Export block centroids and dimensions to string file

This function allows you to output the block model to a string file with each block represented as a point (its centroid) or as closed segments comprising the block faces.

It is also possible to optionally classify the output on a numeric attribute so that different output ranges are classified into different string numbers, so that with colouring, a "value cloud" effect can be created.

To run this function: Choose Block model > Block model > Export > Block centroids & dimensions to string file, or...

In the Function Chooser, type BM STRING REPORT, and press ENTER.
In the Function Chooser, type BM BLOCK REPORT, and press ENTER.

The string file which is created may contain all attributes in the block model. The model may be constrained to only include blocks of interest.

Fields on the Create Strings From Block Model form.

Output as

Choose the type of string data which is to be saved to the string file for each block in the model. Select:

Centroids - To save a point at the centroid of each block, or
Outlines - To save one closed segment for each face of each block. This method will create a string file which is approximately 30 times the size of the Centroid output option.

Output Block Size

It is possible to output the block size (in x, y and z) to the first three description fields in the resultant string file. Select this option to output these.

Constrain report

Enter `N' for an unconstrained string report, or enter `Y' to apply a registered constraint. See Make Constraint.

Define output file
Location and Id

Enter the location name and Id number of the string file which is to be created.

Classification

This section allows you to classify the output into various string numbers, based on a numeric attribute in the model. Simply select the attribute name, and then enter a range, and the output will classify the output into strings based on which range the block's value falls in.

This works for both centroid and outline output.

Output attributes

The value entered here will determine if attributes are to be output in the report. Valid entries are:

none, no attributes are output to the output string file
all, all attributes will be output in the order that they appear in the edit attributes list
some, move the focus to the Output Attributes scrolling region. Only attributes selected in this scrolling region will be output to the string file, in the order that they are selected.

Output Resolution

This section allows you to decide what size blocks to export. There are hree possibilities :

User Block Resolution (default) - will output the string file at the user block size, which is defined when the model is created. This is traditionally how the BM BLOCK REPORT and BM STRING REPORT functions output the blocks. It will output blocks at either the user block size, or at block sizes that are smaller than the user block size.
Maximum Resolution - will output all blocks at their smallest sub-block size. This means that all blocks in the string file will be exactly the same size, which is not necessarily true of the other two options. However, it may also create a much larger output file.
Existing Blocks - This will output the blocks as the exist - which will be exactly the same as what is displayed in Graphics -> draw. It will create the smallest size string file, but there could be many size blocks in the output.

Output Block Indexes

This option is available if you have an output resolution set to "Maximum Resolution" or "User Block Resolution". What it allows is a unique index to be created for each "block" as it is output. If you are outputting at "User block resolution", a unique index is created for each user block. If a block in the model happens to be smaller (sub block) than the user block size, then it, and all it's siblings, will have the same index as the index their parent would have had. This allows you to easily relate all the blocks of a particular parent together, and will allow for merging of child blocks back into the parent at a later date.

If you select "Maximum resolution" to output, the flexibility increases. In this case, you can choose the size of the parent block as any multiple of the minimum block size, in any direction. For example, you may choose to select to create indexes for blocks that are 4 minimum blocks x 3 x 2. All 24 of these minimum blocks will then have the same index.

The problem with using this functionality if you intend to upload this string file into the block model is that you will create a very large number of blocks, making the model bigger, and potentially unusable. Please be careful with your parent block selection if you intend to do this.

Output Indexes As

There is two ways to output the index. Firstly, there is "Separate values", which will output 3 description fields, one for X, one for Y and one for Z. The number contained in this description field is the block number in each direction. For example, the first block will have a value of 1,1,1 for these fields, where the second block in the X direction will contain 2,1,1.

The second option is "Single Value" which is possibly more useful if you intend to re-load the block model with these values. It will create a single value (and hence only requires 1 attribute when loaded into the model). It is simply a calculation using the three values from the other type. The single value will equal the X number multiplied by the maximum resolution squared, plus the Y number multiplied by the maximum resolution plus the Z number.

(X*max_res*max_res)+(Y*max_res)+Z

This creates a unique index, but does give you the flexibility to create calculated attributes if required to retrieve the X, Y and Z values.

Complete the Create Strings from Block Model form and choose Apply or Cancel exit.

Result

A string file is created with either block centroids or closed segments for each block face. The block model attributes will be present in the description field as requested.