This sub-section describes how to launch SFE to connect with a third party database. Currently SFE supports connectivity to OpenWorks/SeisWorks and GeoFrame.
Once the SFE application has been launched, the SFE main window will be displayed as shown in the figure above (see sub-sections Launching SFE from OpenWorks environment or Launching SFE from GeoFrame environment for details). This window is the main interface to the application. The main window GUI consists of (from top to bottom): a menu area, an icon area, a log area and a status area (see figure below). Following launch, only the 
icons will be sensitised.
There are various ways that SFE can be launched (contact your on-site system administrator or help desk). ARK CLS recommends launching SFE as follows:
Ensure that you have an OpenWorks/SeisWorks environment then start the OpenWorks launcher.
From the OpenWorks launcher menu select to pop up an OpenWorks xterm.
In this OpenWorks xterm type sfe to launch SFE. This assumes that the sfe launch script has been placed in a location which can be seen from your environment. Normally your system administrator would have placed this script in such a location. Alternatively, if you know the location of your installation of SFE then you can launch the software by typing: <path to SFE installation>/bin/sfe
With the SFE main window displayed, the first task will be to select a project. This can be achieved by clicking the icon, select menu File->Project or Ctrl+P to pop up the "Select Project" dialog.
The image in the figure above shows the Select Project dialog for SeisWorks. For OpenWorks/SeisWorks this normally means either the OW_PMPATH (note that OW_CONF_DIR replaces OW_PMPATH in R5000) or OWHOME environment variable being set. Once you have selected a project, (for R5000 this can be either a master or interpretation project) the push button will be sensitised allowing you to complete the project selection.
This will create a new SFE session without the need to click the icon or selecting the menu item .
There are various ways that SFE can be launched (contact your on-site system administrator or help desk). ARK CLS recommends launching SFE as follows:
Ensure that you have a GeoFrame environment then start a GeoFrame xterm.
In this GeoFrame xterm type sfe to launch SFE. This assumes that the sfe launch script has been placed in a location which can be seen from your environment. Normally your system administrator would have placed this script in such a location. Alternatively, if you know the location of your installation of SFE then you can launch the software by typing: <path to SFE installation>/bin/sfe
With the SFE main window displayed, the first task will be to select a project. This can be achieved by clicking the icon, select menu File->Project or Ctrl+P to pop up the "Select Project" dialog.
The image in the figure above shows the Select Project dialog for GeoFrame. Notice the extra field for the GeoFrame project password. For GeoFrame you will normally have GF_PATH set. Once you have selected a project, and entered a password the push button will be sensitised allowing you to complete the project selection.
This will create a new SFE session without the need to click the icon or selecting the menu item .