INTRODUCING DIPS

About DIPS

DIPS is a program designed for the interactive analysis of orientation based geological data.
The program is a tool kit capable of many different applications and is designed both for the
novice or occasional user, and for the accomplished user of stereographic projection who
wishes to utilize more advanced tools in the analysis of geological data.

DIPS allows the user to analyze and visualize structural data following the same techniques
used in manual stereonets. In addition, many computational features are available, such as
statistical contouring of orientation clustering, mean orientation calculation and qualitative
and quantitative feature attribute analysis.

DIPS has been designed for the analysis of features related to the engineering analysis of rock
structures, however, the free format of the DIPS data file permits the analysis of any
orientation based data.

Example Files

Various example files are contained in the EXAMPLES folder in your DIPS installation folder.
They indicate the wide range of problems which can be analyzed with DIPS, some of which
may not have been obvious without illustration.

NOTE: these sample data files are intended for use in training and education only. They should
not be used as data sets for research!!!

EXAMPLE.DIP
This useful example file contains only 40 data entries, and is a good starting point for
demonstrations of DIPS features. The file includes traverses, mixed orientation formats (using
traverses), oriented core data, quantity column, extra columns, and declination. This file is
used in Tutorial 1 in the DIPS User’s Guide.

EXAMPMIN.DIP
This file contains 195 data points and illustrates the minimum column and header
configuration for a DIPS data file – no traverses, orientation columns only, no extra columns or
quantity column. Use this as a guide for plotting orientations only.

EXAMPPIT.DIP
This file contains structural data from an open pit mine. It includes a Planar Traverse for bias
correction (weighted Contour Plot), and has Extra Columns for discontinuity spacing, length,
type, shape and surface. This file is used in Tutorial 2 in the DIPS User’
s Guide.

EXAMPROS.DIP
This file contains data from an underground mine haulage tunnel and stope access drifts.
There are five linear (tunnel) traverses and a total of 215 measurements. This file is ideal for
illustrating the use of the Rosette Plot in DIPS.

EXAMPCAV.DIP
This file contains 324 joint measurements (orientations only) measured in the backs (roofs) of
pilot excavations for a power cavern.
EXAMPFLD.DIP
This file contains 175 data points collected at a road cut. The data defines a series of joints and
bedding which have been folded.

EXAMPBHQ.DIP
This file contains 650 measurements from 2 oriented borehole cores. In addition to relative
borehole joint orientations, intact segment lengths and NGI JA and JR measurements are
given. This file is used in Tutorial 3 in the DIPS User’s Guide.

EXAMPSTR.DIP
This file contains principal stress data obtained from 20 CSIRO cells in an underground
research cavern. This file is meant to illustrate alternative uses for DIPS (other than joint data)
and to illustrate the variation in magnitude (use the Chart and Add Set Window options) and
direction of stress data.

EXAMCLIN.DIP
This file illustrates the use of the CLINORULE Traverse option in DIPS.

Acknowledgements

Rocscience acknowledges the invaluable contribution of Mark Diederichs to the program DIPS.
Without Mark’s vision and inspired efforts on the original DOS version of DIPS, under the
guidance of Evert Hoek, this version, DIPS (5.0) for Windows, would not exist.

Technical Support

To obtain technical support for DIPS or to obtain information about the rest of our rock
engineering programs, (EXAMINE-2D, EXAMINE-3D, PHASE2, EXAMINE-TAB, UNWEDGE,
SWEDGE, ROCFALL, ROCKDATA, SLIDE and CPILLAR) please contact:

Telephone: 1-416-698-8217
Fax: 1-416-698-0908
Email: software@rocscience.com
Web site: http://www.rocscience.com
Mail: Rocscience Inc.31 Balsam Ave.Toronto, OntarioCanadaM4E 3B5

Free updates for MINOR releases (i.e. bug fixes) of each program are available from our world-
wide web (WWW) site. Make sure you read the update policy before downloading the latest
version.
You might have to pay for an upgrade to the last MAJOR release (i.e. improved functionality) of
the software. Please check the web site prior to submitting a bug report. Your problem may
already have been fixed.

FILE

DIPS File Format

A DIPS file is an ASCII text file, readable by any ASCII text editor.

The DIPS file format has NOT CHANGED, in the conversion from DIPS (4.0) for DOS to DIPS (5.0)
for Windows. DIPS (5.0) for Windows will read ALL files created by previous versions of DIPS.
Users who need to know the formatting details of the DIPS file, can consult the "DIPS Data
File" chapter in the DOS DIPS manual, for full details. The complete DOS DIPS manual is
available for free download from the Rocscience website. Go to the DIPS download page and
download the Reference manual. In the zip file, you will find several PDF documents (portable
document format) containing the Reference manual. You will find the information pertaining
to the DIPS file format in the document part2a.pdf

Starting a New File

To begin creating a new DIPS file, select New from the toolbar or the File menu.

This will create a new Grid View with:

· The two mandatory Orientation Columns (this is the minimum DIPS file configuration) and
· 100 rows.

The default Global Orientation Format for a New file is DIP/DIPDIRECTION. You can
immediately begin entering data in the Orientation Columns if this is the correct format for
your data. However, in general, before you start entering data, you will need to set up your
DIPS file according to your requirements, as described below.

Job Control
After creating the new Grid View, the first thing you will generally need to do is configure the
Job Control parameters.

Global Orientation Format

Declination
Quantity Column
Project Title
Traverses

The default Global Orientation Format for a New file is DIP/DIPDIRECTION. If your data is
STRIKE/DIP or TREND/PLUNGE format, you will have to change this in the Job Control option.

Additional Columns
· If your file requires a Quantity Column, to record multiple identical data units in a single
measurement, this is added through the Job Control option.
· If you are recording data on Traverses, the Traverse Information is entered in the Traverses
dialog in the Setup menu (also available through the Job Control dialog). A Traverse
Column will automatically be added to the spreadsheet once you have defined your
Traverses.
· Any other information you wish to record in your DIPS file is entered in Extra Columns,
which are added with the Add Column option in the Edit menu.

Additional Rows
· If more than 100 rows are required, any number of additional rows can be appended to
the end of the spreadsheet with the Append Row(s) option in the Edit menu.
· Rows can be added or deleted anywhere in the spreadsheet with the Insert Row(s) and
Remove Row(s) options in the Edit menu.

Plotting Data
Data can be plotted immediately as it is being entered, if you wish.
1. For example, after creating the new Grid View, generate a Pole Plot.
2. Tile the views with the Tile Vertically option.
3. Start entering orientation data in the FIRST row of the Grid. As soon as the first data pair
has been entered, a pole will appear on the Pole Plot.
4. Data will be plotted as it is entered, however, note that data must be entered continuously
FROM THE FIRST ROW OF THE GRID. DIPS will only plot data up to the FIRST BLANK ROW
OF THE GRID. The last row of the file, for plotting purposes, is indicated by an ASTERISK ( *
) in the ROW ID buttons at the left of the spreadsheet.

NOTE THAT PLOTTING DATA AS IT IS BEING ENTERED IS NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDED

PROCEDURE, IT IS SIMPLY MENTIONED HERE AS A CAPABILITY OF THE DIPS PROGRAM. In most
cases, you will probably want to enter data in a maximized Grid View, and create plots after all
data has been entered.

Importing Data from Excel

Many DIPS users use the Microsoft Excel program for storing and organizing their data. They
then transfer this data into DIPS for plotting and analysis.

Currently, DIPS cannot directly read data from an Excel file. However, two suggested methods
of transferring data from Microsoft Excel into DIPS, are outlined below.

Import from Clipboard

The simplest way of transferring data from Excel into DIPS, is to use the Windows clipboard, to
copy and paste columns of data from Excel into DIPS. This can be done as follows:
1. In DIPS, select File->New to create a new DIPS file.
2. Select Setup->Job Control, to configure the main setup parameters defining your DIPS file.
This includes:
· Global Orientation Format
· Declination
· Quantity Column
· Traverses

See these topics for detailed information about each of the Job Control setup options.
3. In Excel, select all of the data that you would like to transfer to DIPS. Note:
· You should not select the row containing the column titles. Only the data underneath
the column titles should be selected. However, you may find it useful to select this
row, since it can then be used as a guide for naming the column titles in DIPS (see Step
5). It can then be deleted afterwards.
When the desired data has been selected in Excel, select Copy.
4. In DIPS, place the cursor at the desired position in the grid (for example, the Row 1 Column
1 grid cell), and select Paste. All the data selected in Excel should now appear in the DIPS
grid. Note:
· Any data columns AFTER the Orientation1, Orientation2, Quantity column (if present),
and Traverse column (if present), will be automatically created in DIPS, if they did not
previously exist.
5. If you selected the row containing the column titles (as suggested in Step 3 above), and
columns were automatically created (as mentioned in Step 4), then you can use this row as
a guide, to name the columns in the DIPS file:
· right-click the mouse, on the header button of a column, and select Edit Name from
the popup menu.
· Enter the required name. Repeat this procedure for each column, as necessary.
 · When all columns have the correct name, you must now DELETE the row of the file (in
DIPS) containing the column titles. To do this, you can right-click the mouse on the left-
most button of the row, and select Remove Row from the popup menu.
6. Your DIPS file should now be ready for plotting and analysis. Before you start working with
the file, it is a good idea to save the file.

NOTE: there is currently a maximum limit of 18 characters which can be entered in a DIPS data
column. Any entries in data columns which exceed 18 characters, will automatically be
truncated, when the data is pasted into DIPS.

Import from File

Although DIPS cannot directly read a Microsoft Excel file, it is possible to use the Save As
option in Excel, to save an Excel file in a format which can be read by DIPS. However, in order
to do this, you must understand the format of the DIPS data file. The header information,
which configures a DIPS file, must be included above the data columns, in your Excel file.

If this header information is included, then the following procedure can be used to create a
DIPS file from an Excel file:
1. Open your Excel file containing the correctly formatted DIPS information.
2. In Excel, select File >Save As >Save As Type >Formatted Text (space delimited) (*.prn)
3. This will save the file in a format which can be read by DIPS, however, the file name
extension must be changed. Change the *.prn filename extension, to *.dip. DIPS should
now be able to read the file.

NOTE: if DIPS cannot read the file, and you are receiving error messages, then use a text editor
to view the file, and check one of the following:
· The most common cause of incorrect formatting, is the misalignment of the data in the
columns, with the column titles in the column title row. The column titles define the
column widths, up to and including the semi-colon between each title. All data in each
column, must fall within the column widths, as delimited by the semi-colons after each
title. If this appears to be the problem, then, in Excel, you can re-adjust the length of the
column titles (for example, by adding spaces between the title and the semi-colon), and /
or increase the column widths in Excel. Then repeat steps 1 to 3 above, and see if the
problem has been fixed.
· If any required line of the header information in the DIPS file, is missing, or incorrectly
formatted, you will also receive error messages. Again, use a text editor to view the file,
and see if any information is missing or incorrect.

The format of the DIPS header information, can be seen by using a text editor to view any of
the EXAMPLE files provided with the DIPS program. In general, the required header
information consists of:
· TWO project title lines
· ONE line containing the Number of Traverses (use 0 if no traverses are defined)
· Traverse information lines, corresponding to the number of traverses (none, if Number of
Traverses = 0)
· ONE line containing the Global Orientation Format
· ONE line containing the Declination
· ONE line containing the QUANTITY / NO QUANTITY flag
· ONE line containing the Number of Extra Columns (use 0 if no Extra Columns are defined)

This is the header information which exists above the column title row, and data columns, in
all DIPS files. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION MUST BE PRESENT. For exact formatting details of the
header information and data columns, you may refer to the DIPS (for DOS) Reference manual,
available from the Rocscience website. Go to the DIPS download page and download the
Reference manual. In the zip file, you will find several PDF documents containing the
Reference manual. You will find the information pertaining to the DIPS file format in the
document part2a.pdf

Save File

The Save option in the toolbar or the File menu, is used to save your DIPS file. This will save all
of the data which you see in the Grid view, and also the information in the Job Control and
Traverse Information dialogs. A DIPS file has a .DIP filename extension.

Saving Sets / Planes / Tools

As of DIPS version 5.1, it is important to note that the Save option also saves Sets, Planes and
Tools, to a file with a .DWP filename extension. This works as follows:
· When you select Save, in addition to saving your DIPS (.DIP) file, any Sets, Planes and Tools
you have defined on the stereonet, will be saved to a file with a .DWP filename extension.
· The .DWP file will have the SAME FILENAME as the .DIP file. Whenever you open the .DIP
file at a later time, the corresponding .DWP file will be automatically opened, as long as
the two files have the same filename.
· NOTE: this capability of the Save option can be turned ON or OFF in the Preferences
dialog. If you DO NOT wish to automatically save a .DWP file along with the .DIP file, then
clear the appropriate checkbox in the Preferences dialog in the File menu.
· DWP files can be manually saved (with any desired filename) using the Save Planes / Tools
File option, and manually opened, using the Open Planes / Tools File option in the File
menu.

Save Processed File

The Save Processed option in the File menu allows the user to save a processed version of the
current DIPS file. To save a processed DIPS file:
1. Select Save Processed from the File menu. You will see a dialog allowing you to configure
how the file is written. Make your selections and select OK.
2. You can then save the file with a standard Save As dialog.

The processed file will have the following properties, according to your selections in the
Processed DIPS File dialog:

Orientation Format
The user can save the processed data in any one of the four Orientation Formats available in
DIPS (Trend / Plunge , Dip / DipDirection , Strike / DipRight , Strike / DipLeft). This will
determine the format of ALL data in the two Orientation Columns of the processed file.

Declination
The Declination in the processed file is ZERO. All of the data has been offset by the declination
(if any) recorded in the original file.

Traverses
There are NO active Traverses in the processed file. If the original file contained Traverse
information, this will be saved in the processed file in comment form only. The Traverse
Column will automatically be saved as an Extra Column in the processed file. To preserve bias
correction information in the processed file, select the "Multiply quantity column by Terzaghi
weighting" checkbox in the Processed DIPS File dialog (see below for details).

You may also save the Terzaghi weighting information in its own column, by selecting the
"Terzaghi weighting" checkbox. The Terzaghi weighting column will simply be an Extra Column
in the processed file.

Quantity Column
If Traverses were present in the original file, the bias correction information can be preserved
by selecting the "Multiply quantity column by Terzaghi weighting" checkbox in the Processed
DIPS File dialog. This will multiply the values in the Quantity Column by the weights of each
pole, so that UNWEIGHTED Contour and Rosette plots for the processed file will actually
reflect the WEIGHTED data concentrations. The Quantity Column title will be Quantity*W in
this case.

This is the only way to preserve the bias correction information in the processed file. NOTE: if a
Quantity Column was not present in the original file, it will automatically be created when you
use this option.

If the "Multiply quantity column by Terzaghi weighting" checkbox is selected, then you may
preserve the original Quantity Column by selecting the "Original quantity column" checkbox.
This will save the original Quantity Column as an Extra Column in the processed file.

Set Column
If Sets were defined in the original file, the Set Column can be saved in the processed file as an
Extra Column, by selecting the "Set ID" checkbox. This preserves the Set ID information ONLY.
All other Set information (ie. window limits, mean planes) is NOT saved in the processed file.

If you are saving the Set Column, a NEGATIVE Set ID can be used to identify "wrapped data" in
a given Set, by selecting the "Negative Set ID for wrapped data" checkbox. NOTE that the pole
orientation of data saved with a negative Set ID is the UNALTERED ORIENTATION!!! This option
is an aid for post-processing applications, and it is left to the user to convert the data. For
example, for mean orientation calculation outside of DIPS, the user must calculate the
orientation of the upper (negative) pole when the Set ID is negative (ie. plunge = – plunge,
trend = trend + 180).

Extra Columns
All Extra Columns of the original file are automatically saved in the processed file, and will
appear AFTER the optional Extra Columns described above.

Save Planes / Tools File

The Save Planes / Tools File option in the File menu allows the user to save:
· All ADDED planes (Add Plane option) in the current document
· All Set Windows and MEAN planes (Add Set Window option) in the current document
· All drawing Tools added with the options in the Tools menu (eg. Lines, Cones, Text etc).

The Sets / Planes / Tools will be saved to a file with a .DWP filename extension.

NOTE: prior to DIPS version 5.1, only Sets and Planes were saved in the .DWP file. Tools were
not saved. Also, there was no automatic save / open feature, .DWP files always had to be
saved manually and opened manually.
Manual Save of Sets / Planes / Tools
It is only necessary to use the Save Planes / Tools File option, if you wish to save the Sets /
Planes / Tools with a different filename from the corresponding DIPS file.
· For example: you may need to do this if you are performing more than one type of analysis
(eg. wedge sliding and planar sliding), using the same DIPS file. In that case, each analysis
may involve different combinations of tools / planes / sets, which will have to be saved in
separate .DWP files.

If a .DWP file has a different filename than the DIPS file, then you will have to use the Open
Planes / Tools File option to display the Sets / Planes / Tools on the stereonet.

Automatic Save of Sets / Planes / Tools

In most cases, it will NOT be necessary to use the Save Planes / Tools File option.
· As of DIPS version 5.1, whenever Sets, Planes or Tools are created, they are
AUTOMATICALLY SAVED along with the DIPS file, whenever you select the Save option to
save the DIPS file.
· When Sets / Planes / Tools are saved automatically, they are saved in a .DWP file with THE
SAME FILENAME as the corresponding DIPS file in which they were created.
· In this case, the Sets / Planes / Tools will automatically re-appear when you open the
corresponding DIPS file, which has the same filename as the .DWP file.

NOTE: the Automatic save feature for the .DWP file can be turned on or off in the Preferences
dialog in the File menu.

Importing .DWP files into SWEDGE or UNWEDGE

.DWP files can also be imported into the Rocscience programs:
· SWEDGE (Surface Wedge Stability) and
· UNWEDGE (Underground Wedge Stability)
This allows the user to import planes from DIPS for use as input data in SWEDGE or UNWEDGE.
See www.rocscience.com for information about SWEDGE and UNWEDGE.

Open Planes / Tools File

The Open Planes / Tools File option in the File menu allows the user to read in a DIPS .DWP
file.
A .DWP file may contain:
· ADDED planes (created with the Add Plane option)
· Set Windows and MEAN planes (created with the Add Set Window option)
· Drawing Tools added with the options in the Tools menu (eg. Lines, Cones, Text etc).

DWP files can be saved with the Save Planes / Tools File option, or they can be saved
automatically when the DIPS file is saved. When the DWP file is saved automatically, it is given
the same filename as the corresponding DIPS file. In this case, the DWP file will automatically
be opened when the corresponding DIPS file is opened.

It is only necessary to use the Open Planes / Tools File option if the DWP file has been saved
with a different file name from the DIPS file you are working with (or if the Automatic open
option for DWP files, has been turned OFF in the Preferences dialog).

NOTE: prior to DIPS version 5.1, only Sets and Planes were saved in the .DWP file. Tools were
not saved. Also, there was no automatic save / open feature, .DWP files always had to be
saved manually and opened manually.
When a .DWP file is read back into DIPS:
· Any ADDED planes in the .DWP file will be added to the current document, as if they had
been added with the Add Plane option.
· Any Set Windows in the .DWP file will be read in, and new Sets will be created, as if they
had been added with the Add Set Window option (ie. MEAN PLANES WILL BE CALCULATED,
BASED ON THE DATA IN THE CURRENT DOCUMENT WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE WINDOW
LIMITS.)
· Any drawing Tools in the DWP file will be displayed on the stereonet.

Delete Planes / Tools File

As discussed in the Save Planes / Tools File topic, DWP files can be automatically saved when
the DIPS file is saved (ie. when the Save option is selected).
· When a DWP file is automatically saved, it is given the same filename as the corresponding
DIPS file.
· When a DWP file has the same name as a DIPS file, the DWP file will automatically be
opened, whenever the DIPS file is opened.
· If you no longer need this DWP file, then you can use the Delete Planes / Tools File option,
as a shortcut to delete the file. This will only delete the DWP file which has the same name
as the current DIPS file.

NOTE: if you use the Delete Planes / Tools File option, this will NOT delete the Sets / Planes /
Tools which may be currently displayed on the stereonet. Only the DWP file will be deleted
(this means that the NEXT time you open the DIPS file, the information in the DWP file will not
appear on the stereonet, since it has been deleted).

If you want to delete Sets / Planes / Tools which are currently displayed on the stereonet, you
will have to use the delete options for each type of entity (eg. Delete All Planes, Delete All Sets,
and Delete Tools). Alternatively, you could close the DIPS file and open it again, after using the
Delete Planes / Tools File option.

Info Viewer

The Info Viewer option in the File menu provides a convenient summary of your DIPS file, in it
is own view.

The Info Viewer will always list:

· The Job Control and Traverse information.
· The Global Mean Vector orientation.

In addition:
· If you have created any planes with the Add Plane option, these will be listed.
· If you have created Sets with the Add Set Window option, a summary of all Set information
is provided in the Info Viewer, including mean planes, Set statistics and window limits.

The Info Viewer is also available in the toolbar.

Copy to Clipboard
The Info Viewer listing can be copied to the Windows clipboard, for pasting into a document or
report. The Copy option is available in the toolbar, the Edit menu, or by right-clicking on the
Info Viewer view.
Printing
The Info Viewer listing can also be sent to a printer, with the Print option in the File menu.

Exporting Images

Various options are available for exporting image files in DIPS.

Export Image File

The Export Image File option in the File menu allows the user to save the current Plot or Chart
view directly to one of the following image file formats:
· JPEG (*.jpg)
· Windows Bitmap (*.bmp)
· Windows Enhanced Metafile (*.emf)
· Windows Metafile (*.wmf)
· AutoCAD DXF (*.dxf) (note: dxf export only available on stereonet views, not chart views)

Copy to Clipboard
The current Plot or Chart view can also be copied to the Windows clipboard using the Copy or
Copy to Metafile options in the Edit menu. From the clipboard, images can be pasted directly
into word or image processing applications.
· The Copy option copies a bitmap file to the clipboard.
· The Copy to Metafile option copies a metafile to the clipboard. Metafiles can be pasted
directly into AutoCAD.
On Chart views, the Copy and Copy to Metafile options are also available as right-click options.

Black & White Images (Grayscale)

On Plot and Chart views, the Grayscale option will automatically convert the view to Grayscale,
suitable for black and white image requirements. This is very useful when sending images to a
black and white printer, or for capturing black and white image files.

Grayscale is available in the toolbar, the Setup menu, or the right-click menu on Plot and Chart
views. The Grayscale option works as a toggle and all previous colour settings of the current
view will be restored when Grayscale is toggled off.

Project Title
The Project Title that you entered in the Job Control dialog, can be displayed on stereonet or
rosette plots, by selecting the Title option from the right-click menu or the Setup menu.

Preferences

The Preferences option in the File menu allows you to select various program preferences for
DIPS. The following options are available.

Show Tabs for Multiple Windows

If this option is selected, tabs for selecting the views will appear at the bottom of the
application window, when multiple views are open. You may find this convenient for switching
views when the view size is maximized within the application window.

Windows XP Style Menus

If this option is selected, the menus in DIPS will be displayed using Windows XP style
formatting.
Automatically Save DWP File (Sets / Planes / Tools)
DWP files are used to save Sets / Planes / Tools. If this checkbox is selected, then a DWP file
will automatically be saved whenever you save the DIPS file. The DWP file will be given the
same name as the corresponding DIPS file, and will be automatically opened whenever the
corresponding DIPS file is opened. If you DO NOT want to automatically save DWP files, then
clear this checkbox. See the Save Planes / Tools File topic for more information.

Automatically Read DWP File (Sets / Planes / Tools)

DWP files are used to save Sets / Planes / Tools. If this checkbox is selected, and if a DWP file
has the same file name as a DIPS file, then the DWP file will automatically be read in and
opened when the corresponding DIPS file is opened. If you DO NOT want to automatically read
in DWP files, then clear this checkbox. See the Open Planes / Tools File topic for more
information.

Save Set Column as an Extra Column

If this checkbox is selected, and you have defined Sets on the stereonet, then the Set Column
will be saved as an Extra Column, when you use the Query Data or Rotate Data options to
create a new DIPS file. NOTE: only the Set ID numbers will be saved in the new file, and the
title of the column will be SETID (rather than Set), to indicate that it is no longer an active Set
column, but an Extra Column. Sets (as defined in DIPS) will NOT exist in the new file created
after using Query Data or Rotate Data. If this checkbox is NOT selected, then the Set ID
information will NOT be preserved after using Query Data or Rotate Data (ie. the SETID column
will NOT appear in the new file).

Read Set Column as an Extra Column

If a Set Column has been saved to a DIPS file as an "Extra Column" (see above), you may wish
to read the DIPS file without this Set Column appearing. For example, if you are also reading in
a DWP file with Set Windows, then it is possible that two (or more) Set columns will appear –
an "active" Set Column, created using the currently defined Set Windows, and one (or more)
"extra" Set Columns, which may have been created during previous file saving operations. The
Set ID numbers in the "extra" Set column(s) may or may not correspond to the current "active"
Set Column. If you do not wish to read these "extra" Set Columns from your DIPS files, then
clear this checkbox in the Preferences dialog. If you DO want to read these "extra" Set
Columns, then select this checkbox.

Automatically Open a Stereonet View

When you open a DIPS file, a Grid View of the data is always displayed. If this checkbox is
selected, then a Grid View AND a Stereonet view will automatically be displayed when you
open a DIPS file. You may choose to open either a Pole Plot or a Contour Plot. If this checkbox
is NOT selected, then only the Grid View will appear when you open a DIPS file.

EDIT

Overview of the DIPS Grid

It is assumed that the user is familiar with standard spreadsheet operations, and these will not
be described here. However, a few noteworthy features of the DIPS Grid are described below:

Grid View
The DIPS data entry grid or spreadsheet is referred to as the Grid View. Only one Grid View
may be displayed per document. If the Grid View has been closed (and other views of the
document are still open), you can generate a new Grid View with the New Grid View option in
the Window menu.

Last Row Marker

The last valid row of the file is indicated by an ASTERISK ( * ) in the ROW ID buttons at the left
of the spreadsheet.

A valid row is a row which contains a valid orientation data pair in the two Orientation
Columns. If non-numeric, or blank data is encountered in the Orientation Columns, DIPS will
ignore ALL rows in the spreadsheet including and AFTER the first such row, for the purposes of
plotting, etc. Therefore you MAY NOT leave blanks or write comments in the Orientation
Columns, all rows must contain valid numeric orientation data pairs, in order for data to be
plotted. In this way, DIPS makes no assumptions about the data plotted (ie. a blank is NOT
interpreted as equal to zero, etc).

Data Columns
The DIPS data columns are described in detail in the following topics:
Overview of Data Columns
Orientation Columns
Quantity Column
Traverse Column
Set Column
Extra Columns

Column Titles
· The titles of the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse and Set Columns are displayed in Title
Case.
· The titles of Extra Columns are displayed in UPPERCASE.
· However, the Quantity, Traverse and Set columns may appear in UPPERCASE, if they have
been saved as Extra Columns using the Save Processed File or Rotate Data options.

Add Column

The Add Column option is used to add Extra Columns to the DIPS spreadsheet.

Extra Columns can only be added AFTER the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse and Set columns;
therefore the Add Column option is only enabled when:
1. The current highlighted grid cell is in an existing Extra Column, OR
2. The current highlighted grid cell is in the LAST of the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse or Set
columns, as applicable.

NOTE:
· Add Column is also available by right-clicking on the header of an existing Extra Column, or
the header of the LAST of the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse or Set columns.
· Add Column adds columns to the RIGHT of the current column.
· Extra Columns are removed with the Remove Column option.

Remove Column

The Remove Column option is used to remove Extra Columns from the spreadsheet.
To remove Extra Columns:
1. Click the mouse anywhere in the Extra Column that you wish to remove.
2. Select Remove Column from the Edit menu or the toolbar.
3. A warning dialog will appear. Select OK to remove the column.

To remove multiple Extra Columns at once, simply select any block of cells within the columns
to be deleted, and select Remove Column.

NOTE:
· The Remove Column option is ONLY enabled when the current highlighted grid cell(s) are
entirely within Extra Columns.
· Remove Column CANNOT be used to delete the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse or Set
columns.
· Remove Column is also available by right-clicking on the header of any Extra Column.

Edit Column Name

Edit Column Name can be used to re-name the header of any Extra Column.
To re-name Extra Columns:
1. Click the mouse in the Extra Column that you want to re-name.
2. Select Edit Column Name from the Edit menu.
3. A dialog will appear. Enter the new name, and select OK.

NOTE:
· Edit Column Name is also available by right-clicking on the header of any Extra Column.
· Edit Column Name CANNOT be used to re-name the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse or Set
columns. Furthermore, the names "Quantity", "Traverse" and "Set" are reserved, and may
NOT be used as the name of any Extra Column.

SETUP

Job Control

Job Control

The Job Control dialog allows the user to configure the following settings defining your DIPS
file:
Project Title
Global Orientation Format
Declination
Quantity Column
Traverses

In most cases you will need to use the Job Control option before you begin entering data for a
new file.
Note that the Traverses option in the Job Control dialog is also available directly in the Setup
menu.

Project Title

The Project Title in the Job Control dialog allows the user to enter two lines describing the file.
· The Project Title can be displayed on stereonet or rosette plots, by selecting Title from the
right-click menu or the Setup menu. This is useful for screen captures.
· The Project Title also appears in the Info Viewer listing.
If no titles are entered by the user, default titles will be written to the DIPS file, when the file is
saved.

Global Orientation Format

The Global Orientation Format in the Job Control dialog determines how DIPS will interpret
the two orientation columns in the data file (ie. the first two mandatory columns of your file).
There are four possible choices:

DIP/DIPDIRECTION 00;000 (of a planar feature)

STRIKE/DIPR 000;00 (right hand rule)
STRIKE/DIPL 000;00 (left hand rule)
TREND/PLUNGE 000;00 (use this for linear measurements)

The Global Orientation Format determines the format of all data units in the file, with the
following important exceptions:
1. If the Traverse Orientation Format has been used to indicate a different orientation format
for a given Traverse, OR
2. If the data is assigned to a Traverse which is a Borehole.

NOTE:
· For STRIKE and DIP, the "handedness" (right hand rule or left hand rule) can be interpreted
as follows: hold the specified hand flat, with the palm down and the thumb extended at 90
degrees to your fingers. When your fingers point down dip, your thumb will indicate the
direction of strike.
· Changing the Global Orientation Format AFTER data has been entered in the spreadsheet,
will NOT convert the data in the orientation columns. If you wish to save data in a different
orientation format, use the Save Processed file option.

Declination

The Declination in the Job Control dialog can be used for azimuth correction. This is typically
used to correct for magnetic declination, but can be used to adjust to grid north.

If you have already adjusted your measurements with your compass, then leave the default
value of 0 (zero) declination, since additional correction is not required.

NOTE: The declination is ADDED to all azimuth values, so use:

· a POSITIVE value to correct for EAST declination
· a NEGATIVE value to correct for WEST declination

eg. a Declination of –7 indicates a declination of 7 degrees WEST

Declination for Borehole Traverse Type

If you are using Borehole Traverses, and if borehole trends (azimuths) are taken from grid
north, you must use ZERO Declination. The Declination, if non-zero, will be applied to the
borehole trends (azimuths). This is the Orient 3 value in the Traverse Information dialog.

Declination for Clinorule Traverse Type

If you are using Clinorule Traverses, and if clinorule drift orientations (reference lines) are
taken from grid north, you must use ZERO Declination.
Traverses

Overview of Traverses
Traverses are used for the following purposes in DIPS:
· To group data units according to the traverses on which the data was collected (eg. linear
scan lines, planar traverses, borehole traverses), using the Traverse ID number.
· To weight the data to correct for measurement bias. Weighting is used when the Terzaghi
Weighting option is applied to contour and rosette plots. It is also used in the calculation of
weighted mean vectors, when Sets are created.
· Traverses can also be used to combine data with different orientation formats (eg. dip /
dipdirection and strike / dip data), within the same DIPS data file, using the Traverse
Orientation Format option.

To enter traverse information, select Traverses in the Setup menu, and enter data in the
Traverse Information dialog. See the following topics for details.
Traverse Information Dialog
Traverse ID
Traverse Orientation Format
Traverse Type
Traverse Orientation
Traverse Comments
Traverse Column

Traverse Information Dialog

To define a traverse, select the Add button in the Traverse Information dialog, and enter the
information defining the traverse.
Traverse ID
Traverse Orientation Format
Traverse Type
Traverse Orientation
Traverse Comments

To delete a traverse:
· Highlight the traverse(s) that you wish to delete, by clicking on the row ID buttons at the
left of the dialog
· Select the Delete button

Traverse ID

The Traverse ID number must be an integer (greater than 0).

The Traverse ID number is used to associate data with each traverse in the Traverse Column.

NOTE: when you initially Add traverses in the Traverse Information dialog, the Traverse ID
numbers are automatically sequentially numbered (eg. 1, 2 , 3 …). However, you may enter any
value for a Traverse ID number, as long as the ID is an INTEGER greater than zero. Also, each
Traverse ID number must be unique, you cannot use the same ID for different Traverses.

Traverse Orientation Format

By default, the orientation format of the data recorded on each traverse is the same as the
Global Orientation Format.
However, the Traverse Orientation Format can be used to specify a different orientation
format for any traverse. This is useful when combining data from different sources or when
combining measurements of LINEAR features with measurements of PLANAR structures. Four
different Traverse Orientation Formats may be used:

DIP/DIPDIRECTION
STRIKE/DIPR (right hand rule)
STRIKE/DIPL (left hand rule)
TREND/PLUNGE (use this for linear measurements)

NOTE: the Traverse Orientation Format is not applicable if the Traverse Type is BOREHOLE – it
is only relevant for LINEAR, PLANAR or CLINORULE traverse types.

Traverse Type

Four different Traverse Types can be used in DIPS:

LINEAR (Scanline or tunnel wall mapping)
PLANAR (2-D surface / wall mapping)
BOREHOLE (Oriented core)
CLINORULE (Clinorule measurements)

Linear Traverse Orientation

If the Traverse Type is LINEAR:

For a LINEAR traverse, the two orientation values defining the traverse (Orient 1 and Orient 2
in the Traverse Information dialog) ALWAYS correspond to the Trend and Plunge of the LINEAR
traverse, so will be of the format:

000; 00 (TREND / PLUNGE of the LINEAR traverse)

NOTE!!! – this is the case even if the Traverse Orientation Format or the Global Orientation
Format specifies a plane vector format (eg. DIP/DIPDIRECTION or STRIKE/DIP) for the
orientation data recorded on the LINEAR traverse. The LINEAR traverse itself is ALWAYS
defined by its Trend and Plunge.

Planar Traverse Orientation

If the Traverse Type is PLANAR, then the Orient 1 / Orient 2 values in the Traverse Information
dialog are defined as follows:

The Plane in a PLANAR traverse is described by two orientation values, presented in the form
which corresponds to the Traverse Orientation Format. The appropriate forms for Orient 1 /
Orient 2 are:

00; 000 (DIP/DIPDIRECTION)

000; 00 (STRIKE/DIPR or STRIKE/DIPL)
000; 00 (TREND/PLUNGE of normal to the plane)

Borehole Traverse

If the Traverse Type is BOREHOLE:

If the mapping has been conducted on core recovered from a BOREHOLE, then THREE
orientations are required in the Traverse Information dialog to define the borehole traverse:

000; 000; 000 (Orient 1 / Orient 2 / Orient 3)

VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Also see the borehole data topic for ESSENTIAL INFORMATION concerning the orientation data
pairs alpha and beta for discontinuities logged on a borehole traverse.

ORIENTATION 1
The angle from the top of core to the reference line (measured clockwise looking in the down
core direction). Use 0 if the borehole is vertical.

ORIENTATION 2
The inclination of the borehole axis from the zenith. Use 0 for a borehole oriented vertically
upwards, and 180 if the borehole is oriented vertically downwards.

ORIENTATION 3
The azimuth of the borehole measured from true north. For a vertical borehole, use the
clockwise angle from true north to the reference line, looking along the direction of borehole
advance.
Clinorule Traverse

Mapping in magnetic orebodies (sulphides, disseminated base metals) is normally impossible

using a magnetic compass. Difficulties may also arise where rockbolts and screen are present
as ground support in underground excavations.

In these environments, it is necessary to measure joint orientations using a device called the
CLINORULE.

Clinorule Description
This is a simple device (normally used in carpentry or by underground drillers) consisting of
two arms connected at one end by a pivot hinge. On this hinge, there is an angle measure
(ranging from 0 to 180 or from 0 to 360 degrees) to record the angle formed by the two hinged
arms. It is handy, as well, if one of the arms is fitted with a bubble level along its EDGE. This is
to allow accurate measurement of DIP.

Data Measurement
DIP is measured by holding the arm with the level in a horizontal position such that the other
arm moves in a vertical plane about the hinge. Move the second arm until it is parallel with the
DIP (line of maximum slope) in the joint plane. Read off the (acute) angle as the DIP.

The azimuth direction is taken as a relative angle with respect to a REFERENCE LINE. This line is
usually the axis of a drift of tunnel but can be any reference direction which is known (accurate
measure of this reference azimuth should be taken from level plans).

For example, if the CLINORULE is used to measure relative STRIKE, hold one arm of the
clinorule so that it is parallel to the REFERENCE LINE. Treat this as local "NORTH". Move the
other arm (in a horizontal plane) so that it is parallel to the strike line (line in the plane which is
horizontal) obeying the RIGHT or LEFT HAND RULE as appropriate (be consistent). Read this
angle as the apparent STRIKE.

Traverse Orientation
· The azimuth of the REFERENCE LINE is input in the Traverse Information dialog as the
ORIENTATION 1 of the traverse.
· This value is ADDED to the DIPDIRECTION or STRIKE data measured on the traverse and
recorded in the Orientation Columns .
· The CLINORULE traverse acts as a LINEAR traverse for bias correction.

Declination
Ensure that the Declination in the Job Control dialog is ZERO if clinorule drift orientations are
taken from grid north.

Examples
An example traverse information line (in the DIPS data file) for a horizontal clinorule reference
line with an azimuth of 250 degrees is shown below:

1;CLINORULE;250;00;Main Access Drift

An example DIPS file which uses the CLINORULE Traverse Type is the EXAMCLIN.DIP file, which
you should find in the Examples folder in your DIPS installation folder.

Traverse Comments

A comment can be used to describe each traverse. This is useful to help in identifying different
traverses.

Compute

Compute

The Compute option in the toolbar or the Setup menu, is ONLY ENABLED if Auto-Compute is
toggled OFF.

This gives the user manual control over when the Compute is performed in DIPS.

This may be useful if the user is working with very large files, for example, and wishes to make
changes to the Grid without automatically updating any plot views which may be open.
Updating plot views may take some time, depending on how many plot views are open, what
type of plots are open (Contour Plots take the longest time to generate), the size of the file,
etc.

Auto Compute

By default, the Auto-Compute option is always ON when a file is opened.

When Auto-Compute is ON, this means that any changes to the Grid (ie. the DIPS
spreadsheet), will immediately be reflected on all relevant views of the current document (eg.
Stereonet Plots, Charts, Info Viewer).

This allows the user to modify the data in the Grid, and automatically see the latest updated
results on all views.

If the user wishes to have control over the Compute, then Auto-Compute may be toggled OFF
in the Setup menu. This will enable the Compute option, allowing the user to compute at any
time.

Data Columns

Overview of Data Columns

The DIPS data columns are summarized below, in order of appearance in the spreadsheet. For
detailed information, see the individual topics.

Only the two orientation columns are mandatory, all other columns are optional, and may be
included as required by the user.

Orientation Columns
These are always the first two columns in the spreadsheet, and are required for all DIPS files.

Quantity Column (toggled on/off in Job Control)

The Quantity Column allows the user to record the number of identical features represented
by a particular measurement.

Traverse Column (will exist if Traverses are defined)

The Traverse Column allows the user to assign the data units to the traverse from which they
were measured, using a Traverse ID.

Set Column (will exist if Sets are created)

The Set Column records the Set ID of data belonging to sets.

Extra Columns (created with Add Column option)

Any data columns after the above columns are considered "Extra Columns", and can be used
to store any other quantitative or qualitative data that the user wishes to record. Extra
Columns are added / removed with the options in the Edit menu.

Orientation Columns

The first two columns of the DIPS spreadsheet are for entering the raw orientation data pairs
that you wish to analyze. The two Orientation Columns are present in all DIPS files, and
represent the minimum data file configuration, ie:
· YOU MAY NOT DELETE, MOVE OR RENAME THE ORIENTATION COLUMNS!!!

The format of the orientation pairs in the Orientation Columns is determined by the Global
Orientation Format in the Job Control dialog. For example:

· if the Global Orientation Format is STRIKE/DIPR, then DIPS will interpret the numbers
in the first orientation column as STRIKE (right hand rule) and the numbers in the second
orientation column as DIP.

There are two important exceptions to this, however:

1) If data has been collected on Traverses, then the Traverse Orientation Format in the
Traverse dialog can be used to specify a different orientation format for any given traverse.
This allows the user to combine mixed data formats in the same file.

2) If data has been recorded from borehole core logging, then the user must specify the
Traverse Type as BOREHOLE. In this case, the data pairs in the Orientation Columns will
represent alpha and beta angles from the borehole core logging. See the Borehole Orientation
Data Pairs topic for complete details.
Valid Orientation Data Input

· All values are in degrees.

· Only INTEGER data is allowed in the Orientation Columns. Decimal places are ignored
by DIPS, and will not be saved when you save the file.

· NEGATIVE ORIENTATION VALUES – Negative values ARE allowed in the Orientation

Columns. Where negative values, or values which exceed 90 or 360 degrees (for dip and dip
direction, for example) are present, an attempt will be made to convert to a corresponding
orientation in the lower hemisphere. For example, if dip/dip direction is input as –35 400, DIPS
will convert this measurement to 35 220. To ensure correct plotting, it is best to record all
measurements so that they fall in the lower hemisphere and are within standard limits.

· If non-numeric, or blank data is encountered in the Orientation Columns, DIPS will

ignore ALL rows in the spreadsheet including and AFTER the first such row, for the purposes of
plotting, etc. Therefore you MAY NOT leave blanks or write comments in the Orientation
Columns, all rows must contain valid numeric orientation data pairs, in order for data to be
plotted. In this way, DIPS makes no assumptions about the data plotted (ie. a blank is NOT
interpreted as equal to zero, etc).

· The last row of the file, for plotting purposes (see previous paragraph), is indicated by
an ASTERISK ( * ) in the ROW ID buttons at the left of the spreadsheet.

Orientation Column Titles

The titles of the two Orientation Columns will correspond to the Global Orientation Format
except when:

1) Mixed data formats are used (at least one Traverse has a Traverse Orientation Format
which is different from the Global Orientation Format), or

2) Borehole traverses have been used.

In these cases, the titles of the two Orientation Columns will simply be Orient 1 and Orient 2,
to reflect the fact that mixed data formats are present in the Orientation Columns.

Borehole Data
If orientation data was measured from the logging of core from a borehole, then the Traverse
Type will be defined as BOREHOLE. For borehole traverses, the Orientation Columns must then
contain the measurements of the "Alpha" and "Beta" angles, as defined below:

Alpha (entered in Orientation Column 1)

The minimum angle between the maximum dip vector of the plane of the discontinuity, and
the core axis.

Beta (entered in Orientation Column 2)

The clockwise angle from the reference line to the direction of the maximum dip vector,
looking along the direction of borehole advance.
See the figures below for illustration.

****************************************************************
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!
Also see the Borehole Traverse Orientation topic for ESSENTIAL INFORMATION concerning the
orientation data required (orientations 1, 2 and 3) to set up a borehole logging traverse.
****************************************************************

If your data set was entirely recorded from borehole core logging, you will have to specify a
traverse for each borehole, in the Traverse Information dialog, and set up the data accordingly.

ORIENTATION PARAMETERS FOR BOREHOLE DATA

DEFINITION OF ALPHA ANGLE

DEFINITION OF BETA ANGLE

Quantity Column
If you are measuring a large number of features, you may wish to record single data entries
which refer to several identical features having the same orientation. For this purpose, you
may include a Quantity Column in your DIPS file, by selecting the Quantity Column checkbox in
the Job Control dialog.
The Quantity Column allows the user to enter values corresponding to the number of identical
features represented by a particular measurement. The Quantity Column values are used in
the generation of scatter , contour and rosette plots in DIPS, and also in mean vector
calculations for sets.

Quantity Column Values

· For convenience, the values in the Quantity Column are initially set to 1 when the
column is created. The user can then enter higher values as necessary (eg. 2, 3, 4…)

· Although the values in the Quantity Column are generally 1 or greater, the value may
be set to zero if you wish to plot a feature on a pole plot, but NOT use it in the computation of
the scatter or contour plots.

· It is possible for the Quantity Column to contain non-integer values (for example, when
a processed data file is saved, the user has the option of multiplying the values in the Quantity
Column by the Terzaghi Weighting, in order to preserve the bias correction information in the
processed file).

Quantity Column Position

The position of the Quantity Column, if it exists, is always the THIRD column in the spreadsheet
(ie. the first column AFTER the two orientation columns).

Adding / Removing the Quantity Column

· The Quantity Column can only be added or removed from the spreadsheet through the
Job Control dialog.

· The Add Column / Remove Column options in the Edit menu CANNOT be used to
create or remove the Quantity Column.

Traverse Column
A Traverse Column is automatically added to the spreadsheet, if at least one Traverse has been
defined in the Traverse Information dialog.

The Traverse Column is used to assign the data units to the traverse from which they were
measured, by entering the appropriate Traverse ID number. This allows the user to identify
data from different traverses, and also to apply the correct Terzaghi Weighting to the data.

Traverse Column Values

The numbers in the Traverse Column should normally correspond to the Traverse ID numbers
in the Traverse Information dialog.

However, DIPS will allow Traverse Column entries which are blank, or do NOT correspond to
defined Traverse ID numbers in the Traverse Information dialog. In this case, when the
Terzaghi Weighting is applied to contour or rosette plots, these data units will be assigned a
weighting of ONE (1.000), since no traverse orientation information is available.

Traverse Column Position

The Traverse Column will always be either the THIRD or the FOURTH column in the
spreadsheet, depending on whether or not a Quantity Column exists.
· If the Quantity Column does NOT exist, then the Traverse Column will be the THIRD
column, immediately following the Orientation Columns.

· If the Quantity Column exists, then the Traverse Column will be the FOURTH column,
immediately after the Quantity Column.

Adding / Removing the Traverse Column

· The Traverse Column is automatically added if at least one Traverse is defined in the
Traverse Information dialog.

· It is automatically removed if ALL traverses are deleted in the Traverse Information

dialog.

· The Traverse Column CANNOT be added / removed with the Add Column / Remove
Column options.

Set Column
A Set Column is automatically added to the spreadsheet when the first Set is created by the
user with the Add Set Window option.

Set Column Values

The Set Column records the Set ID number of data belonging to Sets. The Set ID is always an
integer, and is defined by the user in the Add Set Window dialog, when a Set is created.

NOTE – the Set Column CANNOT be directly edited by the user. The creation of Sets is based
on the graphic selection of data with the Add Set Window option. This is the only method
currently allowed in DIPS for the creation of Sets.

Set Column Position

The Set Column is always added AFTER the Orientation, Quantity and Traverse Columns, and
BEFORE any Extra Columns. Therefore the Set Column may be either the third, fourth or fifth
column in the spreadsheet, depending on whether Quantity and / or Traverse columns exist.

Adding / Removing the Set Column

· The Set Column is automatically added as soon as the first Set has been created.

· The Set Column is automatically removed only if ALL Sets are deleted.

· The Add Column / Remove Column options CANNOT be used to create or remove the
Set Column.

Saving the Set Column

There are two ways of saving Set information in DIPS:

1. To re-create the Set Windows and mean plane calculations, you must save the Set
Windows to a DWP file. If you save the Set Windows to a DWP file, then the Set Windows,
mean planes and Set Column will be re-created each time you open the DWP file for a DIPS
file. This is the recommended, and only way to preserve ALL Set information for a DIPS file. See
the Save Planes / Tools File topic for more information.
2. You may also save the Set Column as an Extra Column. In this case, only the Set ID
numbers in the Set Column are preserved. Whenever a DIPS file is saved or created, through
ANY of the following options:

· Save

· Save As

· Save Processed

· Rotate Data

· Query Data

the active Set Column can be saved as an Extra Column. After saving, the title of the column
will be "SETID" ( rather than "Set" ), to indicate that it is an Extra Column, and is no longer an
active Set Column. Furthermore, NOTE:

· For the Query Data and Rotate Data options, the Set Column will ONLY be saved if the
"Save Set Column as an Extra Column" checkbox is selected in the Preferences dialog. If this
checkbox is NOT selected, then the Set ID column will NOT be saved to the new file which is
created after using Query Data or Rotate Data.

· If a Set Column has been saved as an Extra Column in a DIPS file, it will only be read
back into DIPS, if the "Read Set Column as an Extra Column" checkbox is selected in the
Preferences dialog. If this checkbox is NOT selected, then DIPS will ignore any Set Columns
which have been saved as Extra Columns in a DIPS file.

· Versions of DIPS prior to version 5.1, used the UPPERCASE column title "SET", when
the Set Column was saved as an Extra Column. As of version 5.1, the title "SETID" is now used
to distinguish a Set Column which has been saved as an Extra Column.

Multiple Set Columns

Finally, a word of caution – if you are saving the Set Column as an Extra Column, as described
above, it is possible that you can create DIPS files with multiple Set columns. NOTE:

· Your DIPS file will NEVER contain more than one active Set Column (corresponding to
the Set Windows currently defined on the stereonet).

· However, your DIPS file may contain one (or more) "Extra" Set Columns (depending on
how many times you have re-saved a DIPS file after creating Sets).

If you see multiple Set columns in a DIPS file, just remember that all Set Columns which have
an UPPERCASE TITLE – "SET" or "SETID" – have been saved as Extra Columns, and are no longer
active Set columns. The active Set Column, corresponding to your currently defined Set
Windows on the stereonet, will always have the title "Set", and will always be positioned to
the left of any "extra" Set Columns.

To avoid confusion, you may wish to delete any "extra" Set Columns. Or make sure that the
"Read Set Column as an Extra Column" checkbox is cleared, in the Preferences dialog, so that
DIPS ignores these columns when reading the file.
Extra Columns
Any columns in the spreadsheet AFTER the Orientation, Quantity, Traverse, and Set columns,
are referred to as Extra Columns, and can be used to store any other quantitative or qualitative
data that the user wishes to record.

Adding / Removing Extra Columns

· Extra Columns are added with the Add Column option in the Edit menu.

· Extra Columns are deleted with the Remove Column option.

Extra Column Data

The data in Extra Columns may be either:

· Quantitative (numeric measurements) or

· Qualitative (alphanumeric labels or mnemonics)

The data in a single column should be of a consistent type (ie. Quantitative or Qualitative), to
ensure correct interpretation of data when using the Symbolic Pole Plot, Chart and Query Data
options.

Number of Extra Columns

In DIPS 5.0 for Windows, any number of Extra Columns may be added to the spreadsheet.
However, note that in DIPS 4.0 for DOS, there is a limit of 35 Extra Columns in a DIPS file. If
backwards compatibility is necessary, the user should be aware of this restriction.

Extra Column Titles

Extra Column Titles are displayed in UPPERCASE, to help differentiate them from the
Orientation, Quantity, Traverse and Set columns.

However, the Quantity, Traverse and Set columns may appear in UPPERCASE, if they have
been saved as Extra Columns while using the Save Processed File or Rotate Data options. The
Set Column is ALWAYS saved as an Extra Column whenever a file is saved, since all other Set
information (ie. window limits, mean planes) is NOT saved in the main DIPS .dip files.

Options

Display Options
The Display Options dialog allows the user to customize Colours and Styles on a per view basis.

Favourite Display Options can be saved for later use with Auto Options.

Display Options is available in the Setup menu, and also in the right-click menu on all stereonet
or rosette plots.

Colours
Stereonet – the background colour INSIDE the stereonet perimeter. Applies to Pole, Scatter
and Rosette Plots, and Contour Plots only if the Contour mode is Lines.

Background – the background colour OUTSIDE the stereonet perimeter.

Grid Outer – the colour of the stereonet perimeter circle and exterior tick marks.
Grid Inner – the colour of the stereonet center cross, cross-hair grid, and rosette circles.
Overlay – the colour of the stereonet grid overlay applied with the Stereonet Overlay option.
Legend Text – the colour of the text in the Legend, and also the NSEW direction letters.

Set Windows – the colour of the Set Windows created with the Add Set Window option.
Confidence – the colour of Confidence Cones displayed with the Edit Sets dialog.
Variability – the colour of Variability Cones displayed with the Edit Sets dialog.
Lines – the colour of Lines added with the Add Line option.
Cones – the colour of Cones added with the Add Cone option.
Pitch Grid – the colour of Pitch Grids added with the Add Pitch Grid option.

Arrows – the colour of arrows added with the Add Arrow option.
Added Text – the colour of text added with the Add Text option.
Rosette Scale – the colour of the scale numbers on a Rosette Plot.
Rosette Wedge – the colour of the Rosette wedges.
Global Mean – the colour of the Global Mean Vector display.

NOTE:
The colour of ADDED planes (Add Plane option) and MEAN planes (Add Set Window option) is
customized in the Edit Planes and Edit Sets dialogs, and NOT the Display Options dialog.

Styles
Grid Style – the stereonet perimeter circle, exterior tick marks, center cross, cross-hairs, and
NSEW letters, can all be displayed or hidden with the check boxes provided.

NOTE that the "cross-hair" grid can also be toggled on/off with the button provided in the
toolbar.

Line Style – Lines added with the Add Line option can be displayed in 3 different ways – Full
(full line, extending past the perimeter), Middle (full line terminating at the perimeter), or Ends
(two collinear line segments plotted outside the perimeter).

Auto Options
Auto Options can be used to save the following DIPS display options in a DIPS "options" file
(.DIO file name extension):

· All Display Options

· All Stereonet Options

· All Contour Options (except the Contour Range)

Auto Options allows the user to save their favourite and most frequently used display options,
which can be recalled at a later time on any given view, or saved as the program defaults. See
below for details.

· NOTE that the options for the ACTIVE VIEW are saved. Make sure you are on the
correct view when you save options.
· ALSO NOTE that customized Symbols (Symbolic Pole Plot and Scatter Plot) are saved
with the Edit Symbols dialog. Symbols are NOT saved in the Auto Options .DIO files!!

Save Current Options

Use Save Current Options to save an options file with any user-defined name. When you save
an options file (.DIO file extension), the filename will appear in the list at the bottom of the
Auto Options sub-menu. These files can be read back in at a later time, and applied to the
current view, by selecting from the list of Auto Options files you have saved.

NOTE –

· If you name an options file STARTUP.DIO, then the options in this file WILL ALWAYS BE
READ IN WHEN DIPS IS STARTED, AND WILL BE THE DEFAULT OPTIONS ON ALL VIEWS.

· You can use the Save As Startup option (see below) as a shortcut to save a
STARTUP.DIO file without having to use the Save As dialog.

· You can use Restore Default Options to restore the original program defaults (see
below), to the current view, or the entire program.

Save As Startup
The Save As Startup option is a shortcut for saving a STARTUP.DIO file (see above).

Restore Default Options

The original program defaults can be restored by using the Restore Default Options. When you
select Restore Default Options, you will first see a message dialog:

· If you select NO, then the program defaults will only be restored ON THE CURRENT
VIEW.

· If you select YES, then the STARTUP.DIO file will be overwritten with the original
program defaults. This will restore the defaults on the CURRENT VIEW and all NEW views. It
will NOT however, restore the defaults on any other views of the current document which may
have been open.

· Program defaults can also be restored by deleting the STARTUP.DIO file.

Applying Auto Options

To apply the Auto Options you have saved, simply select a filename from the list of saved .DIO
files in the Auto Options sub-menu, and the options in the selected file will be applied TO THE
CURRENT VIEW. All NEW views will always have the options saved in the STARTUP.DIO file.

Grayscale
On Plot and Chart views, the Grayscale option will automatically convert the view to Grayscale,
suitable for black and white image requirements. This can be useful when sending images to a
black and white printer, or for capturing black and white image files.

Grayscale is available in the toolbar, the Setup menu, or the right-click menu on Plot and Chart
views. The Grayscale option works as a toggle, and all previous colour settings of the current
view will be restored when Grayscale is toggled off.

Title
The Project Title that you entered in the Job Control dialog, can be displayed on stereonet or
rosette plots, by selecting the Title option from the Setup menu or the right-click menu.

Convention
In DIPS, numerical listings of orientation pairs can correspond to either the orientation of
POLES or the PLANES that they represent. The Convention option in the Setup menu toggles
the format of the orientation coordinates displayed in the Status Bar:

· If the Convention is Pole Vector, the coordinates will be in Trend / Plunge format, and
represent the cursor (pole) location directly.

· If the Convention is Plane Vector, the coordinates will correspond to the Global
Orientation Format (eg. Dip/DipDirection , Strike/DipRight , Strike/DipLeft), and represent the
PLANE corresponding to the cursor (pole) location.

NOTE: The Convention can also be toggled by clicking on the box in the Status Bar to the left of
the coordinate display, with the LEFT mouse button. This is the quickest and most convenient
way of toggling the Convention.

The Convention also affects the format of the following data listings in DIPS:

· Plane listings in the Major Planes legend.

· Plane listings in the Edit Planes and Edit Sets dialogs.

And the Convention affects the format of orientation data input for the following options:

· Coordinate entry in the Add Plane dialog.

· Coordinate entry in the Add Set Window dialog.

· Coordinate entry in the Measure Angle dialog.

The Convention does not affect data input for all options. For example, when using the Add
Cone option, the cone axis is always entered in Trend / Plunge format, regardless of the
current Convention. The Plane Vector Convention is only used where it is applicable. The
Convention applies to ALL views in a document. It cannot be changed on a per view basis.

Convention vs. Global Orientation Format

Do not confuse the Convention option with the Global Orientation Format of your DIPS data
file. The Global Orientation Format determines how DIPS interprets and processes your raw
orientation data. The Convention option DOES NOT.

In DIPS, poles are ALWAYS plotted using the Trend and Plunge of the pole vector with respect
to the reference sphere. THE CONVENTION OPTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE PLOTTING OF
DATA, OR THE VALUES IN THE GRID IN ANY WAY!!!

Saving the Convention

DIPS will automatically save your most recent choice of Convention. For example, if your most
recent choice was Plane Vector convention, then the Plane Vector Convention will
automatically be in effect each time you open a file in DIPS (coordinates will be displayed as
Dip/DipDirection or Strike/Dip). If your most recent choice was Pole Vector convention, then
the Pole Vector Convention will automatically be in effect each time you open a file in DIPS
(coordinates will be displayed as Trend/Plunge).

Stereonet Options

Stereonet Options
The Stereonet Options dialog allows the user to configure the following options related to the
display of data on the stereonet:

Projection
Hemisphere
Distribution
Count Circle
Bias Angle

The Stereonet Options most commonly used can be saved by the user as the program defaults,
using Auto Options.

Most of the Stereonet Options CAN BE CHANGED ON A PER VIEW BASIS, however it is
recommended that the same Stereonet Options be used on all plots for a given document,
unless there is a specific reason for doing otherwise. Note that the Bias Angle always applies to
the entire document, and CANNOT be changed on a per view basis.

Stereonet Options is available in the Setup menu, and also in the right-click menu on all
stereonet plots (Pole, Scatter, Contour and Major Planes).

Projection
In the Stereonet Options dialog, the user can choose from two different Projection methods,
which control the way in which pole points and plane traces on the reference sphere, are
projected to form the two-dimensional screen image:

EQUAL ANGLE projection

EQUAL AREA projection

It is important to note the following:

1) All of the calculations in DIPS take place on the reference sphere and not on the
projection, so the choice of projection method has no effect on computed results. The two
Projection methods are provided only for the customisation of the display, since different
users may be more experienced in visually analysing one type of projection than the other.
Each method has advantages and disadvantages, depending upon the type of analysis being
performed.

2) It is essential that the two projections are never mixed. Decide upon one or the other,
and use that projection for all data presentation and analysis on a project.

Equal Angle Projection

For the EQUAL ANGLE projection method, a line is drawn from the center of the top of the
sphere (the zenith), to a point A on the sphere (a pole or a point on the great circle). The
intersection of this line with a horizontal plane through the center of the sphere, defines the
projection point B.

See the Projection Examples topic for a comparison of plots using Equal Angle and Equal Area
projection.

Equal Area Projection

In the EQUAL AREA method, the bottom of the sphere rests on the projection plane. The point
A on the sphere is projected down to the plane by swinging this point in an arc about the
contact between the sphere and the plane, giving point B. The resultant projection is then
scaled back to the size of the projection sphere.

See the Projection Examples topic for a comparison of plots using Equal Angle and Equal Area
projection.

Equal Angle / Equal Area Comparison

EQUAL ANGLE projection preserves only the geometry of projected shapes. The area on the
surface of the sphere, represented by a projected region, depends on its location. The
projected area of a given circle increases towards the equator of the projection (see below for
illustration).
EQUAL AREA projection distorts geometrical shapes such as small circles (circles with centers
not coincident with that of the sphere). Nevertheless, a constant area on the projection
represents a constant area on the surface of the sphere, regardless of its location. This method
reduces visual bias in comparisons between data clusters in different parts of the sphere.

EQUAL ANGLE projection EQUAL AREA projection

Hemisphere
In the Stereonet Options dialog, the default projection is a LOWER hemisphere projection. For
a horizontal stereonet projection, this means that the plot represents the traces of planes and
poles:
· on the LOWER half of the sphere, as viewed from ABOVE.

An UPPER hemisphere projection can also be used. This displays the traces of planes and poles:

· on the UPPER half of the sphere, when viewed from ABOVE.

An UPPER hemisphere plot is therefore equivalent to a LOWER hemisphere plot rotated by 180
degrees. Use whichever plot you prefer, but be consistent or confusion will result.

Distribution Overview
In the Stereonet Options dialog, there are two options available which control the way that
DIPS computes the pole density concentration values for the data:

FISHER distribution
SCHMIDT distribution

The SCHMIDT distribution method provides very quick computation time and, for large
amounts of data, produces concentration values which are very similar to those obtained with
the FISHER method. When the quantity of data is limited, however, the SCHMIDT distribution
produces very crude contour diagrams and often misleading results, since each measurement
is assumed to be 100 percent accurate and any existing errors are exaggerated due to lack of
data. Therefore in this case, it is advisable to use the FISHER distribution, since it tends to
suppress any undue influence that a single measurement might have on the data contained in
a limited data set. When you have lots of data, there is little difference between the plots
generated by the two methods, and the SCHMIDT distribution is faster.

Fisher Distribution
In the FISHER method each pole is assigned a normal influence or FISHER distribution over the
surface of the sphere, rather than a point value, as in the SCHMIDT method. The integrated
zone of influence is a bell shaped distribution with a maximum height of 1, and a basal radius
twice that of the counting circle radius. The influence contribution to a grid point is
represented by the height of the influence zone immediately above the grid point. In this
method, the total influence of an individual pole is the same as in the SCHMIDT method but its
distribution of influence reflects an assumed probability of measurement error. For large
quantities of data, this option will produce similar results to the familiar SCHMIDT option. The
real strength of the FISHER option is in "smoothing" density plots for sparse data sets.
Schmidt Distribution
The SCHMIDT distribution is the classical method, in which each pole is assigned a constant
influence value of 1. The integrated zone of influence is a cylinder of constant height with a
radius equal to the radius of the counting circle. A counting grid is superimposed on the
stereonet plane, or in the case of DIPS, on the surface of the reference sphere. Convention
dictates the use of a counting circle with an area equivalent to 1% of the lower hemisphere
surface. For each pole plotted, any grid point falling within a circle of arbitrary constant radius
centered on this pole is incremented by the value of the pole. After the influence of all plotted
poles is thus distributed, the density plotted at each grid point is calculated by dividing the
pole count at that grid point by the total pole influence.

Count Circle
In the Stereonet Options dialog, the user can customize the Count Circle size used in the
contour calculations.

The generally accepted size for the counting circle used in contour calculations is one percent
of the surface area of the lower reference hemisphere. This is, however, merely convention
and if desired, you may use a different size of counting circle. The allowed range of counting
circle area as a percentage of hemisphere area is 0.5 % to 5.0 %. For meaningful results, a
range limit of 1.0 % to 2.5 % is recommended.

Bias Angle
In the Stereonet Options and Rosette Options dialogs, the Bias Angle option can be used to
change the minimum bias angle, which is set to a default value of 15°. The Bias angle limit is
used by the Terzaghi correction, to prevent the weighting factor from becoming excessively
large. The maximum weighting factor will correspond to the minimum bias angle. Any planes
with a bias angle smaller than the minimum bias angle, will be limited to the maximum
weighting factor.

See the Terzaghi Weighting topic for more information.

Rosette Options

Rosette Options
A Rosette Plot is always initially generated using a horizontal (equatorial) base plane. NORTH
will appear at the top just as in the stereonet. The rosette arcs will have the same apparent
strike (= actual strike) as the great circles (planes) in the stereonet.

A Rosette Plot can be customized with the following options in the Rosette Options dialog:

Sightline Normal to Rosette

Angular Limits
Starting Orientation

Scaling
Bias Angle
Bin Size

Rosette Options is available in the Setup menu (when a Rosette Plot is displayed in the active
view), or by right-clicking on a Rosette Plot.

Sightline Normal to Rosette

The default rosette is horizontal. The default normal to the base plane is therefore 000,90
indicating a line of sight directed down from above the plane.

An arbitrary sight line normal can be specified in the Rosette Options dialog. The orientation
input is the direction of sight – the base plane is positioned normal to this line. The top of the
rosette will correspond to the top of the user's view.

A vertical base plane will have a normal orientation in the form of ###,00, where ### is the
azimuth of the sight line normal. A horizontal rosette will have NORTH positioned at the top of
the rosette. The sight line normal can be specified with a negative plunge if the rosette is to be
viewed from below, looking up.

Angular Limits
The default angular limits for a Rosette Plot are 45-90 degrees. The angular limits indicate the
allowable (small) angle between the base plane or face and the planes in the data set. The
default range ensures that only planes that are more perpendicular than parallel to the base
plane will be used.

In the Rosette Options dialog, the minimum and maximum angular limits can be set to any pair
of values from 0 to 90.

Only planes within these limits will be used to generate the plot.

Starting Orientation
On a Rosette Plot, the leftmost (counter-clockwise) boundary of the first bin is, by default, at
azimuth 000. This means that the bin ranges are defined at 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30
degrees, etc (for the default bin size of 10 degrees).

In the Rosette Options dialog, the starting point can be redefined using a value of 0 to 10
degrees. The rosette bins will define intervals starting from this new value. It is advisable that
data be viewed from two different starting points (eg. 000 and 005) to filter the ranking
artefacts of the radial histogram procedure.

Rosette Scaling
A default scale is set automatically so that all of the rosette falls inside the circle.

To enter a user-defined scaling for the Rosette Plot:

1) Clear the Automatic checkbox in the Rosette Options dialog.

2) Enter the desired number of planes per circle increment.

Note:

· If the interval selected by the user is too small and some segments of the rosette
extend past the outer circle, those rosette segments will be truncated.

· If you are applying the Terzaghi Weighting to the Rosette Plot, note that the
WEIGHTED and the UNWEIGHTED Rosette Plot can each have their own independently defined
scaling.

Rosette Bin Size

The Rosette Bin Size allows you to specify the angular range of each "bin" used to generate the
Rosette Plot. The default value is 10 degrees.

You may enter any integer value which divides evenly into 180 degrees. The allowable bin sizes
are therefore: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 30, 36, 45, 60, 90 degrees.

Contour Options

Contour Options
The Contour Options dialog contains a wide variety of options for customizing the display of
contours on the stereonet:

Format
Contour Range
Number of Intervals
Mode
Colour Generation
Colours

Contour Options is available in the Setup menu, or by right-clicking on a Contour Plot.

Contour Format
Several Auto-Format options are available:
· DOS-style – uses exactly the same 7 colours and number of intervals as the original
Rocscience DOS-based programs (eg. DIPS v. 4.0)

· 16-colour display – uses 14 colours and intervals (black and white are not used, which
is why only 14 instead of 16 are actually used)

· Hot to Cold – uses a blue to red range of contouring, simulating a "hot to cold" effect.

· Hot Spots – uses a white to red range of contouring, simulating a "hot spot" effect.

· Photo-E – uses alternating white and black intervals, simulating a "photoelastic" effect.

· Black to white – uses black to white contouring, and 7 intervals.

You will notice that as you change the Auto-Format selection, other Contour Options will
change, but they are disabled (ie. not changeable by the user). For a completely flexible choice
of Contour Options, use the Custom Format option.

Tip
To customize the Contour Options based on one of the Auto-Format options:

· FIRST select an Auto-Format option

· THEN select Custom Format

· Customize the Contour Options as desired (eg. change the Number of Intervals or the
Minimum / Maximum colours)

Contour Range
To customize the contour range:

1. Select the Custom Range checkbox in the Contour Options dialog.

2. Enter the desired minimum and maximum values. (DO NOT ENTER ZERO AS A
MINIMUM VALUE, SEE NOTE BELOW).

3. If necessary, enter the desired number of intervals, to obtain evenly numbered

contours.

4. Select Apply or OK.

NOTE:
When entering a custom Contour Range, you must enter a NON-ZERO MINIMUM VALUE, since
contouring in DIPS automatically begins at zero. For custom contour ranges, the FIRST interval
is always from ZERO to the user-defined MINIMUM value.

Remember that the number of intervals entered in the Contour Options dialog INCLUDES the
first interval (ZERO to the MINIMUM), and also the > MAXIMUM interval, if present. To obtain
evenly numbered intervals, you will have to adjust the number of intervals accordingly. This
may take some trial and error, use the Apply button to see the results without closing the
dialog.

Number of Contour Intervals

This is the number of contour intervals used for the contouring.

Note that the Auto-Format options have different default numbers of intervals, suitable to the
option.

The user can enter a custom number of intervals (between 2 and 36 is allowed) if the Format
option is Custom.

Contour Mode
Contours can be displayed as Filled regions (the default), or as Lines.

NOTE that if you use the Lines contour Mode, then you can customize the Stereonet
background colour, in the Display Options dialog.

Contour Colour Generation

If the Format option is Custom, the user can specify the method of colour generation (the
colour generation methods correspond to the Auto-Format options, except that the user can
change the Number of Intervals and the Minimum and Maximum colours ).

· Distinct -- the user can only change the Number of Intervals. The sequence of colours
will simply repeat if more than 7 intervals is used (DOS-style), or more than 14 intervals is used
(16-colour style).

· Alternate -- the contouring will alternate between the two (Minimum and Maximum)
colours.

· Interpolate -- the contouring method will interpolate between the Minimum and
Maximum colours, using the Method chosen (RGB, HSL Acute, HSL Obtuse). The interpolation
methods are briefly described below.

RGB Method
Colours are defined in terms of RED, GREEN and BLUE components.

HSL (Acute) Method

Colours are defined in terms of HUE, SATURATION and LUMINANCE components. The Acute
Method interpolates using the Acute angle between the minimum and maximum colours on
the "colour wheel".

HSL (Obtuse) Method

Colours are defined in terms of HUE, SATURATION and LUMINANCE components. The Obtuse
Method interpolates using the Obtuse angle between the minimum and maximum colours on
the "colour wheel".

Contour Colours
The user can customize the Minimum and Maximum colors when:
· the Format option is Custom AND

· the Color Generation is either Alternate or Interpolate.