Project management
Creating a project
An empty project is created using the following methods:
- Using keyboard combination: Ctrl + N.
- From the file menu, by clicking New.
- By clicking the symbol in the table below.
| Symbol | Action |
|---|---|
 |
Creates an empty project. |
Saving/loading projects
Saving options
- Saving using a specified file name is done through the file menu, select - Save as.
- Saving updates of a current working project, select - Save.
Loading an existing project
- An existing project in .cbf format is imported by clicking Open Project in the file menu.
- In progress importing operation is indicated by the loading symbol in the satus bar.
- Loading larger files can take longer time (> minute) depending on the machine.
File format
OptimalSlope project data is stored in a binary format (*.cbf).
Importing Stratighraphy
Importing 3D stratigraphies to the project:
- In the file menu, select Import Stratigraphy > required file format.
Importing Section
Sections generated using a 3rd party can be directly imported without requiring to generate then through our sclicing tool.
- In the file menu, select Import Section > required file format.
Importing Water Surface
Water surface can be imported and used to generate a water table boundary when making a section. It can be used as a reference boundary in order to draw the water table.
- In the file menu, Import Surface > Phreatic > required file format.
Importing Boundary Surface
A pit boundary surface can be imported and used to generate a trimmed version of section in order to reflect an existing pushback of an open pit mine.
- In the file menu, Import Surface > Boundary > required file format.
TIP
- It is advised to define names and colors of layers while generating model files. Otherwise, naming and coloring of model layers can be manually set in the OptimalSlope GUI.
Supported file formats:
| Format | Description | File extension |
|---|---|---|
| DXF | Autodesk drawing exchange format | .dxf |
| BREP | OpenCasCade native format | .brep |
| IGES | Older solid-based format | iges |
| STEP | Exchange format for engineering models | .step |
Exporting 2D/3D shapes
Selected shapes on the visualiser can be exported by clicking Export in the file menu.
Supported file formats:
| Format | Description | File extension |
|---|---|---|
| DXF | Autodesk drawing exchange format | .dxf |
| BREP | OpenCasCade native format | .brep |
| IGES | Older solid-based format | iges |
| STEP | Exchange format for engineering models | .step |
| STL | Stereolithography mesh | .stl |
| VRML | VRML Web 3D format | .vrml |
| IMAGE | Image format | .bmp |
Exporting cross-section data
Project can contain multiple cross-sections. Each cross-section can be considered as an individual simulation project, which contains required properties for the simulation.
Properties describing invidual slice and its layers can be exported as JSON format:
- Select a cross-section.
- Within a Property View panel, select Export option under tools section.