Overview
The Block Model Utility is designed to aid you in creating and editing block model definition files (.bdf), block models (.bmf), block estimation files (.bef) and estimation run files (.ber).
All of the parameters required to create block definitions and estimation files are displayed at one time. This means that you can avoid moving through a series of panels when you only want to update one value. As all of the grade estimation file parameters are displayed in a spreadsheet format (rather than being split into estimation types), we recommend that you use the Grade Estimation options to create the file and then use this utility to edit the files.
The Block Model Utility uses grid panels, which enable you to manage your data more efficiently. As previously stated, all of the parameters involved in creating estimation files are displayed on one panel.
The panel utilises grid controls to manage the grid information, i.e. right-click context menus, that allow you to perform options such as hiding columns, cutting, copying, and pasting cells, and inserting and deleting rows. Right-click in the grid area to display the context menu. Descriptions of the available options are listed below.
Grid Control Options
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Use the Select Columns option to choose which grid columns to display in the panel, and optionally save the selection to a template for future use. Alternatively, select cells and click Hide Columns to hide the respective columns directly.
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Select cells and use the Cut, Copy, and Paste options to duplicate or move cell entries.
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Select a cell in a row of interest and use the various insert and delete row options to manage the records in the grid.
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Click Clear Cells to clear the contents of a selection.
It is possible to run batches (groups) of estimations. To do this, you must first create an estimation run file (using the New Estimation Run File option), which contains information about the estimation files and the block model to which the estimation is to be applied. It is then a matter of using the Run Estimation option. You can also edit the estimation run file. For example, you might like to add another estimation file and block model or change which block model is being estimated.
