Update home for Field Geophysical Software Suite that accompanies

Introduction to Applied Geophysics: Exploring the Shallow Subsurface,

by Burger, Sheehan, and Jones

View the help topics for the software (includes some FAQs; also lists some changes for updated versions of applications)

Errata from the textbook are here.

Important 2020 Upgrade Note: For Windows users, the updater sometimes fails with errors after you exit the screen listing the changes in the new version of the code (after you press "Quit and Install"). If you get the message that the new version is installed, all is well (even if another message says it failed; that is the install script trying to restart the old version). Sometimes you'll even get a message that the update failed when in fact it did not (look at the "About" window to see what version you now have). But sometimes the update really does fail with obscure runtime errors. Trying a second time (so putting the v2.0 software back on the hard drive and relaunching it) sometimes works.

It appears the main issue is in copying over the files into the "XXX Libs" folder, where XXX is the name of the program. A workaround is after the update has downloaded (after you press "Install Update" in the big window), once the "Quit and Install" button appears, go to Windows Explorer. You should see a folder in the same folder as the application named ""XXX- decompressed" where XXX is the application name. Copy and paste the folder (i.e., select the folder, choose Copy, then Paste)--this should make a copy of the new application. Now go back to the application and choose "Cancel". This will delete the original "XXX- decompressed" folder, but your copy should still be present. Quit the old application. Trash (recycle) your old application and its "XXX Libs" folder and then move the contents of the "WWW- decompressed/XXX" folder into that spot.

As the DVD puts all the .exe (application) files in the same folder, if you follow these directions, you should end up with each application within its own folder. You can, if desired, move all three objects out of the application's folder and into that common folder, should you so choose. The current compiler directive of naming the Resources folder as "XXX Resources" will prevent any conflicts.

Advanced Windows user note: You will notice that the "XXX Libs" folders are *huge*. And they are pretty nearly the same.If you need to save space, I think you could make a single folder of Libs and then make shortcuts named "XXX Libs" pointing to the common libs folder. I'm not too sure what would happen on doing an update (maybe nothing bad), so keep that in mind if you try this.

Important Upgrade Note: The update mechanism in v2.1 of the geophysics software is broken (for sure on Macs, possibly all OSes)! If you have updated to v2.1, to get later updates you will need to update from the v2.0 original (from the DVD). I'm sorry for the problem. This is solved in v2.1.x releases.

Important information about the software: In the original release of the book, we included a CD-ROM with software. The updates at the bottom of the page are from that version. However, as operating systems evolved, the original software and, most recently, the updater software fail to work. The second printing of the text in 2015 has a DVD included (not CD-ROM) with v. 2.0 of the software, which should work on most modern computers. When buying a copy of the book, if buying a new copy, be sure it says "DVD inside"on the cover. Unfortunately, photos of the book online are likely to be out of date, so just seeing the old photo might not mean that is what you would get. If you order a new copy and get the CD-ROM version, please ask the seller to exchange it for the newer printing, and let us know (cjones@colorado.edu) what vendor is still selling the old copy.

Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and later users: The original software distributed on the CD-ROMs with the first printing of the text will not run under these OSes (it was Power-PC code originally). However, if you can update that version using the updaters below, you should be able to then run the software under these OSes. Just copy the Mac executables to your hard drive and then use the updater as instructed. Starting in mid-2015, second printings of the text (says "DVD" instead of "CD" on the spine) include v2.0 of all the software, which will run on Intel Macs with newer OSes; this version will not require updaters from this page. However, in Mac OS 10.15 and up, apps must be 64 bit; the DVD distribution will not work on those newer Macs for this reason. If possible, install and update on a pre-OS 10.15 machine and then copy the .app files to any newer machines (the current updaters will install 64 bit code).

Mac PPC users: With versions of the compiler since late 2011, support for PPC code was dropped. Because compiler updates usually improve compatibility with the newer systems, I am not attempting to maintain PPC updates after the early 2012 releases (should some critical problem emerge, I might revisit this--I do have a copy of the last PPC-capable compiler). This last version is distributed on the second printing DVDs. It will not be updated any further.

Windows users: In general, the updated versions of the programs may not run on pre-XP versions of Windows.

Version 2.0 of the Field Geophysical Software Suite accompanies a second printing of the text from mid-2015 (the newer version says "DVD" on the spine and cover of the book instead of "CD" and the sleeve for the software says 2015). It is not dramatically different from the last 1.x version posted here (the only large change is the replacement of updating via downloads from this page to updates within the app itself).Unfortunately the updating software I had been using fails to function under current OSes I have access to, so there won't be an update from the last 1.x versions here to 2.0. Updates after v2.0 are done directly within each program's Help menu (no more visiting this page to get downloads).

Version 2.1.x of the software suite is an update from v2.0 versions (DVD distributions) of the codes. Just choose "Updates..." from the Help menu. Please let me know of any issues.

Known Issues in v2.1 of the software [ALL 2.1 VERSIONS HAD A DEFECTIVE UPDATER--at least in Mac OS; would have to return to 2.0 and update from there: This is solved in 2.1.1 and later versions of the software]. Note that sometimes a version still in testing is listed below as solving a problem; the current public release numbers are list below under "Updates/Changes".

Refract:

Resist:

GravMag: (these were seen in v2.1 on Windows 10; most are not present on Mac--will be trying to debug in the future)

Updates/Changes from v2.0 to later versions:

Diffract
v2.1.2 adds the following:
Undo/redo now available
High-definition screens (Retina, HiDPI) should be properly supported
Dark Mode in Mac OS Mojave supported
Minimum OS now Mac 10.10.5/Windows 7 SP1
GravMag
v2.1.1 adds the following:
Undo/redo now available
High-definition screens (Retina, HiDPI) should be properly supported
Significant figures choice now more rigorously enforced
Checkbox in Model Window to toggle on/off contribution from individual body
Gravity and magnetic data can have a name/ID.
Adding/deleting data points overhauled and more under user control.
Comment lines (starting with "#") ignored in text import.
Bodies in section window now somewhat transparent.
Various labels' units fixed
Dark mode in Mac OS Mojave supported
Minimum OS now Mac 10.10.5/Windows 7 SP1
Reflect
v2.1.2 adds the following:
Undo/redo now available
High-definition screens (Retina/HiDPI) should be properly supported
Warnings added when removing layers or geophones that you could lose data
Blank data entries remain blank on save/open cycle
Negative shot offsets allowed (so allows center shots)
Changing pulse width in Preferences enables the Update Times and Plot button
Show/hide points in plot window fixed and will hide error bars
Supports Dark Mode in Mac OS Mojave
Minimum OS now Mac 10.10.5/Windows 7 SP1
Refract
v2.1.3 adds the following:
Undo/redo now available
High-definition screens (Retina, HiDPI) should be properly supported
Delimited text import for data
Bug when printing plot or section fixed
Supports Dark Mode in Mac OS Mojave/Catalina
Weighted RMS option when using pick uncertainties
Minimum OS now Mac 10.10.5/Windows 7 SP1
 
Resist
v2.1.2 adds the following:
Undo/redo now available
High-definition screens (Retina, HiDPI) should be properly supported
Error when adding a layer while using km scale fixed.
Supports Dark Mode in Mac OS Mojave
Minimum OS now Mac 10.10.5/Windows 7 SP1
 

Patches for pre-2.0 Windows version of GravMag, Refract, Resist:

Patches for pre-2.0 Mac versions of Field Geophysical Software Suite:

No updates will be available to go from v1 to v2 (this is a problem with the patch software, which is now obsolete)

Known issues:

All:

GravMag (v 1.0; most fixed in 1.0.14):

Refract: (most fixed in v1.1)

Resist:

Reflect:

Diffract:

The geophysical software suite is cross platform, behaving the same on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux OSes.


Please send mail to cjones@colorado.edu if you encounter any problems or have suggestions.

C. H. Jones | CIRES | Dept. of Geological Sciences | Univ. of Colorado at Boulder

Last modified at June 17, 2021 1:27 PM