Ranges

In Surpac, you can use different string numbers, or segment numbers, to represent different physical features or zones. Similarly, in a solid or surface, you can use different object numbers, or trisolation numbers, to represent different physical features or zones.

Many of the Surpac forms in which you can view strings, solids, or surfaces also have a Range field that you can use to view a subset of the data. A range is a set of numbers that identifies which data in the string file or .dtm, to display. For example, the Drawing form for the DRAW NUMBERS function has range fields for strings, segments, and points.

Note: You can also use ranges throughout Surpac for many other types of numerical data, not just strings, solids, and surfaces.

Range syntax

You can use the following syntax in any range field.

Syntax	Examples	Meaning
<n>	7
<n>,<n>	1,8	1 to 8 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8).
<n>,<n>,<n>	1,10,2	1 to 10 with an increment of 2 (1,3,5,7, and 9).
	150,120,-10	150 to 120, reducing by 10 each time (150, 140, 130, and 120) Tip: You can use this for crests when designing a pit from the surface down.
<n>;<n>	4200;4225	Two irregularly spaced values with nothing in between them (4200 and 4225).
<n>,<n>;<n>	1,5;23	1 to 5, and 23 (1,2,3,4,5, and 23). A combination of regularly-spaced, and irregularly-spaced, values.
@<rangefile>	@pitcrests	The range defined in the range file (.rng) determines which data to display. Note: The range file must be in the working directory.

Range files

When the range is a combination of regularly-spaced values and irregularly-spaced values, it can take a long time to type the syntax. To avoid having to retype the same range many times, you can store the range in a range file.

A range file is a text file with a file extension of .rng. The first line in the file must be START RANGE. The last line in the file must be END RANGE. You can include the range from one range file in another range file by using @<rangefile>.

Examples of text inside range files

Example 1	Example 2	Example 3
START RANGE 8 32005 END RANGE	START RANGE 8;13 32005 END RANGE	START RANGE 8 @anotherRng END RANGE Note: For this example to work, you need another range file called anotherRng.rng in the working directory.