Volumes using string files
This function allows you to nominate which string files to include in the report. It is important that the string files you select match up with the report format definition. The output will be a series of formatted text report files for printing, and if requested, another set of files for export to a spreadsheet.
To run this function: Choose Surfaces > Volumes > Using string files, or...
Name of the format file to use
Enter the name of the format file which describes the report definition that you wish to use. You do not need to enter an extension as `.fmt' is assumed.
Complete the String file volume reports form, and choose Apply to display the Define files for formatted volume report form as below.
Define files for formatted volume report form
Define the volume strings
Define the string files which contain the data from which to calculate the volumes and grades.
Enter the Location and ID range of the string files which contain the polygons whose volume is to be calculated and reported.
Thickness
Enter the thickness to be used to calculate the volumes. Allowable entries are:
- a constant e.g. 2.1
- Dn, this means take the thickness from the nominated description field of the string files being reported e.g. D4, being the fourth descriptor field.
Note: If the thickness comes from a description field, it is treated similar to assay fields, where a weighted average thickness is included in the report. This decreases by one the number of elements which can be reported.
- If the field is left blank, the thickness is calculated as the distance between the ID's of the string files.
String or Points model
Specify whether the volume string files consist of closed strings from which volumes can be calculated or discrete points, each of which represent a fixed area.
Allowable values are:
- String, if the string files contain string volume outlines
- Points, if the file consists of points such as block centroids.
Area for (P)oints model
If you entered `Points' for points model, then you will need to specify the area to be used to calculate the volume for each point.
Spreadsheet file required
The results of the string file volumes function can also be written out to a "spreadsheet" file for use by any of the common spreadsheet programs. The file which is created is a formatted text file/s which can be imported into a spreadsheet program as a comma delimited text file.
Enter "N" if no spreadsheet files are required. Enter "Y" if a single spreadsheet file is required. The spreadsheet file which is created contains the results of all the string files which are processed. Enter "I" if individual spreadsheet files are required for each of the input string files. The results are the same as if you enter "Y" its just that you may find the breakdown of the results to be more convenient.
Report by (B)lock or (M)aterial
If a spreadsheet file is requested, it is possible to report the calculations by block (closed string shape), or as a summary of totals by material.
Allowable values are:
- B, reporting by block will give the maximum data for manipulation in the spreadsheet.
- M, reporting by material will guarantee a fixed format of the data in the spreadsheet file.
(C)ombined or (I)ndividual report
Allowable values are:
- C, to produce a single combined report file which has a location given by the volume string files and an ID of 99999.
- I, to produce individual report files for each volume string file. Each report file will have an ID which relates to the ID of the volume string file. A summary report will be written to a file with an ID of 99999.
Hint: Individual report files are generally specified when you want to include a volume report on a plot using a note entity.
Complete the DEFINE FILES FOR FORMATTED REPORT form and choose Apply to display the DEFINE RESULT FILE form.
Define the note file to be created
Enter the Location and ID number to define the '.not' file which will contain the results of this function. The location and ID number entered will also be used for the '.col' file if one is created. If you choose to create individual report files for either the '.not' or '.col' files then the Location entered here is used but the ID number used will be the ID number of the string file which is being processed.
Complete the DEFINE RESULT FILE form and choose Apply to display the DEFINE VOLUME REPORT FORMAT form. This form is displayed so that you can view and alter if required the details which will be written to the volume report header lines.
Define the report header lines
Line1, Line2, Line3 and Line4
The header details which were recorded and saved to the report definition file are displayed. You may change these values to suit the current report which is being processed if required.
Choose Apply to complete the FORMATTED VOLUME REPORT FUNCTION.
The progress of the calculation is reported in the message window, together with any problems encountered during processing.
Messages
The volume string files, and any specified boundary strings are processed in sequence. The current files being processed are displayed in the message window. If any of the files specified do not exist, an error message will be displayed and the next file in the range will be processed.
If an assay value in the nominated master assay cannot be classified according to the class definitions provided in the report format definition, the processing will abort with an error message such as:
String 2 Grade 5.6 cannot be categorised
You must check the offending string file, and either modify the assay value or change the report format definition to include this value.
Result
The combined volume report created will have the Location and ID Number entered earlier and an extension of `.not'. This file contains a breakdown of volumes, tonnages and average grades or qualities for each material in each string file, as defined by the report format. A final summary at the end of the file gives combined totals of all the string files.
In the case of individual report files for each volume string file, the Location entered earlier and the ID will correspond with each volume string file ID. A summary report with the ID entered earlier will also be produced.
This file may be printed directly, or viewed using an editor, or incorporated into a plot using a note entity in the plotting module.
If a spreadsheet file was requested, another ASCII file will be created having the same location and ID as entered for this result file, but with an extension of `.col'. The various totals are listed in columns delimited by a comma for importing into a spreadsheet.
The format of the '.col' file is as follows:
- If reporting by BLOCK
id of current file, string, block, area, sg, bench width, assay grades (if any, comma separated), material id
- If reporting by MATERIAL
id of current file, material id, material tonnage, material volume, assay grades (comma separated)