This choice enables the user to invoke commands and run external programs without exiting PolyMap. This choice invokes a Shell, and the user is able to run any number of applications while in the shell.

To use the shell, simply enter the commands as you normally would. When finished, type "EXIT" at the prompt and you will be returned to Polymap.

This choice runs the program that allows the user to export information from a PolyMap map into a format that is suitable for use by other software systems. In particular, it allows for the exportation of MicroMODEL POLY.PIT and POLY.CNT files.

After selecting this choice, the user must pick the desired answer set. A single input screen is then presented, which consists of three input fields, a list of maps, and five choice buttons.

The first input field contains the answerset name. The second input field is used for entering the PolyMap ASCII file name, if exporting to a PolyMap ASCII file has been selected. The third input field is for entering the name of the MicroMODEL file, if exporting to a MicroMODEL ASCII file has been selected.

The user selects which map the exported information will come from, using the map list box. Click on the desired map.

The choice buttons allow the user to pick which type of export file will be created. The first choice is to export to a PolyMap ASCII file format, using the default output file name for the map that has been chosen. The second choice is the same as the first, that is, export to a PolyMap ASCII file format, except that the user is allowed to enter the name of the file that will be written to.

The third choice allows the user to export to MicroMODEL ASCII format using POLY.CNT as the output file name. The fourth choice allows the user export to MicroMODEL ASCII format using POLY.PIT as the output file name. The fifth choice allows the user to export to MicroMODEL ASCII format with an output file name that is specified by the user.

The sixth choice allows the user to export to an AutoCAD DXF file. The name of the DXF file must be specified, along with the AutoCAD layer name and also the AutoCAD line width (normally zero). If your map contains crest, mid, or ramp lines, then you have the option of specifying the AutoCAD layer name to use for these entity types. You may also opt to export or not export any of the four line types (normal, crest, mid, ramp) via the check box fields ajacent to the AutoCAD layer name fields.

Finally, the user may elect to export only a given range of elevation values. The minimum and maximum elevation values to export are specified in two fields near the bottom of the dialog. To export all values, simply enter a large negative value for the minimum elevation (e.g. -99999.) and a large positive value for the maximum elevation (e.g. 99999)

After appropriate selections have been made, the user may elect to continue, in which case the map information is exported to the desired output file. Otherwise, the user may quit the program and all current answer choices will be discarded.

This program allows the user to import information from another system into a PolyMap map file. In particular, it allows for the importation of MicroMODEL POLY.PIT and POLY.CNT files. There is a separate program that is used to import from DXF. DXF files are imported with the next choice, "Import Map Information from DXF".

After selecting this program, the user must pick the desired answer set. An input screen is then presented, which consists of an answerset input field, a pulldown map list menu, file import source options, and record deletion options.

A recently added feature in the pit design program allows the user to display information from DXF input with controls for selectively showing each layer that has been imported. When a DXF file is imported, the AutoCAD layer is stored as part of each entity.

The answer set name is entered in the input field. The map to import into is selected from the pulldown list. The file import source options select which type of file input will be used.

The first choice button selects PolyMap ASCII from the default file name for the selected map. The second choice allows for PolyMap ASCII input from a user-selected file name.

The third choice selects input from MicroMODEL ASCII file POLY.CNT. The fourth choice selects input from MicroMODEL ASCII file POLY.PIT. The fifth choice selects input from a user-specified file that is in the standard MicroMODEL format (POLY.CNT or POLY.PIT type file).

The sixth choice allows the user to select one or more other PolyMap map as the source of imported information. Use this choice to make a copy of another map.

The last choice is for specifying that there is no data to be imported. This choice is available so that the user may delete specified portions of the map chosen in the first input screen, without importing any information from other sources.

The record deletion options select which records, if any, in the current map will be deleted before any information is imported to that map.

The first record deletion option is for deleting all current records. Use the first option to completely remove any current information from the map before new information is added. The second option will delete only location entries (area locations). The third choice allows the user to selectively delete ranges of records before new information is added. Finally, the last choice is to not delete any current information before adding the new information.

After the appropriate input choices have been made, the user may elect to continue, in which the imported information will be added. Otherwise, the user may quit the program and all input will be discarded.

This program allows the user to import information from AutoCAD DXF files.

Note that a new feature in the pit design program allows the user to display maps containing imported DXF features in a separate background map. The Designated DXF background map can be turned on and off, and there are controls allowing for enabling/disabling each AutoCAD layer, and setting the color and labeling style for each layer.

After selecting this program, the user must pick the desired answer set. An input screen is then presented, which consists of an answerset input field, a pulldown map list menu, file import source options, and record deletion options.

The answer set name is entered in the input field. The DXF file to import from is selected by either entering the file name in the field provided, or by clicking on the "Access Directory" button to the right of the field. The map to import to is selected from the pulldown list. The user may opt to delete any current information in the map, prior to importing the DXF, by checking the box below the pulldown mapname menu. Leave the box unchecked to append information to your map.

Just below the answer set name input field is a check box which allows the user to apply a simply point filter to the data prior to importing it to the map. If this box is checked, the user must also provide the filter tolerance in an adjacent input field. The simple filter reduces the amount of redundant points in polylines. Bascially, if the filter finds three points in a row that lie on roughly the same line, then the middle point is eliminated. It is suggested that the user experiment with the tolerance factor in order to examine the effect of various tolerance values. A value of 0.1 units is a suggested value to start with. Tolerance values greater than 1 or 2 units will significantly reduce the number of points, but may also distort the polyline data beyond acceptable limits.

Level Limit Options allow the user to control which contour elevations are imported. These are useful for grabbing only a limited range of elevations, or for grabbing only those elevations that fall on an even interval. Use the minimum and maximum level to import fields to limit the range of elevations that will be imported.

To select only elevations that are evenly divisible by a given interval, check the box labeled "Import only entities where elevation plus". Then, enter the optional offset value to add the the input elevation before testing. Finally, enter the divisor value. For example, let's say you have a DXF file that contains contours on a 1 foot contour interval. You have a mine design where you only need bench midpoint contours, your bottom bench toe elevation is 6 feet, and you will be mining on 30 foot benches. This means you need to extract contours at 21, 51, 81, 111, etc. feet. For this example, you would enter an offset value of 9, and a divisor of 30. Thus, when an input contour of 21 feet is tested, the program checks to see if (21 plus 9) feet is evenly divisible by 30. Since 30 is evenly divisible by 30, then this contour would pass the test and would be imported.

Next, the user must select type of entity to convert. If it is not known which entity types are in the file, then press the "Scan DXF File" button in the lower right corner. The Scan function will list which layers in the DXF file contain which type of data. After scanning, you may simply "blank out" any layer you do not want to convert. Press the "Convert DXF File (RUN)" button to begin the conversion process. Note that the program only converts one type of data at a time (LINE,POLYLINE,LWPOLYLINE). When finished, you may view the contents of print file "DXF2PMAP.PRN" to see which contours were converted, and what the minimum and maximum extents of these contours are.

This choice allows the user to create a MicroMODEL POLY.RKS file for coding a three dimensional rock model. The file can be created from one or more section maps.

After selecting this program, the user must pick the desired answer set. The first input screen is then presented, which consists of a the answerset name field, a list of maps, a list of areas, and the output file name field.

More than one area name can be written to the same rock code, but usually, there is a unique rock code for each area.

The output file field is for specifying the name of the POLY.RKS file that will be created. The user may include a path name, and may call the file something other than POLY.RKS. The Access Files Button can be used to access the computer directories.

The second input screen consists of a grid input which has one entry for each map chosen. The two input fields are for specifying the tolerance to use in front of and behind the section.

The third input screen is for entering the MicroMODEL rock code for each area name.

After entering the appropriate responses, the user can elect to continue, and the program will create the desired POLY.RKS file. Otherwise, the user may quit and all program input will be discarded.

This choice allows the user to create a MicroMODEL POLY.RKP file for coding a three dimensional rock model. The file can be created from one or more plan maps.

After selecting this program, the user must pick the desired answer set. The first input screen is then presented, which consists of a the answerset name field, a list of maps, a list of areas, and the output file name field.

More than one area name can be written to the same rock code, but usually, there is a unique rock code for each area.

The output file field is for specifying the name of the POLY.RKP file that will be created. The user may include a path name, and may call the file something other than POLY.RKP. The Access Files Button can be used to access the computer directories.

The second input screen consists of a grid input which has one entry for each map chosen. The two input fields are for specifying the tolerance to use above and below each plan map.

The third input screen is for entering the MicroMODEL rock code for each area name.

After entering the appropriate responses, the user can elect to continue, and the program will create the desired POLY.RKP file. Otherwise, the user may quit and all program input will be discarded.

This choice allows the user to create an X-Y-Z point data file for use in the surface modeling module of MicroMODEL. For example, the top of a certain coal seam can be digitized on a set of sections, and this information can be exported in the form of an X-Y-Z point file.If you plan on using this program, it is important to supply a unique trace name to use for each seam surface in the initial system setup (Section 1.2)For example, the trace name for the first seam could be "TOP-S1", the second seam "TOP-S2", etc.

After selecting this program, the user must choose the desired answer set. The first input screen is then presented, which consists of a the answerset name field, a list of maps, a list of trace names, and the output file name field.

The output file field is for specifying the name of the POLY_XYZ.DAT file that will be created. The user may include a path name, and may call the file something other than POLY_XYZ.DAT. The Access Files Button can be used to access the computer directories.

The user highlights one or more maps in the map names list box. Each of these maps will be processed to create a single X-Y-Z point file. The user should only select maps that are section views. Plan maps will be ignored by the program.

Next, the user highlights one or more trace names. Polylines that match these trace names will be exported as X-Y-Z points in the output file. Thus, it is important in the setup phase of PolyMap to be sure and use trace names that will allow for exporting X-Y-Z point files that are unique to a given seam.

After entering the appropriate responses, the user can elect to continue, and the program will create the desired X-Y-Z point file. Otherwise, the user may quit and all program input will be discarded.

This choice allows the user to take all or part of the traces in one or more topo or pit maps and combine them into a new map. The user must specify how many maps to combine, and what elevation ranges to use for each map.

The purpose of this program is to enable the user to take a set of phase designs, and extract levels from each phase that are being mined in a given period. These are combined into a new map, which shows the overall pit progress at the end of that period.

This choice allows the user to create a 3-D wireframe (either MicroMODEL format or DXF format) from a previously defined set of maps and tie points.