Tutorial: Export the Map and Insert it into a Document

Estimated time: 2 minutes.

You may export any image displayed in a RockPlot2D window to a different graphic format for opening into another software program or inserting into document or report. The graphic exports that are available in RockPlot2D are BMP, JPG, PNG, TIFF, ESRI Shape, MapInfo MIF, AutoCAD DXF, KMZ (Google Earth), WMF (Windows Metafile), EMF (Enhanced Metafile), ReportWorks, and RockPlot3D (Rw3D).

In this lesson, we will export the map from the previous lesson to a PNG format. The ".png" file will then be inserted into a document using your regular word processor.

! It is necessary that you have completed the previous lessons before continuing. Click here to return to the beginning of this section.

  1. Be sure the combined, edited point + contour map is displayed in the active RockPlot window. This window should have the name "map with border.Rw2D." (If you need to re-open this map, go to the Project Manager pane along the left edge of the main RockWorks window, expand the 2-D Diagrams heading, and double-click on this map name.)
     
  2. Select the File | Export command and select the PNG option from the pop-up menu.

    The program will display a window where you can establish some size and resolution information.
     
  3. Enter the requested information:
    1. Pixels per Inch: This sets the resolution for the bitmap, in numbers of dots or pixels per inch. Set the resolution to: 600  by typing that value into the prompt box.
    2. Colors (bits per pixel): This determines the color "depth" of the output image. Be sure this is set to Color (24b/p) for high color depth.
    3. Size in Inches, Scale (units per inch): Leave these as-is.
      These settings permit you to export the image at a particular size in inches or at a particular X and Y scale in units per inch. If the Equal Scale box is checked (which would be appropriate for most RockWorks 2D maps and diagrams) any change to size or scale of one axis will update the other automatically, ensuring the width:height ratio remains the same.
    4. Compression: Change this to Low. This causes the output file to be slightly bigger in size, but with less resolution loss.
       
  4. Click OK at the bottom of the BMP Options window.
     
  5. Enter a name for the PNG file. In the displayed prompt, the default name should be map with border.png   Simply click on the Save button to accept this name and perform the export.
     
  6. Insert the map into a document.
    1. If you have a word processor of any kind installed on your computer, launch it at this time.
      You can leave RockWorks running, with the map still displayed on the screen. If necessary, you can minimize both the RockPlot and RockWorks windows to access your word processor.
    2. If necessary, create a new document in the word processor using its File | New command. (Some will launch and open a new file automatically.)
    3. At the top of the new document, type in some introductory text, such as "This is my RockWorks map". Press the Enter key at the end of that line to advance to the next line in the document.
    4. Now, you can insert the PNG version of the RockWorks map into the document. The instructions below correspond to the commands in Microsoft Word; if you are running a different program, you'll need to modify the selections accordingly.
    5. In Microsoft Word click on the Insert menu and select Picture.  (You may see a From File option; choose that.)
    6. Browse to the RockWorks "Samples" folder, which is in your "My Documents\RockWorks17 Data" folder, and look for the file you just exported, named "map with border.png."
    7. Click on that file name, and then click on the Insert button to insert the picture into the document.

Voila! The raster version of your RockWorks map is now displayed in your report to your client.

  1. Save: You may save the document using the word processor's File | Save command.
     
  2. Close the word processor and return to RockWorks for the next lesson, exporting the map to RockPlot3D.

Exporting 2D Plot Files

  Back to RockPlot2D menu     |     Next (export to Google Earth) 

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