RockWorks 3D Diagram Output Options

There are hundreds of programs in RockWorks which generate 3D graphic output in the form of solids, surfaces, logs, fence diagrams, and more. Use these settings to define whether the output graphic file is to be displayed after it is created and whether/how it is to be saved in a file in the project folder and whether/how it is to be exported. Previous versions of RockWorks always displayed graphic output in an "untitled" window. The purpose of offering these choices now is related to the RockWorks Playlist.

In RockWorks, 3D graphics are stored in a file with an ".Rw3D" file name extension. They are displayed in the RockPlot3D graphic window. Unlike previous versions of RockWorks, you can now display multiple output tabs in an options window.

Menu Options

• Output Options
  Click this tab to adjust the save/display settings for the output solid, surface, or other 3D scene.
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  • Display Output: Check this option to have the resulting surface/solid/etc. displayed in RockPlot3D once it is created. This is the default setting, and is helpful if you are working interactively in the program - you'll see the results of your efforts right there in a program tab.
    • Use Existing Tab for Output: If unchecked, each time you run the program it will display the output in a new display tab, as shown in the graphic at the top of this page. This permits you to experiment with output settings without overwriting previous output. This is the default setting.
      
      Use Existing Tab for Output: If this is checked, then the newly-generated output will be displayed in an existing display tab rather than generating a new tab. This can be helpful if you have established the view settings as you like them in the current RockPlot3D view tab (viewpoint, zoom, etc.) and then realize you need to regenerate the output. It will replace the existing scene but keep the view settings. (This is how RockWorks17 and earlier versions operated.)

  • Display Output: Uncheck this option if you don't want the resulting graphic displayed in RockPlot3D once it is created. This can be helpful if you are generating a lot of graphics in a Playlist and don't need for them all to be displayed at that time.

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  • Save Output File: Leave this setting unchecked if you want your graphic output to be displayed in an "Untitled" program tab. A file containing the 3D scene will not be saved in the project folder until you manually choose to save it (RockPlot3D File | Save option). This is the default setting.
    Benefit: You can manually decide which graphics you want to keep as you view them - pitch the ones you don't want to keep. You won't have as many copies of the diagram in your project folder.
    Drawback: You need to save each graphic manually using the RockPlot3D Save button or File | Save menu option.
    
    Save Output File: Check this option to assign a name for the graphic as it is being generated. This is helpful if you are including the program in a playlist - the output will have a name rather than being displayed as "Untitled". You can have the program name the file automatically or assign a specific name, described below.
    
    • Automatic: If you have requested that the 3D scene be saved, choose this option to have RockWorks assign the name automatically. It will use the name of the current program plus a numeric suffix, plus the ".Rw3D" file name extension. For example, if you are creating a stratigraphy fence diagram and there are no others in the project folder, the automatic name would be "STRATFENCE_1.Rw2D". The next DIAGRAM would be named "STRATFENCE_2.Rw2D", and so on.
      Benefit: All graphics are saved in your project folder - you won't lose any.
      Drawback: All graphics are saved in your project folder - it's easy to get a lot of them if you are experimenting with program settings.
    • Manual: Choose this option to type in a name of your own for this file. This is highly recommended if you are including this program in a RockWorks Playlist.
      Benefit: Specific graphics are assigned specific names, especially helpful for a Playlist.
      Drawback: You need to be sure to assign the specific name for each run of the program, otherwise you'll overwrite the last version of that file.

    ! NOTE: Save Output File | Manual will not warn you that a file with that name already exists. Be careful.

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  • Export: Check this option to have the resulting scene exported to another graphic format upon completion. This can be really handy by eliminating the extra steps of manually exporting the diagrams within RockPlot3D. This new capability is especially useful when automating workflows via Playlist scripting.

    ! In an effort to simplify these exports, the output resolution is configured to create bitmaps in which the horizontal dimension is at least 2,400 pixels. If you need more control over file size or resolution, we recommend generating the graphic and displaying it in RockPlot3D, then use that File | Export program which offers more settings.

    • PDF: Check this to export to PDF.
      • PDF File Name: Click to the right to enter a name for the PDF file to be generated.
      • Display in Default Viewer: Check this to display the PDF on completion, using the default PDF viewer on your computer.
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    • PNG: Check this to export to a PNG-format raster file.
      • PNG File Name: Click to the right to enter a name for the PNG file to be generated.
      • Display in Default Viewer: Check this to display the PNG on completion, in the default viewer on your computer.
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    • Display settings: These are RockPlot3D display settings which can be established here, in advance, for better export automation through a Playlist. Rather than guessing, it's probably easier to generate the output one time, set the RockPlot3D view settings as you want them to be, then use those settings here to automate the export.
      • Vertical Exaggeration: Set the vertical exaggeration at which you want the scene to be exported.
      • Background Color: Click the color box to choose the color for the scene background. (Read more about the color settings.)
      • Direction, Inclination: Use these settings to define the viewpoint for the scene for the export. (Read more about preset and custom viewpoints.)
      • Zoom: Enter a zoom factor for the exported scene. (Read more about zoom settings.)
      • Embellishments: Turn on/off the RockPlot3D reference items such as the world outline or direction labels. (Read more about the RockPlot3D reference items.)
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  ! For hopefully obvious reasons, turning off all of the output options is not recommended.

  
  

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