feature request: gpml file management workflow

[michaelchin]

While Plate Tectonic Tools was originally developed, one of the aims had always been to create a “gpml file management” workflow akin to the old fortran program “megapoly” which I have attached again for your reference. It operated on “Plates formatted” data files (pre-dating the invention of gpml). The program was extremely useful in its day as it allows the user to quickly search data files for all relevant feature attributes, extract subsets, or even replace them, say if one was incorrectly coded.

megapoly.f.zip

[michaelchin]

(0) Add a new jupyter notebook to demonstrate the gpml file management workflow.

(1) tectonic element numbers

This search option is equivalent to "search by Plate ID". We already have the similar functionality in GPlately. See this link.

(2) age of feature

This search option is equivalent to "search by birth age". We already have the similar functionality in GPlately. See this link.

(3) data type

This search option is equivalent to "search by feature type". We already have the similar functionality in GPlately. See this link.

(4) string id numbers

I don't know what this is. It seems there is a numerical "istring" field in the old file format. I am not sure if we have an equivalent property in GPML.

(5) geographic window/polygon

Search feature geometries by a rectangular boundary or an area specified by a polygon. We don't have yet. Need to be added into GPlately.

(6) pass all data ✅ (nothing to be done)

Not sure why this is a search option. Basically, this will do nothing.

(7) age of disappearance ✅

Search by "end time". We don't have yet. Need to be added into GPlately.

(9) special overwrite abilities

Change property values for selected features. Currently, we have reset-feature-type functionality in GPlately. We can add more if needed.