Copy/Convert Grid(s)

Use the Grid and Image > Utilities > Copy/Convert Grid(s) menu option (geogxnet.dll(Geosoft.GX.GridUtils.CopyConvertMultiGrids;Run)*) to copy or convert grids/images from/to other standard grid/image formats.

Copy/Convert Grid(s) dialog options

Input grid(s)	Select the input grid(s). The default format is the input grid format set in General Settings. Use the browse button to select a different grid or image format; see Application Notes for more details. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.IN
Output grid	Select the output grid file name. When multiple input grids or images are selected, this field will become inactive, and the output files will inherit the names of the input files. The default format for the output grid is set in General Settings; however, you can select a different grid or image format in the browse dialog. You can use this option very selectively, for instance, to convert band 2 of an ER Mapper grid to a Geosoft format grid. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.OUT
Output format	The default format is the Geosoft grid; however, you can select a different format from the drop down list. When a single input grid or image is specified, this field will become inactive: to specify a different output format, use the browse button beside the Output grid field to open the browse dialog and select the desired file type. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.OUT_FORMAT
Output file prefix	Specify the prefix that will appended to the file names. If left blank, the output files will inherit the names of the input files. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.OUT_PREFIX
Output folder	Select the output location where the files will be placed. By default, this points to the project folder; however, you can specify a different location. If the folder does not exist, you will be asked to confirm creating the folder. When the output folder field is left blank, the output grids always default to the project folder even if the grids reside in a different location. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.OUT_FOLDER
Display option	Use the drop-down list option "Display grid" if you want the generated grids to be displayed in the current project workspace as individual grid files. If the option "Do not display" is selected, the grids are added to the current project and listed in Project Explorer, but they will not be opened in the project workspace. The default option "Do not display" overrides the Advanced Settings attribute, Image Settings > Display Created Grids, when its value is set to "True". Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.DISPLAY_OPTION ["Do not display" (default), "Display grid"]
Overwrite existing files	Check this option to overwrite existing files. If the option is not checked, the copy/conversion is skipped for the files that already exist in the specified output folder. Script Parameter: GRIDCOPY.OVERWRITE

Application Notes

Converting Grids to Image Files

When converting data grids (.GRD, .ERS) to image files (JPEG, TIFF, or Geosoft Colour Grid) the result will lose the grid (Z value range) and will give an unpredictable ‘colour’ result. If you want to convert a data grid (.GRD, .ERS) to an image file, for example a GeoTiff, and retain the colouring of the original data grid, you should use the Map > Export option.

Most standard image formats, such as ERS and JPEG2000, do not natively support non-EPSG datums. As a result, when converting from native Geosoft grids to other standard image formats, only EPSG datums are properly translated; custom or local projections will be ignored in these instances.

Converting an ER Mapper Grid with Separate Bands

If the input grid is an ER Mapper file, you can type the file name followed by the file type and band number in the following format:

Gridname.ERS(ERM;band=1)        

Only one of the files can be in ER Mapper format. You cannot directly convert one ER Mapper file to another.

Converting Image Files to Grids

1, 8, and 16-bit raster GeoTIFF files are supported and converted to the Geosoft raster RGB format. See the table below for more information.

GOCAD Gsurf 32-bit format support

The Gocad Gsurf format supports many layers. However, the copy/convert option allows you to convert only one layer to the Geosoft grid format. To specify the layer of the Gocad file to import, append the qualifier PROP=layer_number to the input file name upon selecting the Gocad Gsuf 32-bit format and prior to running the conversion. If the layer is not specified, the first layer is converted.

• For example, the syntax for specifying the 2nd layer of the Gocad Gsurf file input.grs is: input.grs(GRS;PROP=2).

The Gocad Gsurf 32-bit format supports Point and Cell aligned registrations. On export, the Gocad image is cell centered by default. To specify a point centered (0) or explicitly specify a cell centered (1) registration, use the CELLS qualifier.

• For example, the syntax for specifying a point aligned Gocad Gsurf file named output is: output.grs(GRS;CELLS=0).

The imported data is automatically assigned a 3D orientation and will automatically orient itself in a 3D view.

Converting between Floating Point GeoTIFFs* and Geosoft Grids

• Geolocated floating point GeoTIFFs (GeoTIFF Floating Point (.tif) file type) can be converted to any of the supported grid formats.
  When converting from a GeoTIFF Floating Point to a Geosoft grid, the floating-point values are retained. You can then control how to render the Geosoft grid.
• The supported grid formats can be converted to both regular and cloud-optimized floating point GeoTIFFs by selecting the file type GeoTIFF Floating Point (.tif) or COG GeoTIFF Floating Point (.tif)
  When converting from a Geosoft grid to a GeoTIFF Floating Point, the assigned Photometric tag is set to grey scale, but the actual floating-point values are retained. As a result, if the output is viewed as a GeoTIFF, it will be rendered in grey scale.

*The floating point GeoTIFF format has been widely adopted as a standard. For a quick look at the two GeoTIFF format options see Raster and Floating Point GeoTIFFs: What is the difference?

GeoTIFFs (raster and floating point) – supported formats:

Byte size	Bit size	Type	Description	Notes
xx	1	Image	Black & white	Converted to tiff RGB for display
1	8	Image	Gray scale image	Converted to 8-bit tiff RGB for display
1	8	Image	Colour RGB/CMYK image	CMYK converted to tiff RGB for display
2	16	Image	Colour image	Converted (remapped) to 8-bit RGB for display
4	32	Floating Point	Magnitude	Converted to/from grid
4	32	Floating Point	Export to COG data	COG-supported conversion from grid (export)