Dips FAQs: Graphical Output

Below are answers to Graphical Output FAQs for Dips. Click on the question to read the answer.

  1. How can I save entities such as text, cones, daylight envelopes etc., which have been added to a plot, so that they do not have to be recreated each time I open a Dips file?

    Since Dips version 5.1, all drawing entities (e.g. cones, lines, text), and all set and plane information is automatically saved, when you save the Dips file. If they are not being saved, then make sure you are running the latest version of Dips.

    NOTE: if you are using the latest version of Dips, but the drawing entities are not being saved, then go to the Preferences dialog, and make sure that the Automatically Save DWP File checkbox is selected.

  2. How can I save Set Windows and Added Planes, so that they do not have to be recreated each time I open a Dips file?

    See answer to #1. Since Dips version 5.1, all set information and added planes are automatically saved when you save a Dips file.

    Previous to version 5.1, set windows and planes could be manually saved with the Save Planes File option. This option is still available, but in general should not be necessary, since the sets and planes are automatically saved.

    See the Save Planes / Tools File topic for more information.

  3. How do you modify text information?

    You can modify existing text by RIGHT-clicking the mouse on the text, and selecting Change Text from the popup menu. This only applies to text added with the Add Text option.

  4. Can you reposition text once it is on the plot?

    No, it is not possible to reposition existing text. Individual text additions can be deleted by RIGHT-clicking the mouse on the text you wish to delete and selecting Delete Text from the popup menu. This is currently the best you can do if text is in the wrong position -- delete it, and try again! This will be improved in a future Dips upgrade.

  5. Can you automatically add degrees to outside of plot?

    No. We will consider this for a future Dips upgrade.

  6. Earlier versions of Dips generated the plots with a title block of sorts. Can that be done with the most recent version?

    The Project Title can be displayed on plots by selecting the Title option in the Setup menu (the Title option is also available in the right-click menu on plots). This will display the two line Project Title (entered in the Job Control dialog), at the top and bottom of plot views, similar to the old DOS version title blocks.

  7. How can we change default display options, such as having equal area net come up instead of equal angle, or colors so that we do not have to change them each time?

    Display and stereonet options etc can be saved as program defaults, using Auto Options in the Setup menu. See the Auto Options topic for details.

  8. How do I get my output into Autocad in Dips 5.0? Can I export DXF files in the same way as Dips 4.0 for DOS?

    Export of stereonet plots to DXF files was re-introduced in Dips version 5.06. Select File > Export Image File and select *.dxf from the drop-list of file types.

    If DXF export is not available, then make sure you are running the latest version of Dips. If you are not, then download and install the latest version from the Rocscience website.

    NOTE: you can also export to AutoCAD using metafiles. To do this use the Edit > Copy Metafile option in Dips to place the metafile on the clipboard then use the Edit > Paste Special option in AutoCAD. You can also export a windows metafile from Dips using the File > Export Image File option (save a wmf file not a emf file). Then use the Insert > Windows Metafile... option in AutoCAD to bring it in. For contour plots in Dips make sure the contouring mode is set to line contours, not filled, prior to exporting the metafile. This is done in the Contour Options dialog.

  9. Is it possible to display ALL great circles of ALL planar data in the Dips file, without having to select each individual pole with the Add Plane option?

    Yes, while you are viewing a Pole Plot or a Scatter Plot, use the All Planes option in the View menu (you can view Planes Only, or Planes and Poles).

  10. I want only the weighted orientations of my planes shown on the legend of my stereonet. How do I do this? I know how to "turn off" the unweighted planes shown on the stereonet itself, but the orientations associated with these still appear in the legend.

    This has been fixed, as of Dips version 5.073. The legend of the Major Planes plot now only lists planes which are visible on the plot (visibility is toggled in the Edit Planes and Edit Sets dialogs).

  11. I don't appear to be able to apply labels and am not sure why?

    The labels for planes can be turned on or off using the Edit Planes or Edit Sets dialogs, for Added planes (Add Plane option) and mean planes from Sets (Add Set Window option), respectively. To toggle the label visibility, you first have to select the desired plane(s) by selecting the row ID button(s) at the left of the Edit Planes or Edit Sets dialogs. This will then enable you to turn on or off the label checkboxes. By default, when you create a Set, even if you enter a label in the Add Set Window dialog, it is NOT displayed on the plot. You must use the Edit Sets dialog as described above, to turn on the label visibility for the mean planes.