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FAQs


EarthVision Frequently Asked Questions

EarthVision Menus/Windows

  • Q: When I run EarthVision, the pull-down menus are black and I cannot read the text. Why?
  • Q: How do I add customized menu items to the EarthVision main menu bar?
  • Q: How do I enlarge the main EarthVision 5 window so I can see added customized menu items?

EarthVision 5.0

  • Q: How do I become more familiar with the WorkFlow Manager in EarthVision 5?
  • Q: I understand that the horizon gridder is new in EarthVision 5.0. What changes in sequence files and workflow should I use?

Plotting Output

  • Q: How do I print graphics from EarthVision?
  • Q: How do I convert my data into DXF format and maintain the real coordinate system?

2D/3D Grids

  • Q: How do I export 2D or 3D grids to scattered data?
  • Q: How do I import 2D or 3D grids from other packages?

Miscellaneous

  • Q: How do I convert my UTM data using the Clark 1866 ellipsoid to the WGS 84 ellipsoid?
  • Q: What are the most useful but least used EarthVision modules?
  • Q: Can I use the Geologic Structure Builder if I have no faults?

EarthVision Menus/Windows

When I run EarthVision, the pull-down menus are black and I cannot read the text. Why?

This problem occurs in the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) on some platforms in EarthVision versions up through 5.0.1. This situation can be remedied on a site-wide basis by editing the following file:

$DGIHOME/ev5/app-defaults/Ev

Simply add the following lines to this file:

! Force proper background color in 24-bit windows
!  under CDE.
Ev*background: LightGray

This change will no longer be necessary in EarthVision 5.1 and above since these lines will be included by default.

How do I add customized menu items to the EarthVision main menu bar?

The file $DGIHOME/ev5/etc/dgi.evrc controls the items on the EarthVision main menu bar. When editing this file, it is best to copy the file to $DGIHOME/ev5/etc/dgi.evrc.custom and make the edits to this new file. The dgi.evrc.custom file overrides the dgi.evrc file and will not be overwritten when a new EarthVision 5.x release is loaded (so edits will not be lost). If the customization is for a single user, then the edits can be made to a ~/.evrc file, which would also override the dgi.evrc and the dgi.evrc.custom files.

To add a new menu item to, say the Utilities pull-down menu, you would edit the following section of the file:

Menu Utilities
{
     "Volumetrics"                 _V    f.checkexec "evvolume"
     "Formula Processor"           _F    f.checkexec "evfp"
     "Well Database Operations"    _W    f.checkexec "evdbm"
     "Coordinate Transformation"   _C    f.checkexec "evct"
     "Seismic Tools"               _T    f.menu SeismicTools
     "Model Queries"               _Q    f.menu ModelQueries
     "Data Import"                 _I    f.menu DataImport
     "Data Export"                 _E    f.menu DataExport
     "Grid Operations"             _G    f.menu GridOps
     "Slope Analysis"              _S    f.menu SlopeAnalysis
     "DGI Gifts"                   _D    f.checkexec "evgifts"
}

and add your new function, for example:

     "New Logging Program"         _N    f.checkexec "log_prog"

The text in double quotes is what is displayed on the Utilities pull-down menu; the _N indicates the mnemonic (case sensitive); and the f.checkexec indicates that a program is to be run, followed by the name of the program (which must be located in $DGIHOME/ev5/bin or the full path must be indicated) in double quotes. If the item added is to be a pull-down menu or a cascading menu, then, instead of f.checkexec, f.menu is used:

     "New Logging Programs"        _N     f.menu LogProgs

In order for this new menu to be on the main menu bar, it must be included in the "Menu EarthVision" definition at the top of the file. The items on the new menu would have to be added later in the file, e.g.,:

Menu LogProgs
{
     "First program"               _F     f.checkexec "prog1"
     "Second program"              _S     f.checkexec "prog2"
}

How do I enlarge the main EarthVision 5 window so I can see added customized menu items?

You can use izoom to expand the image size of:

$DGIHOME/ev5/etc/ev.rgb

For example, izoom ev.rgb new.rgb 1.2 1.2. Expanding this image creates more room on the top menu bar.

EarthVision 5.0

How do I become more familiar with the WorkFlow Manager in EarthVision 5?

The EarthVision 5 installation includes a short tutorial on the basic use of the WorkFlow Manager. The files associated with this tutorial are located in:

$DGIHOME/ev5/demo

Copy these files to a local directory, then use the README file to guide you through the exercise. More tutorial data and instruction will be available in the near future.

I understand that the horizon gridder is new in EarthVision 5. What changes in sequence files and workflow should I use?

Yes, the horizon gridder has undergone a dramatic change in EarthVision 5.0. First, please read the Geologic Structure Builder section (volume 4 in the EarthVision's User's Guide) that discusses the horizon gridder. This section explains the new method for calculating horizon grids and the new options available. We recommend that you bring older sequence files into the EarthVision 5.0 GSB interface (Modeling->Geologic Structure Builder) and reset the following parameters:

* Tolerance:

In EarthVision 5.0, the fault tolerance (distance from the fault in which scattered data points are discarded) is a percentage of the X,Y,Z range instead of a fixed distance.

* Intermediate Surface Controls:

The method for calculating intermediate surfaces is greatly improved so the controls previously used should be unset for a first pass in the new horizon gridder. MinValue and MaxValue parameters in sequence files should be removed (via a text editor).

Finally, the workflow for horizon gridding now offers a new option. Before calculating the horizon grids, you can choose the "Label Horizon Data" option and the data will be labeled according to its fault block. The data can then be viewed in the 3D Viewer (choose Zone Colors from the Scattered Data Colors selection). This view makes it easier to see the coverage of data and the accuracy of fault surfaces. It is especially helpful in determining if any data are located on the wrong side of faults, indicating wither the fault surface or the data need to be edited.

Plotting Output

How do I print graphics from EarthVision?

Two basic image formats are produced by EarthVision:

1. DGI Plot files
2. RGB raster image files

1. DGI Plot files:

These files are produced by EarthVision modules that calculate contour maps, base maps, cross sections, and fence diagrams and by the Graphic Editor. On the Calculate menu for each of these modules, the user has the choice of several output formats (CGM, PostScript, HPGL2, DXF) in addition to the DGI Plot file format. When selecting one of these formats, a DGI plot file is created first, then converted to the selected format using an underlying program. When creating the file from these modules, the output formats have default settings. The default settings can be customized (e.g., changing the scale factor, rotating, swapping background color) by generating a DGI plot file and then running a the DGI Plot File Conversion program (evpltconvert, ev_pltconvert, or ev_cgm).

To run the evpltconvert interface, select Utilities->DGI Gifts-> Utilities-> DGI Plot File Conversion. From this interface, one of the underlying programs (ev_pltconvert or ev_cgm) is automatically called. The ev_pltconvert program supports PostScript, HPGL2, and DXF formats. The ev_cgm program supports CGM (binary, ascii, clear text) format. Refer to the man pages for these programs for how to run them and specify the command line options.

2. RGB Raster files:

On all platforms, the output from the 3D Viewer is an SGI RGB format. These files can be directly printed to plotters with some third-party software (e.g., Zeh Graphic Systems products or Silicon Graphics Impressario). Please check with these vendors for specifics and verification of capabilities.

DGI also provides a series of gift utilities for converting the RGB format to other formats, including PostScript, tiff, gif, Sun raster, XWD, pict, and PPM. These utilities are in $DGIHOME/ev5/dgi_gifts and have the following names:

togif
topict
toppm
tops
tosun
totiff
toxwd

For further information about these utilities, refer to the EarthVision Site Administrator's Guide.

How do I convert my data into DXF format and maintain the real coordinate system?

It is now possible to do this with the EarthVision 5.0 version of evpltconvert (and ev_pltconvert), the utility that converts DGI plot files to other formats (PostScript, HPGL2, and DXF). First, a DGI plot file is calculated in EarthVision. Then, evpltconvert (interface) or ev_pltconvert (command line program) is run to convert the DGI plot file to DXF. To run the evpltconvert interface, select Utilities->DGI Gifts->Utilities-> DGI Plot File Conversion and toggle on "Output in data scale units (DXFA only)" before calculating. To run the ev_pltconvert from the command line, use the following options (-d indicates output in data scale units):

        ev_pltconvert -d -i INPUT.plt -o OUTPUT.dxf -t DXFA

2D/3D Grids

How do I get the line of intersection between two 2D grids?

If you want just the X,Y locations of a line along the intersection of two grids, do the following:

1. subtract the two grids in the Formula Processor with a formula similar to the following:

DIFF.2grd = A.2grd - B.2grd;

2. Then load DIFF.2grd into the Base & Contour Mapping module.
under Customize->Contouring Parameters, set the following:

a. Toggle off "Regularly spaced contours"
b. Toggle on "Variably spaced contours" and select the button labeled "Edit contour list"
c. Enter the value "0" into the blue box for "Add label"
and enter the return key.

3. In the main Base & Contour Mapping window, select
Calculate->Contour File Output.

4. The Output file suffix determines whether a annotation file or scattered data file is produced. If the suffix ".ann" is used, an annotation file is created. If the suffix ".dat" is used, a scattered data file is produced.

In the scattered data output, the Z-elevations will be zero since that is the value of the difference grid at every point along the line. If you wish to insert the actual Z-elevation of the original grids along that line, first create the output scattered data file as outlined above, then back interpolate from one of the original grids using the Formula Processor with a formula similar to the following:

        TEST.dat<z> = bakint(A.2grd, TEST.dat<x>, TEST.dat<y>);

How do I export 2D or 3D grids to scattered data?

Go to the following menu: Utilities->Data Export->2D and 3D Grid Export

How do I import 2D or 3D grids from other packages?

First become familiar with Appendix G in the EarthVision 5.0 User's Guide for generic information about importing grids. For the following conversions, we provide direct utilities in $DGIHOME/ev5/dgi_gifts:

1. CPS to EV cps2ev.awk
2. Zycor to EV zycor2ev_grid.master/zycor2ev_grid.slave
3. Geoshare half-links ev_send/ev_receive (in $DGIHOME/ev5/bin)

The utility for converting ARC/INFO grids to EarthVision grids (arc2ev) is available on request.

Miscellaneous

How do I convert my UTM data using the Clark 1866 ellipsoid to the WGS 84 ellipsoid?

EarthVision does support ellipsoid conversions. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has a number of programs that do these types of conversions.

NGS phone: 301.713.3242
NGS fax: 301.713.4172

What are the most useful but least used EarthVision modules?

Glad you asked; here is a sampling of useful programs that many users are not familiar with:

1. ev_receive/ev_send - Geoshare half-link for RP66-formatted data.
2. ev_datcombine - concatenates data files together and keeps all fields from all files. this program has more options than its interface counterpart, available from Utilities->DGI Gifts-> Utilities->Scattered Data Tools->Combine Data Files
3. evzonply, evzonlin, evzonpnt, evplyhull (all on the evgifts menu) offer various polygon operations.
4. evpick - selects points inside or outside polygons (available from funnel buttons).
e. evdip - generates points based on dip and dip azimuth values of existing points.
f. evfield - sorts out data based on values in specific fields available from funnel buttons).
g. evslice - slices up an unsliced faces file.

Can I use the Geologic Structure Builder if I have no faults?

Yes. Simply fill in all the appropriate windows (e.g., Select Sequence, Property) without subdividing the ALL block in the main GSB window.

 

 
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Last updated: March 22, 2007