**Program Name:** SEDCLASS.EXE

**Type:** Main program

**Purpose:** This program uses percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and
clay to classify sediments based on systems from Shepard (1954) and Folk
(1954, 1974).

**Operating System:** Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP

**Source Language**: Microsoft Visual Basic Professional 6.0

**Source Code:** SEDCLASS.VBP and associated forms

**Program Category:** Data processing

**Input:** A comma-delimited file in ASCII format ([Figure 1](#Figure1))
that contains seven fields per line (record). The first line of the
input file must be a header that lists the field attributes. These
should be sample-identifier, latitude, longitude, and the percentages of
gravel, sand, silt, and clay (in that order). The Sample id field and
the navigation fields may be alphanumeric and the navigation fields may
be left blank; that is, [not]{.underline} omitted, but comma-delimited.
The percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay must total 100% (+/-
0.1%) or you will get an error message that CFP (cumulative frequency
percentage) is not equal to 100%.

**Output:** The output file ([Figure 1](#Figure1)) will be comma
delimited and contain eight fields including: sample identifier,
latitude, longitude, the percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay;
and the calculated sediment classification based on the system selected
by the user. The first line of the output file is a header that lists
the field attributes that were provided by the user, also comma
delimited, plus the classification method used,
"[SHEPARD_CLASS](#Figure4)" or "[FOLK_CLASS](#Figure3)". Users of
languages other than English may use their own header records.

**Usage:** Upon successful installation, the program may be executed by
simply clicking on the executable program Sedclass.exe. Alternately, the
program may be executed by clicking START, then RUN, and then typing the
path and name of the program.

> The program opens a Window ([Figure 2](#Figure2)) that presents the
> user with several options. First, the user can select a sediment
> classification scheme, either the one modified from FOLK (1954, 1974;
> [Figure 3](#Figure3)) or that of Shepard (1954, 1974; [Figure
> 4](#Figure4)). Second, clicking on the "*input file*" button opens a
> text window that allows the user to identify the file to be processed
> and to specify its location. Thirdly, clicking on the "*output file*"
> button opens a text window that allows the user to name the file to be
> generated and to specify the destination directory. The program will
> not run unless an output file is selected, nor will the program allow
> identical input and output filenames and paths. If a file of the same
> name already exists in the destination directory, a window will open
> that warns the user that the existing file will be replaced. If no
> destination directory is specified, the output file is written to C:\\
> (the root directory).
>
> Clicking the "*Run*" command button executes the data processing. The
> program generates the output file in the requested destination
> directory and allows the user to view results in a display window to
> determine whether errors have occurred. Clicking the "*Reset-Restart*"
> button restarts the program; clicking the "*Information*" button
> allows the user to view schematics of the classification systems,
> input or output files, or this documentation; "*Close*" exits the
> program and closes the window. On systems with no mouse, the user can
> hold down the "*Alt*" key and press the underlined character for the
> desired function.

**Diagnostics:** If the percentages of the various size fractions do not
total 100% (+/- 0.1%), the program will continue, but an "*ERROR CFP NOT
100%*" message will appear in the classification field for that record.
If an input record contains too few fields, the program will continue,
but a record will be written containing the Sample Identifier (if
available), null fields, and an error message "*ERROR. INPUT RECORD
FORMAT*" in the classification field. If an input record should contain
more than seven fields, those extra fields will be ignored. If the input
file has a header record containing more than seven fields, the user
will be warned that they may have selected an [output]{.underline} file
and the filename will NOT be accepted. Tip: If a user wishes to read an
output file as an input file it is only necessary to remove the eighth
field of the header record.

**Disclaimer:** Although this program has been used by the U.S.
Geological Survey and Eliason Data Services no warranty is expressed or
implied.

**Author:** A.H. Eliason

> Eliason Data Services
>
> 230 Meetinghouse Road
>
> Mashpee, MA 02649
>
> andrew@eliason.com
>
> \(508\) 477-3155

**Maintenance:** L. Poppe

> U.S. Geological Survey
>
> 84 Woods Hole Road,
>
> Woods Hole, MA 02543
>
> <lpoppe@usgs.gov>
>
> \(508\) 548-8700 x2314

[]{#Figure1 .anchor}FIGURE 1

![](media/image1.png){width="6.0in" height="4.269444444444445in"}

Examples of input and output SEDCLASS files.

A\) A typical input file with seven fields in comma-delimited ASCII.
Fields must be in this order, but population of the navigation fields is
optional. Note the last record has no navigation.

B\) Output file generated from the input file above with the Shepard
(1954) option selected.

C\) Output file generated from the input file above with the Folk (1954)
option selected. Note the eighth field for sediment classification
generated in the output files.

[]{#Figure2 .anchor}FIGURE 2

![](media/image2.png){width="6.0in" height="4.589583333333334in"}

Window for the SEDCLASS program. The user can select classification
schemes, designate input and output files, and start or cancel the
application. Clicking the input and output file options opens text boxes
that allow the user to enter file names and browse for destination
directories.

[]{#Figure3 .anchor}FIGURE 3

![](media/image3.png){width="6.0in" height="2.629861111111111in"}

Sediment classification scheme modified from Folk (1954, 1974) used by
the programs SEDCLASS.

[]{#Figure4 .anchor}FIGURE 4

![](media/image4.png){width="6.0in" height="2.8895833333333334in"}

Sediment classification scheme modified from Shepard (1954).