secdef

Process Help

SECDEF - create a section definition file

Process Name	Menu Path	Link to Command Table
SECDEF	Command line only	Click here

Introduction
Files, Fields and Parameters
Notes
Example
Errors

Introduction

Creates a section definition file.

How to use

The output file contains the following fields:

SVALUE	Section number
XCENTRE	X coordinate of the center of the section
YCENTRE	Y coordinate of the center of the section
ZCENTRE	Z coordinate of the center of the section
SDIP	Dip of the section
SAZI	Azimuth of the section i.e. dip direction of the section plane
STHICK
DPLUS	Extent of the section in the positive (azimuth) direction
DMINUS	Extent of the section in the negative (opposite to azimuth) direction
HSIZE	Horizontal dimension of the section plane
VSIZE	Vertical dimension of the section plane

A Section Definition is a numerical representation of the current section/view of your data. When you open this dialog, the fields will be automatically populated according to the current view plane settings, but these fields can be edited as required.

Note that you can only have one section definition file loaded in the Design window at any one time. Attempts to load another file will result in the current one being closed.

Data from this dialog will be saved to a Section Definition file. This file can contain multiple section views, and previously saved views are accessed using the View | Get View command. For more information on retrieving section definitions, click here.

Saving and Exporting a Section Definition File from the Design Window

When you select View | Save View, you are creating a default object in memory called ViewDefs. This object contains the current section properties and can be exported (and subsequently imported) using your applications Data Source Drivers. For example, to export the current view definition to an Excel® spreadsheet, you would do the following:

In Windows®, create an empty Excel file (right click a folder view and select New | Microsoft Excel Worksheet). Rename the file to something relevant e.g. SectionDefinition.xls.
Select View | Save View and update the current section definition values as required.
Click OK. The new ViewDefs object is created in memory.
Select Data | Export.
In the Object to Export dialog, select the ViewDefs object.
In the Data Export dialog, select the [ODBC v2] Driver Category and the [Tables] Data Type. Click OK.
In the Select Data Source dialog, select the Machine Data Source tab and select [Excel Files].
In the Select Workbook dialog, Browse to the file you created earlier and select it so that it appears under the Database Name field.
In the BASE dialog, click Select All to import all field values associated with the section definition, and enter a worksheet name in the Table field. Click OK.
A worksheet will now be added to the selected .xls file, with the name entered in the previous step.
Open the workbook and check the results, you should see something similar to the following (although the values will vary):

The Section Definition dialog has the following fields:

Field Details:

Description: the full description of the section definition. You can edit this description if required. The description of your definition should be unique to the view you are saving. You can use this description in future to save more sections to the same definition file.

Coordinate of Centre of plane: there are three fields of this type, representing X, Y and Z dimensions. The combination of these three fields determines the centre of the view plane in 3D space.

Azimuth of plane: the current azimuth value for the view plane.

Dip: the dip value, in degrees, of the view plane.

Horizontal dimension of view: the size, in metric or imperial units, that is represented by the display of data across the view plane. For example, a horizontal dimension of 500 units represents a greater magnification than a dimension of 1500 units.

Vertical dimension of view: the size, in metric or imperial units, that is represented by the display of data up/down the view plane.

Front Clip Distance: the current front clipping limit. See Related Topics for more information on clipping.

Back Clip Distance: the current back clipping limit. See Related Topics for more information on clipping.

OK: Stores the current view to the defined Section Definition file.

Files, Fields and Parameters

Input Files

Name

Description

I/O Status

Required

Type

Output Files

Name	I/O Status	Required	Type	Description
OUT	Output	Yes	Undefined	Output file of section definitions, containing the fields SVALUE, XCENTRE, YCENTRE, ZCENTRE, SDIP, SAZI, VAZI, VDIP, HSIZE, VSIZE, DPLUS, DMINUS, SCALE, TEXT, COUNT

Notes

No additional notes.

Example

Example 1 - Defining a Section by Centre Point

!SECDEF

&OUT(secdef1)

When this process is run, the following messages and prompts are displayed in the Command control bar; responses are typed into the Run Command box in the Command Toolbar:

NUMBER OF SECTIONS (0 TO END > 1

>>> NUMBER OF SECTIONS = 1

>>> SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING --

>>> 1 VERTICAL OR INCLINED SECTION

>>> DEFINED ABOUT CENTRE POINT

>>> 2 VERTICAL SECTION DEFINED BY

>>> END POINTS

>>> 3 PLAN VIEW DEFINED BY CORNER

>>> POINTS

> 1

SVALUE > 1

XC > 5000

YC > 6000

ZC > 0

DIP > 90

AZI > 180

DMAX > 50

DPLUS > 25

DMINUS > 25

HSIZE > 500

VSIZE > 100

>>> SECTION PLANE PARAMETERS ---

>>> FIRST SECTION (OF 1)

>>> SVALUE > 1.00

>>> XC > 5000.00

>>> YC > 6000.00

>>> ZC > 0.00

>>> DIP > 90.00

>>> AZI > 180.00

>>> DMAX > 50.00

>>> DPLUS > 25.00

>>> DMINUS > 25.00

>>> HSIZE > 500.00

>>> VSIZE > 100.00

ARE THEY CORRECT (Y/N) > Y

NUMBER OF SECTIONS (0 TO END > 0

>>> 1 Records in File ... secdef1.dm <<<

>>> SECDEF Complete <<<

Error and Warning Messages

Message

Description

Solution

>>> NOT A NUMBER <<<

>>> ERR 57 <<< ( 2) IN STRDCD

** INVALID SECTION NUMBER

The section number that has been entered is alphanumeric.

Enter a numeric value.