Symbols

Using Symbols in Studio Products

Symbols

Studio products allow you to use symbols to represent the nodes of loaded 3D objects, specifically points, strings and block models (if rendered as points).

Symbols can be specified in multiple, mutually-exclusive ways:

  • A default, fixed symbol can be applied. This will display a monochrome symbol (index=0) for all points in the 3D data object.

  • A custom, fixed, monochrome symbol can be applied to all points. This is achieved used the 3D object properties dialog, either using the Symbols tab (for block models, the Points display type must be selected).

  • A monochrome symbol can be applied according to an attribute value and an associated symbol legend.

  • A full-colour image file can be displayed, based on the file reference in an alphanumeric attribute.

Full Colour Symbols

To use full-colour symbols, the input data object must contain at least one attribute that references an image file in the project directory.

The following general procedure can be used to apply full-colour symbols to your loaded string, point or block model data:

  1. Copy the images you wish to use to your project directory.

  2. Ensure your 3D data file contains an alphanumeric attribute column (e.g. IMAGE).

  3. For each data record for which you wish to set a symbol, the corresponding image attribute should describe a valid image file name, including the file extension, for example:

  4. Load the 3D data into any 3D view.

    Your loaded 3D object(s) can be loaded from any location, but all images references by those files must be in the project folder.

  5. Using the Sheets control bar (or double-clicking the 3D data in a3D view), display the String, Point or Block Model Properties dialog.

  6. If you are visualizing a block model, ensure it is set to the [Points] Display Type.

  7. Activate the Symbols tab and (for Points and Strings objects) ensure the Display Symbols check box is enabled.

  8. Make sure the 2D symbol option is selected. Full-colour images can only be applied as 2D symbols.

  9. In the Style group, choose Legend, not Fixed.

  10. Set the Legend to <none> and the column to whatever attribute contains an image file name in your loaded object (e.g. IMAGE).

  11. Set the Scale of your symbol (hint: click Apply to preview the symbol at its current size in the 3D view - although this may take some time depending on the density of your loaded data).

    You can also control the scale of an object with a legend, in the same manner as for monochrome symbols.

  12. Apply the changes and the points on the strings should change to the images defined in your input data file.

Default Monochrome Symbols

A set of monochrome symbols can be applied to string, point and block model data. This type of symbol does not require an additional attribute to specify an image file. Instead, a SYMBOL column within each data object will contain an index number that is matched to one of the items in the standard library of symbols that Studio products use.

Symbols are only associated with a value (or range, or filter expression) once they have been referenced by a display legend. The table below displays the available system legends and their respective descriptions along with their internal system ID.

This ID is only used to differentiate the symbols within your system and should not be regarded as an absolute label. In the same way as colors have an internal 'Datamine' number, the system symbol number is not necessarily the index that is associated with it in a legend. For example; symbol ID 0 (zero) represents the default node marker, and is shown at the top of the list when the Symbol drop-down list is shown for a particular legend interval in the Datamine Legends Manager. You may then associate this symbol with any value (e.g "64.5"), range (e.g. "100.0 to 105.5") or filter expression (e.g. ">100 AND <200"). All of these symbols are stored in a installed local system file (system.psd).

If your copy of system.psd has been modified, this list may no longer be valid. For more information on creating custom legend symbols, please refer to your Legends online Help (click <F1> in the Legends Manager).

The following table lists all default symbols provided by your application.

 

Symbol Description

 

Symbol Description

0 - Default

37 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

1 - Cross

38 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

2 - Diagonal Cross

39 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

3 - Diamond

40 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

4 - Filled Diamond

41 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

5 - Square

42 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

6 - Filled Square

43 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

7 - Triangle

44 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

8 - Filled Triangle

45 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

9 - Circle

46 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

10 - Filled Circle

47 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

11 - Block Arrow

48 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

12 - Filled Block Arrow

49 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

13 - Arrow

50 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

14 - Reversed Arrow

51 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

15 - Double Headed Arrow

52 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

16 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

53 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

17 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

54 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

18 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

55 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

19 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

56 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

20 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

57 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

21 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

58 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

22 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

59 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

23 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

60 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

24 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

61 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

25 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

62 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

26 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

63 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

27 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

64 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

28 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

65 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

29 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

66 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

30 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

67 - Arrow Head

31 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

68 - Filled Arrow Head

32 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

69 - Arrow In

33 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

70 - Arrow Out

34 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

 

 

35 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

 

 

36 - Miscellaneous Symbol 1

 

 

 

If you wish to use full-colour images instead of symbols, the corresponding 3D object property dialog should display a symbol legend of "<none>". See above for more details.

The Datamine Support Website has more information on customizing symbols...