Datamine Discover KB - Table Utilities

I am planning a regional exploration work program. What tools are available in Discover?

Josh Knight — Wed, 04 May 2022 04:05:48 GMT

Occurrence

How do I:

A. Add coordinates to a series of discrete point locations such as proposed regional RAB/aircore drill targets, and then add an incrementing identifier (e.g. HoleID) to each location?

B. Convert a series of proposed regional traverse lines/polylines into grid pegs/sample locations at a fixed spacing, each with coordinates and unique ID's?

C. Create a series of parallel traverse/sample line (i.e. a local grid), with pegs/point locations at fixed spacings, each with both local and real world coordinates, as well as unique ID's?

Solution

A. Add coordinates to a series of discrete point locations such as proposed regional RAB/aircore drill targets, and then add an incrementing identifier (e.g. HoleID) to each location?

1/. If a series of target locations have been added to say the cosmetic layer as points (e.g. the intersection of regional lineaments/faults with prospective stratigraphy), save these point objects to a new table (Map>Save Cosmetic Objects).

2/. Use Discover's Discover>Projection>Update Coordinates tool to create a new Easting/X and Northing/Y field to this table, and automatically populate these fields with the appropriate values. Note that by default the coordinates will ...

How do I reproject my data?

Josh Knight — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 07:21:42 GMT

MapInfo and Discover provides a number of different Reprojection Utilities, depending on the type of data to be transformed. Each of these tools will create a copy of the data in the specified output projection, typically with a default _reproject suffix added to the input file name. These tools are invaluable (for example) for ensuring all datasets are in the same Coordinate Reference System (projection).

Note: After reprojecting when you open in back in the map window, it will appear in exact same location. This is due to Mapinfo being a GIS system that reprojects on the fly. It will only appear in a different location when opened in a non-GIS program.

Vector data (i.e. points/polylines/polygons)

This is shown in the layer control with an icon -

There a numerous ways to reproject these -

1. Standard MapInfo way is to go to Home>Save>Save Copy As. Then on the save dialog, click the projection button and choose the new projection.

2. Use the Discover>Reproject>Reproject Coordinates. This uses the Discover projection engine with explicit NTv2 support. (note this doesn't support NativeX tab files).

3. Use the DISCOVER > Reproject > Multi-Table Reproject tool. This allows the current projections of multiple vector tables to be displayed and reprojected, either as new tables, or overwriting the existing tables.

Note with all of these methods only change the spatial vector data in the map. They do not update any coordinates in the browser table for say points. There ...

When I digitize in the map window, it snaps back to a vertical or horizontal line along an invisible edge

Josh Knight — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:56:31 GMT

Occurrence

When you try to digitize or draw an object in a layer, it is snapping back to a straight line along an invisible edge. Or certain tools may produce output like this with data following an invisible boundary box.

Solution

This is caused when a table has explicit bounds (typically non-earth projections, as these always have explicit bounds on the table).

To increase the bounds, go to HOME>Tool Extensions>Registered there is the CoordSys Bounds Manager tool. This allows you to automatically increase the bounds by a buffer precentage, to give more room to digitize outside the existing data.

Simply open this tool, then click Optimize CoordSys Bounds. Then click Save Table As.. with Coord ...

What tools are there to open or fix broken workspaces?

kbadmin — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 02:12:28 GMT

Occurrence

I am trying to open a MapInfo Workspace (.WOR) file, but it cannot find files and/or does not open successfully.

How can I fix this?

Solution

If the issue is due to a missing file, Mapinfo Pro will ask a user to locate the file.
Alternatively, under DISCOVER>Workspaces>Workspace Advanced will allow you to find the problems in the workspace file, and skip or correct these.
Also Discover>Table Utilities>Workspace Editor will aid you in batch editing the file paths when the data file locations have changed.
MapInfo Pro 64-bit also introduced a .WOX file that is saved alongside the .WOR file. This WOX file saves the window positions and arrangement, such as tool windows and floating map windows. This may cause issues opening a workspace, and you can try to rename the .WOX file. When opening a workspace that does not have a matching .WOX file, Mapinfo will automatically generate a default file.

How can I add a unique number to identify each record in a browser?

kbadmin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:21:16 GMT

In Discover 10.0 you can use the Table Utilities->Add Unique Identifier tool. Not only does this
automatically increment each record by a user-specified value (e.g. 1, 5 10 or -2), but it allows the
user to add a prefix and/or suffix to each record.

If you have an older version of Discover that does not include this tool, you can use the manual
workaround as detailed below:

1/. Navigate to MapInfo's Table>Update Column
2/. Under 'Table to Update' and 'Get Value From Table' options select the table you wish to update.
3/. Set the numeric field (detailed in (a) above) as the 'Column to Update'.
4/. In the 'Value' text box type in 'ROWID': this is a MapBasic statement which will place a unique number
in all records starting from the number 1.

The example below will place a unique number in the column 'Unique_Number'. Each row will be populated
with its row number, hence the need to pack tables prior to running this tool.

An example of the populated table: