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 (e.g. 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 (e.g. 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.