Project Wizard

To access this screen:

  • Using the Start window, select New Project.

  • Select the New Project icon on the Quick Access ribbon.

  • Click the File button and select New Project

  • Select Project >> New using the Home ribbon.

Create a new project using a step-by-step wizard. All projects created in your projects are extended-precision.

Note: you can display the Project Wizard when your application launches using system Options.

The three main functions of the Project Wizard are:

  • to set up general project properties such as name and location, for example. See Project Wizard properties.

  • to manage file references in the project database.

  • to display a project summary and create the project database.

Note: legacy Studio projects could exist in either single- or extended-precision formats. Modern Studio projects are always extended-precision so these legacy project files are automatically converted when loaded.

What is a Project?

A project file is a table containing information relating to the group of files relevant to that specific scenario. This could be a geological modelling scenario, a mine design or scheduling project and so on. The data forming part of the project can be stored in a number of ways:

  • Within the project file (where the project becomes an "archive").

  • References to physical files located on your local system or network.

  • References to files stored in Datamine's MineTrust data sharing service.

Data can either be 'referenced', meaning that the location of a file on your system or network is held within the project file, or file data can be stored within the project file. When using your application, when creating files, you will have the opportunity to choose how your data is stored.

There are no 'hard and fast' rules regarding which option you should choose, however, the following guidelines may help you decide:

  • if data is generic, and may be utilised by other projects, you should consider saving it as an external file (local, network, MineTrust).

  • if data is specific to a project, or operation within a project, it may be more appropriate to save the data within the project file itself.

Data Precision

Your application can read both single and extended (sometimes referred to as 'double') precision data. It can generate only extended precision files.

In a legacy single precision file, numeric data is represented as single precision floating point values giving around 6 to 7 significant figures. In the extended equivalent, numeric data is represented by double precision floating point values giving up to 16 significant figures and therefore denoting a higher level of data 'resolution'.  The most common cases were precision is an issue are coordinates (global coordinate systems have northings in the millions of metres – so you need 10 significant digits to get mm accuracy) and tonnage values, which can get into the billions for large mines.

To create a new project:

  1. Display the New Project wizard.

  2. If the Welcome screen displays, you can choose to Skip this page in the future.

  3. Click Next.

    The Project Properties screen displays.

  4. Enter the Name of your project.

    Tip: consider using a project naming convention if you plan to create several projects.

  5. Either enter a Location for your project or use the browse (...) button to pick a local or network folder.

    Warning: Windows folder paths should not exceed 256 characters.

  6. Decide how file data that is already in the project folder is treated when proceeding to the next stage of the wizard:

    • If Automatically add files currently in this directory when Next is clicked.is checked, project file references are added for all files in the Location when you click Next.

    • If unchecked, project files in the Location are ignored.

  7. Optionally, define more detailed Project Settings using the Project Settings: General screen.

    Also see Define Project Properties.

  8. Click Next.

    The Project Files screen displays.

  9. Add or remove project files that you wish to associate with the project.

    Note: you don't have to add files now. It can be done after project creation if you prefer.

    Also see Add Project Files.

  10. Click Next.

    The Your project is ready to create screen displays. See Create Project.

  11. Review the project summary and click Finish to create your project.

    Tip: access a project summary at any time using the Project Properties: Summary screen.

    A new project file is created on disk and your new project opens.