Support - Frequently Asked Question

How do I create plots with multiple viewports?

Applies to: Surpac (all versions) Knowledge Base ID: KB20026

Publish Date: 22/03/2012
Last Review Date: 22/03/2012
Category FAQ
Sub-Category Application

Issue:

How can I create plots displaying multiple viewports in Surpac on one sheet?

Additional Details:

You can view data in different orientations by using the split viewport functionality. However, when you
autoplot multiple viewports, only the active viewport will be plotted. This article demonstrates the procedure
to create a single page plot displaying multiple viewports. The article assumes the desired sheet size is A0
with the dimensions; y = 81.0 cm and x = 112.5 cm. The dimensions for each particular sheet size can be
found by choosing File > Plot sheet properties in the Plotting Window.

Resolution:

1. In Surpac, Choose Plotting > Plotting sheet setup window from the menu.
The Plot Sheet Setup window is displayed.
2. In the plotting window, choose Drawing areas > New from the menu.
The New draw area properties form is displayed.
3. To create a plotting area for the top left viewport, in the ‘Draw Area ID’ field, type a name for the
drawing area, for example ‘TOP_LEFT’, and in the ‘Description field’, type a description.
4. In the ‘Preferred sheet’ drop-down list, select the sheet size that the drawing area is going to be
associated with, for example ‘A0’.
5. In the Viewport dimensions from sheet boundaries section, type the dimensions of the
drawing area so as to position it in the top left corner (see the following screenshot).

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6. Choose Drawing areas > New from the menu.
7. To create a plotting area for the top right viewport, repeat steps 3-5.
Note: Make sure that the Existing viewport is set to 00001 so that you can compare it with the
previous drawing area to check the relative position of the two viewports and observe any overlap.

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8. At this stage if you are unhappy with the position of the drawing areas you can modify them by
selecting Drawing areas > Properties or Drawing areas > Move from the menu.
9. Select Drawing areas > Save from the menu.
10. Repeat procedure step 4, ensuring that the existing viewport 00001 is selected each time and
create the remaining drawing areas.

11. Choose Drawing Areas > Save from the menu.

Check the message window to ensure that the save was successful.

12. Close the Plotting Sheet Setup Window.

13. In the main Surpac window open the data you wish to plot in Graphics.
14. Choose Plotting > Autoplot from the menu.
The Autoplot presentation parameters form is displayed.
15. Give the ‘Output file name’ an appropriate name and select the desired sheet size.
Note: The drawing areas are only available for the sheet size selected during creation.
16. Select the first ‘Drawing area’ for the onscreen data to be plotted within.
Note: If the drawing area does not show up you may need to change the sheet size and then
change it back to refresh the list.

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17. Repeat procedure steps 14-16, selecting a different drawing area and output filename each time.
Note: Ensure that the Viewport displaying the correct image to be plotted in each specific
plotting area is the active viewport.
18. Select the four .dwf files in the Navigator by holding down the Ctrl key. Continue to hold down
Ctrl and drag these into Graphics. This will append the four .dwf’s into one file.

19. Save the newly created plot file.

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