Automatic Layout Rules

Rules to adhere to when defining automatic mine layouts

Golden Rules for Automatic Layouts

Automation of your mine design can, potentially, save huge amounts of time when making post-design changes. An automatic layout helps to maintain the integrity of your design (depending on precisely how it has been automated, of course). For example, if you define a relationship between cubby positions and a parent string representing a drive, you can ensure this relationship is maintained whenever the drive position is edited, for whatever reason.

However, preparation is key when defining an automatic layout, and a sensible and well thought out set of automation rules is as beneficial as a set of poorly defined rules is potentially destructive to your design. Automation can be disabled at any stage, but it is useful to bear in mind the logic by which layouts are created by your system before you start.

To help you do this, the following represents a set of golden rules, to be adhered to when setting up automatic design rules:

  • AUTOLAYOUT RULES ARE APPLIED TO THE FXS (Fixed Cross Sectional) DESIGN STRING THAT HAS BEEN SELECTED IN PROJECT SETUP
    If this stage of the Project Setup has not been completed, it will not be possible to create any strings using the autolayout process.
  • THE ORDERING OF AUTOLAYOUT RULES IS VERY IMPORTANT
    You cannot modify a design string that does not exist, likewise, you cannot use autolayout rules to edit a design string type unless that design type has already been created.
  • AUTOLAYOUT RULES MUST CONTAIN THE DESIGN TYPE TO CREATE, AND THE BASE DESIGN TYPE (THE DESIGN TYPE TO CREATE 'FROM')
    In the case of modifying existing strings, the design string type to create and the base design type will be the same. Both these selections are made from drop-down boxes containing a list of all the design types that have been defined.
  • YOU MUST HAVE ALREADY DEFINED THE DESIGN STRING TYPES YOU WISH TO CREATE
    The design string types you wish to create must be defined in the Design Definitions area. To do this, return to the Design Definitions, or use the Add/Edit Fixed X-Sectional Definitions button from within the Automatic Layout dialog.
  • THE PROPERTIES OF EACH RULE MUST BE DEFINED
    Depending on the type of auto-layout operation chosen, it will be necessary to enter additional information about the rule (properties) via the Autolayout Rule Properties dialog.
  • AUTOLAYOUT RULES CAN BE DEACTIVATED
    There is a facility to turn rules on and off. If you wish to use a rule, select the Use check box in the far-right column of the Automatic Layout dialog, for the relevant rule.
  • AUTOLAYOUT RULES CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO 'SETS'
    Multiple sets of rules can be defined within a particular project. These sets can be created, deleted and renamed within the Automatic Layout dialog.
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 The Design PanelAutomated Design OverviewEdit Automated Design Rules