Block Model

On the File tab, in the Export group: Select Export | Block Model to export a block model. If you are exporting to a CSV file rather than a third-party file format, the option to change the block origin and recalculate the coordinates of the model is also provided.

Input

File

Double-click (or click on the Select icon) to select the name of the file containing the data to be exported. If required, define a filter to selectively control which records will be included in the export process.

East, North  and Z fields

Double-click (F3) to select the names of the fields that contain the Northings, Eastings and Z coordinates.

Output

Select a File Format. You can export to any of the following formats:

File Format Extension
CSV csv
SURPAC FBM fbm
DATAMINE dm
DATAMINE SINGLE PRECISION dm

Double-click in the File box (F3) or click the ellipsis button to navigate to the location of an Output file. During the export process, the coordinates are recalculated before being written to the Output file.

After running the process, right-click in the File box to view the Output file. Field types are written below the Field names at the top of the file.

SURPAC FBM and DATAMINE file formats do not allow field names longer than 8 characters and 24 characters respectively. A warning is displayed if field names need to be truncated. If the first 8 (for SURPAC) or 24 (for DATAMINE) characters of a field name are not unique, the field name will be truncated and appended with a number to make it unique.

Block Origin

If you have chosen to export to a CSV file, specify the Block Origin as one of the following:

  • Bottom-Left corner
  • Centre (as is)
  • Top-Right corner

The block model origin point, parent block size, and block origin point position are written below the Field types:

<origin X>,<parent size X>,<origin Y>,<parent size Y>,<origin Z>,<parent size Z>,<block-position>

If the input block model is rotated, a further row contains the following rotation data:

<rotation around Z axis>,<rotation around X axis>,<rotation around Y axis>,<pivot point X coordinate>,<pivot point Y coordinate>,<pivot point Z coordinate>

Binary coordinate fields are exported with full precision.

Fields to Export

Tick the Select all check box to export all fields in the Input file. Alternatively, use the check boxes alongside each field name to choose which fields to export.

You can use the buttons on the local toolbar to change the field order:

Click Move Up or Move Down to change the order in which the fields are written to the Output file.
Click the Autofill button to revert to the order of the fields in the Input file.

Forms

Click the Forms button to select and open a saved form set, or if a form set has been loaded, save the current form set

Run

When you have set the required parameters, click Run to begin the export.