Creating Point + Line Maps

RockWorks | Utilities | Maps | Line Maps

Use this program to read a listing of XY point pairs from the Utilities datasheet, and create a 2D map with a line segment drawn between these vertices, in a selected line style and color. Symbols and labels can be plotted at the line endpoints.

Example: Map well surface and TD locations with specific symbols, labels, and a connecting line.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Input Columns: The prompts along the left side of the window tell RockWorks which columns in the input datasheet contain the required data.
  Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list. See a sample data layout below.
  • Pt #1 X: Select the column in the main datasheet that contains the X or Easting coordinates for the starting point of the line.
    These can be Eastings in meters or feet, decimal longitudes, etc. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
  • Pt #1 Y: Select the column that contains the Y or Northing coordinates for the starting point.
  • Pt #2 X: Select the column that contains the X coordinates for the ending point of the line.
  • Pt #2 Y: Select the column that contains the Y coordinates for the endpoint.
    
    
• Point #1 (Start): Expand this heading to access the settings for the starting point.
  • Plot Symbol: Check this option to plot uniform or unique symbols at the starting point of the line. Expand this heading to access the symbol options.
    • Symbol Type: Expand this heading to define whether the symbols are to be uniform or unique for each site.
      • Fixed: Choose this option to select a single symbol type for all points.
        • Symbol: Click to the right to choose the symbol design and color.
      • Variable: Choose this option if the symbols are listed in the datasheet.
        • Column: Click to the right to choose the name of the column where the symbols are listed.
    • Size: Click to the right to type in the size for the symbol. The size is declared as a percent of the project extents.
  • Plot Label: Check this option to include labels with the starting symbols. Expand this heading to access the settings.
    • Label Type: Expand this heading to define whether the labels are to be uniform or unique for each point.
      • Fixed: Choose this to define a single label for each starting point.
        • Label: Click to the right to type in the label.
      • Variable: Choose this option if the label text is listed in the datasheet.
        • Column: Click to the right to choose the name of the column where the label text is listed.
    • Size: Click to the right to type in the size for the labels, as a percent of the project extents.
      
      
• Point #2 (End): Use these settings to define the symbols and labels for the line endpoint. The options are the same as above.
  
  
• Line Style: Expand this heading to define the line characteristics.
  • Fixed: Select this to define a uniform line style and color for all lines.
    • Style: Click to the right to choose the line style, thickness, and color.
  • Variable: Choose this if you have define distinct line styles in the datasheet.
    • Column: Click to the right to select the name of the column in which the lines are defined.
  • Arrowhead: Check this if an arrowhead is to be included, pointing towards Point #2.
    • Type: Choose Filled or Hollow.
  • Size: Click to the right to type in the size for the arrowhead, as a percent of your project dimensions.
    
    
• Label Offset: Use these settings to specify how point labels (if activated) are to be positioned.
  • Automatic: This option allows the program to position the labels automatically, to prevent overplotting.
  • Manual: This permits you to define a specific offset for the label from each symbol.
    • X-Offset: Click to the right to enter the horizontal offset of the start of each label from each symbol, as a percent of the project size. Positive offset values will shift the label to the right, and negative values to the left.
    • Y-Offset: Click to enter the vertical offset for the label from each symbol, as a percent of the project size. Positive offset values will shift the label upward and negative values downward.
      
      
• Border: Check this to include a border around the map which shows the coordinate range of the axes. Expand this heading to establish the border options.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab. 
2. Create a new datasheet and enter or import your X and Y coordinate pairs into the datasheet. Here's an example of how this listing might look:

3. Select the Map | Line Map menu option.
4. Establish the menu settings as described above. 
5. Click the Process button to create the map.
   
   The program will create the map with the selected symbols, labels, and lines, and display the map in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.
   
6. You can adjust any of the mapping options along the left and click the Process button to regenerate the map.
   
   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing map display will be replaced. 
    
7. View / save / manipulate / print / export the map in the RockPlot2D window.  (More.)

Tip: Use the Borehole Manager's File | Transfer | Locations -> Utilities Datasheet, with "Transfer the coordinates at Total Depth" activated, to get a row-and-column list of your borehole surface and TD locations. Then use this Lines Map program to create a map with symbols at the borehole surface and TD, with lines connecting them to display the well trace.

See also

• Lineation Maps re: simple maps displaying lines without symbols or labels.  
  
  

Back to Map Menu Summary

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