Soil Profile, Borehole and Core-Logging PC Software
for the Soils Engineer and Civil Engineering Geologist

What is dotPLOT?

The personal computer program dotPLOT prints geological soil profiles and borehole logs, using a personal computer running DOS or Microsoft Windows (including Windows Vista and Windows 7).  Printout is either directly on a Hewlett Packard LaserJet or equivalent printer, or using Windows to print PDF output files (handy for e-mailing to clients).

dotPLOT was written by Winston Jones when he was senior partner at Jones and Wagener Consulting Engineers of Rivonia.  Winston is now retired and continues to support the program.  From July 2009 Software Africa has been marketing dotPLOT, issuing licenses, and handling front-line support.

News Flash!

The latest major release, the 6000 series, is now on this site.  The major advance is plain text descriptions, also called "tilde-free text": If the ~ and ` special characters are omitted from a layer description, the program will automatically find all keywords in that layer except those explicitly excluded using a new special character, the bar ( | ).  You need to license the new features for them to work fully, but with dot6001 onwards you can also view them in DEMO mode.. 

The very latest version, dot6004, was released on 14 July 2010, and has several useful enhancements.  To get this version, click here (new page).

What can dotPLOT Do?

dotPLOT is designed specifically for soil profiles and borehole logs. It is a very compact program, super-fast at 2 pages per second, with compact data files (typically less than 3 KB per page) and compact printer files (about 20 KB per page). Customers can learn to use it merely by looking at the examples supplied –training is almost superfluous.  dotPLOT automatically recognises the names of 83 standard symbols in the text, which can be combined as required: There are no templates or esoteric code words –the words "sandy silt" in the text will produce the symbol for a sandy silt!

Input is in the form of a Microsoft Word .doc file, or an ordinary Text (ASCII) file produced by any word-processor package or editor. The objective of the software is to intelligently interpret the stream of words as though they were typed directly from the field notes (possibly in the form of a Dictaphone recording), to automatically select symbols for soil and rock types, to choose appropriate scales, number of pages and page breaks, to format the text and to produce the finished pages ready for binding into a report or e-mailing, all with the minimum of editing by the engineering geologist.

The printed soil profile is in the form of high-quality laser graphics combined with text in user-selected fonts. Symbols for almost any soil descriptions and rock types can be combined:  Thus the symbol for SANDY can be combined with the symbol for CLAY, and this can in turn be combined with the symbol for GRAVEL or BOULDERS. By clever masking, symbols containing white space (e.g. BOULDERS) can be superimposed on other symbols. The program allows any combination to be selected by the user of up to 12 symbols per layer. Eighty-three standard symbols are provided which cannot be altered by the user. They have been designed to cover most soil types and all classes of the igneous rocks.  Custom libraries can be provided at an extra cost, or the user can create his own using a separate program (also an extra cost).

Example (click for enlargement)

Borehole Logs

The optional BOREHOLE LOG module allows up to 15 columns of rock attributes to be arranged in any desired order, tabulated either on a facing page or on the same page as the profile. Bar graphs of the attribute values can be drawn with normal or inverse shading. Each borelog column may be sub-divided and sub-labelled.

More Features

dotPLOT can output to PDF files for ease of printing and to e-mail to customers.  This is an optional (though highly recommended) module.

dotPLOT recognises notes on water tables (permanent or perched), water-seepage or water-strikes, weathering horizons, rockheads, samples (undisturbed, disturbed or chemical) and locates symbols for these alongside the profile. Reduction of levels is automatic and a correction is applied for slope.

A legend summarising all the particular symbols used on a job can be printed at the end of a run.

The user may download his own Logos to the LaserJet as macros which the program can automatically locate and print on each page. Optionally a PCL raster or PDF logo can be inserted in the print file. Alternatively space can be left for the logo on pre-printed sheets.

The program offers extensive support for different languages: English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Slovenian are available at present.  Others could be added.  All aspects of the program can easily be customised by the user to work in the user’s choice of languages or dialects. This includes keywords in the input text file, prompts by the programs, and printed output. Existing symbols may be assigned different names or synonyms in any number of languages.

A useful set of format controls is supported. The general page layout is customisable to a limited extent. Any bitmapped or scalable soft font on the user’s hard disk may be used provided the files follow the HP protocol. Cartridge and Internal printer fonts may be used.

For PDF output only the useful 12 standard Adobe fonts are supported namely COURIER, HELVETICA and TIMES ROMAN, each with upright, italic, bold and bold oblique variations.

Because of the numerous variables involved and the variety of personal choices that are possible in arranging the layout, the program has been arranged to read a SETUP FILE which stores all the values required. A routine is provided which enables the user to easily make changes to the setup, to store those changes, and to recall or switch between them by name at any later time. Thus a single work station can keep track of up to 19 different setups: for example there may be one for profiles, one for boreholes, one for percussion logs and further variations to suit individuals using a pool work station.

Although the program allows for considerable customisation, it is supplied “ready to run” with normal English input and prompts, using a standard HP LaserJet printer and internal fonts.

The program may be used without the borehole log option and without the PDF option.

Requirements

dotPLOT runs under DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, 98, 2000, NT XP and (from the dot5008 version) Vista.

512 KB RAM memory is sufficient.

The input data file can be prepared with any file editor (Notepad, E.COM, EDIT.COM) or as a .DOC file using MS Word or as a TEXT file using Word Perfect, Lotus Word Pro, etc.

While a Hewlett Packard LaserJet printer is recommended for PCL output, other makes of printer may work if they support page composing, HP-PCL (Hewlett Packard Printer Control Language) and 300 dots-per-inch graphics.

PDF output can be printed via Windows to any installed printer.  This requires an additional module.

Demo Version and Licensing

dotPLOT can be installed and run on any PC that meets the above specifications. It 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.

dotPLOT is licensed in three ways:

1. For installation on the C: drive of one machine.  It will then run on that PC only.
2. By means of a security file loaded on a USB flash drive.  Input and testing can be done on any PC, but the the flash drive must be inserted to do final output.
3. By means of a security file loaded on a network drive.  Several licenses can be loaded: They are allocated on a "first-come-first-served" basis: Any extras will run in Demo mode.

In all cases a key file is supplied by e-mail that is valid for that drive only.  If the hard drive or USB drive crashes, is stolen, or obsoleted, another copy of the program must be purchased.  Your company name appears on all output.  The program is therefore worthless to a thief, but should be insured anyway.  A consequence is that if the company name changes, the program must be re-licensed (for which there is a nominal charge).

The HotPlot Add-On for Windows

dotPLOT runs on DOS (or a DOS window in Windows):  Users who are more familiar with Windows may find the DOS interface primitive, so Software Africa has developed a Windows front-end for dotPLOT, known as HotPlot.  This program provides you with a Windows interface that runs dotPLOT for you, for a more friendly visual user experience.  It also has a text file editor, a SET file editor, and easy install of dotPLOT.

The program produces output in any of several file formats.  In the case of PDF output, it lets you preview or print the file immediately via the Adobe Reader (if installed). HotPlot  includes a text file editor specially designed for dotPLOT, supporting the special symbols that dotPLOT uses.

HotPlot allows access to all the main features of dotPLOT, including editing SET files.  It also includes a HTML Help file with all the information you need to get productive on dotPLOT.  HotPlot is supplied in a combined package with dotPLOT and will install dotPLOT for you.

For more information on HotPlot, click here (new page).

More Information

If you would like us to contact you about dotPLOT, please click here, add your contact details, and send the resulting email.
Alternatively telephone Software Africa from South Africa on 011 802-2685 / 6440, or dial internationally: +27 11 802-2685.

Downloads

Except for the HotPlot Help File, these are all PDF files: You need Adobe Reader to be able to read or print them.  All but the Tutor form part of the install package.  To download, click on the hyperlink and then choose "Save" in the pop-up window:

• dotPLOT Examples (426 KB): 14 pages of examples of dotPLOT output.
• dotPLOT Tutor (4 MB): 47-page Tutorial with extensive examples and exercises, not updated for dot6000 features yet.
• dotPLOT Symbols (198 KB): Chapter 8 Examples from the User Manual (soil and rock symbols).  This file is included in the dotPLOT install packages (combined, and dotPLOT only).
• dotPLOT User Manual (619 KB): Detailed 76-page User Manual for dot6002 and HotPlot 2.2 (previous releases) with extensive Index.  Also included in the dotPLOT install packages.
• HotPlot Help File (94 KB) in case you want to get an overview of HotPlot without installing it.

To download the latest version of dotPLOT (it will run as a Demo until licensed) click here (new page)

Pricing

Dealers can get a referral commission of 15% of the above retail price, provided they are not quoting in competition with Software Africa.

An Educational License for dotPLOT is available free of charge only to registered educational institutions.  A license is issued per PC.  The banner "DEMO" appears across the printout, but unlike the regular Demo version it does not darken with age.  If you want a license, Contact us.

Prices in South African Rand are valid for Africa only.  Elsewhere, US$ prices apply.
South African purchasers: Please add 14% VAT.
Purchasers in the rest of the world: Please make sure that you have covered all bank charges.
Downloads are free, but (optional) deliveries of dongles and software are subject to courier charges.

Prices are subject to change without notice. E&OE.

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!