Exporting Block Models

The export formats available for block models depend on the type of block model:

Regular block models Octree sub-blocked models Fully sub-blocked models Variable Z sub-blocked models
CSV + text header
CSV with embedded header
CSV as points
Datamine block model
Surpac block model
Geosoft voxel

This topic describes the process for exporting in each of these formats. It is divided into

To export a block model, right-click on it in the project tree and select Export. You will be prompted to select the file format.

If you wish to export the model in one of the CSV formats, select CSV Block Model Files (*.csv). You will be able to choose between the three CSV formats in the next step.

Enter a name and location for the file and click Save. Next, you will be able to choose custom settings for the selected format.

Once you have worked through these steps, a summary of the selected options will be displayed. If you need to make any changes, you can work back through the steps. Once you’re satisfied with the settings chosen, click Export to save the file.

The selections you make when you export a block model will be saved. This streamlines the process of subsequent exports of the model.

Exporting Block Models in CSV Format

This export format is available for all block model types.

When you choose to export a block model in CSV format, you must first choose the type of CSV export. Options are:

  • With an embedded header file. The block model definition is included at the top of the CSV file.
  • With a separate text header. The block model definition is written as a separate text file.
  • As points. The CSV file does not include the block sizes and model description.

You will then be prompted to work through the custom settings available for the CSV format. If you have exported the block model in CSV format previously, your previous settings will have been saved and so you can quickly click through the windows.

The options that can be set for block models exported in CSV format are:

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. You can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

You can use a Query filter to filter rows out of the data exported.

This is different from exporting filters as columns, as selected in the previous step.

The second option in this window is useful when all block results are consistently the same non-Normal status. Select from Error, Without value, Blank or Outside; all rows that consistently show the selected statuses will not be included in the exported file.

There are three encoding options for Numeric Precision:

  • The Double, floating point option provides precision of 15 to 17 significant decimal places.
  • The Single, floating point option provides precision of 6 to 9 significant decimal places.
  • The Custom option lets you set a specific number of decimal places.

To change either the Centroid and size precision and Value precision options, untick the box for Use default precision and select the required option.

When a block model is exported, non-Normal status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences.

The Status Code sequences are used for category status codes and filter status codes exported as columns. For filter status codes, Boolean value results will show FALSE and TRUE for Normal values or the defined Status Codes for non-Normal values.

Numeric Status Codes can be represented using custom text sequences. This is optional; if no separate codes are defined for numeric items, the defined Status Codes will be used.

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

Exporting Block Models in Datamine Format

This export format is available for all block model types.

Once you have selected the Datamine option and entered a name and location for the file, click Save. You will then be prompted to work through the custom settings available for the Datamine format. If you have exported the block model in Datamine format previously, your previous settings will have been saved and so you can quickly click through the windows.

The options that can be set for block models exported in Datamine format are:

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. You can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

You can use a Query filter to filter rows out of the data exported.

This is different from exporting filters as columns, as selected in the previous step.

The second option in this window is useful when all block results are consistently the same non-Normal status. Select from Error, Without value, Blank or Outside; all rows that consistently show the selected statuses will not be included in the exported file.

When a block model is exported, non-Normal status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences.

When exporting block models in Datamine format, non-Normal category numeric status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences. Numeric status codes must be a number or blank. Boolean values are exported using values 0 for false and 1 for true; specify if non-Normal values should be represented by 0 or by the numeric status codes.

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

When exporting a block model in Datamine format, column names for the evaluated objects have a maximum length of 8 characters. Leapfrog Energy will recommend truncated column names, but if you wish to use different abbreviations, click on the item’s New Name to edit it.

Exporting Block Models in Surpac Format

This export format is available for regular block models and octree sub-blocked models.

When you choose to export a block model in Surpac format, you must first choose whether to export the model in Surpac version 3.2 or Surpac version 5.0. Considerations are as follows:

  • Block models exported in Surpac version 5.0 cannot be imported into versions of Surpac before 5.0.
  • Block models with more than 512 blocks per side can only be exported in Surpac version 5.0 format.

Choose which format you wish to use, then click Next.

You will then be prompted to work through the custom settings available for the Surpac format. If you have exported the block model in Surpac format previously, your previous settings will have been saved and so you can quickly click through the windows.

The options that can be set for block models exported in Surpac format are:

Choose which objects will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. You can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

You can use a Query filter to filter rows out of the data exported.

This is different from exporting filters as columns, as selected in the previous step.

The second option in this window is useful when all block results are consistently the same non-Normal status. Select from Error, Without value, Blank or Outside; all rows that consistently show the selected statuses will not be included in the exported file.

There are two encoding options for Numeric Precision:

  • The Double option provides precision of 15 to 17 significant decimal places.
  • The Single option provides precision of 6 to 9 significant decimal places.

To use one of these options, untick the box for Use default precision and select the required option.

If you are exporting the model in Surpac version 5.0, you can change the Display precision used for the Double and Single options.

When exporting block models in Surpac format, non-Normal category numeric status codes can be represented in the exported file using custom text sequences. Numeric status codes must be a number. Status codes cannot be used for Boolean values; non-Normal values are set to false.

The selection you make will depend on the target for your exported file. You can choose a character set and see what changes will be made.

Exporting Block Models in Geosoft Voxel Format

This export format is only available for regular block models.

Once you have selected the Geosoft Voxel option and entered a name and location for the file, click Save. You will then be prompted to choose which properties will be included in the exported file. The Available items list includes all evaluations made onto the model. You can also include calculations and filters, which will be exported as separate columns. The order of columns in the exported file will match the order shown in the project tree.

Once you’re satisfied with the settings chosen, click Export to save the file.