XPAC Reference Guide

Auto ranges

Auto ranges

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Auto ranges

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Use the Auto Ranges function to automatically generate a database range for each record at a specified level. XPAC creates a database range for each record (not each unique record name). As such, XPAC will create a database range for two records named Blk18 in a particular database level (i.e. one in Panel 4 and another in Panel 6).

Note

XPAC displays all automatically created database ranges in blue text in the Ranges toolbar and the Range Selection window. Once created, you cannot edit Auto Ranges.

Auto range naming convention

You can use the available options in the Auto Ranges drop-down list to specify the naming convention for the database ranges that you want to create. The options will be different for each level, for example:

Level 1 (Pit):
Pit
Section\Pit.
Level 2 (Strip):
Strip
Pit\Strip
Section\Pit\Strip.
Level 3 (Block):
Block
Strip\Block
Pit\Strip\Block
Section\Pit\Strip\Block.

Note

Ensure that the naming convention that you use results in a unique database range for each record. If you select the full path name for the level (the SectionName option), then the names of the auto ranges will always be unique. However, this may result in unnecessarily lengthy database range names. In this case, RPM recommends selecting another naming convention.

If you select an auto range naming convention that does not result in a unique database range name, XPAC will not be able to create all the required auto ranges. If a number of records have been assigned an identical auto range name, the database range will only contain the first records, and XPAC will not create the database ranges for the remaining records.

Example

Consider a database structure for a deposit that contains three levels: Pit, Strip and Block. For the 'Block' level, you can set the auto ranges to Block, Strip\Block, Pit\Strip\Block or Section\Pit\Strip\Block. XPAC would create the following auto ranges (depending on the selected option):

Block - 1, 2, 3.
Strip\Block - E01\1, E01\2, E02\1, etc.
Pit\Strip\Block - East\E01\1, East\E01\2, East\E02\1, etc.
Section\Pit\Strip\Block - Deposit\East\E01\1, Deposit\East\E01\2, Deposit\East\E02\1, etc.

If you name the auto ranges only using the 'Block' level, XPAC will not be able to create the full range of database ranges, as the block names are not unique. In this case, the database range '1' would only contain the Block 1 record, (Deposit\East\E01\1), and the database range '2' would only contain the Block 2 record (Deposit\East\E01\2). In this case, RPM recommends using the Strip\Block names, as they are unique for all blocks in the database. As such, XPAC would create all database ranges. If required, you could also use the Pit\Strip\Block and Deposit\Pit\Strip\Block options, however the names would be lengthier.

Automatically created auto ranges

If you have auto ranges enabled at a database level, when you add new records, XPAC automatically creates the relevant auto range/s. Similarly, XPAC deletes these auto ranges if you delete a record from that database level.