How can I create a time-animated model in Surfer from data files in a specific directory?

Surfer does not currently have the ability to create a time-animated model, but there is an easy way to emulate this end-result via a script. To do so, run the script below and then upload all of the output GIF files to an animated GIF creator. Many of these are available online for free.

To run this script:

1. Copy the script below, or download the attached BAS file: GridContourExportLoop.bas.
2. In a Windows Explorer window, navigate to C:\Program Files\Golden Software\Surfer 16.
3. Double click on Scripter.exe to launch Scripter.
4. Press Ctrl+A to select all of the existing lines then press DELETE.
5. If you copied this script, press Ctrl+V to paste it into Scripter. If you downloaded it, click File | Open, select the BAS file from your downloads directory, and click Open.
   Update the User-defined variables section with your own files and preferences.
6. Click Script | Run to run the script. 
   

'==========================
'GridContourExportLoop.bas
'==========================
' This script loops through data files in a directory, gridding each one and creating a
' contour map from the grid, then exporting the grid as a GIF to be animated by
' a third-party program
'==========================
Sub Main
Debug.Clear

'Initializes Surfer
  Dim SurferApp, Plot, MapFrame, ContourLayer As Object
  Set SurferApp = CreateObject("Surfer.Application")
  SurferApp.Visible = True

'================================================================
'USER-DEFINED VARIABLES
'================================================================
'Files
  file_extension = "dat"		'extension of the data files in the directory
  file_directory = "c:\program files\golden software\surfer 16\samples\"		'directory containing all of the data files
  export_format = "gif"		'extension of the output image file

'Grid
  numrows = 200		'number of rows in the grid file
  numcols = 200		'number of columns in the grid file
  x = 1		'x column from the data file
  y = 2		'y column from the data file
  z = 3		'z column from the data file

'Colormap
  colormap_min = 40		'minimum data value for the colormap
  colormap_max = 100		'maximum data value for the colormap
  grad = "Rainbow"		'color gradient preset for the colormap
'================================================================

'If you didn't include a \ at the end of the file_directory, this line adds it
  If  Len(file_directory)-InStrRev(file_directory,"\") <> 0 Then file_directory = file_directory + "\"

'This sets the file name equal to any DAT files in the directory
  data_file = Dir( file_directory  + "*." + file_extension)

'Loops through all of the data files in the directory
  While data_file <> ""

    'Creates a plot window
      Set Plot = SurferApp.Documents.Add

    'Defines the name of the output grid file as the data file name with a GRD extension
      grid_file	= file_directory + Left(data_file, Len(data_file)-(Len(data_file)-InStrRev(data_file,".")+1) ) + ".grd"
      Debug.Print grid_file

    'Grids the data
      SurferApp.GridData3 (DataFile:=file_directory+data_file, Algorithm:= srfKriging, NumRows:=numrows, _
      NumCols:=numcols, ShowReport:=False, OutGrid:=grid_file, xCol:=x, yCol:=y, zCol:=z)

    'Creates a contour map
      Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(GridFileName:=grid_file)
      Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)

    'Fill contours
      ContourLayer.FillContours = True

    'Assigns a preset to the colormap
      ContourLayer.FillForegroundColorMap.LoadPreset(grad)

    'Sets colormap data limits so all exports use the same color scale
      ContourLayer.FillForegroundColorMap.SetDataLimits (DataMin:=colormap_min, DataMax:=colormap_max)

    'Defines the name of the output GIF file as the data file name with a GIF extension
      export_file	= file_directory + Left(data_file, Len(data_file)-(Len(data_file)-InStrRev(data_file,".")+1) ) + "." + export_format

    'Exports to a GIF
      Plot.Export2(FileName:=export_file, FilterID:=export_format)

    'Go to the next DAT file
      data_file = Dir()

  Wend

'Closes Surfer
  SurferApp.Quit

End Sub

Related Articles:

• How can I export multiple SRF files to bitmap images using Surfer automation?

Updated November 9, 2018