Import Data: Quick Start

Import commands are found in the Optimization control bar's Import Data group. Some of these commands can also be accessed using the Optimization ribbon's Import group.

At a high level, the process of importing data for a strategic planning project is:

  1. Load the planning block model. The exact procedure for selecting a file depends on the format you are importing, however, importing generally involves selection of a physical file and then attribute selection (you can import all or a subset of attributes - useful if your model contains information you don't need).

  2. Assign data fields to parameters. The screen displays a table containing two columns; Field and Assigned To. You assign model fields to parameters by editing cells in the Assigned To column.

    Note: “not assigned” fields are not imported.

    There are three easy ways of editing cells in the Assigned To column:

    • Click the arrow icon displayed in a cell when the cell is selected, and choose a parameter from the list.

    • Type the first letter of the parameter label, for example 'A' for 'Attribute'.

    • Copy and Paste the parameter labels.

    See Assign Fields.

  3. Select the Data type of the element fields (Products and Attributes).

    • Product fields are defined as grade, percentage or mass.

    • Attribute fields are defined as grade or percentage .

    See Assign Fields: Define Elements.

  4. Define your units of measure: rock mass unit, volume unit and element mass units. Note that gold mass units can be grams but not gram/ton. The units of elements imported as [percentage] are set automatically to rock mass unit.

    See Assign Fields: Define Units.

  5. Define defaults. You must define a nonzero default density if none of the model fields has been assigned to Density, Tonnage Factor or Tonnage. The rock mass formula is commonly customized when importing a topography percentage field as [Volume]:

    • If the field defines a fraction of a block below topography, set the factor to the maximum volume of a block, which is equal to the product of block dimensions in X, Y, and Z directions: tonnage factor = X * Y * Z.

    • If the field defines a percentage of a block below topography, set the factor to the maximum volume of a block divided by 100: tonnage factor = X * Y * Z / 100.

    Tip: Consider reblocking if the block model is very large.

  6. An Import Summary is presented upon the completion of the process.

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