This command converts lines and polylines that enclose text into Carlson pits, with the text becoming the pit name. It is best used in conjunction with "Sequential Numbers", a command under the "Draw" pulldown menu that allows the user to place text in increasing order. If pits are to be numbered from U10 through U50, Sequential Numbers places this text with a single pick. The text inside the pits does not need to be in the same layer as the polylines/lines making up the pits. Since the text is selected by the user, care should be taken not to select extraneous text such as contour elevations.
The user should also avoid selecting contours and other polylines not associated with the pits. It should also be noted that this command makes entirely new polylines in a new layer from the source lines and polylines. If "Boundary Polylines" was used to make closed polylines, and Sequential Numbers is used to place text, then "Pit By Interior Text" will make a new set of polylines in a new layer (this time as "official" pit polylines), resulting in two sets of identical closed polylines. You should use "Delete Layer" or other Carlson tools such as "Freeze Layer" to delete or hide the duplicated polylines. The command will handle arcs. But note that "Pit By Interior Text" will make polylines out of any combination of polylines and lines enclosing text, even where the lines are shared by two adjacent pits and no duplicated lines exist.
"Sequential Numbers" and "Pit By Interior Text" work together to make pits. The location of the text containing the pit name can be used to assign the direction of mining. Therefore, the very location picked within "Sequential Numbers" can set the direction of mining across the pit. If "Assign Directions" is selected within the "Surface Mining" options, the sub-option "Text" will utilize the text insertion position and start the mining through the pit from the side closest to the insertion point. Note that "Sequential Numbers" will middle-justify the text used for the pit name. To emphasize the linkage with "Sequential Numbers", the prompting sequence shown below includes the prompting for "Sequential Numbers".
Using "Pit Plines from Mineplan" you don't need to use "Boundary Polylines" in advance to create the closed pit polylines. "Pit By Interior Text" makes the new polylines and associates the pits all in one step. This command is a great time saver to convert old mine plans with just linework (sometimes sloppy) and the pit name inside to Carlson pits used in reserves and timing.
[Sequential Numbers]
Text Height <8.0>: 50
Pick point at center
of label: pick insertion point for centered text
Pick point for label alignment: pick text alignment
point
Number <1>: U10 (or 50 in the second
example)
Auto increment labels (Yes/<No>)? Y
Pick point at center of label: pick next point and
U11 (or 51) prints
Pick point at center of label: pick next point and U12
(or 52) print, etc.
[Pit Plines from Mineplan]
Site Name for Pits: Site 1
Layer Name for Pits: PITS
Select pit lines, polylines and text.
Enter snap tolerance <0.0>: This is the size of the gap
that the routine can handle to "jump" across and create a closed
boundary.
Select objects: select the
text and linework New pit lines should appear in the
selected layer.
Pulldown Menu Location: Boundary
Keyboard Command: minepitlines
Related Commands: Sequential Numbers, Boundary Polylines,
Assign Directions