How can I use my matrix data file in Surfer 12 (or previous)?

Surfer 13 (and higher) can import uniform matrix data files as grids, but older versions cannot, so this article contains a sample script for converting a worksheet in matrix format to an XYZ data file for use in older versions of Surfer.

To run this script:

1. Copy the script below, or download the attached BAS file: Matrix2XYZ.bas.
2. In a Windows Explorer window, navigate to C:\Program Files\Golden Software\Surfer 12\Scripter.
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.
6. Click Script | Run to run the script. 

' Matrix2xyz.bas
'
' This script converts a worksheet in matrix format to an
' XYZ dat file, suitable for gridding in Surfer.  It assumes
' that the X values are in the first row in contiguous cells,
' beginning in column B, and that Y values are in the first column
' in contiguous cells beginning in row 2.  Z values are assumed to
' be in an array of contiguous cells beginning in cell B2.
'
Option Explicit
Sub Main
  Dim srfApp, wks As Object
  Dim inFile, xyzName, xyzDir, xyzFile, tmpFile, opts, row, y As String
  Dim x() As String
  Dim center(1) As Double
  Dim xMin, xMax, yMin, yMax, collar(9) As Double
  Dim i,j,xcnt As Integer

  ' Start Surfer
  Set srfApp = CreateObject("Surfer.Application")
  'srfApp.Visible = True

  ' Get the file to convert
  inFile = GetFilePath("","xls","","Open Excel worksheet containing array",0)
  ' Need to handle cancel from file dialog
  If inFile = "" Then Exit Sub

  ' Generate name for the temp .dat file
  tmpFile = Left(inFile,Len(inFile)-4) + "_temp.dat"

  ' Get the output file name.
  ' Default to input name + "_xyz"
  i = InStrRev(inFile,"\")
  j = InStrRev(inFile,".")
  xyzName = Mid(inFile,i+1,j-i-1) + "_xyz.dat"
  xyzDir = Left(inFile,i)
  xyzFile = GetFilePath(xyzName,"dat",xyzDir,"Save XYZ As",3)
  ' Need to handle cancel from file dialog
  If xyzFile = "" Then Exit Sub

  ' Open the input data file
  Set wks = srfApp.Documents.Open(inFile)

  ' Save it to a temporary .dat file and quit Surfer
  wks.SaveAs(tmpFile,,srfSaveFormatCsv)
  srfApp.Quit

  ' Open the temp .dat
  Open tmpFile For Input As #1

  ' Open the output xyz.dat file
  Open xyzFile For Output As #2

  ' Read the first row of X values and store in array
  Line Input #1, row
  xcnt = UBound(Split(row,","))
  ReDim x(xcnt)
  For i = 1 To xcnt
    x(i) = Split(row,",")(i)
  Next i

  ' Read through the rest of the temp.dat file and
  ' write x,y,z values to the output file.
  Do Until EOF(1)
    Line Input #1, row
    y = Split(row,",")(0)
    For i = 1 To xcnt
      Print #2,x(i);",";y;",";Split(row,",")(i)
    Next i
  Loop

  ' Close the temp .dat and delete it.
  ' Close the output file
  Close #1
  Kill tmpFile
  Close #2

End Sub

Updated September 13, 2017