How to View and Visualize KTB Data Tables

The KTB data tables are so called plain text ASCII files where the data are arranged in columns which are separated by a defined character like TAB, SEMICOLON, SPACE or BLANK. Most of these files have the file-extension '.rms' because this is the file type which can be used for the graphical visualization using GeoLogGFZ.

Two scenarios are possible:

  1. You use the KTB-CD on your local system without a connection to the GFZ Web Server: no further action is necessary. The files will be shown as HTML pages which can be previewed and downloaded.
  2. You use the Internet and you are connected to the GFZ Web Server: On your first try to display a file you will be prompted to define a suitable application.

    To use the provided data files you have three options:

    1. without a preview: Download or copy the file to your local system and use any kind of software which is able to read column-based plain text ASCII files. Most of the common spread-sheet tools can do it.
    2. preview before download: define the new file type using the capabilities of your browser.
    3. open it with GeoLogGFZ: define the new file type using the capabilities of your browser.

Definition of a new file type

The following is an example using the Netscape Browser 4.06. Similar features appear using the Microsoft Internet-Explorer.
On your first try to display a KTB data file you will be prompted to pickup an appropriate application 'Pick App...' or for downloading 'Save File ...'. If you only want to download the file without previewing it use the 'Save File ...'-button. If you like to preview the file first click once on the 'Pick App...'- button.
The dialog box "Configure External Viewer" appears. As mime type 'application/x-rms' is shown. Click once on the 'Browse...'-button.
Now the "Select an appropriate viewer"-dialog box appears. In most cases it shows immediately the directory where the executable file of the Web browser is installed. In this example 'netscape.exe'. Simply double click on that entry.

If the browser is installed at a different place you have to search for it using this dialog box.

If you have GeoLogGFZ installed on your local system you can use the executable 'geolog.exe' instead of the Web browser. The default directory for it is 'c:/geolog/geolog.exe'.

Next you will come back to the dialog box "Configure External Viewer". Simply click once on the 'OK'-button.
Now you are ready.

When you click now on an hypertext-link to a KTB data file you will be prompted for 'Open it' or 'Save it ...'. To avoid this dialog you can check out the "Always ask before opening this type of file" by one mouse click.