DXF Options Section

The Options Section allows you to control what information is exported in the DXF file. Here are detailed explanations of these options:

Profile Mode. Some drawing programs lack the ability rotate the DXF information in 3D. As a result, they cannot make profile views of the cave data. Enabling this option causes the program to export the DXF file as a profile.

When this option is enabled, the exported file is two-dimensional and displayed in profile. The viewing angle of this profile is controlled by the Rotation parameter. Also, note that since profile mode assumes you are working with a 2D drafting program, 3D images of the passage walls are not exported. Only the Up and Down tick marks are drawn.

Layers. Programs like AutoCad use a concept called layers to organize drawings. Layers are sections of a drawing that can be enabled, manipulated and colored separately. The Viewer allows you to export various part of the cave in separate layers. (Note that some drawing programs cannot handle files with multiple layers.)  Here are detailed descriptions of layers that can be exported:

1. Include Shot Line. Checking this option causes shot line information to be saved to the DXF file as a separate layer. You also have control of the color of this layer.

2. Include Station Labels. Checking this option causes the station labels to be saved to the DXF file as a separate layer. You also have control of the color of this layer. (Note that when a DXF file is first loaded into AutoCad, this layer will be turned off and will not be displayed. In order to see the layer, you must turn it on.)

3. Include Station Marks. Checking this option causes a station mark to be saved to the DXF file as a separate layer. The color of this layer is the same as the Station Labels. You also have control of the size of the mark. The station marks can be set so they clip off the ends of the passage lines so the lines don’t show through the marks by enabling the Station Mark Clips Lines option.

4. Include Passage Walls. Checking this option causes passage wall information to be saved to the DXF file as a separate layer. You also have control of the color of this layer. The passage walls appear as square, diamond and octagonal prisms around the shot line. (Note that when a DXF file is first loaded into AutoCad, this layer will be turned off and will not be displayed. In order to see the layer, you must turn it on.)

5. Include North Arrow. This option puts a north-pointing arrow in the lower left-hand corner of the of DXF plot. Because of the way DXF files work, the arrow is sized so that it is approximately one tenth of the largest dimension of the cave.

6. Include Scale Bar. This option draws a scale bar in the bottom center of the DXF plot. You can control the size of the scale bar and units displayed.

7. Include Depth Labels. Checking this option causes the depth labels to be saved to the DXF file as a separate layer. These labels display the depth of the station. You also have control of the color of this layer. (Note that when a DXF file is first loaded into AutoCad, this layer will be turned off and will not be displayed. In order to see the layer, you must turn it on.)

Layer Options. This part of the page controls the way layers are exported. Here are detailed descriptions of the options:

1. Surveys On Separate Layers. When this option is enabled, each survey is exported in its own separate Layer. This allows drawing programs to enable, manipulate and color each survey separately.

2. Associate Passage With Surveys. Normally, the passage wall information is exported in its own separate layer. This means that all the passage wall information for all the surveys can only be turned on or off all at the same time. If you enable the “Associate Passage With Surveys” option, the passage wall information will be grouped with each survey so that when a survey is turned on, the passage wall information is also displayed. The “Associate Separately” option described below allows the passage wall information for each survey to be put in a separate layer.

3. Associate Label With Surveys. Normally, the station label information is exported in its own separate layer. This means that all the station label information for all the surveys can only be turned on or off all at once. If you enable the “Associate Label With Surveys” the station label information will be grouped with each survey; so that when the survey is turned on, the station label information is also displayed. The “Associate Separately” option described below allows the station label information for each survey to be put in a separate layer.

4. Associate Separately. When this option is set, the Station Labels and Passage Wall information are each put in their own separate layer for each survey. In this mode, Station Label layer-names begin with "S-" followed by the survey name. Likewise, Passage Wall information layer-names begin with "P-". For example, if the survey name were "ABC" the layer names would be "S-ABC" and "P-ABC".