Split string file by range
On many occasions, files are created which contain many strings (for example pit excavation outlines, contours) and you may wish to separate out individual strings for some purpose.
This function splits individual segments into separate files and assigns each of them a specified string number. For the purposes of determining which segments go to the files which are created, the value of the first point in each segment is tested. All segments whose value are within a specified tolerance of each other will appear in the same result file. Note that it is possible to split the strings using either the X, Y, Z or Dnnn fields.
To run this function: Choose File tools > Combine/Split file options > Split string file by range, or...
If you wish to split a string file which has more than one string for a given 'Z' value, you should use CLASSIFY STRINGS, and classify your string file by 'Z' value.
Define the file to be split
Enter the Location and ID number of the file which is to be split.
Define method to create new files
Enter the Location code for the `split files', each of which will contain a single string. The ID number assigned to each split file is taken from the Z field for the string which is written to that file.
String file field
The splitting of the segments into individual files is performed by using a selected field from the string file as the key value. Typically the Z field is used but it is acceptable to use any other field from the string file. Valid entries here are X, Y, Z, D1, D2, ..., D100.
Value tolerance
To determine if segments are to go to the same file it is necessary to define a tolerance value which is then used to determine if 2 segments have the same string file field value. For example, one segment may have a value of 100.0 while another segment may have a value of 100.01. You would like these segments to go to the same file. A tolerance value of 0.015 will guarantee this.
Result
All segments whose selected string file field value are within the nominated tolerance of each other will be written to the same string file. The ID number of this string file will be the value from the selected field of the first segment which is written to the string file.
All segments of the first string written to each file will have Start String number entered above as their string number. Any segments from different strings in the input file will remain as distinct strings in the result file with the string number increasing by 1 for each new string written.