Map Symbol Options

The Symbols layer is available for 2-dimensional maps and diagrams (e.g. stereonets). It is used to create a map layer that illustrates the sample locations with map symbols and other items.  These settings are available by clicking on the Symbol Options button, present under the "Symbols" checkbox in many RockWorks Utilities menus.

Menu Options

• Uniform:  Choose this to use one symbol design and color for all locations.
  • Symbol: Click on the sample to display the current symbol library where you can choose a symbol design and color.
  • Dimensions: Use these settings to define the size of the map symbol.  See Symbol Dimensions, below.

Uniform symbols, Fixed dimensions

• Column-based: Choose this option for the program to read specific symbols (styles and color) for each sample site, listed in a symbol column in the RockWorks Utilities datasheet.
  • Symbol Column: Click here to see a list of all of the columns in the current datasheet; select the name of the column that contains the symbol designs.
  • Dimensions: Use these settings to define the size of the map symbol. See Symbol Dimensions, below.
     

  

  Column-based symbols, Fixed dimensions
   

• Circles: The Circles option will plot either filled or unfilled circles that are centered at the designated xy coordinates. The radii of these circles are based on the values within a "Z-column" that you select. (These are frequently called "bubble maps". Typically, the Z-column is used to define some parameter that is expressed in the same units as the X,Y coordinates. Examples include radii of influence and effective pumping radii.
  • Color: Controls the color of the circle outline ("perimeter") and fill, if selected.
    • Monochrome: Choose this to plot all circles with the same color; click on the color box to select the plot color.
    • Variable: Choose this to vary the circle colors, based on color declarations in the data file.
      • Color Column: Click here to see a list of all of the columns in the current datasheet; select the name of the column that contains the colors.
    • Filling:
      • Fill: Choose this option to fill the circles (using the color defined above).
      • Hollow: Choose this to leave the circles unfilled.
      • Perimeter Thickness: This setting defines the line thickness for the circle outlines. "1" would represent a thin line, "3" thick.
      • Dimensions: Use these settings to define the size of the map symbol. See Symbol Dimensions, below.

      

      Circle symbols, Variable / Linear dimensions

• Table-Based: The program reads a user-created table that lists specific symbols for different quantitative values measured at the sites. This option requires that you have created a "Range Table" in which you have listed ranges of Z-values and the specific symbols to be plotted at the map sites where the listed Z-values fall within that range.
  • Z-Column: Click here to select the column in the datasheet where these Z-values, used to define the size and style of the map symbol, are listed. If, as the program is constructing your point map, it finds no z-values that fall within the ranges you have listed, then no symbols will be plotted.
  • Range Table: Click here to select the Range Table you have created. Range Tables can be viewed and edited from within the map dialog box, or under the Misc. Project Tables heading in the Project Manager pane along the left edge of the program window. See Range Tables for more information.

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    Table-based symbols (dimensions are defined in table)

           

• Symbol Dimensions. The options are consistent for the Uniform, Column-based, and Circle symbol styles.
  • Uniform: Symbols will be the same throughout the map. The size is declared as a percent of the project size. In this way, the symbols will be about the same size for even wildly different data sets.
  • Variable:  Symbols can vary in size across the map. The size varies based on a measured value at each map site ("Z-value"). Within this option, you can define:
    • Z-Column: Click here to select the column in the datasheet where the Z-values, upon which the size of the map symbol will be based, are listed.
    • Linear: Choose this option for the Z-value at each map site to be multiplied by a constant value, to determine symbol size in your map units.
      ! Note:  Unlike most size declarations in RockWorks which are relative to the size of the project, this scheme defines the size of the symbol in your actual map units.
      • Scalar: Type in the constant value which will be multiplied by the Z-value at each map site, to determine symbol size.
        Simple example:  Let's say you wish to display a pumping radius around each well, and that radius, in your map units, is listed in a column in the datasheet.  Just select that for the Z-Column, above, and set the scalar to "1" and the symbols will be plotted with a radius equal to those map units.
        Another example: You want the map symbols to be scaled based on percent sand (which has been selected under Z-Column, above).  Since the percents range from 0 to 100, you could enter a scalar of 0.25 to generate symbols sized from 0 to 25 map units in size.
    • Range: Choose this option to scale the symbols between two user-defined dimensions. These dimensions are specified as a percentage of the overall project size.  Using this scheme, those map sites with the lowest z-values (declared under Z-Column, above) will be represented with symbols plotted at the Minimum size, those sites with the highest z-values will be plotted at the Maximum size, and those in between will be scaled proportionally between the two.
      • Minimum:  Type in the size for map symbols, as a percent of the project size, for the smallest Z-values.
      • Maximum:  Type in the size for the map symbols, as a percent of the project size, for the largest Z-values. 
         
• Images: Check this box to include scaled images underneath the map symbols, with image names pulled from a column in the Utilities datasheet. Note that the images are plotted on the lower "layer", meaning that any other sample information, such as the sample symbols and labels, are plotted on top of the images.

  

  • Column that Contains Image File Names: Click here to see a list of all of the columns in the current datasheet; select the name of the column that contains the image file names.  An example is shown below; you would choose the column named "Image".

  

  • Image Dimensions based on...  Use these settings to define the image size on the map.  Note that the images will be rescaled to fit the desired size.
    • Map Units: Click in this button to define the image size in actual map units, and enter the desired width and height.  For example, if you were to enter "50" for both, then the images will be resized to occupy 50 units both horizontally and vertically on the output map.  The benefit of this method is you'll know exactly how big the image will be on the map that RockWorks creates.
    • % of Project Size: Click in this button to define the image size as a percent of your project size, and enter the desired width and height percent.  The benefit of this method is that image sizes will be fairly consistent between projects.
      
      

See also:

• 2D Map Options Overview
  

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