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Setting Up 

Soil Profile, Borehole and Core-Logging PC Software:

What are dotPLOT and HotPlot?

If you don't know what dotPLOT is and what it can do, click here to go to the main dotPLOT page.

If you don't know where HotPlot fits in, click here to go to the HotPlot page.

For a list of recent revisions, click here to see What's New in dotPLOT and HotPlot

Latest Versions

The latest dotPLOT version is dot6005 of 19 August 2010.  The latest HotPlot is Version 2.5.0 of 19 August 2010.  It allows access to all the main features of dotPLOT, and has its own Text file and SET file editors.  It also includes a HTML Help file containing information to get productive on dotPLOT.  HotPlot is supplied in a combined package with dotPLOT and will install dotPLOT for you.  The package includes a revised dotPLOT User Manual, updated for dot6005 and HotPlot 2.5.0.  This can also be downloaded separately.

Download and Install the  HotPlot + dotPLOT Combined Package:

You can upgrade to the latest dotPLOT and HotPlot with this download.  If you do not have the package, download the program here and run it in Demo mode until you are ready to licence it.  If you want dotPLOT without HotPlot, scroll down to the foot of the page.

Instructions:

  1. If you previously installed HotPlot, uninstall it now:  Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.  Scroll down the list to HotPlot, click on it, then click the button Change/Remove.  Confirm removal.  Close the Add or Remove Programs window.
  2. Click here to Open the Combined HotPlot + dotPLOT Setup Package HotPlotSetup.exe (3719 KB).
  3. When you click the above link your Browser should ask if you want to Run or Save the file.  Choose Run.
    (for multiple PCs, you can Save it and then Run it later on each PC)
  4. Wait until the program has downloaded.  If the Download window does not close automatically, close it.
  5. The WinZip Self-Extractor will appear, ask for an "Unzip to" folder, and offer C:\dotSetup as the default.
  6. Click the Unzip button.
    NB: You must use C:\dotSetup and not change to anything else!  If your PC does not have a C: drive, contact us for an alternative Setup.
  7. The WinZip Self-Extractor will say: "12 file(s) unzipped successfully".  Click OK and Close.
  8. Run "My Computer" or Windows Explorer (shortcut: "Windows key" ÿ + E ).
  9. Open the folder that you unzipped to, i.e. C:\dotSetup
  10. You should see a program, SETUP.EXE (If you see SETUP, not SETUP.exe, you have file extensions turned off -this is OK, but don't confuse it with the Text file SETUP.LST which is also there).
  11. Double-click SETUP.EXE
  12. "HotPlot and dotPLOT Setup should open. On the Welcome screen, click OK.
  13. Click the big button at top left to begin installation.
  14. Wait  a moment until it says "HotPlot and dotPLOT Setup was completed successfully."
  15. Click the Start button. Under Programs, you will find a new item: HotPlot. Click it to run the program.
  16. To create a shortcut to HotPlot on your desktop, use the right mouse button to grab the Programs > HotPlot icon and drop it on your desktop, then from the pop-up menu choose "Copy Here".
  17. When you run HotPlot, it will notice that you do not have dotPLOT installed (or have an older version), and offer to install it from C:\dotSetup.
  18. Just click Yes, and dotPLOT will be installed (Press any key to continue when prompted).
  19. HotPlot will congratulate you on installing dotPLOT, and tell you how to License dotPLOT. Click OK
  20. HotPlot is now running and connected to dotPLOT.  Click Help for pointers on getting started.
  21. You can now delete the temporary folder C:\dotSetup.
  22. You can upgrade the system at any time by repeating the installation process.

The program will run as a demo until licensed.  See below for the licensing process.

This install includes the latest User Manual and Examples, but not the Tutorial, which you can download from here:

Download Tutor, Examples and Manuals

These are PDF files: You will need Adobe Reader to be able to read or print them.  Click on the hyperlink and choose "Save" (save to folder C:\dot6000\manuals, which you may need to create for the purpose):

Not included in the Install packages:

  • dotPLOT Tutor (4 MB): 47-page Tutorial with extensive examples and exercises, not updated for dot6000 features yet.

The following are included in the Install packages: Download them only if you are not installing yet.

  • dotPLOT Examples (426 KB): 14 pages of examples of dotPLOT output.
  • dotPLOT Symbols (198 KB): Chapter 8 Examples from the User Manual (soil and rock symbols).
  • dotPLOT User Manual (619 KB): Detailed 75-page User Manual for dot6005 and HotPlot 2.5 (latest releases) with extensive Index.
  • HotPlot Help File (94 KB) in case you want to get an overview of HotPlot without installing it.

Demo Version and Licensing

Until it is licensed, dotPLOT will run as a fully-functional Demo program.  The only restrictions are that your company name will not appear on the output, and a watermark of "DEMO" will appear on the output, gradually darkening with each printout.

Once you have paid, dotPLOT is licensed in two ways:

  1. General Users: By means of a security file ("dongle") loaded on your own USB flash drive, a local (C:) drive, or any network drive. Input and testing can be done on any PC, but the the drive must be available (with sufficient licenses) to do final output.  The output is personalized to your company and the flash drive is therefore worthless to a thief, but should be insured for replacement cost.  Likewise, the server or local drive license is valid for the life of that drive, and should be insured against theft and hard disk crashes.  To access this licensing method, run the program and press Alt+L: You will be asked for your company details.  Fill these in and then e-mail us the file C:\dot6000\MAILFORM.OUT.  We will reply with your license file and the location to which to save it.
     
  2. Academic Licences: For installation on the C: drive of one machine.  Phone 011 802-2685 / 6440 / 1 (within South Africa) or Internationally +27 11 802-2685, or e-mail us for a Serial Number.  Run the program, then press Alt+P: You will be asked for the Serial Number. The program will give you a code. Phone or e-mail us this code and we will provide a password. Once you have entered it, that PC will be licensed forever with your License in the name of your company.  The Password is valid for that machine and hard drive only.  If the hard drive crashes, is stolen, or obsoleted, legal proof must be provided and there will be a charge for re-issuing the password.

Download and Install dotPLOT on its Own – Not Needed if you took the Combined Package above!

If you already have dotPLOT you can upgrade to dot6004 here.  If you do not have dotPLOT, you can download the program here and run it in Demo mode until you are ready to license it.  This download does not include HotPlot and is for DOS purists who do not want the Windows interface.

Instructions:

  1. Click here to Open the dotPLOT Setup Package dot6000Setup.exe (1353 KB).
  2. When you click the above link your Browser should ask if you want to Run or Save the file.  Choose Run.
    (for multiple PCs, you can Save it and then Run it later on each PC)
  3. Wait until the program has downloaded.  If the Download window does not close automatically, close it.
  4. The WinZip Self-Extractor will appear, ask for an "Unzip to" folder, and offer C:\dotSetup as the default.
  5. Click the Unzip button.
    NB: You must
  6. The WinZip Self-Extractor will say: "9 file(s) unzipped successfully".  Click OK and Close.
  7. Run "My Computer" or Windows Explorer (shortcut: "Windows key" ÿ + E ).
  8. Open the folder that you unzipped to, i.e. C:\dotSetup
    9.
  9. Double-click C:\dotSetup\INSTALL.BAT (not to be confused with message file INSTALL.MSG) to run it.
  10. When prompted to "Press any key to continue", press Enter as required until you see the message END OF INSTALLATION.
  11. Press Enter to exit the Install.
  12. Once you are satisfied that dotPLOT runs, you can delete the "C:\dotSetup" folder and its contents.

To save space, we do not include the old dotPLOT Tutor (4 MB) in this Setup file.  You can download it above.

Running dotPLOT from Windows

dotPLOT is a DOS program. In Microsoft Windows, you can open a DOS Window and run it as follows:

  • Click Start > Run.
  • Type in (or Browse for) C:\dot6000\PROFILE.EXE
  • Click OK.
  • dotPLOT will start and display a DOS screen.
  • dotPLOT uses the function keys F1 to F5. See the User Manual for instructions.
  • Press Esc to exit the program.
  • If you prefer, create a Desktop Shortcut pointing to C:\dot6000\PROFILE.EXE.

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You can buy or license all kinds of personal computer programs directly from Software Africa.  Click here for a list of programs available, or e-mail us your questions. If none of this software suits your needs, look at our References and the Free Stuff.  We can write similar bespoke programs for you! 

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