Save View in Vector Format - Plots Window

Describing the Save View in Vector Format dialog, for the Plots window

To access this dialog:

  • With thePlotswindow displayed, select theManageribbon, thenSave To | Vector

This feature allows visible data in the active Plots sheet to be exported to CAD format. This is advantageous when using Datamine products for geological interpretation, and other applications for mine planning. Multiple projections are supported, with the facility to specify the relevant projection when exporting world coordinates.

The following file formats are supported:

  • Computer Graphics Metafile (*.cgm)
  • MicroStation (*.dgn)
  • Micrografx Designer Drawing (*.drw)
  • Autodesk Design Web (*.dwf)
  • AutoCAD Drawing Interchange (*.dxf)
  • Windows Enhanced Metafile (*.emf)
  • Gerber (*.gbr)
  • MapInfo Interchange (*.mif)
  • Macintosh Pict (*.pct)
  • ESRI Shape (*.shp)
  • Scalable Vector Graphics (*.svg)
  • WordPerfect Graphics (*.wpg)
  • Windows Metafile (*.wmf)
  • Compressed Windows Metafile (*.wmz)

note.gif (1017 bytes)

This functionality is also accessible via script, using the SaveViewAsVectorFormat method within IDmDesign.

 

Field Details:

Output file: specify the path to the output file - for example: C:\Database\Project1\blocks.dxf, or click the Ellipsis button to launch the Save As dialog. In the Save Asdialog, specify the location and file name, and select a format in theSave as type:drop-down list.

File format: select the format of the exported view from the above selection.

Output text as vectors: if selected, allows you to export text as lines, rather than characters. This provides greater accuracy in the positioning of text in the exported view.

Use world coordinates: if selected, displays the Select Reference Projection box which shows all the projections on the selected sheet in the Plots window. This allows you to click a projection to select it - your selection is displayed in bold. Alternatively, select a projection from the drop-down list in the Select Reference Projection box.

note.gif (1017 bytes)  

Only projections in the plane of the X, Y or Z axis can be exported using georeferenced coordinates - this includes plan and vertical sections, but excludes 3D projections. When exporting a projection which is not aligned to these axes, the Use world coordinates option is not available, and the projection cannot be selected in the Select Reference Projection box, or drop-down list.


The selected projection is exported using georeferenced coordinates, and the remaining projections are given arbitrary, non-georeferenced coordinates. This ensures that the selected projection appears at the coordinates of the original data when imported into AutoCAD, or similar. If the Use world coordinatesoption is not selected, then non-georeferenced coordinates are used for all projections in the plot sheet.

If this option is not selected, the output will be arbitrarily scaled to ensure output hardcopy plots are printed with more precision. This can help to avoid unexpected erratic line drawing where the plot sheet projection represents a highly-magnified view.

Open Output file: when selected, the output file is opened after it has been saved. When not selected, the file is saved but is not opened.

OK: saves the on-screen data in the Plots window as a vector-format file, and closes the Save View in Vector Format dialog.

note.gif (1017 bytes) Exported views are not clipped, and consequently may not exactly replicate their appearance in the Plots window. When exporting multiple projections, they may overlap each another in the exported file as a result.

 

Cancel: closes the Save View in Vector Format dialog without creating a vector-format file.

  

openbook.gif (910 bytes)

  

Related Topics

 

Save View in Vector Format - Design Window