Create graphical sections

This function is a useful viewing tool which allows you to easily view a long thin strip of data by using the mouse to describe a line of interest and by using some specified width to be assigned either side of the line. Another name for this function is 'classic planes'.

To run this function: Choose View > Viewing Planes > Create graphical sections, or Database > Sections > Define, or...

In the Function Chooser, type SLICING PLANES, and press ENTER.

Notes:

This function does not alter the data but only alters the view of the data.
The newer Planes menu commands provide an alternative way to work with your data in sections.

Fields on the Define slicing planes width form

Field	Description
Zoom to section plane to show all drillholes?	selected. Zoom to the section plane that is about to be defined. This changes the camera position and orientation so that you are viewing along the line that is normal to the section plane. cleared. The view of the section plane remains the same as the current view of your drillhole data.
Show section planes?	selected. If Confirm Section Details is selected, when you click Apply the plane is displayed in Graphics just before you confirm the creation of the plane. cleared. The plane is not displayed at any time. Note: In Default preferences, there is a global setting called Show cutting planes that overrides Show section planes. When Show cutting planes is selected, the plane is always displayed before you confirm the creation of the plane.
Interactive Method?	selected. After creating the slicing plane, you can hold down the middle mouse button and move the mouse to move the slicing plane by small increments. This provides a way to instantly move a thin cross-section. cleared. After creating the slicing plane, you cannot use the middle mouse button to move the cross-section.
Section Method tab
Section definition method	The following methods of defining sections are allowed: Graphically select section line. Graphically drag a line of interest representing the current section. Northing. Specify the northing of the vertical section of interest. Easting. Specify the easting of the vertical section of interest. Elevation. Specify the elevation of the horizontal section of interest. Best fit to selected drillholes. Fit a plane to graphically selected drillholes. Note: When the section is oblique, the system generates string 33 000. This string contains a single point that defines the section line in its D fields. D1 and D2 are the Northing and Easting of the origin, D3 and D4 are the Northing and Easting of the other end of the section. The PROCESS MAP function can use these coordinates to display where the oblique section crosses relevant Northing or Easting planes. When displayed in plan view, string 33 000 is located at the South West extreme of the data.
Distance forward of plane	Data beyond this distance on the forward side of the digitised line is trimmed, and so hidden from view.
Distance backward of plane	Data beyond this distance on the backward side of the digitised line is trimmed, and so hidden from view.
Section by	Interval. You must enter a Step Distance and for some section definition methods you must also enter a Northing, Easting, or Elevation. Range. You must enter either a Section range, Northing range, Easting range, or Elevation range.
Step distance	When you use the Previous section or Next section commands, the current section is moved forward or backward by this amount.
Northing	The northing of the section. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Northing, and Section by is Interval.
Easting	The easting of the section. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Easting, and Section by is Interval.
Elevation	The elevation of the section. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Elevation, and Section by is Interval.
Section range	If you selected Graphically select section line or Best fit to selected drillholes as the Section definition method to define your first section, in this field you specify a range of distances from that first section (section 0) to take sections from. For example, if you specify a range of 0,200,50 this means when you step through your sections, the second section will be a distance of 50 away from your first section, then 100, 150 and 200.
Northing range	The range of northings to step through. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Northing, and Section by is Range.
Easting range	The range of eastings to step through. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Easting, and Section by is Range.
Elevation range	The range of elevations to step through. This field is visible only when Section definition method is Elevation, and Section by is Range.
Confirm selected endpoints	This check box is visible only when Section definition method is Graphically select section line. selected. After you graphically select the section, a form is displayed that allows you to edit the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the start and end point of the line. cleared. No confirmation form is displayed.
Confirm section details	selected. After you click Apply, the slicing plane is displayed and you are prompted to press F2 to confirm the creation of the slicing plane, or to press ESC to cancel. cleared. After you click Apply, the slicing plane is created.
Off Section Holes tab
Extra thickness for offsection holes	Holes must be within this distance of the section plane to be considered on the section.
Colouring method	Holes not on the current section can either be coloured with a single colour or faded to reduce interference with on-section holes. Default colour. Holes not on the current section are the Default colour. Fade. Holes not on the current section are a faded shade of the same colour as those on the section. No change. Holes not on the current section are the same colour as those on the section.
Default colour	When Colouring method is set to Default colour, this field is visible. Default colour is the colour for holes that are not on the current section.
Section Block Model tab	This tab is visible if a block model is open.
Section Block Model	Selected. Take cross-sections of the block model when the section is defined and each time the Previous section or Next section functions are used to move the current section. Cleared. Do not take cross-sections of the block model.
Slice Layer	After the slices are created, you can display them in Graphics in real world coordinates. To do this, you must specify the name of the layer in which they are to be displayed. The layer can be a new layer or an existing layer.
Shrinkage	The section outlines of two neighbouring blocks will overlap each other, possibly preventing the outline colour of a specific block being displayed. This shrinkage will cause all block outlines to contract by the given amount. The shape remains exactly the same as before. Shrinkage values should be small (in the range of 0.001 - 0.1) because higher values may cause distortions of the outlines.
Colour fill block sections	Selected. The block model sections are colour-filled with the colours you have selected for each attribute in your block model. Cleared. The block model sections appear as block outlines that are not filled in.
Section Objects tab	This tab is visible if a .dtm is open.
Section Objects	Selected. Take cross-sections of displayed 3DMs and DTMs when the section is defined and each time the Previous section or Next section functions are used to move the current section. Cleared. Do not take cross-sections of 3DMs and DTMs.
Object Range	The range of object numbers to be sectioned.
Slice Layer	After the slices are created, you can display them in Graphics in real world coordinates. To do this, you must specify the name of the layer in which they are to be displayed. The layer can be a new layer or an existing layer.

Output

The slicing plane is created. Data beyond the forward and backward distance of the plane is hidden.

Note: You can use the VIEWING PLANES BACKWARD and VIEWING PLANES FORWARD functions to step through the pair of parallel clipping planes created by this function.