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File Types
Surfer uses four basic file types: 1. data,
2. grid,
3. boundary, and
4. Surfer .SRF files.
Data Files
Data files
- contain the input data provided by the user, and are used to produce grid files, post data points on a map, or generate a residuals log. These files are generally referred to as "XYZ data files" or "data files" throughout the documentation. Data can be read from various file types, and most contain numeric XY location coordinates as well as optional numeric Z values and label information. The Z values contain the variable to be modeled, such as elevation, concentration, rainfall, or similar types of values.
XYZ data files contain the raw data Surfer interprets to produce a grid file. Before you can create a grid file in Surfer, you must create an XYZ data file. XYZ data files must be organized in column and row format. Surfer requires the X, Y, and Z data to be in three separate columns.
Grid Files
- Grid files are used to produce several different types of grid-based maps, to perform calculations such as volume, residuals, and grid math, and to carry out blanking, smoothing, and slice operations. Grid files contain a regularly spaced rectangular array of Z data organized in columns and rows. Surfer can also use other common grid file types to perform most of the operations that can be performed with grid files.
Boundary Files
- Boundary files contain XY location data such as state boundaries, rivers, or point locations. Boundary files are used to create a base map or base map layer on another map. Boundary files can also be used to specify the boundary limits for blanking, faults, breaklines, and slice calculations. Boundary files can be vector files, metafiles, or image files.
Surfer Files
- Surfer .SRF files preserve al the objects and object settings contained in a plot window. These files are called Surfer .SRF files throughout the documentation. Surfer 10 can open .SRF files from all previous versions of Surfer. Surfer 10 can only save .SRF in the Surfer 10 format. Previous versions of Surfer (i.e. Surfer 9) cannot open Surfer 10 .SRF files.