A column files is one in which each data value also has a latitude and longitude associated with it on one line (depth and time being optional). For instance, a line may look like this:
86 270 3.0
Column 1 (86) stores the latitude for that data point, column 2 (270) stores the longitude, and column 3 (3.0) stores the data value itself. The whole file is simply line after line in this format. The columns can be arranged in any way, data first would be acceptable for instance. Also, the program will automatically ignore any extraneous columns.
A Labeled column has names at the top of each column, the program will automatically read in the labels and check the names for matches (lat for latitude for instance). The labels must not have any spaces in them (for example, a label like “Depth beneath Surface” would cause errors, simply put “Depth”).
Line Latitude Longitude Depth Accuracy Data 1 90 0 -460 3 1.02 2 86 0 -460 3 3.12 3 84 0 -460 2 0.34 4 80 0 -460 3 6.89 5 76 0 -460 1 0.07
Column 1 is simply the line number, column two is the latitude, column 3 is the longitude, column 4 is the depth, column 5 is the accuracy of the data and column 6 is the data itself.
The first two requirements are common to all file types, a file to be converted and a file to be created. Use the browse button next to these fields to select the desired files.
There is no data to enter unique to the labeled column. Each column should be labeled within the file itself, and thus no data is needed for the file in general about which column is which. However, the labels must be appropriate, as was mentioned above, no label can have a space in it or it will be taken as a new label and the numbering of columns will be off. Second, there are specific labels accepted, they are not case sensitive, but your labels must match with one of these labels or the program wont recognize the name.
Latitude Latitude, Lat
Longitude: Longitude, Lon
Depth: Depth, Dep, Lay, Layer, Lev, Level, Height, Elevation, Elv
Time: Time, timeObs, Seconds, Sec, Secs
Data: Data, Dat, Variable, Var
The final fields are common to all file types. The “Is positive depth above or below ground” question (with answer choices above and below) simply means that if the file starts 460km below the surface of the Earth, and you entered in “460” as you’re starting point, then positive would be below the surface. This option can also be changed (with extra work) through the attributes panel, but it is common enough to be a general option on the main panel. The attributes panel is explained fully in the user’s guide.