The Global Orientation Format in the Project Settings dialog determines how Dips will interpret the two orientation columns in the data file (i.e. the first two mandatory columns of your file). There are four possible choices:
DIP / DIP DIRECTION 00;000 (planar feature)
STRIKE (Right) / DIP 000;00 (planar feature, right hand rule for strike)
STRIKE (Left) / DIP 000;00 (planar feature, left hand rule for strike)
TREND / PLUNGE 000;00 (use this for linear measurements or for pole vectors of planes)
The Global Orientation Format determines the format of all data units in the file, with the following important exceptions:
If the data is assigned to a Traverse which is a Borehole, OR ...
If the Traverse Orientation Format has been used to indicate a different orientation format for a given Traverse.
NOTE:
For STRIKE and DIP, the "handedness" (right hand rule or left hand rule) can be interpreted as follows: hold the specified hand flat, with the palm down and the thumb extended at 90 degrees to your fingers. When your fingers point down dip, your thumb will indicate the direction of strike.
Changing the Global Orientation Format AFTER data has been entered in the spreadsheet, will NOT convert the data in the orientation columns. If you wish to save data in a different orientation format, use the Save Processed file option.