Surface boundaries

srfc-bndry-01.mp4 3:56

Data Clip boundaries

Data Clip boundaries are placed before you have a surface definition, preventing the definition from being too large.

1. Start with a closed polyline shape.

Tip: Closed polyline shape is important, otherwise the boundary tool will close it for you and you may get a result you weren't expecting.

2. Toolspace > Prospector tab > right-click Surfaces > select Create Surfaces
   1. Create Surfaces dialog box
      1. Properties box
         1. Name: Exist
         2. Style: EX TrianglesOK
      2. OK
3. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > right-click Boundaries > select Add...
   1. Add Boundaries dialog box
      1. Name: Data
      2. Type dropdown: Data Clip
      3. OK
   2. Select polyline
4. Select Polyline drawn in Step 1
5. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > right-click Point Files > select Add...
   1. Add Point File dialog box
      1. Selected Files: Add (+)
         1. Select Source dialog box
            1. Exist.pnt
            2. Open
      2. Specify point file format: PENZ (space delimited)
   2. OK

Outer boundaries

Outer boundaries are placed after the surface has been created.

6. Context Ribbon > Draw tab > select Polyline tool
   1. Draw a closed polyline

   Tip: At second to last point, press "C" to close the shape.

7. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > right-click Boundaries > select Add...
   1. Add Boundaries dialog box
      1. Name: Outer
      2. Type dropdown: Outer
      3. OK
   2. Select polyline

   Info: Non-destructive stops triangles up to the edge of the boundary line. Destructive ends at the triangle just past the boundary line.

srfc-bndry-02.mp4 3:01

Hide and Show Boundaries are meant to prevent surface triangles from being created inside the area you area working in.

Hide boundary

1. Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > Right-click Boundaries > select Add... This step is going to add a new boundary.
   1. Add Boundaries dialog box
      1. Name: Treeline
      2. Type dropdown: Hide
      3. Non-destructive breakline: checkedNon-destructive stops triangles up to the edge of the boundary line. Destructive ends at the triangle just past the boundary line.
      4. OK
2. Select polyline shape
3. Right-click for dropdown, Enter

Show boundary

A space with triangles inside a Hide Boundary.

4. Select closed polyline shape inside Hide Boundary.
5.  Toolspace > Prospector tab > expand Surfaces > expand Exist > expand Definition > Right-click Boundaries > select Add...
   1. Add Boundaries dialog box
      1. Name: Show
      2. Type dropdown: Show
      3. Non-destructive breakline: checked
      4. OK

6. Select polyline, Enter

Info: Show boundaries remember where the triangles were before the Hide boundary was created. Show boundaries cannot be created on their own, they need a Hide boundary first.