|
Process Help A full description of the input-survey-data process. |
SURLOG (input-survey-data)
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Process Name |
Menu Path |
Link to Command Table |
|
SURLOG |
Command line only |
Click Here |
Introduction
SURLOG is a data input process which will read a character format system file containing records of survey information and measurements as recorded on a digital data recorder by electronic survey equipment.
How to use
This process constitutes the first step in survey data processing, creating a Datamine (*.dm) file of the survey measurements. The file stored on the data logger containing the measurements will have to be transferred to the computer, as an ASCII format file, prior to running this process.
The process will create up to three output files of data containing general survey job information, coordinates of the survey stations occupied and referenced during the survey and angle and/or distance measurements taken to fix the position of survey stations or mining excavations. The output files can then be input to suitable survey measurement reduction processes:
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Reduction of survey tacheometry measurements. |
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Reduction of measurements to survey stations. |
It is suitable for the input of survey data, where job header information records are followed by measured angles and distances to surface or underground features. It can also be used for the input of borehole logs where header records containing borehole identifier and collar coordinates are followed by down-the-hole measurements to lithological contacts and mineral assay samples. The data needs to be processed further to compute sample positions in space for geological interpretation work:
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Drillhole survey data is used to produce a file of samples independently located in space. |
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SURLOG |
combines the data input capabilities of existing processes and provides extended flexibility in allowing the output to multiple files and also the re-formatting of data. The following processes allow the user to input fixed or free format data interactively or from an ASCII system file: |
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Free format data input (maximum of 80 character line width). |
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Fixed format data input (maximum of 240 character line width). |
The format supplied by the user in these processes are fixed for every record read from the system file, and records not matching the prescribed format are rejected.
The reading of the input system file in SURLOG is controlled by user-defined input format files.
The Reference Manual material describes the operation of the process as well as details of the files, fields and parameters required to run the process. It also contains a reference to error messages. Detailed examples of usage of this process to input different survey data formats are contained in the Demonstration Guide for the mine surveying module.
File Handling
Input system file of survey measurements.
The SURLOG process requires an ASCII system file of, typically, survey measurements, that have been transferred from a digital data recording device. Transmission of the data will normally be achieved through a serial communications cable. The data format is usually selected on the data recorder. If in doubt, the data must be transmitted as if sending to a printer device. A very basic way of achieving this, once the correct cable has been connected, would be to follow the following steps:
On a PC type:
type COM1>obs.dat
On the data recorder, send the data through command or menu selection. Once the transmission is complete:
On the PC press Ctrl and Break keys to terminate the process. This example assumes the cable from the recorder is connected to COM1 serial port.
On a workstation type:
catf /dev/sio1>obs.dat (Apollo Domain Aegis) or
cat /dev/sio1>obs.dat (Unix)
Again, send the data from the data recorder, terminating on the workstation with Cntrl and Q or Cntrl and C keys. The actual device name will depend on the port to which the recorder is connected.
Format Files
The system file that has been transferred from the data recorder, needs to be input to the Datamine database for reduction and analysis. SURLOG requires format files to have been created, in order to decode the information in the system file and create Datamine files of the survey measurements.
The process AED (Full-screen editor) can be used to set up the format files required for data to be input to your application.
As a Datamine format file can be easily created or edited, formats that do not match those supplied can be easily supported, without the need to provide dedicated programs.
The following fields must be created in order to describe the field names and type in a new format file:
|
FIELD |
TYPE |
LENGTH |
STORED |
VALUES |
|
FIELD |
A |
8 |
Y |
|
|
TYPE |
A |
4 |
Y |
A,N |
|
LENGTH |
N |
4 |
Y |
|
|
STORED |
A |
4 |
Y |
Y,N |
The following fields must be created in order to describe the position and format of the field values in the input system file:
|
FIELD |
TYPE |
LENGTH |
STORED |
VALUES |
|
CODE |
A |
8 |
Y |
|
|
FORMAT |
A |
4 |
Y |
FIX,FREE |
|
START |
A |
8 |
Y |
|
|
END |
A |
8 |
Y |
|
|
INFORMAT |
N |
4 |
Y |
|
The following fields must be created in order to describe the output format and sequence of the field values in the output file to be created:
|
FIELD |
TYPE |
LENGTH |
STORED |
VALUES |
|
OUFORMAT |
N |
4 |
Y |
|
|
UNIT |
A |
4 |
Y |
' ', DMS, GONS |
|
WRITE |
N |
4 |
Y |
0, 1, -1 |
The interpretation of the input data is controlled by user defined format files. Each format file controls the data flow to one output file, and therefore, different categories of data can be stored in separate files.
Files, Fields and Parameters
Input Files
|
Name |
Description |
I/O Status |
Required |
Type |
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Output Files
|
Name |
I/O Status |
Required |
Type |
Description |
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Parameters
|
Name |
Description |
Required |
Default |
Range |
Values |
Examples
Input of data from a TOPCON FC-5 data recorder
The following represents the command syntax required to run the SURLOG
process to input the data described below and would be the required entry
in a macro of commands to process survey data.
!SURLOG &FORMAT1(TOPCF),&OUT1(TOPCD)
TOPCON1.DAT
An extract from the TOPCON1.DAT ASCII system file, as transferred from
the TOPCON FC-5 data recorder in 'printer' format:-
JOB# 002
NAME DC
INST# GTS
DATE JUL-31-90
TEMP 28 _C/_F
PRES 790 Hg/mb
OCC.ST# DC2A
ID DC2
INS.HT 1.326
PT# 100
H +2253250d
V 0894630d
SD +00097209m
TIME 22:36:17
PCODE 1 C
R.HT 1.428
PT# 101
H +2330545d
V 0895825d
SD +00095855m
TIME 22:36:55
PCODE 1 C
R.HT 1.428
The Datamine format file required as input to SURLOG to control the decoding
of the TOPCON1.DAT data is, in OUTPUT format:-
TOPCF
FILE CREATED BY USING
AED ON 30/ 1/91
36 36
FIELD A 1 1
FIELD A 2 2
TYPE A 1 3
LENGTH N 1 4 0.000000E+00
STORED A 1 5
CODE A 1 6
CODE A 2 7
FORMAT A 1 8 FREE
START A 1 9
START A 2 10
END A 1 11
END A 2 12
INFORMAT N 1 13 0.000000E+00
OUFORMAT N 1 14 0.000000E+00
UNIT A 1 15
WRITE N 1 16 0.000000E+00
VALUES A 1 17
VALUES A 2 18
VALUES A 3 19
VALUES A 4 20
VALUES A 5 21
VALUES A 6 22
VALUES A 7 23
VALUES A 8 24
VALUES A 9 25
VALUES A 10 26
VALUES A 11 27
VALUES A 12 28
VALUES A 13 29
VALUES A 14 30
VALUES A 15 31
VALUES A 16 32
VALUES A 17 33
VALUES A 18 34
VALUES A 19 35
VALUES A 20 36
|
JOBNUM |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
JOB# |
FIX |
8 |
10 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
0.0 |
- |
|
SURVEYOR |
A |
2.0 |
Y |
NAME |
FIX |
8 |
11 |
2.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
INSTNUM |
A |
3.0 |
Y |
INST# |
FIX |
8 |
11 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
DATE |
A |
9.0 |
Y |
DATE |
FIX |
9 |
17 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
TEMP |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
TEMP |
FIX |
9 |
10 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
- |
|
PRESS |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
PRES |
FIX |
9 |
11 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
0.0 |
- |
|
INSTSTN |
A |
4.0 |
Y |
OCC.ST# |
FIX |
9 |
12 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
RO |
A |
4.0 |
Y |
ID |
FIX |
4 |
7 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
INSTHT |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
INS.HT |
FIX |
9 |
13 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
0.0 |
- |
|
TARGET |
N\ |
4.0 |
Y |
PT# |
FIX |
5 |
7 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
0.0 |
- |
|
HZTARG |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
H |
FIX |
8 |
14 |
7.0 |
7.4 |
DMS |
0.0 |
|
VATARG |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
V |
FIX |
7 |
13 |
7.0 |
7.4 |
DMS |
0.0 |
|
SDTARG |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
SD |
FIX |
9 |
15 |
7.0 |
7.3 |
0.0 |
- |
|
PVALUE |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
PCODE |
FREE |
- |
- |
0.0 |
- |
|
|
|
SCODE |
A |
1.0 |
Y |
PCODE |
FREE |
- |
- |
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
TARGHT |
N |
4.0 |
Y |
R.HT |
FIX |
10 |
14 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
1.0 |
- |
The output Datamine file of survey measurements created by
process SURLOG, in OUTPUT format. Note that field values for fields SURVEYOR
and INSTNUM have been omitted due to width constraints in printing:-
TOPCD
FILE CREATED BY USING
AED ON
30/ 1/91
18 18
JOBNUM N 1 1 -0.100000E+31
SURVEYOR A 1 2
INSTNUM A 1 3
DATE A 1 4
DATE A 2 5
DATE A 3 6
TEMP N 1 7 -0.100000E+31
PRESS N 1 8 -0.100000E+31
INSTSTN A 1 9
RO A 1 10
INSTHT N 1 11 -0.100000E+31
TARGET N 1 12 -0.100000E+31
HZTARG N 1 13 -0.100000E+31
VATARG N 1 14 -0.100000E+31
SDTARG N 1 15 -0.100000E+31
PVALUE N 1 16 -0.100000E+31
SCODE A 1 17
TARGHT N 1 18 -0.100000E+31
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 100.0 225.325 89.463 97.209
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 101.0 233.0545 89.5825 95.855
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 102.0 241.1825 90.461 100.359
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 103.0 250.044 90.283 104.962
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 104.0 251.4925 90.115 109.571
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 105.0 254.521 89.3335 110.808
1.0 C 1.42
2.0 DC 28.0 790.0 DC2A DC2 1.32 106.0 258.2105 88.511 106.97 1.0 C 1.42
An example of the format entry required to read data from ASCII file TOPCON1.DAT:-
The following record may be found, typically, as output from a TOPCON FC-5
data recorder. It represents a horizontal direction measurement in degrees,
minutes and seconds form. Column numbers are indicated above for clarity.
123456789012345
H +2253250d
A format file entry to read this data would be:-
FIELD TYPE LENGTH STORED CODE FORMAT START END
INFORMAT
--------------------------------------------------------------
HZTARG N 4.0 Y H FIX 8 14 7.0
A record containing the CODE ' H' in the first two characters must be found
before any format decoding proceeds. The process will then decode a numeric
value from columns 8-14 inclusive. The format of the input data is seven
digits, the decimal point is absent. Therefore, the INFORMAT field is
set to seven.
Once a value has been read from the input record, the following fields
are used from the format file to control how and when a value is written
to the output file, namely:-
FIELD OUFORMAT UNIT WRITE
----------------------------
HZTARG 7.4 DMS 0.0
The seven digits read from the input file are re-formatted into the DDD.MMSS
format for degrees, minutes and seconds, using the OUFORMAT value (F)7.4.
The UNIT field value of DMS checks the number for consistency before storing
into the output file. In this example, the value for HZTARG is held until
it is updated by a subsequent value in the system file, or until a WRITE
field value of 1.0 is encountered, at which point a record is written
to the output file of survey measurements. #12;Input of data in MOSS format
The following represents the command syntax required to run the SURLOG
process to input the data described below and would be the required entry
in a macro of commands to process survey data. MOSS is a civil engineering
software package, in use worldwide.
!SURLOG &FORMAT1(MOSSF1), &FORMAT2(MOSSF2), &OUT1(MOSSSTA),
&OUT2(MOSSD), *X(XO), *Y(YO), @LOXORIG=370000.0, @LOYORIG=140000.0
QS020290.DAT
An extract from the QS020290.DAT ASCII file with survey data in MOSS format.
MOSS
DELETE,WH160190 DETAIL
CREATE,WH160190 DETAIL
SURVEY,WH160190 DETAIL
000Job________ QUARRY SURVEY ____________________ 16-01-1990
017DMS DMS
180,3=WH01,,372780.140,147784.330,131.810
180,3=WH02,,372918.920,148573.060,139.980
180,3=WH10,,372400.280,147593.333,140.691
180,3=WH11,,372739.208,148486.775,125.160
180,3=WH12,,373197.689,148236.850,128.003
180,3=WH13,,372839.686,148194.034,67.008
180,3=WH14,,372557.197,148178.467,92.820
180,3=WH16,,372926.120,148223.114,67.689
190,3=DECR,900000
200,WH01,WH02,VASD,1961920,7=1.551,1.0,121.661,0.9996100000
000,STATION WHII
201,,,PW11,1830035,903458,703.934,1.100,,,10=0175
201,,,,1830037,903455,703.935,1.100,,,10=0176
201,,,,1830034,903455,703.938,1.100,,,10=0177
201,,,,1830028,903459,703.932,1.100,,,10=0178
190,3=DECR,900000
200,WH10,WH01,VASD,2095111,7=1.550
000,TOP FACE
201,,,T001,2094105,911543,423.457,1.300,,,10=0005
000,DD
201,,,,2092647,912838,273.729,1.300,,,10=0006
000,DD
201,,,,2090917,911922,145.878,1.300,,,10=0007
000,DD
201,,,,2073709,912313,42.425,1.300,,,10=0008
000,DD
201,,,,301251,893049,91.751,1.300,,,10=0009
201,,,,311404,892746,158.178,1.300,,,10=0010
The Datamine format file required as input to SURLOG to control the decoding
of the survey station coordinates in QS020290.DAT data, in OUTPUT format:-
MOSSF1
FILE CREATED BY USING
AED ON 27/ 5/91
36 36
FIELD A 1 1
FIELD A 2 2
TYPE A 1 3
LENGTH N 1 4 0.000000E+00
STORED A 1 5
FORMAT A 1 6 FREE
INFORMAT N 1 7 0.000000E+00
OUFORMAT N 1 8 0.000000E+00
START A 1 9
START A 2 10
END A 1 11
END A 2 12
CODE A 1 13
CODE A 2 14
UNIT A 1 15
WRITE N 1 16 0.000000E+00
VALUES A 1 17
VALUES A 2 18
VALUES A 3 19
VALUES A 4 20
VALUES A 5 21
VALUES A 6 22
VALUES A 7 23
VALUES A 8 24
VALUES A 9 25
VALUES A 10 26
VALUES A 11 27
VALUES A 12 28
VALUES A 13 29
VALUES A 14 30
VALUES A 15 31
VALUES A 16 32
VALUES A 17 33
VALUES A 18 34
VALUES A 19 35
VALUES A 20 36
STATION A 4.0 Y FREE 4.0 4.0 ,3= , 180 0.0
XO N 4.0 Y FREE 10.3 10.3 ,, , 180 0.0
YO N 4.0 Y FREE 10.3 10.3 , , 180 0.0
ZO N 4.0 Y FREE 7.3 7.3 , 180 1.0
The output Datamine file of survey station coordinates created by process
SURLOG, in OUTPUT format:-
MOSSSTA
FILE CREATED BY USING
AED ON 30/ 5/91
6 4
X N 1 1 0.000000E+00
Y N 1 2 0.000000E+00
STATION A 1 3
Z N 1 4 -0.100000E+31
LOXORIG N 1 0 0.370000E+06
LOYORIG N 1 0 0.140000E+06
2780.14 7784.33 WH01 131.81
2918.92 8573.06 WH02 139.98
2400.28 7593.333 WH10 140.691
2739.208 8486.775 WH11 125.16
3197.689 8236.85 WH12 128.003
2839.686 8194.034 WH13 67.008
2557.197 8178.467 WH14 92.82
2926.12 8223.114 WH16 67.689
The Datamine format file required as input to SURLOG to control the decoding
of the survey measurements in QS020290.DAT data, in OUTPUT format:-
MOSSF2
FILE CREATED BY USING
AED ON 30/ 5/91
36 36
FIELD A 1 1
FIELD A 2 2
TYPE A 1 3
LENGTH N 1 4 0.000000E+00
STORED A 1 5
FORMAT A 1 6 FREE
INFORMAT N 1 7 0.000000E+00
OUFORMAT N 1 8 0.000000E+00
START A 1 9
START A 2 10
END A 1 11
END A 2 12
CODE A 1 13
CODE A 2 14
UNIT A 1 15
WRITE N 1 16 0.000000E+00
VALUES A 1 17
VALUES A 2 18
VALUES A 3 19
VALUES A 4 20
VALUES A 5 21
VALUES A 6 22
VALUES A 7 23
VALUES A 8 24
VALUES A 9 25
VALUES A 10 26
VALUES A 11 27
VALUES A 12 28
VALUES A 13 29
VALUES A 14 30
VALUES A 15 31
VALUES A 16 32
VALUES A 17 33
VALUES A 18 34
VALUES A 19 35
VALUES A 20 36
REMARK A 24.0 Y FREE 24.0 24.0 , 000 0.0
INSTSTN A 4.0 Y FREE 4.0 4.0 , , 20? 0.0
RO A 4.0 Y FREE 4.0 4.0 , , 20? 0.0
TARGET A 4.0 Y FREE 4.0 4.0 , , 20? 0.0
HZRO N 4.0 Y FREE 7.0 7.4 , , 200
DMS 0.0
INSTHT N 4.0 Y FREE 5.3 5.3 ,7= , 200 0.0
HZTARG N 4.0 Y FREE 7.0 7.4 , , 200
DMS 0.0
VATARG N 4.0 Y FREE 7.0 7.4 , , 201
DMS 0.0
SDTARG N 4.0 Y FREE - - , , 201 0.0
TARGHT N 4.0 Y FREE 5.3 5.3 , 201 1.0
The output Datamine file of survey measurements created by process SURLOG,
in OUTPUT format (Note that the width of the REMARK field has been reduced):-
MOSSD
FILE CREATED BY MICL USING
COPY ON 30/ 5/91
18 16
REMARK A 1 1
REMARK A 2 2
REMARK A 3 3
REMARK A 4 4
REMARK A 5 5
REMARK A 6 6
INSTSTN A 1 7
RO A 1 8
TARGET A 1 9
HZRO N 1 10 -0.100000E+31
INSTHT N 1 11 -0.100000E+31
HZTARG N 1 12 -0.100000E+31
VATARG N 1 13 -0.100000E+31
SDTARG N 1 14 -0.100000E+31
TARGHT N 1 15 -0.100000E+31
LOXORIG N 1 0 0.370000E+06
LOYORIG N 1 0 0.140000E+06
STATION WH01 WH02 PW11 196.1920 1.550 183.0035 90.3455 703.934 1.3
STATION WH01 WH02 PW11 196.1920 1.550 182.0034 90.3455 703.938 1.3
STATION WH01 WH02 PW11 196.1920 1.550 182.0028 90.3455 703.932 1.3
TOP WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 209.4105 91.1543 423.457 1.3
DD WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 209.2647 91.2838 273.729 1.3
DD WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 209.0917 91.1922 145.878 1.3
DD WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 207.3709 91.2313 42.425 1.3
DD WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 30.1251 89.3049 91.751 1.3
DD WH10 WH01 T001 209.5111 1.550 31.1404 89.2746 158.178 1.3
Error and Warning Messages
Process entry
The following messages may appear as a result of the incorrect input supplied by the user, when running the process. These errors can be split into the following categories:-
Files
The following messages relate to errors in the file names supplied by the user, when running the process.
| *** Error |
- One or both of the required files
not specified: One or more of the required files, &FORMAT1, &OUT1 has not been provided by the user. Fatal; the process will be exited. |
| *** Error |
- Opening format file FORMATX |
| *** Error |
- Unable to write data definition to output
file XXXXXXXX |
| *** Error |
- System file does not exist. |
| *** Error |
- Both files &XXXXXXXX and &YYYYYYYY
must be specified |
Fields
The following messages relate to errors in the field names supplied by the user, when running the process.
| *** Error |
- Symbolic field *XXXXXXXX not defined in the input FORMAT
files. |
Parameters
The following messages relate to errors in the parameters supplied by the user, when running the process.
|
*** Error |
- Parameter XXXXXXXX value must be specified with coordinate
field *XXXXXXXX |
|
*** Error |
- Unable to add local origin field to
output file XXXXXXXX |
Processing
The following messages may appear as a result of errors encountered during the execution of the process. These errors can be split into the following categories:-
Files
The following messages relate errors in reading and/or writing of data.
|
*** Error |
- Reading System file. |
|
*** Error |
- Writing to output file XXXXXXXX |
Input format file field contents
The following messages relate to errors encountered during the decoding of input data. They may be caused by inconsistencies in the field values within a &FORMAT? file, or mismatches in &FORMAT? file entries and the actual data being read from the system file.
|
*** Error |
- Fixed format decode of field XXXXXXXX |
The field XXXXXXXX has been specified as FIXed format in the input format file, but the START field column position contains a non-ascii character. Edit the input format file containing format data for field XXXXXXXX and provide the correct numeric column START position. Then re-run the process. Fatal; the process will be exited.
|
*** Error |
- Fixed format decode of field XXXXXXXX |
The INFORMAT value for field XXXXXXXX contains an alpha numeric
entry. INFORMAT must be in the form n.m :
ntotal number of digits in input (including decimal point).
mnumber of digits after decimal point.
START and INFORMAT values in the input format file for field XXXXXXXX do not match the input data. Study the displayed input record to ensure the correct values are supplied. Fatal; the process will exited.
|
*** Error |
- Fixed format decode of field XXXXXXXX |
|
*** Error |
- Free format decode of field XXXXXXXX |
A FREE format decode of field XXXXXXXX has a START or END column value for search beyond the maximum acceptable record length.
|
*** Error |
- Length of field XXXXXXXX in |
The field XXXXXXXX START and END values represent the columns of the
first and last digit of the value in the system file respectively. The
integer value of INFORMAT in the input format file represents the total
length of this value.
END - START + 1 = Integer
part of INFORMAT value.
The process will be exited.
Input system file contents
The following message relates to errors encountered during the decoding of input data.
| *** Error | -
Free format decode of numeric field XXXXXXXX non-numeric value found in input record RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR |
The value found for
field XXXXXXXX in the input system file record displayed does not match
the field type defined in the input format file. #12;Notes
Limitations
Your application stores all numeric variables in REAL form. This puts a
limitation on the number of digits that can be stored to 8, including
a decimal point. The following areas require consideration:
| - |
Angles in degrees, minutes and seconds, in the form DDD.MMSS, may be stored to single second precision. Any additional digits, representing tenths of seconds, will be ignored. As most Mine surveying does not require this level of precision in angle measurement, this will not cause problems to the user. The electronic total station should be set up to enable storage of angles to one second precision, so that rounding errors are not experienced. |
| - |
Coordinate systems that require storage of more than seven digits, must have a local origin defined by one or all of the parameters @LOXORIG, @LOYORIG, and @LOZORIG required. The origin will then be stored as an implicit field in the data file. For example, a point with the following coordinates, could be stored directly into a Datamine database file:- |
X 1000.001
Y 4000.001
Z 1000.001
However, the following point would require a local origin for the X coordinate
field:-
Measured LOXORIG X
value (stored)
X 43000.001 40000.0 3000.001
Y 4000.001 4000.001
Z 1000.001 1000.001
This need only be considered for the computation of survey station coordinates,
in most cases, as millimetre precision for general surface features is
unnecessary.
When FREE format input is specified, only one field may be allocated a
value read between START and END separators. This is not the case with
FIXED format input, where the same column locations (START and END values)
may be assigned to more than one field.#12;Caveats
The system file must contain records with a maximum record length of 240
characters.
One input format file must be defined for each output file name supplied.
When FREE format input is being decoded, the user must ensure that the
order of fields in the format file corresponds to the sequence found in
the input system file. This is especially important where field values
are separated by a single character (e.g. , ).
Care must be taken in the use of wild card characters (?*) in the CODE
values, as this may result in values being read from positions containing
incorrect data.
