Welcome to Surfer Dialog

The Welcome to Surfer dialog is displayed when you first start Surfer. The Welcome to Surfer dialog provides immediate access to the File | New | Plot, File | New | Worksheet, Map Wizard,  and Grid Data | Grid Data commands; sample files, recent files, and project files; and the tutorial. The Welcome to Surfer dialog also displays a tip about using Surfer. Resize the Welcome to Surfer dialog by clicking and dragging any side or corner of the dialog.

 

The Welcome to Surfer dialog helps you get started quickly in Surfer.

New Plot

Click the New Plot button to start Surfer with a new plot open in the plot window.

New Worksheet

Click the New Worksheet button to start Surfer with a new worksheet open in the worksheet window.

Map Wizard

Click Map Wizard to create a new plot and get straight to creating your map with the Map Wizard.

Grid Data

Click the Grid Data button to start Surfer with the Grid Data dialog Select Data page.

Open Files and File Preview

The Files section of the Welcome to Surfer dialog displays Surfer SRF files in one of three categories. Click the current selection in the Files Type list, and select Recent Files, Sample Files, or Project Files to change which files are displayed in the Files section. The Files Type selection is remembered the next time Surfer is started.

Click a file name to see a preview image in the Welcome to Surfer dialog. The preview is only available for Surfer 13 and newer .SRF files. Click on another file or press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW keys to change the file selection. Once a file is selected, the Open button is enabled. Click the Open button to start Surfer with the selected file open in the plot window. Alternatively, double-click on a file name to start Surfer with the selected file open in the plot window.

If the file you wish to open is not in the Recent Files , Sample Files , or Project Files list, select Browse in the Files Type list. Next, select the file to open in the Open dialog.

Recent Files

When Recent Files is selected in the Files Type list, the most recently opened Surfer files are displayed in the Files list. By default the number of files in the Recent Files list is 10. Change the number of files in the Recent Files list in the Options dialog User Interface page.

Sample Files

When Sample Files is selected in the Files Type list, the sample files included with Surfer are displayed in the Files list.

Project Files

When Project Files is selected in the Files Type list, the Surfer files located in the user defined project folder are displayed in the Files list. Change the project folder by clicking the Set Project Folder button and selecting the appropriate folder in the Select Folder dialog. Alternatively, the Project folder option can be set in the Options dialog on the General page. However, if the project folder is set in the Options dialog, Surfer must be closed and reopened for the changes to take effect.

Browse

Select Browse in the Files Type list to open a file with the Open dialog.

Tip

The Tip is a useful statement regarding a Surfer command or process.

Open

Click the Open button to start Surfer with the selected file in the Files list in the plot window. The Open button is enabled when a file is selected in the Files list.

Set Project Folder

Change the project folder by clicking the Set Project Folder button and selecting the appropriate folder in the Select Folder dialog. The Files Type selection is changed to Project Files after changing the project folder. If you click Cancel in the Select Folder dialog, the Files Type selection is not changed.

Tutorials

Click the Tutorials button to open the online help Tutorial Introduction help topic. The tutorial is a useful starting place for users who are new to Surfer.

Hiding the Welcome to Surfer Dialog

Uncheck the Show this dialog at start up check box to start Surfer without displaying the Welcome to Surfer dialog in the future. The Welcome to Surfer dialog can be enabled or disabled by checking or unchecking the Show welcome screen at startup check box in the Options dialog on the User Interface page.

Close

Click the Close button, the button, or press ESC to close the Welcome to Surfer dialog and start Surfer with a new plot in the plot window.

See Also

Open

Sample Files

New Plot

New Worksheet

Tutorial Introduction