Plugins
Overview
Surpac allows you to manipulate data maintained in various formats.
For many projects it is common to have large quantities of data maintained in various proprietary formats. You might need to duplicate data in different formats for compatibility with different applications. With a growing collection of data the ability to easily transport files between different software environments becomes ever more necessary. Surpac provides access to project data from within a single application improving the efficiency of data management.
Surpac combines a number of tools and technologies to achieve data transparency. The Surpac Abstract Data Model (SADM) allows Surpac to represent all data in a generic form. Plugins are tools used to read and save file types from different proprietors. Each plugin has a method for processing foreign data according to the data types defined by SADM. All plugins are handled by a Plugin Manager which selects the appropriate plugin for manipulating specific data formats. The plugin manager is used by the File Browser and Drag and Drop features. The users need only select the file name and extension to work with and the relevant plugin is automatically selected for them. The combinations of these tools and technologies enable the user to easily work with data without being concerned about specific settings and configurations for particular file types.
Surpac Technology
The following sections describe the technology in further detail.
SADM: The Surpac Abstract Data Model
The Surpac Abstract Data Model (SADM) describes data supported by Surpac in a generic structured form. Tools that integrate SADM are able to perform generic operations on a standard form of data, regardless of the data's origin.
SADM defines fundamental common properties of the data it supports. Identifying and categorising these common properties enables Surpac to identify how the data can be manipulated. Two simple categories of data types are presently described by SADM: STRING and 3D OBJECT.
STRING Data is defined by a collection of points in a 3-dimensional space. This data type is used to represent points, lines and polygons. A Segment defines a sequence of points. A String is used to encapsulate multiple segments, which may or may not be connected. A unique ID is used to identify each string. Each point in a segment has associated "description fields" which store attributes and values specific to that point. These fields are referenced as D1, D2, D3 and so on in legacy applications, some newer applications may use more descriptive names. Style attributes are associated with individual strings and describe how the strings should be displayed.
3D OBJECT data is defined by a collection of triangles in a 3-dimensional space. This data type is used to represent solids and surfaces. A Trisolation defines a collection of triangles. A Triobject is used to encapsulate multiple trisolations, which may or may not be connected. A unique ID is used to identify each triobject. Each vertex of a triangle has associated "description fields" which store attributes and values specific to that vertex. These fields are referenced as D1, D2, D3 and so on in legacy applications, some newer applications may use more descriptive names. Style attributes are associated with individual triobjects and describe how the triobjects should be displayed.
Plugins
Surpac Plugins are tools that read and save file types from different proprietors. A plugin has a method for processing foreign data according to the data types defined by SADM. Depending on the files supported by a plugin, the plugin will operate with a combination of STRING and/or 3D OBJECT data.
The following table describes the plugins available in Surpac.
| Surpac PLUGINS | ||
|---|---|---|
| AutoCAD Plugin | ArcInfo Plugin | Datamine Plugin |
| MapInfo Plugin | MedSystem Plugin | MicroStation Plugin |
| Surpac Plugins | Vulcan Plugins | GEMS Plugin |
Note: Sirovision is no longer supported in Surpac 6.6 and later versions.
Each plugin has a Surpac styles file (extension ".mst" or ".ssi") associated with them. This styles file is used to provide default styles when a file is loaded. This caters for files that may not contain any specific style information.
Plugins Manager
Surpac contains a Plugin Manager which oversees the operation of all plugins. The plugin manager determines the appropriate plugin to use when a file is specified for reading or saving. The correct plugin is chosen to read a file based on the extension and content of that file. The plugin manager determines which plugin to use for saving a file based on the desired file extension the user has entered. The plugin manager is an important part of Surpac in reducing the input required by the user in operating plugins.
Drag and Drop
The plugin manager is a major element of Surpac's Drag and Drop capabilities. From the main window of Surpac, a user can load a file by simply dragging a selection from the file navigator to the graphics window. The user doesn't need to be concerned with specifying how the file should be loaded as the plugin manager determines which plugin to use.
File Browser
Surpac provides an enhanced File Browser which also uses the plugin manager. The file browser allows users to locate files for recalling or to specify files for saving. The file browser is used by many applications in Surpac but most commonly associated with the RECALL FILE (RF) and SAVE FILE (SF) functions.
You can use the Files of type filter to make the file view window display only files of a particular type. The file type selected in the file filter shows which plugin will be used to recall or save a file .
Examples for Using Surpac Plugins
The following paragraphs describe examples of how to use Surpac Plugins.
Read File Example Using Surpac Plugins
This example demonstrates the steps involved in loading a GEOVIA triangulation file. The example describes the loading of a file through the file browser in the RECALL FILE (RF) function.
- Select File--Open--String/DTM File or Type RECALL FILE in the command chooser
- Open the File Browser next to the Location field.
- Select "GEMS Triangulation Files (.bt2)" from the Files of Type file filter. This will ensure that only ".bt2" files are displayed in the file browser.
- Locate the file to load, select it and then press Open.
- Press Apply on the Recall File form and the GEMS binary triangulation file will load and be displayed in the graphics window.
Save File Example Using Surpac Plugins
This example demonstrates the steps involved in unloading to a Vulcan triangulation file. The example describes the saving of a file through the file browser in the SAVE FILE (SF) function.
- Select File--Save--String/DTM File or Type SAVE FILE in the command chooser.
- Open the File Browser next to the Location field.
- Select "Vulcan Triangulation Files (.00t)" from the Save as Type file filter. This will ensure that only ".00t" files are displayed in the file browser.
- Either select a file to overwrite or enter the name of new file to create, then press Save.
- Press Apply and the Vulcan triangulation file will be saved to the file that specified.
Troubleshooting
No troubleshooting information available.
Limitations
Surpac may not support all data contained within of a foreign file format. When reading in a file that contains such data, this data may be ignored. As a consequence, consecutive reading and writing using a plugin file format, may cause unsupported data to be set to default values.