures any surface or solid will be properly illuminated when rotated on the screen.
4. Customise>Default preferences>Graphics colours.

Set up the background screen to any colour you wish. Be aware that you have no string
colours set the same as your background or they will be invisible (ie. if string 1 is set to
black on a black background).
5. Customise>Default preferences>Files>File actions.
This is where you can change the text editor to Context from Notepad.
6. Customise>Default preferences>Alias files.

Short.mst and surpac.mst are where the shortcut codes for the Function Chooser are
stored. They are stored in the directory
C:/<surpac directory>/share/etc. The logical SSI_ETC: is set up in the translate.ssi file,
also in C:/<surpac directory>/share/etc.
You can setup your own shortcut key file as above my_alias.alias and store it in the same
directory.
The file should look like this,
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Advanced Interface Operations Questions
shortcut in double quoted followed by white space followed by the full command name in double
quotes.
You can use an existing shortcut as well as the full command name.
If an existing shortcut is used, that last to be loaded will overwrite the function of the first ( ie.Alias 3
will overwrite alias 1 and 2), so check that you are creating a NEW shortcut.
form is to click the icon in the toolbar.
Review
Questions
1. Where is the option to create a personalised toolbar?
2. Name three ways to run a function in Surpac.
3. What are the two files which contain function chooser shortcuts, and where are they
stored?
4. How can hidden panes be redisplayed?
5. Where can the graphics settings for Surpac be found?
6. Where can the paths for the customisable directories Surpac is pointing to, be found?
Exercises
1. Setting form defaults.
A. Choose File>Open>String/DTM file.
B. Click Rescale display.
C. Right click, choose Constant.
D. Clear, and then clickApply.
Question:
i. What different behaviour can be seen in opening a file between dragging it
into graphics or using this form to open the file?
2. Create a personalised toolbar.
A. Choose Customise>Customise menus/toolbars.
B. Create a new toolbar named 'TEST'.
C. Copy and paste Open file and Undo functions from the Surpac toolbar to the
user toolbar TEST.
D. Add the following new item to the toolbar:
The Type is Script, the Command is 02a_change_display_styles.tcl, the Image
and Tool Tip is whatever you wish.
E. Run this script from the new toolbar.
3. Change the screen colour.
A. Choose Customise>Defaults preferences>Graphics colours.
B. Set the background to pale yellow.
C. Set the text to dark blue.
D. View the results in Graphics.
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Getting Help Activity: Access Field Help and Form Help
Getting Help
There are a number of resources to assist you whether you are trying to solve a problem, to
understand how a function works, or to enter data into a form.
Field Help and Form Help

When Surpac prompts you to enter information, it displays a form. The components on the form
where you enter information are known as fields.
You can get helpful information about each field by accessing Field help. Helpful information about
the entire form, and concepts related to the function, are available by accessing Form help.
Activity: Access Field Help and Form Help

3. Click the Location field, and then right-click to display a popup menu.
4. From the popup menu, select Field help.

A window with help that is specific to the field selected is displayed.
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Getting Help Activity: Access Field Help and Form Help
5. Press TAB several times.

Notice that the help text changes as the cursor moves to different fields. This happens
because Enable auto help is selected.
6. Clear Enable auto help.
7. Press TAB several times.
Notice that the help text does not change.
8. Select Enable auto help.
9. Click the X button in the top right corner of the help window to close it.
10. Click and then right-click in a field to display the following menu.
11. From the menu, select Form Help.

A window with help about the function Open file is displayed.
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Getting Help Activity: Access Online Help from a Form
Online Help
Online help contains more detailed information than form help and field help, as well as examples
and troubleshooting assistance.
Activity: Access Online Help from a Form
1. Choose Display > 2D Grid.
2. Click the button at the lower left corner of the form.
The online help for the 2D Grid function is displayed.
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Getting Help Activity: Access Help from the Help Menu
3. Close the help window.
Activity: Access Help from the Help Menu

1. In Surpac, from the Help menu, select Table of contents.
2. In the table of contents, expand Modules, then Licence Manager, then Network Licence
Manager, and then Introduction.
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Getting Help Activity: Use the Index to Search for Information
The help for the Licence Manager is displayed.
Activity: Use the Index to Search for Information

The Index is another good way to locate help.
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Getting Help Activity: Search the Online help

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.
The help for Block Model is displayed.
Activity: Search the Online help

2. In the lower left corner, click the Search tab.
3. Type 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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4. Click the topic that is ranked 1 at the top of the list, DTM Maths.
You can do a phrase search by enclosing your search in quotes.

5. Type String Maths(including the quotation marks) in the Search box, and then click
Search
The search will find only the exact phrase String Maths.
6. Click the top row, String Maths.
You can see the text String Maths is highlighted in the topic.
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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 via the tutorials profile. When you install the software from the CD, the
tutorials are installed into directories under:
<installation directory>\demo_data\tutorials
where <installation directory> is the folder where Surpac is 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 Activity: Access the Tutorials Profile
Activity: Access the Tutorials Profile

1. Right-click in the blank area on the right of the main menus.
2. From the popup menu, choose Profiles > tutorials.
A set of menus for the tutorials are displayed.
To view the tutorials or run the macros for the tutorial, you must first click on 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, enter http://www.gemcomsupport.com.

2. Click Gemcom Surpac, then Downloads.
3. Log in to the Gemcom support site.
4. Click Surpac Updates
5. Click Tutorials v6.1
Note: You will need log in credentials to enter the Gemcom Support site. Contact your local
support office if you do not have this information.
Tip: The information offered on this page may be more recent than those from the CD installation.
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Getting Help Activity: Find Support Office Contact Details
Support
You can contact your local support office by phone or email.
Activity: Find Support Office Contact Details
1. Choose Help > Table of Contents.
The table of contents is displayed on the left side of the screen.
2. Expand the Support menu item to find your local support office from the listed locations.
3. Click on the required location. Alternatively, you can click on the map of locations or
select the location from a list.
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Getting Help Activity: Log a software request
The contact details are displayed. For example, the contact details of the Australian office
are as shown:
Software Request
The final type of help is where you log a software request by email.
Activity: Log a software request
1. Choose Help > Log a request.
2. Fill in a detailed description of your problem.
3. Click Contact Info...

4. Enter your personal details, and then click OK.
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Getting Help Activity: Log a software request
5. Click Computer Info

6. Click Capture Config to automatically get the details of your PC.
7. Enter as much detail as possible, and then click OK.
8. If you have data to demonstrate your problem, click Attach File

9. Navigate to the data file that you want to attach, and then click Open.
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Getting Help Questions
10. Click Save.

11. Give your output file a meaningful name.
12. Navigate to the folder where you wish to store the file, and then click Save.
13. Email the .sbg file to: surpacissues@gemcomsoftware.com
Review
Questions
1. Name the three ways of accessing Help in Surpac.
2. What is the effect of putting quotation marks around text in the Surpac help search?
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Getting Help Exercises
3. How is a bug report logged with Gemcom?

4. Where would a support email be sent to?
5. What is the difference between "Field help" and "Form help"?, How can they be accessed
?
Exercises
1. Accessing the Help while in Graphics.
A. Choose Edit>Layer>Maths.
B. Click on any field, then right click and choose field help.
C. Move from field to field and read the field help.
D. Click the question mark in the lower left of the form.
Questions:
i. What happens next?
ii. How does this help differ from the field help?
2. Using the Surpac Help.
A. Choose Help>Table of Contents.
B. In the Search pane type, including quotation marks, "desktop icon".
Questions:
i. How many titles appear?
ii. Now remove the quotation marks and see how many titles appear.
iii. What is the effect of using quotation marks?
3. Log Request.
A. Choose Help>Log a Request
B. Fill out an enhancement request that more than one menu/toolbar can be
activated /deactivated at a time.
Questions:
i. What is the name of the file produced?
ii. Where should this file be sent?
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: 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 sense, a Surpac string number is the same as a CAD package layer.
However, in Surpac, a layer is an area in memory which contains data displayed in graphics. Layers
can contain strings from one or more string files. In this sense, 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,
these display as shown below.
Creating Layers
By dragging a file from the Navigator to 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.
Activity: Create Layers

2. Drag and drop pit1.str into graphics.
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Notice that the Layers pane now shows two layers, the main graphics layer and a new
layer called pit1.str which becomes the active layer.
This symbol indicates that the layer is

active.
visible.
selectable.
The SWA now contains:
3. Drag and drop the file map1.str into graphics from the Navigator.
Notice that the Layers pane now shows three layers, and map1.str is the active layer.
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Next, you will create a circular area delineating 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 will be stored.
4. On the Layers pane, click the button.

Notice that the new layer is now the active layer.
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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 then click Apply
9. Press ESC to finish using the function.

Notice that 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 yet
saved it.
10. Choose File > Save > string/DTM.

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The waste dump layer is now displayed in black.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Navigator
Appending Data to a Layer

You can append data to a layer by holding down the CTRL key when dragging and dropping a file into
graphics. Also, the Open File form contains an option to append data in a layer.
You can combine data from different files by appending them into one layer, and then saving the file.
Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Navigator

2. Hold the CTRL key down, then drag and drop pit1.str into graphics.
Notice that while you drag a file into graphics with the CTRL key pressed, the cursor is
displayed with a plus sign ( + )

After releasing the mouse, notice that the Layers pane still only shows one layer, the
main graphics layer.
3. Hold the CTRL key down, then drag and drop the file map1.str into graphics from the Navi-
gator.
After releasing the mouse, notice that the Layers pane still only shows one layer, the
main graphics layer.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Navigator
Next, you will save the data from both files to a new file.
4. Choose File > Save > String/DTM file.
The file map_and_pit.str contains all data from pit1.str as well as all data from map1.str.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Open File Command
Activity: Append Data to a Layer with the Open File Command

Notice that by setting String Range to 2, only string 2 from pit1.str is opened in the main
graphics layer.

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Notice that by setting String Range to 2;12;52, only those strings have been opened.
Also, because Replace current data was not selected, the data is appended to the main
graphics layer.
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The file pit_and_buildings.str now contains string 2 from pit1.str as well as string 2, string
12, and string 52 from map1.str.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Replace Data in a Layer with the Navigator
Replacing Data in a Layer

You can replace data in a layer with the SHIFT key modifier when dragging and dropping a file into
graphics. Also, the Open File form contains an option to replace data in a layer.
Activity: Replace Data in a Layer with the Navigator

2. Drag and drop map1.str into graphics from the Navigator.
Notice that the Layers pane shows the two layers.
3. Click pit1.str so that it is the only file selected in the Navigator.

4. Hold the SHIFT key down, then drag and drop pit1.str into graphics.
Notice that while you drag a file into graphics with the SHIFT key pressed, the cursor is
displayed with an X.
After releasing the mouse button, notice that the Layers pane still shows both layers.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Replace Data in a Layer with the Navigator
However, the contents of the map1.str layer have been replaced by the data in the file
pit1.str:
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Replace Data in a Layer Using the Open File Command
Activity: Replace Data in a Layer Using the Open File Command

2. Choose File > Open > string/DTM.
Notice that all the data in pit1.str is open in the main graphics layer.
4. Choose File > Open > string/DTM.

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Managing Data in Layers Activity: Replace Data in a Layer Using the Open File Command
Notice that all data in the main graphics layer is replaced by the data in map1.str.
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Managing Data in Layers Activity: 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
this information by opening the SWA file.
Activity: Save a Workspace

2. Drag and drop ore1.dtm into graphics.
3. Choose View > Surface view options > Lighting options.

6. Drag and drop topo1.str into graphics.
7. Click in graphics and drag to rotate the data as shown.
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Notice that four layers exist in the Layers pane.
8. Choose File > Save > Graphics workspace.

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.

Notice that all the layers are deleted except the default main graphics layer.
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13. Drag and drop ore_pit_topo.swa into graphics from the Navigator.
Notice that you have restored the layers in the Layers pane, as well as the lighting settings
and the view direction.
Note: SWA files are text files which store information about other files. If you want to
open a SWA file on another computer, you must ensure that the files that the SWA file
references are available using the same directory structure.
15. Enter the following information, and then click Apply.
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Managing Data in Layers Questions
Notice that your lighting is reset to its original state.
Review
Questions
1. What do the three symbols to the left of the layer name mean?
2. What are the three ways a new layer can be created?
3. How many active layers can there be?
4. What effect does clicking the Reset graphics icon have on the Layers Pane?
5. How can a file be imported into an existing layer?
6. What is an swa file?
7. What effect does holding down the ALT key while dragging and dropping a file into the
Surpac work area have?
Exercises
1. Working with layers.
A. Reset graphics.
B. Create a new layer called 'Design'.
C. Open Waste_dump.dtm and Pit_design1.dtm into the Design layer.
D. Open Topo1.str and Bench105.str into separate layers.
E. Make Design the active layer.
F. Make Topo1.str unselectable.
G. Save the Graphics Workspace as Design_a.swa.
Questions:
i. How many layers are in the layer pane?
ii. What does the swa file icon look like?
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Managing Data in Layers Exercises
2. Working with layers (exercise 2).

A. Reset graphics.
B. Open Pit_design1.str, Topo1.str and ore1.dtm into separate layers.
C. Display in section view.
D. Make Pit_design1.str invisible.
E. Make Topo1.str the active layer.
F. Save the Graphics Workspace as View.swa.
G. Reset graphics.
H. Create a new layer called 'View'.
I. Recall the same files into the View layer.
J. Save the data as View.str.
Question:
i. What is the difference between View.str and View.swa ?
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Strings Exercises
Strings
The most common file format used for storing information in Surpac is a string file. A string file
contains coordinate information for one or more points, as well as optional descriptive information
for each point. It is important to understand how Surpac organises and uses data stored within a
string file; this will enable you to work more efficiently with strings.
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 Exercises
Types of Strings
There are three types of strings:
l Open.
l Closed.
l Spot Height.
Surpac Term Common Term Example

Open string Line Drill hole trace
Closed string Polygon Property boundary
Points not associated with a line or
Spot height string Blast hole collar locations
polygon
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 which 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 comma ranges.
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Strings Exercises
Here are some examples:

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
from 5 to 20, at an increment of 5 and from 40 to 60, at
5 10 15 20 40 50 60 5,20,5;40,60,10
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:

Filename 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 may not work correctly when
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: geoID: 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 Activity: View String Data
Viewing String Data

Here is an example which demonstrates the previous concepts.
Activity: View String Data

2. Drag and drop the file bench105.str into graphics.
3. Choose Display > Strings > With string and segment numbers.
The file bench105.str is displayed.
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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.
Segment
String number Data Type D1 D2 D3
number
1 1 Low grade ore Closed Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) SG
2 1 Medium grade ore Closed Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) SG
3 1 High grade ore Closed Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) SG
8 1 Footwall trace Open footwall
8 2 Hangingwall trace Open hangingwall
30005 30005 Pit design toe Closed
30008 30008 Survey stations Spot height Station name
5. Choose Display > Point > Numbers.

6. Enter a value of 1 for the String range, and then click Apply.
Notice that the order of points for string 1 is clockwise in the XY plane.
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Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 01a_viewing_string_data.tcl. You will need
to click Apply on any forms presented.
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Strings Activity: 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.
Activity: View String Data in a Text Editor
1. From the Navigator, right click bench105.str, and then 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:
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 Questions
2. Scroll down in the file to see the data as shown.
lString 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 editor without saving any changes.
Note: Manually editing string files is not recommended. If the format becomes
corrupted, Surpac may not work correctly when using the file.
Review
Questions
1. What is the hierarchy of a string file?
2. What directions are possible in a string file?
3. How many description fields can a string file have?
4. What is a Surpac data range?
5. In a text editor, how can you tell if a string has more than one segment?
6. If the following string range is typed on a display form, what strings will be displayed
1,10,4;25;30,40?
Exercises
1. String segments.
A. Copy file ore1.str to test1.str.
B. Open test1.str in Graphics.
C. Choose Display>Strings>With string and segment numbers (DSEG).
D. Edit test1.str in a text editor, remove first 0.00 line.
E. Choose Display>Strings>With string and segment numbers (DSEG).
Questions:
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Strings Exercises
i. What do the numbers displayed signify?

ii. In what way did the string/segment numbering change between C. and E.?
Why/Why not?
2. Point attributes.
A. Open ramp_cl_2dlength.str into Graphics.
B. Choose Display>Point>Numbers (PN), and apply the form.
C. Choose Display>Point>Attributes (PD), and apply the form.
Questions:
i. What information is displayed in graphics?
ii. How could this information be useful?
3. Point descriptions.
A. Right click on bench105.str.
B. View it in a text editor.
Questions:
i. How many description fields are in string 1? How are they denoted?
ii. Paging down through the file, what kind of information can be stored in a
description field?
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: Change Display Style
Viewing and Saving Data

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.
Activity: 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 the file samp_classified1.str.

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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A point whose arsenic concentration is 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 black, 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.
5. Enter the information as shown to select the drawing method, colour, marker type and
text properties for displaying the four spot height strings.
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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 Prop-
erties.
c. Click Edit.
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.
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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 then enter oru for the Units and
8.5 for the Size.
h. Click Apply.
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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
Reference Manual.
6. Click the check box in the lower left part of the form and in the Filename text box, type
ssi_styles:marker.ssi.
7. Click Apply.
The styles are now stored in the file marker.ssi in the styles directory.
The Set Drawing Styles form will now look like the following.
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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).
8. Zoom in and you will see numbers and symbols displayed.
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: View Point Properties
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 will need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Activity: View Point Properties
The Point properties function displays point attribute information including string, segment and
point numbers, y,x,z coordinates, and description fields.

2. Open lev1665.str by dragging it from the Navigator into graphics.
3. Click Select Point/Triangle using the select tool.
4. Select any four points by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on the points.
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: View Segment Properties
5. Choose Inquire > Point properties.

The Message window displays the point properties for all of the selected points.
Activity: View Segment Properties

2. Open lev1665.str by dragging it into graphics.
3. On the Select tool, choose Select Segment/Trisolation.
4. Select the segment as shown.
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: Determine Bearing and Distance Between Two Points
The segment properties are displayed in the Properties pane.
Activity: Determine Bearing and Distance Between Two Points

2. Open lev1665.str.
3. Choose Inquire > Bearing and distance between 2 points.
Notice the prompt to select the setup point.
4. Click the setup point.
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: Determine Bearing and Distance Between Two Points
Notice the prompt to select the foresight point.
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 terminate the function.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 02d_bearing_and_distance.tcl. You will
need to click Apply on any forms presented.
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Viewing and Saving Data Activity: Save a File
Saving Data
There are two ways to save a file: text or binary.
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.
Activity: Save a File

2. Open lev1665.str.
3. Use the Select tool to select a point in the string.
4. Right-click and select Delete from the popup menu.
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5. Choose File > Save >String/DTM file.

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

The Display menu contains all the functions for displaying and hiding data already in memory.
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With Strings, there are the options to display them just as lines or with string and/or segment
numbers.
Points can be displayed as just markers, point number from the string file or one of the attributes
stored in the description fields.
Data that is hidden using the Display functions is only removed from view, not removed from
memory.
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Viewing and Saving Data Task: Using the Display Menu
Task: Using the Display Menu

1. Make the Introduction data directory your working directory //training_CD_data-
set/introduction/data.
2. Drag and drop the file bench105.str.
3. Display the strings with segment numbers.
4. Hide string 30,008.

5. Display the d1 Attributes for Strings 2 and 3 at the first point.
6. Display a 100m 2D grid.

7. Display string 1 as strings.
8. Graphics should look as follows:
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Viewing and Saving Data Questions
Viewing and Saving Data Review

Questions
1. What is a styles file?
2. Where can a styles file be edited?
3. What does the SAVE function do?
4. What option calculates the length of a segment?
5. How can the shortest distance between two points on different layers be calculated?
Exercises
For these exercises make the Tutorials>Introduction directory your Working Directory.
1. Using the Display Menu.

A. Open Pit2.str in Graphics.
B. Display the Z values at the start of each string.
C. Display a 100m 2D Grid on top of it.
2. Use the Inquire Menu to calculate the following.
A. Reset graphics.
B. Open Pit_design.str and Waste_dump.str in Graphics.
Questions:
i. What is the shortest distance between the pit design and the beginning of the
waste dump ramp?
ii. What area will the waste dump occupy?
3. Using the Display and Inquire Menus.
A. Reset graphics .
B. Open Bench105.str in Graphics.
C. Display strings with segment numbers.
Question:
i. Are strings 1,2 and 3 open or closed?
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Viewing and Saving Data Exercises
D. Display point descriptions for all points.

E. Display D1 for strings 1,2 and 3 as centroids.
Question:
i. What is the length of the footwall?
4. Using the display properties.
A. Reset graphics.
B. Open Topo1.str in Graphics.
C. Display String numbers at the start of the segment, to the left.
D. Display the Z values for each segment, at the start to the right.
E. Display the contours as yellow, except display every z value that is a multiple
of 10, in white(black) with the Z value displayed every 500m, with a size of
10mm.
F. Plot every multiple of 50m in thick Red with the z value at the start.
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Editing Data Activity: Use Orbit Mode to Rotate Data
Editing Data
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.
Activity: Use Orbit Mode to Rotate Data

2. Drag and drop survey1665.str into graphics.
3. From the Tools toolbar , click the Orbit tool icon .

4. Click and drag in the Graphics Viewport.
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 any of theses selection tools are used, Surpac will operate in data centric mode.
Activity: Change Selection Modes
1. From the Tools toolbar , click the drop-down triangle on the
Select tool icon .

2. Click Select Point/Triangle.
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Editing Data Activity: Change Selection Modes
The Select tool icon, now displays the Point/Triangle selection mode: .
3. Click the Select tool icon (not the drop-down triangle ).
The icon now displays Segment/Trisolation selection mode: .
4. Click the Select tool icon again.
The icon now displays String/Object selection mode: .
5. Click the Select tool icon again.
The icon now displays Select selection mode: .
6. From the Tools toolbar , click the Box selection icon .
The Tools toolbar now displays Box selection mode: .

7. Right-click anywhere in the Graphics Viewport to display a popup menu.
8. At the bottom of the menu, click the Select tool icon.
Notice that the Tools toolbar now displays Select selection mode:
.
10. At the bottom of the popup menu, click the Orbit view tool icon.
Notice that the Tools toolbar now displays Orbit view mode: .
11. From the Tools toolbar, click the Select tool icon .
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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Editing Data Activity: Use Point/Triangle Mode to Delete Points
Activity: Use Point/Triangle Mode to Delete Points

2. Drag and drop survey1665.str into graphics.
3. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Point/Triangle.
4. Click the point as shown.

6. From the popup menu, select Delete.
The point is deleted.
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Editing Data Activity: Use Segment/Trisolation Mode to Reverse Segments
7. Hold down the CTRL key, and then click the points as shown.
8. Click DELETE.
The points are deleted.
Activity: Use Segment/Trisolation Mode to Reverse Segments

1. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Seg-
ment/Trisolation.
2. Hold down the CTRL key, and then click the segments as shown.
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Editing Data Activity: Use Segment/Trisolation Mode to Reverse Segments

4. From the popup 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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Editing Data Activity: Use Select Mode to Break, Join, and Renumber Segments
Activity: 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 very quickly.

Point numbers are displayed.
It is not necessary to display point numbers. This is only done here to clearly identify
points which you will select in the following steps.
3. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select.
4. Hold down CTRL, and then click points 11 and 14.
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5. Right-click anywhere in graphics to display a popup menu.

6. From the menu, select Break segments at selected points.
7. Click at a location between the two points on the segment to be deleted, as shown.
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8. Right-click and select Delete from the popup menu.
9. Hold the CTRL key down, and select two points to be joined (105 and 216).
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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 2.
10. Right-click and select Connect points from the popup menu.
11. Hold the CTRL key down, and select two points to be joined (130 and 25).
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12. Right-click and select Connect points from the menu.
The points are joined.
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13. Repeat steps 4 to 12 for other locations, until the final result is as shown.
14. Choose Display > Strings > With string numbers.

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Next, you will 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 a segment that you will renumber.
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17. Right-click and choose Select strings from the popup menu.
Both segments of string 2 are selected.
18. Choose Edit > Strings > Renumber

19. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply
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Editing Data Activity: Use String/Object Mode to Delete and Clean Strings
Activity: Use String/Object Mode to Delete and Clean Strings

1. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select String/Object
2. Click string 30008 as shown.
3. Right-click and then select Delete from the popup menu.
4. Click string 1, as shown.
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Editing Data Activity: Use String/Object Mode to Delete and Clean Strings
5. Right-click and then select Clean from the popup menu.

7. Choose File > Save as.

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Editing Data Activity: Move Data Along an Axis
The Move Tool

Once you have selected data, you can use the Move Tool to move it:
l Constrained along an axis.

l Constrained in a plane.
l Unconstrained.
Activity: Move Data Along an Axis

2. Drag and drop lev1665.str into graphics.
3. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select Point/Triangle.
4. Hold the CTRL key down and click the two points as shown.
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Editing Data Activity: Move Data Along an Axis
5. From the Tools toolbar, click the Move Tool .

6. Click and drag the X axis (red), as shown:
Before After
Notice that the status bar displays coordinate values as well as the movement.
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Editing Data Activity: Move Data in a Plane
Activity: Move Data in a Plane

3. Drag and drop ore1.str into graphics.

4. Rotate the data as shown in the image below.
ment/Trisolation.
6. Click the segment shown.
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Editing Data Activity: Move Data in Three Dimensions
7. From the Tools toolbar, click the Move Tool .

8. Click and drag the red and blue corner to constrain the movement to the XZ plane.
Before After
Notice that only the X and Z values in the status bar change as you move the segment.

Activity: Move Data in Three Dimensions

2. Drag and drop und1.str into graphics.
3. Drag and drop und_layout.str into graphics.
4. Click and drag in graphics to rotate the data as shown:
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5. From the Selection drop-down menu on the Tools toolbar, click Select String/Object.
6. Click the string in und_layout.str.
7. Right-click and then select the Move Tool from the popup menu.
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8. Click inside the yellow square at the intersection of the three axes and move the string as
shown.
Notice that all three coordinates in the status bar change as you move the string.

The Edit Menu

The Edit menu contains all the functions for editing data already in memory.
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Edit>String acts on a whole nominated string.

Edit>Segment acts on a selected segment.
Edit>Point acts on a selected point.
String Maths
String maths allows you to manipulate string file data mathematically.
Some of the uses of this function are:
l Interchanging Y,X,Z and description fields.

l Applying various mathematical functions to individual fields.
l Setting individual fields to a constant or to the value of another field.
l Scaling Y,X,Z values about a given datum value.
l Calculating areas, lengths and directions of segments.
Next, you will convert some geological ore zone interpretations from section coordinates to plan
(real-world) coordinates.
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Editing Data Activity: Convert Ore Zone Interpretations from Section Coordinates to Plan (Real-World) Coordinates
Activity: Convert Ore Zone Interpretations from Section Coordinates to Plan (Real-
World) Coordinates
1. Click Reset graphics .

2. Open ore_section1.str.
3. Choose Display > 2D grid.
The sections are displayed with the grid.
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Next, you will convert this data to plan view, also known as real world coordinates.
5. Choose File tools > String maths.

8. Open ore_plan1.str.
9. Choose Display > 2D grid.
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11. Choose View > Zoom > Out.

The segments are displayed.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05a_string_maths1.tcl. You will need to
click Apply on any forms presented.
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Editing Data Activity: Move a Pit 200 Metres North to Correct Survey Station Error
Activity: Move a Pit 200 Metres North to Correct Survey Station Error

2. Open pit_design1.str.
5. Open the files pit_new.str and pit_design1.str in graphics and move the images around
to see the difference between them.
The original pit is displayed next to a new repositioned pit.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05b_string_maths2.tcl. You will need to
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Editing Data Activity: Create a Cut Off Grade
Activity: Create a Cut Off Grade

Activity: Create a Cut Off Grade

2. Open kbb135.str.
3. From the Navigator, right click kbb135.str, and then select Edit.
The last two columns contain values for D1 and D2 fields.

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7. From the Navigator, right click kbb_new135.str, and then select Edit.
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Notice that a new column has been added to the existing D1 and D2 columns. This is the
D3 field that stores the cut off grade from the above process.
8. Drag and drop kbb_new135.str into graphics.
9. Choose Display > Point > Attributes.
The D3 values for each point are displayed in each cell, as given below.
11. Zoom in to see the values displayed.
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Notice that some of the values have 2 or 3 decimal places while others don't have any.
Next, you will standardise the number of decimal places to two.
13. Click Reset graphics
16. When the following prompt is displayed, click Apply ,and then click Yes on the next
prompt.
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Notice that a fourth column has been added to the existing D1, D2 and D3 columns. This
is the D4 field that stores the formatted value of D3 field, from the above process.
The next part of the task demonstrates how to concatenate / attach text to existing
descriptive field values in the string files.
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19. Click Reset graphics

22. When the following prompt is displayed, click Apply , and then click Yes on the next
prompt.
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Editing Data Further Examples of String maths functions
Notice that a fifth column has been added to the existing D1 to D4 columns. This is the D5
field and it stores a D1 field value along with the text "Au g/t" added to it.
Further Examples of String maths functions

1. Interchange the X and Y fields.
2. Apply a high value cut of 10 to a value in a description field.
3. Calculate and store the chainage down a string.
The result is stored in the field under the Field column.
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Editing Data Questions
Review
Questions
1. What is the default graphics mode?
2. Using a selection mode, what are the five different ways to select data?
3. How does the move tool work?
4. Having selected data, how is a data centric menu displayed?
5. How can all the expressions that can be used for the MATHS function be found?
Exercises
1. Using editing tools.
A. Opn Ore150.str and Pit150b.str in separate graphics layers.
B. Make Pit150b.str the active layer.
C. Smooth the pit contour string.
D. Remove duplicate points within 3m.
E. Make the Z value 145m.
F. Renumber the string to 145.
G. Move points to create a ramp access onto the ore.
2. The clip/trim function.
A. Reset graphics.
B. Open soil1.str into Graphics.
C. Open bdy100.str into Graphics.
D. Make soil1.str the active layer.
E. Display point markers(pm).
F. Choose Edit>Trim>Clip by selected segment.
G. Select the bdy100 string.
Question:
i. What effect does this function have?
H. Undo .
I. Choose Edit>Trim>Trim by selected segment, delete partially inside segment.
Questions:
i. What effect does this function have?
ii. Give an example of how one of these functions might be used.
4. String editing using menus / toolbars.
A. Open LEV100.str.
B. Display strings with segment numbers.
C. Using Segment>Join, join segment 1.1 to 1.2.
D. Close segment 1.1.
E. Move the first point on string 2 to the other side of string 1, using
Edit>Point>Move.
F. Renumber string 2 to string 1.
G. Using the Display functions, choose Edit>Display>Point>Numbers.
H. Using Edit>Segment>Break, break the string after point 12.
I. Display strings with segment numbers.
J. Using Edit>Segment>Join, join string 1.1 to 1.6, then 1.1 to 1.2.
K. Now display point numbers again and see how they have been re-numbered
to reflect the new order of the string.
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Creating Data Exercises
Creating Data
Overview
In this chapter you will learn about:
l Creating a simple pit design.
The Create Menu
These are the functions used to create new points.
Snap Mode
When you are creating new data, it is important to know which point mode is activated.
The following example shows a string consisting of two points, to which a third is added using the
three different mode settings.
The default is ADD Mode, as ticked above, any new points created will be added after the last point.
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INSERT mode should be ticked for inserting between existing points. Here the new point is inserted
as point 2, and point 2 is renumbered to 3.
POINT Mode can be used while editing. In this case the coordinated of point 2 are changed to the
new point coordinates.
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On the STATUS Bar, you can set the design string number, and Design Gradient.
You can set the gradient as a ratio, percentage or angle, and this will determine the RL of the points
you create subsequently.
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Creating Data Task: To Create an Underground decline centreline with cross-cuts
Simple Underground Mine Design

Task: To Create an Underground decline centreline with cross-cuts
1. Create a point using Create>Points>By coordinates.
2. Zoom to Data extends to re-scale screen and see point created.
3. Create additional points using Create>Points>By bearing traverse.
4. Create a curve using Create>Curve at segment end.
5. Create additional points using Create>Points>By bearing, using a bearing of 300deg. & a
distance of 100m.
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Creating Data Task: To Create an Underground decline centreline with cross-cuts
6. Change the point mode to INSERT, to create a start point for cross-cuts coming off the
decline, using Create>Points>In line between adjacent points.
7. Set a new Design string (string 501) and set the Gradient to 1 in 50.
8. First digitise the point just created on the decline.
9. Then Create>Points>By bearing.
This is what the above decline looks like in three views, Plan, Section and Long Section.
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Creating Data Activity: Create a Simple Pit Design
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 at a 45 degree pit wall angle.
Activity: Create a Simple Pit Design

You will see a horizontal slice of ore zones at an elevation of 150.
3. Choose Create > Digitise > Properties.

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5. Choose Create > Digitise > New point at mouse location.

6. Click in graphics to create points 1, 2, and 3 as shown.
Note:
l Do not press ESC. You have not finished creating the string.
l Numbers 1, 2 and 3 will not be displayed in the graphics. They are shown on
the images so you know the order in which to create the points.
7. Choose Create > Digitise > New point by selection.
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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 the left mouse button at point 7, then drag to point 8 and release.
11. Click and hold the left mouse button at point 9, then drag to point 10 and release.
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12. Choose Create > Digitise > Close current segment.

The closed segment is displayed.
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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.

16. Drag and drop pit150.str into graphics.
The numbered points on the segment are displayed.
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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 down and click several points as shown.
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21. Right-click to display a menu, and then select Delete.
The renumbered segment is displayed.
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Next, you will set the slope wall angle to 45 degrees.

22. From the Status Bar at the bottom of the Surpac window, click the Design grade button
.
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.
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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.
29. Press ESC to finish expanding.

The segments representing the top and bottom of the pit are displayed.
30. Hold down the right mouse key and drag down or to the left to zoom out.
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The pit strings and the 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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35. If you see a break line error and some lines that cross in the pit crest, delete some points
where the lines cross:
a. Click the Select tool and click Select Point/Triangle.

b. Select a point to delete.
c. Right-click and select Delete.
36. Choose Surfaces > Create DTM from Layer, and then click Apply.
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39. Click and drag in graphics to rotate the data.

The pit and 3D grid are displayed.
Next, you will save the DTM file.

40. Choose File > Save > string/DTM File.
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Creating Data Questions
The Verify Creation of File form is displayed.

42. Click Yes.
Review
Questions
1. When digitising, what is the difference between select a point and digitise a point?
2. When designing data, how is a gradient set?
3. How many point modes are there? When are they used?
Exercises
1. Create a dump.
A. Create a new layer called 'Dump'.
B. Set the design string to 500.
C. Create a rectangle, starting at coordinates 100N,100E,100mRl, 200m long and
120 wide.
D. Create a new segment by contracting that string by 10m.
E. Using Segment Maths, increase Rl of contracted Seg by 5m.
F. Set the design string to 501.
G. Digitize 2 points near the center with Rls of 110m.
H. Save Dump100.str.
Questions:
i. What is the area of the base of the dump?
ii. What is the bearing and distance between the points on string 501?
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2. Underground Design using Create Tools.

A. Create a new layer called 'UG Design'.
B. Set the design string to 500.
C. Set the design gradient to 1 in -8.
D. Create a point at coordinates 100N,100E,100mRl.
E. Create Point by bearing 100o at 200m.
F. Create Curve at Segment end with Radius 25m, Angle 230o and Arc 3m.
G. Create Point by Bearing 330 degrees at 100m.
Now you have created the decline, check it in section view to see that the gradient has
been set properly.
The Edit>Segment>Change gradient function can be used to fix it if necessary. Now create
stockpiles coming off the decline.
A. Change mode to INSERT.
B. Insert a point every 40m down the decline.
C. Set Design string to 501, and Gradient to 1 in 50.
D. Digitise a point on the Decline by Selection.
E. Create a point by bearing 20o at 20m.
F. Start new segment.
G. Repeat the last 3 steps (D-E-F) until all the stockpiles have been created.
H. Save the file as UG_Design.str.
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File Tools Activity: Apply a Boundary String to a Soil Sampling File
File Tools
The File tools module is a collection of functions for manipulating and creating string files. These
functions give you a high level of flexibility when using Surpac.
Applying a Boundary String

An example of when you might use the Apply boundary string function is when the extents of your
data are greater than your survey boundaries. The Apply boundary string function works in the
same way as a pastry cutter it keeps that which is inside a boundary and excludes everything
outside.
For Surpac to correctly interpret which data is inside or outside a boundary, the boundary string
must be a closed string that is clockwise in direction.
It is important when using this function to distinguish between spot height strings and strings which
represent open or closed features because Surpac treats each one differently. When you apply a
boundary string to spot heights, only those points which lie inside or on the boundary are saved. For
strings that are not explicitly defined as spot height strings, new points are created where the string
intersects the boundary. This is to ensure the strings are neatly clipped to the boundary.
In this example, you will use the Apply boundary string function to cut a soil sampling file to a
boundary string.
Activity: Apply a Boundary String to a Soil Sampling File

2. Open soil1.str by dragging it into graphics.
This file shows soil sampling data over a large area. There are strings that show contours
at 100 ppm intervals for arsenic and string 30003 which shows the point locations where
the samples were recorded.
3. Open bdy100.str in graphics.
You will use this string to cut the data to a boundary.
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File Tools Activity: Apply a Boundary String to a Soil Sampling File
The boundary line is in a separate layer to soil1.str. The preceding image gives you a good
view of the files that you will be processing with the Apply boundary strings function.
Note: Because this function is a File tools function, you do not have to show the files
in graphics for Surpac to process the data. However, by showing the files in graphics, it
might help you understand what is happening.
4. Choose File tools > Apply boundary string.

7. View soil2.str and the boundary string bdy100.str by dragging them into graphics.
The new soil data is constrained within the defined boundary.
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File Tools Activity: Display Soil Samples using String Classification
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05d_apply_boundary.tcl. You will need to
Classifying Strings
It is often useful to classify the strings in a file, based on the value contained in a specific field. This
value may be an elevation, or a numeric attribute, for example an assay grade value. You can classify
strings based on the Y, X, Z fields or the description fields D1 to D100.
By classifying the data, you will create a separate string, which you can then plot with different
attributes such as different colours or line thicknesses.
The following example uses the Classify strings by numbers function to classify the file samp1.str
based on the value in the D1 field which represents arsenic concentrations in ppm.
Activity: Display Soil Samples using String Classification
1. Open samp1.str which contains soil sample data.
The points with attribute values for arsenic concentration are displayed.
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4. Choose File tools > Classify strings by numbers.

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

7. Open samp_classified1.str.
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8. Choose Display > Hide everything.

9. Choose Display > Point > Markers

You will see that the points are coloured according to the classification that you specified.
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Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05e_classify_strings.tcl. You will need to
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Transforming data Activity: Transform a Pit to a Different Coordinate System
Transforming data
2D Transformations
2D transformations are useful when you have to transform coordinates from one coordinate system
to another, for example from the Map Grid of Australia (MGA) system to a local mine grid. The
example demonstrated here is the transformation of an open pit file into the Australian national
coordinate system.
Another example of where you might want to use 2D transformations is where survey data has been
entered using an incorrect backsight. You can then correct the data by transforming the coordinate
system onto the backsight that was originally used.
The function is also useful for transforming oblique sections that have been taken through a DTM or
string file using an axis. In this case, the resulting section string files have coordinates relating to the
axis used. You can transform them back to real-world coordinates using the 2D Transformation
function.
In the following task you will transform pit_as_built1.dtm into the MGA zone 50 using 2D
transformation.
Activity: Transform a Pit to a Different Coordinate System

2. Open pit_as_built1.dtm and pit_stations_1.str.
3. In the Layers pane, double-click pit_as_built1.dtm.
pit_as_built.dtm becomes the active layer in Graphics.
4. Choose Inquire > Report layer extents.
The coordinates are displayed in the Message window.
5. Choose Surfaces > DTM File functions> 2D transformation of DTM file.
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Note:
l Old points are the coordinates in the mine coordinate system. New points
are the coordinates in the national coordinate system.
l You have entered a Z correction of -950 here because the mine grid is +950
metres adjusted from the national grid.

7. Verify that the transformation parameters are correct.
If the grids are plane metric grids, the scale factor should be 1.000, or very near 1.000. Any
variation represents an error.
Note: By default the rotation is displayed in DDD.MMSS format.
Shift Y is the difference between Y1 (old) and Y1 (new) as entered on the first form.
Shift X is the difference in easting between X1 (old) and X1 (new).
In other words, the shifts are the difference in northing and easting between the
coordinates of the first point in the two systems.
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8. Select Accept these adjustments, and then click Apply.

9. Choose File tools > Transformations > 2D Transformation of string file.
Note:
l Old pointsare the coordinates in the mine coordinate system; New points
are the coordinates in the national coordinate system.
l You have entered a Z correction of -950 here because the mine grid is +950
metres adjusted from the national grid.

11. Verify that the transformation parameters are correct.

View the result of the transformation.
13. Open the files pit_as_built_transformed1.dtm, and pit_stations_transformed_1.str in
Graphics.
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Transforming data Activity: Intersect Polygons to Calculate the Area of an Ore Body within a Pit Boundary
14. Zoom to the data extents by clicking .
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05f_2d_transform.tcl. You will need to
Polygon Intersection
In Surpac, you can use the Intersect polygons function to calculate the area of an ore zone within, or
outside of, a pit boundary.
This function creates a new closed shape from two existing closed shapes by performing an
intersection, outersection, or union operation.
Operation Example of Usage
Determining the area which is common to two closed strings. By intersecting two closed
Intersection strings you 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
Outersection
the excavation of an open pit.
Joining two strings together to represent the total area of both strings, for example to
Union
represent the shape which will remain after two intersecting pits are excavated.
In the polygon intersection process, one of the closed strings is the intersecting string and the other
is the intersected string. In outersection operations, the order in which you specify the strings affects
the resultant string.
Activity: Intersect Polygons to Calculate the Area of an Ore Body within a Pit Bound-
ary
When you know the area of an ore body in a bench you can do other useful calculations, such as an
ore volume calculation.
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2. Open bench105.str.
bench105.str is displayed.
5. Choose File Tools > Intersect polygons.

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Note: By filling in the form as shown above, you have identified string 30005 as the
intersecting polygon and strings 1, 2 and 3 as the intersected polygons.
Surpac creates a new file, int_bench105.str, which shows the areas of the ore bodies that
are within the pit.
8. Open int_bench105.str.
The orebodies clipped to the boundary string are displayed.
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ment/Trisolation.
10. For each ore body, select the segment that represents it in graphics.
The area is shown in the Properties pane.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05g_intersect_polygons.tcl. You will need
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Transforming data Activity: Clip Ore Blocks Inside a Pit
Activity: Clip Ore Blocks Inside a Pit
1. Clear Reset graphics .

2. Open kbb135.str.
This file shows the ore blocks at the 135 elevation of an open pit.
3. Open con135.str.
This file is the outline contour of the open pit at the 135 elevation. Notice that some of
the ore blocks are outside the pit boundary.
4. Choose File tools > Intersect polygons.

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Transforming data Activity: Clip Ore Blocks Inside a Pit
Note: String range 1,5 specifies that the pit boundary will intersect with all strings
numbered from 1 to 5 (there are 5 strings in kbb135.str that collectively represent the ore
blocks).
7. Open kbi135.str.
8. Open con135.str.
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Transforming data Questions
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 will need to
Review
Questions
1. What effect does the data in the active layer have on a file tools function?
2. What is the advantage of using file based rather than graphics functions?
3. Using the APPLY BOUNDARY STRING function, what effect does an anticlockwise bound-
ary string have?
4. Why would a spot height string be specified in the APPLY BOUNDARY STRING function?
5. Give a reason for classifying points into different string numbers.?
Exercises
1. Data transformations.
A. Choose File tools>Transformations>2D transformations of string file.
B. Transform the file Pit_design1.str to Pit_newgrid.str.
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Transforming data Exercises
C. Using the following points from both grids add an elevation correction of
800m.
Questions:
i. What is the rotation?
ii. What is the Scale adjustment?
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Triangulated Surfaces Exercises
Triangulated Surfaces
Surpac supports two types of triangulated surfaces: DTM surfaces and three-dimensional solid
models (3DMs). A DTM surface is a set of triangles which represent a surface, such as topography or
a pit design. A solid model is a set of triangles which represents a three-dimensional shape, such as
an ore zone or an underground mine design.
Surface Modelling Concepts

Digital terrain models (DTMs) are created from strings.
Triangles are created between points on the strings.
The result is a set of non-overlapping triangles.
Surfaces are used in Surpac for such things as 3D visualization and for calculating volumes. Almost
any surface can be modelled as a DTM, including natural topography, lithological contacts,
bedrock/overburden contact, or water tables.
DTMs are made of triangles, with each point of each triangle matched to a point in the original string
file. Consequently DTM files are not valid without the original string files.That is, a DTM file cannot be
opened if the original string file of the same name is not accessible.
DTMs cannot fold back on themselves. That is, a DTM cannot have multiple Z values for a given X, Y
coordinate. It is not possible to model overhanging or vertical surfaces with a DTM surface.
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Triangulated Surfaces Naming Conventions
Naming Conventions
The objects you create in Surpac are numbered by a system similar to that of string and string
segment numbers:
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 in the range of 1 to 32000. The trisolation number must be a positive
integer.
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 using 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 which, when connected by a string line,
do not represent any physical feature. Examples are randomly surveyed points, or borehole collars.
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 DTM Data Preparation
DTM Data Preparation

Cleaning Data
Before creating a surface, the data should to be checked to see if there are any problems that need
fixing first.
Using the Layer Clean function Edit>Layer>Clean check for cross-overs or duplicate data points that
might cause problems. These can be initially just marked with the user making the decision about
how to handle the errors.
Whether to remove points, an entire string, set a string as a Spot Height string in the file based
option or choose not to perform the Break line test.
It can be useful with files that are generated with a huge number of points, such as CMS pickups, to
have Surpac automatically reduce duplicate points within a trap distance.
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Normalising Data
Another useful function when preparing files for triangulation is the Edit>Segment>Normalise
segments function:
In situations that might cause Geometry problems where there are not enough points for Surpac to
correctly form triangles, extra points are inserted along a line.
Smoothing Data
Another method of increasing the number of points defining a shape is to use the
Edit>String>Smooth function. This increases the number of points in a string without necessarily
retaining the original points as you can see from the following example.
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It must be stressed, however, that any smoothing technique generates new data points
mathematically, and these may not exactly honour the original data as do the original strings.
Graphical vs File-based options
A DTM can be created in two ways to best suit the data you wish to model.
Graphical DTM operations allow you to view your results immediately. However, for large data files,
the processing time may be prohibitive. The file-based tools allow you to perform DTM operations
directly on the file data, saving both memory usage and creation time.
For example, to create a DTM graphically, you would use:
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a DTM Graphics based Method
To create a DTM using a file-based option, you would use:
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 that you
created the DTM. Therefore, if you modify the string data, you will also need to recreate the DTM.
Activity: Create a DTM Graphics based Method
1. Open topo1.str in graphics.
2. Choose Surfaces > Create DTM from layer.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a DTM Graphics based Method
The string file contours and the DTM of the topography are displayed.
4. Choose File > Save > string/DTM file to save the DTM file.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a DTM File Based Method
6. Click Yes.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 03a_create_dtm_graphics.tcl. You will
Activity: 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. You will use this function to demonstrate the impact of using strings as breaklines.
1. Choose Surfaces > DTM File functions > Create DTM from string file.
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Note: This time the Strings to act as break lines check box is not ticked.
3. Open pit_design1.dtm.
Notice that there are several triangles in the DTM that do not reflect the results we desire.
You will now repeat the procedure, but using the Strings to act as breaklines option.
4. 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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The message window informs you of the processing as the DTM is created. When
processing is finished, a new window displays a log file, which is a report containing
information about your DTM.
6. Close the log file window.
The DTM file is saved automatically as pit_design1.dtm.
7. Open pit_design1.dtm.
The pit is displayed.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: View a DTM in Graphics
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 03b_create_dtm_file_based.tcl. You will
Viewing a DTM Surface

Activity: View a DTM in Graphics

2. Drag and drop waste_dump.dtm into Graphics.
The waste dump is displayed.
3. Use your cursor to view the data from different angles.
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Triangulated Surfaces Viewing Transparent Surfaces
Viewing Transparent Surfaces

1. Open pit1.dtm.
2. Select Display > Strings > With String Numbers, fill in the form as shown below and click
Apply.
3. Open dhc2.dtm.
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4. Right-click to the right of the menus, move the cursor to Toolbars, and then click Scale
and transparency.
5. Drag the transparency slider to set the transparency of triangles to 50%.
The DTMs are displayed as shown.
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Calculate The Volume Between Two DTMs.

1. Open pit1.dtm.
3. Enter the information as shown, and then click Apply to display string 2.
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Note: String 2 of pit1.str is used as the boundary string for the volume calculation.
4. Open dhc2.dtm.
The DTMs are displayed as shown.
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5. Choose Surfaces > Volumes > Net volume between DTMs.

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7. Enter the information as shown.

8. Left-click, then right-click the check box as shown, and select Field Help.
9. Close Field help.

10. Click Apply.
Next you will be prompted to save the triangles from each DTM clipped by the boundary
string.
Note: It is not necessary to save the modified DTMs.
11. Leave the next two forms blank, and click Apply.
The volume report shown is pit2.not, which is displayed on the screen.
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12. Close pit2.not.

13. Reset Graphics.
14. Open bdyres.str.
The result is displayed.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a Boundary String - File-based Method
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 05i_calculate_volume_between_
2dtms.tcl. You will need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Creating a Boundary String Between Two DTM Surfaces

You will now create a boundary string 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: a file-based method and a
graphics-based method. In the file-based method, there is no need to display the DTMs and the
boundary string is automatically saved to the nominated file. In the graphics-based method, the
DTMs must be displayed in graphics and the boundary string is not automatically saved but is simply
displayed in its own graphics layer. You must save your boundary string to a file after it is generated.
Activity: Create a Boundary String - File-based Method
Firstly, you will use the file-based method. In this example, you will show only the DTMs for clarity.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a Boundary String - File-based Method

2. Open pit_design1.dtm and topo1.dtm in graphics.
Notice that 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.
5. Drag and drop intersection1.str into graphics.

The boundary string is displayed along with the DTMs.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create a Boundary String - Graphics-based Method
Activity: Create a Boundary String - Graphics-based Method

You can also complete this process graphically. Using this method, the DTMs must be displayed in
graphics because the function uses graphics layers to determine its input and output.
1. Open topo1.dtm and pit_design1.dtm in graphics.

2. Choose Surfaces > Clip or intersect DTMs > Line of intersection between two DTMs.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Calculate Cut and Fill Volumes Between Two DTMs
This outputs the same result as the file-based function, but you can select the fields
graphically. In the graphics-based method, you must save the string in the intersection
layer to a string file.
Calculating Cut and Fill Volume Using DTM Surfaces

Activity: Calculate Cut and Fill Volumes Between Two DTMs
One of the most common uses of DTMs is to calculate volumes. You can use the DTM Volumes
function to compute the volume between two DTM surfaces, contained within a boundary string.
1. Choose Surfaces > Volumes > Cut and fill between DTMs.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: View a Solid Model
3. Open cfill_volume.not.
The report is displayed.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 03c_cut_and_fill_volume.tcl.You will need
Solids
Activity: View a Solid Model
1. Drag and drop solid_model.dtm into graphics.
The solid is displayed.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Create and Validate a Solid Model
2. Use the cursor to view the ore body from different angles.
Notice that the 3DM or solid is a closed shape that represents a closed structure.
Activity: Create and Validate a Solid Model

2. Choose Display > Strings > With string and segment numbers.
The segments are displayed.
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Note: Triangulation will occur using segment numbers. This means that segment 1 will
triangulate to segment 2, segment 2 will triangulate to segment 3, and so on.
5. Click Box Select Points on the Tools toolbar.
6. Click and drag a box that contains all of the segments.
7. Right-click in graphics and choose Select segments.
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8. Right-click in graphics and select Triangulate.
The 3DM orebody is displayed.
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9. Hold the ALT key down, then click and drag in graphics to rotate the data to the view
shown below.
Notice that the solid is not closed.
10. Move the cursor near the end segment and click so that one point is selected.
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11. Right-click in graphics and choose Select segments.
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The solid is now closed at the end segment.
13. Hold the ALT key down, then click and drag in graphics to rotate the data to expose the
other end of the object.
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14. Move the cursor near the end segment and click so that one point is selected.
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The solid is now closed at the end segment.
16. Choose Solids > Validation > Validate object.

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The validation status is written to the Message window.
The results are also written to the file valid1.not.
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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Calculate a Volume for a Solid Model
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 04a_create_and_validate_solid.tcl. You
will need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Activity: Calculate a Volume for a Solid Model

2. Drag and drop ore_solid1.dtm into graphics.
3. Choose View > Data view options > Long section view.
The solid is displayed.

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Triangulated Surfaces Activity: Calculate a Volume for a Solid Model
7. Choose Solids > Solids tools > Report volume of solids.

8. Enter the information as shown below, and then click Apply.
Page 217 of 237

Triangulated Surfaces Questions
The report is displayed.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 04b_solid_volume.tcl. You will need to
Review
Questions
1. In surface creation, what is the relevance of Breakline and Spot Height strings?
2. What kinds of data can a surface model?
3. What happens to a DTM when you edit its String file?
4. When dealing with DTMs, what is the equivalent of point, segment, string?
5. What is the difference between surfaces and solids?
6. Why does Surpac refer to 3DMs?
Page 218 of 237

Triangulated Surfaces Exercises
Exercises
1. Setting styles for DTMs.
A. Choose Display > Display properties > DTMs and 3DMs.
B. Change the colour for object 1 to dark blue. Select the Transparency box and
set the colour to dark blue.
C. Change the colour for object 2 to dark green. Select the Transparency box and
set the colour to dark green.
D. Save the styles file when the form is applied.
E. Open Topo_dump1.dtm in Graphics.
F. Choose Surfaces > Object renumber, and renumber object to 2.
G. Save file.
H. Open Dump1.dtm in Graphics.
Questions:
i.
Are the surfaces opaque?
ii.
Vary the transparency colour, what effects are seen?
iii.
When the topography .dtm file is saved, what warning appears and why?
iv.
What is the difference between setting transparency this way, or using the
Scale and Transparency toolbar?
2. Merging DTMs.
A. Open Topo_dump1.dtm and Dump1.dtm in Graphics.
B. Choose Surfaces > Clip or intersect DTMs > Upper triangles of 2 DTMs.
C. Save the file asDump_in_topo.dtm.
Questions:
i. What kind of string file do you get from this function?
ii. How useful is it?
3. Extracting contours from a surface.
A. Open Dump_in_topo.dtm (or Topo_dump1.dtm) into Graphics.
B. Choose Surfaces > Contouring > Contour DTM in layer.
C. Extract contours every 5m from -175mRl ( or 10mRl ).
Question:
i. What happens to the contours you have just created if you Reset graphics
now?
4. Draping data onto a surface.
A. Open Topo1.dtm and Dhcollar1.str in Graphics.
Dhcollar1.str must be the active layer.
B. Choose Surfaces > Drape string over DTM.
C. Do not Interpolate new points.
Question:
i. What happens if Interpolate new points is selected?
Page 219 of 237

Plotting with Autoplot Exercises
Plotting with Autoplot

There are two modules for plotting in Surpac.
l Autoplot is a module that produces plot files from information displayed in graphics.
l The Advanced plotting module allows you to produce more complex plots or batch
plots.
This section describes Autoplot only.
Activity: Produce a Plot of a Pit Using Autoplot

2. Open pit_design1.str.
3. Choose Plotting > Autoplot.
Note: Make sure you select the box to Lock X/Y scale.
5. On the following form, enter the title block text, and then click Apply.
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A box representing the page size appears around the data in graphics.
6. Drag this box so that the pit is in the centre.

7. Press F2 when the page borders are in the location you want.
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Plotting with Autoplot Questions
The plot is displayed in the plot preview window. You can now edit or add information to
the plot using the Edit and Create menus.
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06c_plotting_with_autoplot.tcl. You will
Review
Questions
1. What are the two methods of creating plots through Surpac?
2. What function does the F2 key have when plotting?
Page 222 of 237

3. What extension do plotfiles have?

4. Where are plot files edited?
Exercises
1. Plotting rendered surfaces.
A. Open topo1.dtm and Pit_design1.dtm in Graphics.
B. Choose Plotting>Autoplot.
C. Create a plotfile called Pit_topo.
D. Use an A0 sheet at 1:1000 scale using Raster data with an XY Grid and no title
block.
Questions:
i. What is the minimum scale to fit all the data on an A0 sheet?
ii. What happens if vector data is chosen for this data?
iii. What happens when the data is not on plane (plan / section)?
2. Create a Plotfile
A. Reset Graphics.
B. Open Pit_design1.str and Int_bench105.str in Graphics.
C. Choose Display>Display Properties>Strings and points.
D. Display strings 1,2 and 3 as polygons.
E. Choose Display>Point>Attributes.
F. Display the D1 field as a centroid.
G. Autoplot on A1 at 1:500, XY grid every 100m with an NMA0 title block.
H. Save the plot file asOre_105.dwf.
3. Edit a Plotfile
A. Open Ore_105.dwf in Graphics.
B. Use the selection tool to choose an item to edit. First that section of items
have to be ungrouped .
C. Select the ore polygons and, using the selection properties box on the left,
change their colour to a light colour.
D. Select the polygon centroids, change their colour and set them to bold.
E. Use the move tool to move the centroids fully inside their polygon.
F. Choose Create>Text to plot the text 'Ore in Pit' at 1.2cm high in the centre of
the plot.
G. Save plot file asOre_105_edited.dwf.
Page 223 of 237

More Surpac Functions Activity: Open a Database, Display the Drill Holes and Create Sections
More Surpac Functions

Drillhole Database
You can display drillhole data in Surpac to help you see where there are high concentrations of ore in
a section. This can help you create input for the block model.
In the following task, the drillhole data is stored in a relational database, specifically an MS Access
database called surpac.mdb.
Activity: Open a Database, Display the Drill Holes and Create Sections

2. Open surpac.ddb by dragging it into graphics.
A new icon appears on the Status bar which indicates that the drillhole database is now
ready to be used.
Note: surpac.ddb connects Surpac to the surpac.mdb database.

3. Click the surpac icon on the Status bar and select Display drillholes.
Note: The drill holes are displayed with labels for gold levels. The labels will appear on
the right side of the drill holes when displayed in section view, with the formatting that
you have specified.
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The drill holes with a 2D grid are displayed.
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Next, you will view drillhole sections from 7260N to 7300N.

8. Choose Database > Sections > Define.
9. On the Section Method tab, enter the information as shown, and then click Apply.
The section at 7280mN is displayed.
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10. Zoom in to see the drillhole sample values.

You will see something like the image shown.
Notice that different sample values are displayed using different colours. These colours
are controlled by a styles table in the database.
11. Click the Surpac icon at the bottom of the screen, and then click Drillhole display styles.
12. Expand the sample tree and the gold field to see the display attributes for gold.
Page 227 of 237

More Surpac Functions Activity: Display, Constrain, and Report a Block Model
Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06a_display_drillholes_and_create_
sections.tcl.You will need to click Apply on any forms presented.
Block Models
The block model is a powerful dataset that contains 3D spatial information such as grade values,
geological units, geophysical attributes, geotechnical information, optimisation values, design data,
scheduling information, and haulage distances.
The data is stored in blocks of a pre-defined size and spatial area. The number of attributes included
in a block model is unlimited, and the type of information stored is diverse.
Activity: Display, Constrain, and Report a Block Model

2. Open block_model.mdl by dragging it into graphics.
The block_model icon appears in the Status bar. You can now display and report
information in the block model.
3. Click the block_model icon, and then select Display.
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The entire block model displayed in graphics.
Next, you will remove the outer blocks from view to show only the ore body.
5. Click the Block model icon, and then select New constraint.
Constraints are a powerful way to define related parts of a block model, such as blocks
inside an ore zone. Constraints can help you visualise ore bodies and produce reports
and resource estimates.
6. Select constraint type BLOCK and then fill in the three input boxes below so that the con-
straint is gold > 0.
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7. Click Add to add the constraint, and then click Apply.

The constrained block model is displayed.
The model displays only those blocks that contain gold. Next, you will colour the blocks
by their gold values.
8. Click the Block model icon, and then select Colour by attribute.
9. Select gold for the Attribute to colour by.
10. Select Apply transition when scanning.
11. Click Scan.
This loads a palette of default colours that Surpac will use to colour the blocks.
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12. Click Apply.

The block model is displayed with colour by attribute values.
13. Choose Block Model > Display > Edge and face visibility.
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14. Clear Display block edges and click Apply.
The block edges are removed from the model.
15. Choose Block Model > Attributes > View attribute for one block.
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16. Click a block to see the values contained within it.
17. Click Cancel.

Next, you will create a report of the volume, tonnes, and average gold grade.
18. Choose Block model > Block model > Report.
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Note: In this case you have chosen CSV output because you can easily import a CSV file
into a spreadsheet for further processing.
Note: To add a new report attribute row, right-click below the row and select Add.
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The report format you have specified is stored in the file rformat1.bmr so you can easily
produce future reports of this type.
This report shows a gold by Average measurement (g/t) and also a gold by Aggregate
measurement that shows total grams contained.
A report is produced that shows the volume, tonnes and gold values for each grade
range.
Page 235 of 237

Note: To see all of the steps performed in this task, run 06b_block_model.tcl. You will need to click
Apply on any forms presented.
Page 236 of 237

References Activity: Display, Constrain, and Report a Block Model
References
For more information, go to Gemcom's Customer Support website: www.gemcomsupport.com
Page 237 of 237

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

3. The data set accompanying this tutorial.

l A file name, path or URL.

Element Description Example

1. Title Title of the dialogue box.

Labelled group of options used for many similar

Rectangular box in which you can type text. If the

Text attached to any option, box, button, or to any

7. Help Context sensitive help button.

Square box that you select or clear to turn an option

Rectangular or square button that initiates an

l Double-click the Surpac icon on your desktop.

l Surpac v6.2 installed, as previously described.

3. Select local, and then click Apply.

Setting the Work Directory

Activity: Set the Work Directory (Windows Vista or Windows 7)

l Choose File > Exit.

Modifying the Surpac Desktop Icon

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

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

9. Double-click this icon to start Surpac.

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

3. Start Surpac in a specific folder from a desktop icon.

l Surpac data types.

Surpac Data Types

Function-centric vs Data-centric Operations

1. Identify file types by icons.

2. Selecting data in graphics.

The Surpac Interface

The file pit1.str is displayed.

4. In the File Filter, select All files.

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

1. Click the Reset graphics icon .

3. Perform the following steps:

l Use the left mouse button to rotate the image.

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

3. Move the mouse within the graphics area.

Activity: Clear the Message Window

3. From the popup menu, select Viewport, then Copy view.

5. Right-click in graphics, and then choose Viewport > Split vertically.

The left viewport is split horizontally as displayed.

Four viewports are now displayed.

10. Click the icon to view the data in the XZ plane.

12. Click the icon to view the data in the YZ plane.

Using and Creating Profiles

The menus and toolbars in the geology_database profile are displayed.

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

2. Changing the screen layout.

Advanced Interface Operations

Displaying and Customising Menu Bars

The Modify Menus and Toolbars form is displayed.

3. To rename the menu bar:

Customising Toolbars and Buttons

3. Choose Customise > Customise menus/toolbars.

Activity: Creating a Custom Button to Put on a Toolbar

Using the Function Chooser

3. Press ENTER to run the function.

survey1665.str is displayed in graphics.

Working with Forms

Last value if blank

Configuring Windows and Panes in the Interface

Task: Changing setting in Defaults Preferences

4. Customise>Default preferences>Graphics colours.