Studio UG 4.0 Release Notes

Scheduler Compatibility

Studio UG 4.0 is released alongside Datamine Task Scheduler 1.0 to export and synchronize schedule data.

DTS is Datamine's platform for future scheduling functionality, replacing its predecessor, EPS. DTS represents the start of our ongoing campaign to provide best-in-field scheduling solution for mine planners.

DTS is available from the Datamine Support Website and the Datamine Customer Portal.

Note: This version of your product cannot connect to the legacy Enhanced Production Scheduler (EPS) product.

Key Improvements

New Datamine File Format

The Datamine file format used natively by Studio products originated from Datamine's "Native File System" over thirty years ago. It has been maintained and supported by Datamine products since then. The mining industry has seen a significant increase in data volume and complexity during this time, which has started to strain the capabilities of the Datamine format.

Our response to this challenge is a new file format that is more suitable for the current and future data requirements of the mining industry. This format has a new file extension; .dmx.

Files are smaller and now supports up to 2048 columns. Your application generates .dmx files by default (this can be changed on the System Options screen. Both legacy (.dm) and new .dmx format files can be read. Other improvements will follow, as our new format is highly extensible and provides many opportunities to make data handling easier and smarter in the future.

The new format integrates smoothly with modern Studio products and your existing workflows and customization scripts, and the Table Editor can be used to view both legacy and new formats. For bulk file conversion, there's even a useful DM to DMX file conversion utility in the Data Converter installation folder should you wish to batch convert input files.

You can recognize .dm and .dmx files in the Project Files control bar:

.dmx file

A file in the proprietary .dmx Datamine binary file format.

.dm file

A file in the legacy .dm Datamine binary file format.

Datamine Task Scheduler

Studio UG integrates with Datamine Task Scheduler (DTS). In addition to the new name, DTS also features fixes made in response to feedback from the final version of EPS. Users of EPS will already be familiar with DTS 1.0. Whilst this version is mainly focused on rebranding, there are also useful improvements and fixes over the previous version of EPS.

Continuing on from its predecessor, DTS starts at version "4.0" (the last EPS version was 3.1).

DTS is supported by an updated version of the previous Datamine data viewer, now called DTS InTouch.

You will need to download and install DTS to continue operational/activity scheduling with your product.

Note: DTS operates with a new license, available from your local Datamine office.

Note: You cannot connect this or later versions of OP to the legacy EPS application, now discontinued.

Stope Reconciliation Automatic Areas

The Stope Reconciliation module can now discretize results per footwall, hangwall, sidewalls, backs and floor using a new Automatic Area Wireframe Method.

You can detect structures (areas) using a range of options (world axes, explicit azimuth and inclination or object attribute values). This can be useful for more detailed analysis by comparing optimized solids with output from Datamine's Mineable Shape Optimizer, and can assist in identify where a blast is not performing as expected, for example.

Dependency Prefilter

You can now control attribute-based and spatial dependencies by setting filters for both FROM and TO contexts, in addition to a new, general PreFilter. The initial filter can be used to refine the activities that will be used in processing the dependency rules. Data that passes a prefilter can then be further refined with the existing predecessor and successor filters if required. Any filter (prefilter, FROM or TO) can be set to <no filter> (the default setting).

Variable Autolayout Translations

You asked us to provide a way of applying variable translation distances for strings during autolayouts, so we extended the Translate autolayout rule settings screen to let you pick variable spacing, and set any number of successive translation distances for the output design definition.

We've done something similar with the Create Multiple Lines rule as well: Define successive string separation distances to create a custom repetition pattern.

Plots Overhaul

We've made major changes to the way plots are constructed with this update.

Plots are formed from a collection of plot items, ranging from 3D projections and associated sections, to clip art, text boxes and so on. You asked us to improve the usability of these tools so we've taken a step back and changed our approach to reporting. In a good way.

Plot items are now supported by their own ribbons, displayed whenever a particular plot item is selected, be that a projection, a north arrow, title box or whatever. With your help, we analysed the most commonly-used features and settings and have created a dedicated ribbon of tools for each plot item type. For example, managing the tabular contents of title box cells is now much easier thanks to handy cell managers.

The Plots (Manage) and Plots (View) ribbons have also been combined.

3D Window Improvements

The display of large data so that it has a lower impact on system and application performance. This includes new, smart settings to control how and when 3D scene data is rendered, making sure the system only has to draw what it needs to. To support these changes, new 3D options have been introduced to control Environment Settings (automated scene clipping) and a Render on Demand setting (on by default), added to the 3D system settings screen.

Filled Wireframe Intersections

We've added a new wireframe formatting option to the Wireframe 3D Properties screen: Fill intersection.

Wireframe data shown with standard clipping and filled intersection mode

Now, you can display clipped wireframes with solid intersections, emulating a 'filled' volume. This can be really useful when visualizing volumes in cross section.

Text Importer

Import one or multiple text files using a new Text Importer screen.

Select as many files as you need to import and configure all importation options on a single screen, including automated and interactive field mapping for your selected data type and preview your file before you import.

Once you're happy with your settings (which can be set for each individual file if required), store your configuration information in a handy scenario file which can be used to consistently import data in the future and to share with others in your organization.

Datamine File Tags

With the introduction of the new DMX file format in this version (see above), a new facility arrives for all users; table tagging.

We intend to make use of this new feature in the future, but you can also add your own data tags and values to any .dmx file using the Table Editor, which includes a new Tag Editor function on its toolbar:

Add as many tags and associated values as you like. This could be useful, say, to embed the status of a model or other design files, or to provide some implicit spatial context to data (mine, area, level, for example) without requiring additional data attributes.

New Processes

  • COMBTRI allows up to 20 wireframe files to be combined in a single operation.

  • INTEXT – You asked for a file-based process to convert text files to Datamine files, so we created INTEXT. Either using the data definition specified in the incoming file, or by choosing the definition of another file, import text data using a range of options.

All Improvements

Commands & Processes

  • Case:Multiple Cases Your product can now read and write the new Datamine binary format (.dmx) and will automatically convert non-default files in the project folder when a project is opened.

  • Case: Multiple Cases Your product has been updated to connect to DTS and DTS InTouch. This version cannot connect to EPS.

  • Case: UG-4691 You can now specify variable translation distances for the Translate autolayout rule.

  • Case: UG-4474 The Create Multiple Lines autolayout rule has been extended to allow you to specify custom distances between strings.

  • Case: UG-4460 You can now control attribute-based and spatial dependencies by setting filters for both FROM and TO contexts, in addition to an initial activity PreFilter.

  • Case: UG-4310 The name of the original planning model is now added to output block model and processed data tables.

  • Case: UG-4307 Stope reconciliation can now discretize results per footwall/hangwall/sidewalls/backs/floor using a new Automatic Area Wireframe Method.

  • Case: CORE-9240 Plot item locations now remain static when adjust the Relative positioning option for locatable plot items.

  • Case: CORE-9239 You can now interactively pick the target position of a locatable plot item using a new Anchor ribbon button.

  • Case: CORE-9234 DMX data saved from a Studio application now embeds the creating product and version as metadata (tags).

  • Case: CORE-9112 Studio project startups now include a check for local project files in a non-default format, and converting them to the default format.

  • Case: CORE-9021 Your product's Mesh wireframing library has been updated to version 2.0.1.53.

  • Case: CORE-9006 You can now use the "uc" quick key combination to apply clipping in Plots sheets.

  • Case: CORE-8938 A warning is now displayed when running HOLES3D when the BHID value in the Collar and Survey files doesn't match.

  • Case: CORE-8929 Loaded data objects that have metadata tags display those tags in the Properties control bar.

  • Case: CORE-8918 Supporting plugins for PTCLD2WF and the Point Reconstruction Wizard have been updated.

  • Case: CORE-8906 Large Data Mode has been relabeled "Keep data in front of the camera" to make it clearer what it does.

  • Case: CORE-8895 In the Project files control bar, when using the context menu on a macro file that contains more than 9 macros, Studio doesn't crash and works as expected.

  • Case: CORE-8876 You can now choose to manually or automatically adjust 3D window clipping planes using the Environment Settings screen.

  • Case: CORE-8860 The "red" quick key combination now runs the simplify-string command, not the legacy reduce-points command. Ribbon access has also been updated.

  • Case: CORE-8702 query-angle now outputs angle information in degrees, minutes and seconds.

  • Case: CORE-8697 intersect-drillholes-wireframes now outputs the intersection angle between drillhole and wireframe.

  • Cases: CORE-8490, CORE-8452, CORE-8357 Front & back 3D window clipping distances now computed automatically based on object’s bounding box.

  • Case: CORE-8465 Context-sensitive Section and View ribbons now support projection editing and creation in the Plots window.

  • Case: CORE-8460The Plots (Manage) and Plots (View) ribbons have been combined.

  • Case: CORE-8424 Quick filtering wireframes and block models is now much quicker.

  • Case: CORE-8310 By default, data is now rendered in the 3D view only when required. This makes application usage with large data much quicker with more responsive controls.

  • Case: CORE-8216An Anchor ribbon has been introduced to support locatable plot items.

  • Case: CORE-8206 Reloading and refreshing large data objects is now quicker.

  • Case: CORE-8093 Improvements have been made to the way strings and points are rendered in the 3D window, to improve performance.

  • Case: CORE-8047 Changes to the Plots ribbons will now be automatically shared with all Studio products, making forward development quicker and easier.

  • Case: CORE-8012 A new context-sensitive Text Cell ribbon has been created to modify the contents of text cells in title boxes.

  • Case: CORE-7966 You can now overwrite an existing legend instead of having to specify an unused/unique legend name.

  • Case: CORE-7946 Legend box plot item formatting can now be performed using a new Legend Box context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7732 A new Text Importer screen lets you import multiple ASCII text files with per-file configurations and share your importation settings as a scenario.

  • Case: CORE-7694 Symbol plot item formatting can now be performed using a new Symbol context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7693 Text Box formatting can now be performed using a new Text Box context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7692 Title box formatting can now be performed using a new Title Box context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7691 Scale bar formatting can now be performed using a new Scale Bar context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7690 North arrow formatting can now be performed using a new North Arrow context-sensitive ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-7279 extend-segment-virtual-intersect can now be used on closed strings.

  • Case: CORE-7161 The Create Model Prototype screen now has additional support for both new and copied rotated model prototypes.

  • Case: CORE-7051 COMPDH now lets you save residual composites to a new &RESIDUAL output file option.

  • Case: CORE-6906 When creating a ramp string, if the Distance set is less than the minimum segment length, a partial segment is added.

  • Case: CORE-2410 A new process - INTEXT - converts text files to Datamine files using an existing data definition and other parameters.

  • Case: CORE-231We've added a new wireframe visualization option; Fill intersection.

  • Case: CORE-68 A new command - clip-strings-to-wireframe - lets you trim string data in relation to a wireframe surface or volume.

Note: ESTIMA and ANISOANG processes are no longer available in this product.

User Experience

  • Case: UG-4742 The planning ribbon now references DTS, not EPS.

  • Case: UG-4720 Visual formatting of Stope Reconciliation and planning task screens has been made consistent.

  • Case: UG-4713 Mineable Reserves Optimizer has been removed from the Report ribbon.

  • Case: UG-4713 The Project Settings side bar now retains its visibility status between project sessions.

  • Case: CORE-9108 The Quick Filters screen now inherits the selected look and feel option.

  • Case: CORE-9086 The INTEXT text import process has been added to the Data ribbon

  • Case: CORE-9085 Combine Wireframes (COMBTRI process) has been added to the Wireframe ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-9084 Clip String to Wireframe has been added to the Digitize ribbon.

  • Case: CORE-8973 The Project Files control bar now differentiates .dm and .dmx formats by distinct icons.

  • Case: CORE-8937 The Project Files and Project Data control bars now display up to 30 macros in a .mac file.

  • Case: CORE-8935 A new splash screen has been implemented.

  • Case: CORE-8851 The Table Editor now supports visual themes.

  • Case: CORE-8765 The Georeference Objects screen now inherits current look and feel settings.

  • Case: CORE-8742 Images and colour scheme have been updated for the New Project Wizard.

  • Case: CORE-8601 The Project Data bar now displays the first level of available folders by default.

  • Case: CORE-5599 Managed task windows, such as implicit modelling and lithology assignment tasks, now persist their docked UI status between project sessions.

Utilities & Supporting Services

  • Case: CORE-8915 ALS Coreviewer options have been removed from this product. Datamine no longer resells ALS Coreviewer.

  • Case: CORE-8759 End User License Agreement references have been replaced with Terms and Conditions.

  • Case: CORE-8747 You can now associate meta data with .dmx files using the Table Editor. This facility is not available for legacy .dm files.

  • Case: CORE-8585 You can now import up to 256 fields via the Surpac driver, and you are alerted if this limit is exceeded.

  • Case: CORE-8564 The obsolete command erase-wireframe-surface has been removed from the ribbon system.

  • Case: CORE-8488 Icons for the visualization window tabs and control bars have been updated.

  • Case: CORE-8439 A standalone utility has been created to convert .dm to .dmx files.

  • Case: CORE-8329 A new method more accurately calculates the volume of Prismatic models, as imported by the MineScape Importer utility (minescape-to-blockmodel command).

  • Case: CORE-6986 .xyz files can now be imported when importing Text files to the project.

Scripting & Automation

  • Case: Multiple Scripted access to Datamine files has been extended to manage both legacy and new DMX file processes.

Additional Defect Fixes

  • Case: UG-4782 When loading and unloading dependencies manually (outside of the task), task buttons now update as expected.

  • Case: UG-4780 WFM designs that fail to process are now captured as expected when the <Failed Designs> filter is applied. CXS new designs are now captured correctly by the <New Designs> filter.

  • Case: UG-4741 Help menu tooltip capitalization has been standardized.

  • Case: UG-4722 The Edit Filters apply button no longer remains enabled after a new system filter is added.

  • Case: UG-4716 To ensure compatibility with DTS, you can no longer specify a unit for a Production Field leading with or comprising only of numeric characters.

  • Case: UG-4695 The Stope Reconciliation settings help file has been updated.

  • Case: UG-4689 Dominant field data is now exported correctly to .

  • Case: UG-4681 When exporting to a new schedule, the default number format now sets a limited number of decimal places as expected.

  • Case: UG-4677 An issue preventing the generation of CXS designs in some situations has been resolved.

  • Case: UG-4663 The Evaluation Legend selection now persists as expected when changes are made on the Evaluation Settings screen.

  • Case: UG-4649 An issue preventing activities from being removed after deleting all designs, has been resolved.

  • Case: UG-4648 Unexpected behaviour, after renaming a block model density field back to the default DENSITY, has been resolved.

  • Case: UG-4636 Project settings for Attributes, Properties, and Dependency Layers are now validated before attempting an export to DTS.

  • Case: UG-4561 The parent MSO folder of the Project Data control bar no longer displays an unnecessary item count.

  • Case: UG-4514 The UG project file no longer appears in the All Files folder of the Project Files control bar.

  • Case: UG-4375 In the Project Data bar, the Stope Reconciliation folder no longer displays an unnecessary Results subfolder.

  • Case: UG-4345 An issue causing unexpected zero grades for some activities in pivot tables has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8947 1-letter macro file names now appear in the Project Files control bar as expected.

  • Case: CORE-8947 SELWF now produces expected results when there are spaces in the field name values of ZONE.

  • Case: CORE-8867 An issue preventing the successful installation of License Services on some Windows Server platforms has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8848 The double-sided 3D wireframe rendering setting is now correctly saved to the project.

  • Case: CORE-8811 An issue caused by swapping Snap Mode settings has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8801 An intermittent issue affecting file lookups when running macros has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8784 Wireframes generated by SWATHPLT now include consistently oriented triangles.

  • Case: CORE-8783 Making a plot item locatable no longer unexpectedly changes that plot item's position.

  • Case: CORE-8757 An issue causing PPQQPLOT to fail with a large input file has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8754 An issue causing system shutdown after reordering georeferencing table values (georeference-objects), has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8675 An issue causing converge-segments to display unexpected results after undoing the operation has been resolved.

  • Case:CORE-8670 The BOOLEAN process no longer fails when the two inputs (in the same run) have a column with the same name but a different data type.

  • Case: CORE-8610 3D object bounding boxes, used for 3D view configuration are now set correctly for all string object entities.

  • Case: CORE-8583 An issue causing an orthographic 3D view corruption where the front clipping plane distance is very large, has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8530 An issue causing system instability, when clipping in the Plots window using a quick key, has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8523 An issue attempting to print screen contents when Info Mode is active has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-8479 In Plots, setting a primary clipping width to a value larger than the extent of the section no longer causes the midpoint to be moved outside of the section extents.

  • Case: CORE-8475 An issue causing unexpected behaviour when snapping at high zoom levels has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-7713 An issue preventing the automatic generation of legends by data type has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-7645 HOLES3D now considers dip and bearing information from both a survey and collars file, prioritizing the survey file information. DIPMETH is applied to all data, regardless of source.

  • Case: CORE-6591 A repetitive warning message in Table Editor relating to undo operation performance can now be disabled as expected.

  • Case: CORE-6002 An issue preventing the update of associated screens after renaming 3D overlays has been resolved.

  • Case: CORE-3477 You can now generate a 2 point vertical plane by selecting 2 vertically-aligned points.