Files from an external data source can be imported into mineCAD by locating them in the Windows Explorer and dragging them into the design window.
The file types that can be read by mineCAD include Mine2-4D and Datamine files of the type: .m2d, .m4d, and .dm, and AutoCAD files of the type: .dwg, and .dxf.
mineCAD has incorporated a shortcut link to the Windows Explorer. This can be opened by clicking on the Windows Explorer tab on the Project Tree on the far left of the mineCAD design window.
To import a file, it should be located in the directory structure (local or network) shown in the Windows Explorer, and then simply clicked on and dragged until the mouse is located over the design window.
If necessary, the Explorer window should be resized so that the mineCAD design window can be seen behind the Explorer Window. The picture below shows the appearance of the cursor when a file is being dragged from Explorer into the design window.
Note that mineCAD .vdf files can also be imported in this manner if desired, although files of this type can also be opened by mineCAD in the traditional manner - File | Open.
The Explorer window can be closed by clicking on another of the side bar tabs or by clicking the X button in the top right-hand corner of the window.
The following example describes the importation of a file originating from Mine2-4D - Tutorial1.m4d.
Once it has been dragged into the project it will appear in the Layer Control Project Tree as:
Expanding the Tutorial1 arm of the tree shows all of the components forming the project.
Note the small disk icon -
- that appears on each of the component layers. When a large data
set is imported into mineCAD, the components of the project are not immediately
loaded to the design window so as to minimize project load and redraw times.
This icon indicates that the layer has NOT been loaded to the design
window. The individual components of the
project can be loaded as required by the user.
Selecting one of the layers and right-clicking on it will open a pop-up that allows the user to select to load the layer into the design window.
Once loaded into the project file, the icon representing the layer is shown without the small disk, as below.
Right-clicking on a layer in the Layer Control Project Tree will open the pop-up menu shown above. The Display function of this menu allows the user to toggle the presence of a layer in the design window, without the need to delete or re-import the layer.
When the display of a layer has been toggled off, it will appear in the Layer Control Project Tree with a 'light-bulb' icon as shown below for the Stopes.dm layer file. Note that the right-click menu now shows that Display is toggled Off.
Layers can be Deleted from the project with the Delete function of this right-click Edit menu. A check-prompt will be displayed to allow the user to confirm this action. Note that once a layer has been deleted it cannot be undone.
A layer can also be Renamed through this menu - simply select Rename and enter the new name in the prompt that will appear.
The Add option allows the user to create child layers beneath existing layers in the Layer Control Project Tree.
Particular entities created in the design window AFTER this layer has been added can now be created under this new layer. Note: Entities are added to the project under the active layer in the Tree.
Activating a Layer