Version 3.1

PlotIT for Windows

User's Guide

By Scientific Programming Enterprises










Disclaimer

Although this system has been tested, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy and functioning of this package and the related system documentation. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Scientific Programming Enterprises. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use, without the express written consent of Scientific Programming Enterprises.



Copyright 1994, Scientific Programming Enterprises. This material is not to be reproduced except upon written authorization from Scientific Programming Enterprises. The associated Dynamic Link Libraries and Help Engine are Copyright 1992, Microsoft Corporation. RPN Scientific is Copyright 1994, Mitochondria. Equation Editor is Copyright 1994, Design Science, Inc. Advanced Toolbar Control is Copyright 1994, Alien Technologies. All rights are reserved worldwide by all companies.

Scientific Programming Enterprises
P.O. Box 669
Haslett, MI 48840 USA
(517) 339-9859 phone
(517) 339-4376 fax
Contents

Introduction

Using this Manual

This manual is intended to be a general PlotIT User's Guide suitable for reference while at the keyboard or for perusal while away from your computer.

There is also extensive user information in the online Help system, which offers PlotIT Wizard real-time instruction and the online Help reference system, with five research modes (Contents, Search, History, Browse buttons (<< and >>), and Index), command demonstrations, and a Glossary.

Your Input Counts!

PlotIT is a masterpiece in process. Already the most capable and flexible software of its kind, it continues to evolve. Consistent with Scientific Programming Enterprise's philosophy of quality and continual product improvement, PlotIT is designed to be capable of being changed and upgraded, according to your needs.

If you have suggestions for improvement of the product or related manuals, please contact Scientific Programming Enterprises. We take your comments very seriously, and our products have been enhanced as a result. Issues of particular interest include additional topics that might be covered in the manual as well as additional index entries that you hoped to see, but didn't.

We also appreciate success stories. One delighted PlotIT user called our product "the best kept secret in America." We're working to spread the word, and your input about success stories may help others make the wise decision to use PlotIT for their data analysis and graphing needs.

To contact Scientific Programming Enterprises:
Mail: P.O. Box 669
Haslett, MI 48840
Telephone: 517-339-9859
Facsimile: 517-339-4376

PlotIT Features

The PlotIT Edge: Advantages Over Other Products

As of this writing, PlotIT has a clear lead over similar products. The following list includes just some of those features that mean power and flexibility to the user:

User Convenience and General Features

File Formats

PlotIT for Windows supports a variety of file formats. They differ depending on whether you are working with a Graph or Worksheet document, and whether you are reading data from an existing file (input) or saving a document to a file (output).

Using Windows

PlotIT for Windows requires Microsoft Windows 3.1 or a newer version. Its operation is consistent with Microsoft Windows standards, using windows, menu bars, pop-up menus, dialog boxes, and related user controls.

Users adept at using Microsoft Windows should find PlotIT intuitive and easy to use, once the key PlotIT concepts (explained below and in the online Help) are understood.

For more information on using the Windows interface, please refer to the appropriate Microsoft Windows manual.

Suggested Hardware Configuration

PlotIT for Windows is designed to be compatible with the most commonly used hardware platforms running Windows version 3.1. This includes the following:

Installing PlotIT

Before you start installing and using PlotIT, take a few moments to take care of the important and helpful business of registering as a PlotIT user for warranty, update, and free technical support. Also verify against the packing list that your PlotIT software has arrived complete, with all programs, files, and manuals.

Register as a PlotIT User

There is a registration card included with your PlotIT product. Please fill it out and mail it to Scientific Programming Enterprises. This will protect your rights to technical support and update information. If you purchased PlotIT from a dealer, and did not receive any registration information, please contact Scientific Programming Enterprises at (517) 339-9859.

Packing List

Along with the registration card, you should find the following:

  • Four PlotIT master disks, with printed serial numbers

  • The PlotIT Return Policy -- be sure to read this first

  • A User's Guide, a Getting Started Manual, and a Reference Manual

Installation

1. PlotIT installation and operation require that Microsoft Windows 3.1 be running on your computer. If it is installed on your computer but not running, at the DOS prompt type:

win
and then press .

2. Using the master disks, insert PlotIT disk #1 into the appropriate disk drive. This disk contains the file INSTALL.EXE, which is the installation program that must be run. Checking the directories of the four master disks will confirm the location of INSTALL.EXE. Consult your operating system and Microsoft Windows users guides for more information on displaying disk directories.

3. With Microsoft Windows 3.1 running, run INSTALL.EXE. This can be done from the Program Manager window as follows:

a. Select the File menu.
b. Choose the Run command. The Run dialog box will appear.
c. In the Command Line text box, type
a:\install.exe

Note that if you have the PlotIT disk in a drive designated other than A, such as B, then you would use the appropriate drive specifier in front of the program name; e.g., you might type
b:\install.exe

4. Choose OK to execute the Run command. Then follow the installation instructions as the PlotIT installation program directs, answering questions and changing disks when prompted from your display screen.

Alternate installation procedure

The File Manager window in Microsoft Windows 3.1 may be used also to find and install PlotIT.

1. Open the File Manager window, which is usually in the Main program group. If you don't know how to do this, refer to your Windows User's Guide.

2. Select the disk drive that contains the PlotIT installation disk #1. This will usually be a drive designated A or B.

3. If the installation disk is in the drive and you've properly selected it in the File Manager window, the INSTALL.EXE file will be visible in the directory listing on the right side of the File Manager window. Select that file either by clicking with the mouse or using the keyboard. Once selected, it will remain highlighted.

4. Then, with the mouse or keyboard commands, select File/Run as described above in the first installation procedure explanation. If INSTALL.EXE is still highlighted, the command line should automatically have the appropriate path and file name in it. If so, you need only to confirm by clicking OK or pressing the enter key.

As in the first installation procedure described above, follow the installation instructions as the PlotIT installation program directs, answering questions and changing disks when prompted from your display screen.

Key PlotIT Concepts

Graph Files vs. Data Files

Data files and graph files are inseparably related in PlotIT. Data files are, in most cases, the foundation upon which graphs are made. A graph file is essentially a set of instructions on graph specifications and how data is to be interpreted. This approach offers unparalleled flexibility and power.

This means, however, that if you use an unsaved worksheet to make a graph, you must save both the graph and the worksheet to successfully open the graph another time. Saving just the graph file, but not the worksheet, will result in errors when you try to redisplay the graph, because the curve data is not saved in the graph file.

Elements

1. Select an element by clicking with the mouse, or using the Select command.

2. Press the del key on the keyboard, or choose the Graph/Delete Element command.

Data

For graphing, PlotIT allows the use of FORTRAN equations, PlotIT or other worksheet data, and, in some cases (such as pie charts), local data entry as the chart is created.

Worksheet data can be entered, sorted, and otherwise manipulated in preparation for graphing, and it can be analyzed in a variety of ways.

Notation Used in this Manual

This User's Guide employs a shorthand notation to describe making menu choices from the PlotIT menu system. Menu commands, either from the menu bar or from pop-up menus will be indicated in bold type such as File. When a pop-up command should be chosen, the menu bar choice will be indicated first, with a slash separating the pop-up command such as Format/Alignment. This indicates that you should choose the Format command from the menu bar, and then choose the Alignment command from the resulting pop-up menu.

Keys to be pressed are in small caps Swiss font, such as the Escape key: esc.

Text the user should type is in Courier font, such as type y = sin(x)[0,10].

About Menus Displayed

The menu bar displayed will vary according to the document type that is active. An active document is one in which the cursor is currently located.

For example, the worksheet menu bar (and thus the commands available) is different from the graph menu bar. Keeping this in mind may help you find a command when you have two or more different document types displayed in the window.

Screen Layout

Figure 1-1: Screen Layout

Control Menu Icon

The icon that opens the Control menu displaying commands that control the size and window position.

Controls a document window.
Controls an application window.
The control menu icon is always at the left of the title bar.

EditBar

The horizontal bar usually appearing just below the PlotIT PowerBar or menu bar.
Edit Window

The text box appearing in the PlotIT EditBar when the current document is a Worksheet. It displays the current cell contents.
Maximize Icon

Mouse users can click the maximize icon to enlarge a window to its maximum size.
Menu Bar

The horizontal bar appearing just below the PlotIT title bar. It contains the names of the PlotIT graph or worksheet menus (depending on current document type).
Minimize Icon

Mouse users can click the minimize icon to shrink a window to an icon.
PowerBar

The horizontal bar appearing just below the PlotIT menu bar. The PowerBar is actually made up of the PowerBar dock and one or more PowerBar palettes. The palettes contain buttons for the most frequently used PlotIT commands and programmable Power Buttons, while the dock provides a stationary location to place the palettes when they aren't "floating".

  • Mouse users can move the mouse pointer to the desired Power Button and click the left mouse button to select certain commands (e.g., File/Save).

See page 1-22, PlotIT Configuration, for displaying the PowerBar, and page 4-6, Defining PowerBar Buttons, for customizing and programming the PowerBar user buttons.

Restore Icon

Mouse users can click the restore icon to return a window to the size and location it had before it was maximized.
Scroll Bar

The shaded bar along the right and bottom window edges.
StatusBar

The bar across the bottom of the PlotIT window that displays status information and messages. Sections of the StatusBar are as follows:
See page 1-22, PlotIT Configuration, for displaying the StatusBar.

Title Bar

The bar across the top of a window containing the window's name.
Window Sizing Border

Mouse users can drag the border around a window to change the window's shape and size. You can drag the top, bottom, or side border to size in one direction. You can also drag a border corner to size in two directions at once.

Menu Bar Layout

Graph Document Menu Bar

Worksheet Document Menu Bar

Worksheet Document Menu Bar (cont)

Script/Viewer Document Menu Bar

Choosing Commands

Choose commands to tell PlotIT for Windows what to do next. Usually, there are several methods to achieve the same result in PlotIT. For example, to graph a data range highlighted in the worksheet, you could use any of the four following methods (there are others):

Menu command Choose Graph/Curve from the worksheet menu bar.

PowerBar button Click the button.

Context menu Click the right mouse button in the highlighted range, and choose Graph Curve from the popup menu .

Keyboard .

Menu Commands

Menu commands are grouped into menus across the menu bar. Shortcut menus and PowerBar buttons offer numerous equivalent commands. Many commands also have keyboard shortcut key sequences.

Some menu entries display a cascading menu, also called a submenu. Cascading menus are indicated by a following the command name. They contain the actual commands to be chosen.

Context Popup Menus

Context popup menus, also known as shortcut menus, contain the more frequently used commands for the worksheet range or graph elements you have selected. To display a context menu, click the right mouse button. Continue to hold down the right mouse button while moving the mouse pointer to the desired menu command. Release the button only after you have chosen the command. To cancel the menu, move the mouse pointer off the menu and release the right mouse button.

In a Worksheet document, you could highlight a data range, click the right mouse button to display the context menu, and then choose a command from the menu.

In a Graph document, you could click on an element (or select a group of elements), click the right mouse button to display the context menu, then choose a command from the menu.

PowerBar Buttons

To choose a PowerBar button, click it. Using buttons requires a mouse. For information about displaying and customizing the User buttons, see page 4-6, Defining PowerBar Buttons.

Keyboard Shortcuts

You can perform almost every menu procedure in PlotIT with the keyboard. For information about using the keyboard, see Keyboard Sequences in the Worksheet and Graph chapters of the Reference Manual. You'll also find keyboard shortcuts in the online Help system.

Beginning and Saving

Starting PlotIT

1. Double-click on the PlotIT group icon in Windows. This opens the group window.

2. Double-click on the PlotIT program icon. This starts PlotIT.

Running PlotIT from the Command Line

In addition to the procedure described above, you can also start PlotIT by entering the program name on the command line. If you enter a filename as a command line argument, the file will be loaded as a document. This option produces the same result as opening a file using the File/Open command. There are at least three command-line procedures that can be used. In each example given below, it is assumed that the PlotIT software was installed in the directory C:\PLOTITW.

At the DOS prompt, type:

WIN C:\PLOTITW\PLOTITW [filename]

Enter a path and filename instead of just filename as the command line argument if the file is not in one of the designated search paths (see the Format/Search Paths command for more information).

Using the Windows Run Command

Choose Run from the File menu in Program Manager or File Manager. The Run dialog box displays. Type the pathname for the program (and the file to be opened if desired) in the Command Line text box:

C:\PLOTITW\PLOTITW [filename]

Or you may modify the command line for the PlotIT program item. Choose the File/Properties command in Program Manager. The Program Item Properties dialog box displays. The Command Line text box should already display the pathname for the program:

C:\PLOTITW\PLOTITW.EXE

You can add a filename as a command-line argument to this pathname if desired. When you double-click the PlotIT program icon to start the program, the specified file is opened. This procedure is not recommended unless you want to start each PlotIT session by working with the same set of files!

There are several command line arguments available, which are listed after the .EXE program name and separated by a space:

  • [doc_filename]
Each document on the command line will be opened (multiple files are permitted). If a script file (.SSF) is given, it will be executed automatically if it is the last argument on the command line.

  • -Quiet
Start PlotIT for Windows without displaying the logo screen. This is useful when invoking PlotIT from other applications and you don't want extra screen activity.

  • -Embedding
Used strictly by OLE Clients to invoke PlotIT as an OLE Server.

  • -I
Look in the PlotITW directory for the PLOTIT.INI file -- if not present, then look in the Windows directory.
Use the <inifile> instead of the default PLOTIT.INI file -- if not present, then look in the Windows directory. The <inifile> must immediately follow the -I (no spaces), and should be a fully qualified path.

Opening Existing Graphs and Worksheets

1. Choose File/Open from the menu. This opens the familiar Windows Open dialog box.

2. Use the controls in the dialog to select the desired disk, directory, and file. The simplest way to select is by double-clicking with the mouse. Files will display according to the entry in the File Name text box. For example, if the file mask *.* is entered, all the files in a directory will display. If *.SPF is entered, only those files with the .SPF extension will be displayed.

Opening Two or More files Simultaneously

A series of files can be opened simultaneously. Follow the directions above, but instead of double-clicking on a desired file, click-and-drag through a range of files. When the desired range of files is selected, choose OK.

Multiple files that are not in a series also can be simultaneously opened. Holding the ctrl key while selecting files from the list box allows multiple discontinuous selections. Choosing OK opens all selected files.

Beginning a New Graph or Worksheet

1. Choose File from the menu bar.

2. From the resulting cascading menu, choose either New Graph or Quick (Quick is simpler), for a new graph. For a new worksheet, choose New Worksheet.

Saving Your Work

PlotIT Configuration

The way you configure PlotIT using the Tools/Options System command can affect greatly your use of PlotIT. The great flexibility and capability that the software offers can seem challenging until you become more familiar with it. The PlotIT Configuration dialog box is where the following options are set (for more detail on other options, press the f1 function key for online context- sensitive Help see page 1-26).

Short Menus

Some long menu lists are shortened and less commonly used options are not displayed. Clearing this option will display all possible commands.

PowerBar

Display the PowerBar. Because the PowerBar can save you keystrokes or mouse clicks, it is recommended that it be kept selected.

StatusBar

If you are among those users who don't like the status bar and its changing messages, clear this option. Otherwise leave it selected.

StatusBar Menu Descriptions

Display menu hints in the status bar as you make menu selections. To eliminate the menu hints, clear it.

Setting Preferences

PlotIT allows setting preferences for four general areas: system, graphs, worksheets, and custom. The PlotIT Configuration dialog box, which is used to set preferences, is available by choosing the Tools/Options menu command.

Setting System Preferences

When the PlotIT Configuration dialog box is displayed, there are tabs which emulate index card dividers. Choosing the System tab displays the index card containing system preference options as shown below:

Setting Graph Preferences

When the PlotIT Configuration dialog box is displayed, there are tabs which emulate index card dividers. Choosing the Graph tab displays the index card containing graph options as shown below:

Setting Worksheet Preferences

When the PlotIT Configuration dialog box is displayed, there are tabs which emulate index card dividers. Choosing the Worksheet tab displays the index card containing worksheet options as shown below:

Setting Custom Preferences

When the PlotIT Configuration dialog box is displayed, there are tabs which emulate index card dividers. Choosing the Custom tab displays the index card containing custom preference options as shown below:

Using the Help System

PlotIT provides a comprehensive and flexible online Help system. The Help system is convenient and easy-to-use, offering many options. Taking the time to become comfortable with the options and uses of the Help system can pay big dividends later. As questions arise, you won't have to refer to printed manuals, but will have answers at your fingertips.

Choose Help from the menu bar and explore PlotIT's Help system. Notice that as you position the mouse pointer on certain graphics, words, and phrases in special print, it changes to a pointing hand. Whenever that happens, you have found an object on which you can point and click for more information.

When the Help system opens, choose Help again to open the pop-up menu. Choosing the How to Use Help command will open the Help section that tutors you on using Help. After reviewing How to Use Help, there are three ways to return to the main Help system.

  • You can keep choosing the Back button, thus backing you through all the screens you have viewed in How to Use Help until you return to the main Help system from which you launched How to Use Help (but this is slow and tedious if you have explored extensively the How to Use Help command).

  • You may shortcut this backing process by choosing the History button, scrolling to the PLOTITW:Help Index listing, and selecting it (using keyboard commands or double-clicking with the mouse).

  • You can close the How to Use Help section and reopen Help, which returns you to the Help contents screen.

Browsing the topics and reviewing sections of interest will make PlotIT's Help system more familiar and comfortable for you as you need it later on.

PlotIT Quick Wizard

The Quick Wizard is a pop-up dialog box real-time advisor that, when enabled, provides step-by-step advice on various procedures. If you wish to disable the Quick Wizard, you would choose the Turn Off button or select the Don't Display on Startup option as they are presented in Quick Wizard dialogs.

To redisplay the PlotIT Quick Wizard once it has been turned off, choose Help/Quick Wizard from the menu.

Getting Specific Help

When you have a specific question, or a topic about which you need more information, there are several ways to accomplish that using the Help buttons for contents, search, or index. It is important to recognize that the index and the contents both use the Help topics (titles) as reference list entries. The search option, uses key words or phrases as reference list entries.

1. By choosing the Contents button , the Help table of contents is presented. By making appropriate choices, you can navigate through the information tree of topic headings that branches outward from the contents choices.

2. You may also choose the Search button , which presents a list box containing an alphabetized listing of keywords. By scanning the list, or by typing in your own keyword, you are likely to find the desired topic or a related one that will lead to the desired details.

3. Choosing the Index button presents alphabetical ranges which you will scan for the desired topic heading. Once an alphabetical range is chosen, the topics in that range are presented in a list. You then choose the desired topic heading.

Some information may be easier to locate through one of the above methods than another. So if the information you desire isn't readily available by one access method, try another.

Help Demonstrations

When PlotIT displays a Help topic, the Demonstrate button, when available, can demonstrate how the current Help topic information is used. Choosing this button (when it's not dimmed) will initiate a demonstration sequence that shows you how to use the information which the Help topic provides.

Context Sensitive Help ()

Remember that there are many situations in PlotIT when help information on the selected object is available simply by pressing the f1 function key. Trying this option first will further simplify using the online Help system to get immediate answers to your questions.

For example, suppose you are printing a worksheet. In preparation for printing, you choose the Format/Printing command to format the worksheet. The Format Printing dialog box displays, but you don't understand the purpose of all the check box options. By pressing the f1 function key, a facsimile of the dialog is displayed, on which you can click for explanations of all the options.

Customizing the Help System

You can customize the online Help system in two general ways to meet your specific needs. You can use the bookmark function to create custom index entries for topics to which you might often refer. You also can add notes to existing topics by way of the annotate function.

Why Customize Help?

PlotIT is easy to use, but running computer software requires a different human "memory" system than, say, riding a bike. Our muscles "remember" how to ride a bike -- often for a lifetime. Unfortunately, our brains forget how to perform computer tasks with discouraging ease and rapidity.

Because of the unparalleled power and available options, there may be times when you have to research through online Help how to accomplish something in PlotIT for Windows. You may not have to do the same PlotIT operation again for many weeks, month, or even years. Not sure you'll remember the next time? You probably won't -- unless, that is, you do something now to help yourself later. Leave yourself easy-to-find notes!

Find a related online Help topic. Annotate it with the necessary information about the task you accomplished using PlotIT. Then bookmark it, so you can find it easily the next time you need it!

To either annotate or bookmark, perform the following steps:

1. Ensure that the Help screen that you wish to annotate or bookmark is currently displayed.

2. Choose Edit/Annotate or Bookmark/Define. A dialog box will open.

3. For annotations, enter your notes and choose Save. A paper clip icon will display in the screen you have annotated. Or...

For bookmarks, accept the bookmark name or enter the name you prefer and choose OK. The bookmark name will display in the Bookmark menu.

Bookmark entries appear in the Bookmark menu in the order created. When the Bookmark menu is full, a More... option appears at the bottom of the menu. Choosing the More... option presents the bookmark list in alphabetical order for easier reference.

Help System Tutorials Using Search

The following sections describe simple procedures for using the Search button in the online Help system to find information on how to accomplish certain tasks in PlotIT.

Changing Units: cm/inch - a Help tutorial

1. First choose Help from the menu bar. The Help system displays.

2. Choose the Search button. The Search dialog box displays.

3. In the text box, enter a likely key word; in this case enter units. PlotIT Help highlights the closest key word/phrase in the upper list box. When the desired key word/phrase is double-clicked on, or when it's highlighted and the Show Topics button is chosen, topics display in the lower list box which are related to the keyword.

4. From the lower list box, select setting default attributes and choose the Go To button. The information screen which displays will have the necessary information.

5. For more detail, you may jump to related topics by choosing a jump (a word or phrase differentiated by color and underline, where, when you point the mouse pointer on it, the mouse pointer changes to a pointing hand).

Finding Changing Fonts - a Help tutorial

To find this information in the online Help system:

1. First choose Help from the menu bar. The Help system displays.

2. Choose the Search button. The Search dialog box displays.

3. In the text box, enter a likely key word; in this case enter font. PlotIT Help highlights the closest key word/phrase in the upper list box, and displays in the lower list box topics which are related to the keyword.

4. Scan the upper list box for key word/phrases which are likely suspects. In this case, font is a good prospect.

5. Select font from the upper list box and choose the Show Topics button. This will display the related topics in the lower list box.

6. Scan the topics listed in the lower list box. This list should suggest information about your point of interest. For example, if you need information about changing legend fonts, you would highlight edit legend attributes and choose the Go To button. This displays general information about editing. Careful reading and some trial-and-error with the offered topics should yield the information you require.

Finding Changing Column Widths - a Help tutorial

When PlotIT displays a worksheet, an individual column's width can be changed by pointing on the right column separator within the column heading area and clicking and dragging the column to the desired size.

To find this information in the online Help system:

1. First choose Help from the menu bar. The Help system displays.

2. Choose the Search button. The Search dialog box displays.

3. In the text box, enter a likely key word; in this case enter column. PlotIT Help highlights the closest key word/phrase in the upper list box, and displays in the lower list box topics which are likely to be appropriate.

4. Scan the upper list box for key word/phrases which are likely suspects. In this case, column width is a good prospect.

5. Select column width from the upper list box and choose the Show Topics button. This will display the related topics in the lower list box.

6. Choose the jump, changing column widths. The resulting topic, formatting worksheet columns, contains the desired information.

Using Example Graphs for Help

PlotIT comes with a large supply of sample graphs. Reviewing these can provide examples of graphing techniques which you can include in your graphs.

Choose the Help/Example Graphs menu command to open the Graph Examples dialog box:

This dialog box allows you to specify the type, style, and example of graph that you wish to view. When you select the OK pushbutton, several example graphs will be tiled on your display screen.

Decide which graph is appropriate for your purpose and maximize it for better viewing of its details.

By selecting any element and then choosing the Format/Element menu command (or simply double-clicking on the desired element with the mouse) you can open the Element dialog box and duplicate the pertinent settings in your graph.

Entering and Working with Data

Generally, you will enter data for graphing by associating a worksheet file that contains the necessary data. The worksheet file may be a PlotIT worksheet file (.DAT) or a number of other worksheet files including ASCII, dBASE, Lotus, Excel, and Quattro Pro. For the required syntax to use data files generated by other software, see page 2-21, Using Data from Other Worksheets.

If data to be plotted can be expressed as an equation, that equation can be used to generate data if it is written using FORTRAN syntax. Such an equation would be entered in the Data File text box, which is found in a Format dialog box.

FORTRAN Equation Data Entry

You can use a FORTRAN equation, with intrinsic functions, in place of a data file name to define the appearance of a 2D curve, a 2D contour graph, or a 3D surface. Use the syntax described in the following sections:

2D Curves

Y = f(X) [Xmin,Xmax,N]

The arguments in square brackets indicate the minimum (Xmin) and maximum (Xmax) X values for the generated curve data. The last argument indicates the number of generated data points if N is an integer, or the X increment if N is not an integer.

Example: Y = SIN(X)/EXP(X) [0.0,3.14,0.157]

2D Contour Graphs and 3D Surfaces

Z = f(X,Y)

The Low Value and High Value for the X-axis determine the minimum and maximum X values for the generated data. The Low Value and High Value for the Y-axis determine the minimum and maximum Y values for the generated data. The X- and Y-axis Tick Increment attributes determine the frequency of data values defining the 2D contour, or 3D surface.

Example: Z = COS(2.0*Y)/(1.0+X*X/2.0+Y*Y/16.0)

Keyboard Data Entry

If your data is not to be generated from an equation and is not already saved in a disk file as mentioned in the previous section, it must be entered and, preferably, saved. It is recommended that you use PlotIT's worksheet to create an ASCII data file (.DAT) .

Entering Data in a PlotIT Worksheet

1. Open a worksheet using the PowerBar Sheet button or the File/New Worksheet command.

2. Starting with cell A1, enter your data.

Note: For (x,y) data which has x coordinates that are whole numbers running from 1 to n (1, 2, 3, 4, ... n), by entering the y coordinate in the A column, PlotIT will assume that the x coordinate is the row number. If you enter data in columns A and B, PlotIT assumes that the entries (column A, column B) in each row represent an (x,y) data pair. Similarly, PlotIT will assume that data entered in columns A, B, and C of each row represent a set of three-dimensional coordinates (x,y,z).

3. When you have finished entering your data into the worksheet, save the file by choosing the PowerBar Save button or the File/Save or File/Save As command.

Opening a Worksheet

1. From the main menu bar, choose the File/Open command.

2. From the Open dialog box, select the drive, directory, and worksheet file you wish to access.

3. Choose OK to close the dialog box.

Navigating within the Worksheet

Marking a Range of Worksheet Cells

To use most of the worksheet commands, you first must mark a cell range. In some cases, it is necessary to mark a second or even a third range. Refer to the worksheet command descriptions to determine how many ranges you need to mark to perform a particular task.

You can mark up to four ranges. Each additional range is highlighted with a different color (on a color monitor), or reverse text (on a black and white monitor).

Commands which affect only one range (e.g., Range/Print) are usually carried out on the most recently marked range, except for Calculate-Analysis commands, which treat the optional second range as a destination range.

Commands which require more than one range are carried out on the ranges in the order in which they were marked. For example, if you mark three columns and then select the Range/Swap command, the first column is swapped with the second column.

You can mark entire worksheet columns by marking a range of column headers at the top of the worksheet. You can mark worksheet rows by marking a range of row headers on the left worksheet edge.

You can mark all the data in the worksheet by clicking on the area to the left of the column headers and just above the row numbers.

You can use the mouse or key combinations.

Marking a Range Using the Mouse

1. Move the pointer to the worksheet location where you want to begin marking a range.

2. Press down the left mouse button to mark the first cell (i.e., anchor the first corner) in the range. Pressing the left mouse button unmarks all existing marked ranges!

3. While holding down the left mouse button, move the pointer to a different location on the worksheet. Release the mouse button to anchor the second corner when the desired range is highlighted.

Marking Additional Ranges

1. Move the pointer to the worksheet location where you want to begin marking a range.

2. Press and hold the ctrl key, and press down the left mouse button to mark the first cell in the range.

3. While holding down the left mouse button, move the pointer to the opposite end of the range. Release the mouse button to anchor the second corner when the desired range is highlighted.

(As an alternative to the ctrl+ left mouse button combination, the right mouse button can be used.)

Extending or Reducing a Range

1. Move the pointer to the worksheet location where you want to redefine the second corner of the range most recently marked (the first corner cannot be unanchored).

2. While holding down the shift key, either click the left mouse button at the desired cell, or press any of the arrow keys until you reach the desired cell.

Or, if you know the cell coordinates of the new end-of-range cell:

1. Choose the Edit/Goto Cell command.

2. Type in the cell coordinates.

3. Select the Extend Selection check box.

4. Choose OK to close the dialog box.

Unmarking a Range

You can unmark the range most recently marked by pressing the backspace key.

Deleting a Range of Worksheet Cells

There are three options for deleting a data range:

Erasing a Range

1. Mark a range.

2. Choose the Range/Erase command.

Deleting a Range

1. Mark a range.

2. Choose the Range/Delete command.

3. A dialog box displays with an up arrow and a left arrow indicating the directions in which existing cells can be shifted.

Choose the Up Arrow to shift data up to fill the deleted range, or

Choose the Left Arrow to shift data to the left.

Cutting

1. Mark a range.

2. Choose the Edit/Cut command.

3. If Verify On is selected, the program displays a message box with the prompt Verify to Erase Cells? Choose OK to Cut the data from the marked range (and place them on the clipboard), or choose Cancel to cancel the command.

Moving Worksheet Cell Data Easily Using Drag-and-Drop

The simplest way to move data is the drag-and-drop method.

1. Mark the data range to be moved.

2. Point the mouse pointer within the marked range and hold down the left mouse button for a moment. The mouse pointer will turn into a hand, and the range will turn gray.

3. Drag the range to the desired location.

You can also move a data block using Cut and Paste:

1. Cut the desired data range.

2. Paste the data range into the desired location.

Copying a Range of Worksheet Cells

The simplest way to copy data is the drag-and-drop method.

1. Mark the data range to be moved.

2. Point the mouse pointer within the marked range, and hold down the ctrl key while you hold down the left mouse button for a moment. The mouse pointer will turn into a hand, and the range will turn gray.

3. Drag the copied range to the desired location and release the ctrl key and mouse button.

The steps below are the more traditional way of copying a data range:

1. Mark two ranges. The first range is the source range, the second is the destination range.

2. Choose the Range/Copy command.

3. Data in the source range are copied to the destination range.

Copying Worksheet Columns

Copying Worksheet Rows

Pasting Data into a Range of Worksheet Cells

To paste data from the clipboard into a range of worksheet cells:

1. Mark a range. The upper-left cell of the range will become the upper-left cell of the pasted data. Because the amount of data determines the size of the range, it need consist of only one cell.

2. Choose the Edit/Paste command.

3. The clipboard data fills the paste area down and to the right. Thus, the paste area is determined by the size and shape of the data on the clipboard.

Changing Column Widths

To change a column or a range of columns to a precise width, select (mark) the appropriate columns.

1. Choose the Format/Alignment command.

2. Enter the desired width in characters into the Column Width (chars) text box.

3. Choose the OK button to close the dialog box.

Using the mouse, a single column width can be changed:

1. Point to the right column boundary in the column heading area.

2. When the mouse pointer changes to a sizing cursor, click and drag the column boundary to the desired width.

Setting Decimal Places (Numerical Precision)

To set the number of significant digits in a worksheet cell:

1. Choose Format/Alignment from the menu system. A dialog box displays:

2. Enter the desired number of significant digits in the Significant Digits text box.

3. Choose the OK button to close the dialog box.

Starting Over with a Clean Sheet

If you have created a first worksheet and wish to begin anew on another completely different worksheet, you can accomplish this easily (and you may, or may not, close your previous worksheet -- it makes no difference).

Sorting Data

1. Mark a range to be sorted. To sort two- or three-dimensional coordinate data, the range should include all applicable columns. For example, three-dimensional (x,y,z) data will be in columns A, B, and C respectively. To sort the x-axis coordinates (in the A column), all three columns should be included in the marked range so that PlotIT will keep related row data values together as it sorts column A. If only column A is marked as a range, then column A alone would be sorted and columns B and C would remain unchanged, thus ruining the (x,y,z) coordinate data.

2. Choose the Range/Sort command from the menu bar. The Range Sort dialog box opens:

3. Select Ascending Order or Descending Order and Vertical or Horizontal sort. Typically vertical would be the choice because PlotIT looks for individual axis coordinates to be in columns and coordinate sets [(x,y) or (x,y,z)] to be read across rows, commonly A, B, and C.

4. Choose OK, and PlotIT will sort the worksheet data.

5. Use File/Save As to save the data file using a different file name. This preserves the data as sorted in the new filename, while keeping the old data in its old order. (Once you overwrite a sorted file onto the unsorted data, there is no way to unsort! Following this procedure may prevent a major headache someday.)

ASCII, Excel, .SDF, and .SGF Files

When you save a PlotIT Worksheet document, the data can be stored in one of the following formats (the format is determined by the filename's three-character extension):

  • The extension .SDF indicates a Standard Data File. If the current worksheet has more than two columns of data and the extension .SDF is used, a message box prompts you to specify which worksheet columns you want to save. You can specify one, two, or three columns.

  • The extension .SGF indicates a Standard Grid File. Select Standard Grid Files from the List Files of Type list box to list files matching this search criterion. The Grid command on the Math menu is used to create SGF files that are used to create Contour curve types and 3D graphs. If the current worksheet has more than three columns of data and the extension .SGF is used, a message box prompts you to specify which worksheet columns you want to save. You must specify three columns.

1. The x values represent grid columns and the y values represent grid rows.

2. The grid data must be sorted on the y values, then on the x values.

Note for advanced former DOS PlotIT users: Missing value indicators (MVI) are used in the following way: the MVI for x is -10,000 times the number of rows (despite the fact x values represent grid columns); the MVI for y is -10,000 times the number of columns; and the MVI for z is -12345.0.

Undo Option

In PlotIT, the Undo command is an option. It offers the ability to return your worksheet to its state prior to the last action.

Activating the Undo Option

1. With a worksheet window active, choose the Tools/Options command. The PlotIT Configuration dialog box displays.

2. Select the Worksheet tab.

3. Select the Undo check box.

Using Undo

Undo can undo only the last change made to your worksheet. This means that if you make a mistake, you must undo the error immediately. If you try other operations before you remember to use undo, the undo command is lost.

Without invoking any other PlotIT commands, choose Edit/Undo. The Undo command will change according to the last PlotIT action that can be undone. For example, if you have just performed a calculate series operation, and you then invoke Edit/Undo, the Undo command actually may read Undo Series.

Inserting Data

To insert new data without overtyping existing data:

1. Make the cell active where you want to enter additional data.

2. Press the ins key. The indicator Ins appears in the status bar in the lower right corner of the display. This indicates that Insert mode is turned on.

3. Press enter. A blank cell is inserted and existing data is shifted down in the column. To add more blank cells while Insert mode is on, continue to press enter. Every other time you press enter, a new cell is added. (The first enter ends data entry in the previously-added cell, and the second enter adds a new cell.)

4. Type the new data in the blank cell.

Deleting Data

To delete data from a cell and leave it blank:

1. Ensure that Insert mode is off (see page 2-12).

2. Make the desired cell active.

3. Press the del key.

To delete data from one cell and have it filled in with data from below:

1. Press the ins key to turn on Insert mode (Ins appears in the lower right corner of the screen in the Status Bar).

2. Make the cell active which contains the data to be deleted.

3. Press the del key.

To delete a cell range and have the deleted cells filled in with data from below or from the right:

1. Highlight the range.

2. Choose the Range/Delete command.

3. Select the appropriate shift direction arrow.

Manually Changing Data

If there is a block of worksheet data which you wish to change (but it cannot be transformed), PlotIT can make the job easier by moving in a user-specified direction when the enter key is pressed, automatically staying within the defined boundaries of the data block to be changed.
To specify the direction in which the next cell will become active when the enter key is pressed:

1. Choose Tools/Options.

2. In the Worksheet tab, choose the Up, Down, Left, or Right option in the Enter Key Direction section.

3. Choose OK to close the dialog box. The cursor will then move in the specified direction when the enter key is pressed. (If any direction other than the default direction Down is chosen, an arrow indicates the direction in the upper left corner of the worksheet.

Positioning the cursor in a cell within the marked range allows you to enter appropriate data. The cursor will move to the next cell in the specified direction, and will wrap when it reaches the end of a row or column. When you have changed data in all the marked cells, the cursor will continue to cycle through the marked range, allowing overtyping of previously entered data, if desired. In other words, the cursor won't leave the marked range boundaries by pressing the enter key.

Changing Rows to Columns or Columns to Rows

Changing rows to columns or columns to rows is called transposing. To transpose data, perform the following steps:

1. Mark two ranges. The first range is the source range, the second is the destination range. The source range size and shape determine the destination range size and shape.

2. Choose the Range/Transpose command.

3. Data in the source range are transposed to the destination range.

Note: If you wish to transpose, and both source and destination ranges share a common cell, the three steps (above) will be insufficient. Because you can't include cells common to both a marked source and destination range, you must mark mutually exclusive ranges when performing step one. After the data values are transposed (step three), then you can move the source range to its final destination.

Converting (x,y,z) Data into a Grid

Normally, a grid should be generated only once for a set of raw (x,y,z) data. That grid can then be plotted repeatedly as a 3D graph, using different attributes as desired.

1. Mark a range. The range must contain the three columns of (x,y,z) data.

2. Choose the Math/Grid command.

3. The Grid Generation dialog box displays.

a. The leftmost columns in the range display in the Source Columns for raw data text boxes.

b. The first three columns to the right of the range display in the Destination Columns for grid text boxes.

c. Verify your selection.

4. Clear the Auto option for the x values if you want to exclude certain data from the grid. Type in the desired minimum and maximum x values to be included in the grid.

5. Clear the Auto option for the y values if you want to exclude certain data from the grid. Type in the desired minimum and maximum y values to be included in the grid.

6. Type in the number of rows and columns for the grid in the Grid size text boxes. Ten to twenty rows and columns are sufficient; more than 50 usually shows no additional information.

7. Select the Bivariate interpolation or Inverse Dist. grid method. If using the Inverse Distance method, enter a weighting factor between 1.0 and 10.0 (recommended 2.0 to 6.0).

8. Choose OK to generate the grid or Cancel to close the dialog box and cancel the command.

What Function does a Grid Perform?
Without a grid (also called a mesh or fishnet), 3D data is just a collection of points in space. In generating the grid (associated with 3D surfaces, not the axis grid associated with tick mark extensions), PlotIT has filled in between data points, making it possible to display a continuous 3D surface.

Transforming Data

Transforming the data allows you to avoid tedious data conversions such as converting English units to metric, or degrees to radians:

1. Mark a range in a column. The range must include all the rows you want transformed.

2. Choose the Range/Transform command.

3. The Range Transform dialog box displays. Type an equation in the Transformation Equation text box using FORTRAN syntax.

4. Choose OK to transform the data or Cancel to close the dialog box and cancel the transformation.

5. The transformed data display in the destination column. Missing values may be included in the transformed data if a column specified in the equation contains blank cells or missing values.

Combining Worksheets

Use the Range/Block/Open (Import) command to copy data from a disk file, in its entirety, into a Worksheet document.
The following steps describe the process of combining worksheets, which is really the process of importing an entire data file into another.

1. Open the worksheet that will receive the imported data.

2. Mark a range which will become the upper left corner of the block of imported data.

3. Choose Range/Block/Open (Import) from the menu. The Import dialog box opens. (If you have data in the area below and to the right of the active cell, you first will receive a confirmation and overwrite message, if Verify On is selected.)

4. Select the data file you wish to import and then choose OK to close the dialog box.

The imported data is then inserted into the worksheet, with the active cell becoming the upper left corner of the imported data block.

Printing Worksheet Data

You can print an entire worksheet or just a range of worksheet data. Before choosing to print all or part of a worksheet, first format your print job.

To format work for printing:

1. Choose Format/Printing from the menu.

2. Select the print options from the Format Printing dialog box.

This dialog offers many useful printing options such as automatically fitting all the worksheet rows and columns on a single page. (For more details, press the f1 key when the dialog is displayed.)

3. Choose the OK button.

To print an entire worksheet:

1. Choose File/Print from the menu.

2. Make your choices from the Print dialog box.

Choosing the Setup... button allows selection of landscape or portrait page orientation.

3. Choose the OK button.

To print a range of worksheet data:

1. Choose Range/Print from the menu.

2. Make your choices from the Print dialog box.

3. Choose the OK button.

Replacing Worksheet Entries

You may wish to substitute a designated value with another. For example, if you entered 99.9 in your worksheet to indicate missing values, and you want to replace it with the word MISSING_VAL wherever it occurs:

  • You could use the Edit/Find/Change command

  • You also can use the Range/Recode command

1. Highlight the range you want PlotIT to search for replacements.

2. Choose the Range/Recode command, which opens the Range Recode dialog box.

3. Enter an expression (or up to five expressions) which identifies the entry or entries to be recoded and the replacement entry.

For this example, the expression would look like this:

X == 99.9 = MISSING_VAL

This indicates that the cell value (X) of 99.9 should be replaced with the entry MISSING_VAL. (See page 3-10 for more information on logical operators and conditional statements.)

4. Choose OK to close the dialog box.

Eliminating Pre-determined Values

Similar to the preceding example on replacing worksheet entries, suppose you wished to eliminate (filter out) all data entries with the value of 99.9:

1. Mark the data range which you wish to filter. This should include all related columns; that is, if your data consists of related coordinates in two or more columns, your marked range should contain all related columns.

2. Choose the Calculate/Series/Filter command.

3. Enter a column to act as a filter key.

A filter key column is the data set filtered. The entries in other columns within the marked range are merely included or excluded from the output data set according to the related values in the key column.

For example, if you are eliminating the value 99.9 from all Y coordinates in X,Y data located in columns A and B respectively, then B would be the filter key column. The two filter output data columns (say, columns D and E) would include those only rows (data pairs) which didn't have 99.9 as a Y value -- yet the filter output still could have values of 99.9 in the X column. To eliminate these also, the output columns would have to be filtered a second time, identifying the X data column (in worksheet column D) as the filter key column and outputting the result into, say, columns G and H.

4. Enter the column to start filter output. This means that if you are filtering columns A and B, you must output to two other columns (D and E would be a good choice). Column D would then be the Column to Start Filter Output.

5. In the Simple Filter section, select Exact Match and enter 99.9 in the text box beside Exact Match.

6. Select the Inverse Filter check box. This will cause the filter process to output all values except 99.9. If the Inverse Filter check box was cleared, the filter would output only those values that were exactly 99.9.

7. Choose OK to close the dialog box. Your data would now be filtered and output into the designated columns starting with column D.

Treating Text as Missing Data

If you have text entries in your data file that you want plotted as missing data:

1. Choose the Tools/Options command.

2. Select the Graph tab of the PlotIT Configuration dialog box.

3. Select the check box Treat Text as Missing. If this is cleared, text will be treated as a value of zero instead of missing. This may lead to header lines at the top of an ASCII data file appearing as data points at (0.0, 0.0).

4. Choose OK to close the dialog box.

Exporting Worksheet Data

1. Mark a range to be copied to a file.

2. Choose the Range/Block Export command.

3. The File Save As dialog box displays. The mask *.SDF appears in the File Name text box with a list of standard data files in the current directory in the list box. You can change the drive or the directory where the file is to be saved. You also can select a different file type using the List Files of Type drop- down list box. The program saves the data to one of three file types depending on the extension used for the filename:

Using Data from Other Worksheets

PlotIT can understand and graph directly from data stored in many non-PlotIT worksheet formats.

  • Lotus 1-2-3 files with extensions .WKS, .WK1, .WK3, .WK4.

  • Quattro, Quattro Pro, and Quattro Pro for Windows files with extensions .WKQ, .WQ1, and .WB1.

  • Excel (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0) files with the extension .XLS.

  • dBASE (II, III, IV) files with the extension .DBF.

  • PlotIT standard data files .SDF. An SDF file stores data in a binary format and contains only (x), (x,y), or (x,y,z) data. The data in an SDF may be real or logical.

  • PlotIT standard grid files with the extension .SGF in the filename. The Grid Generation command on the Math menu is used to create an SGF file. Like SDF files, data are stored in SGF files in a binary format. However, they contain only (x,y,z) data, and missing value indicators (.SGFs can contain no missing values) are treated in a special way: the x missing value indicator is assigned a value of -10,000 times the number of rows; the y missing value indicator is assigned a value of -10,000 times the number of columns; and the z missing value indicator is assigned a value of -12345.0. SGF files must be used to create Contour curve types and 3D surfaces.

  • ASCII files which are not recognized as one of the previously listed formats.

  • You may use Lotus, Excel, or column range notation with Lotus, Quattro, Excel or ASCII files, as long as there is no confusion in interpreting the ranges. Ranges are not allowed with SDF or SGF files.

When using non-PlotIT worksheet files, PlotIT should be instructed how to use the file data. This is done by using special coding when specifying the file name from which PlotIT should make a graph. The syntax for this coding is described in the next section.

Non-PlotIT Data File Syntax

When you plot data stored in a PlotIT standard data file or standard grid file, the data filename is entered in the Data File text box for the element (e.g., Curve element). When you plot data stored in an ASCII file or a file created by another program, it is recommended that you specify which data is to be plotted along with the filename. If ranges are not provided, up to the first three columns of data will be used. Use the following conventions:
Use the syntax: "Lotusfile [range1, range2, ...]" where range1 and range2 may be named ranges or range formats. (The square brackets are required for Lotus ranges.)

range format: [ss:] aaddddd..[ss:]aaddddd

ss : A --> IV (1 - 256) Sheet designation
aa : A --> IV (1 - 256) Column designation
ddddd : 1 --> 16384 Row number

  • Excel ranges
When entering a data filename, the syntax: Excelfile {range1, range2, ...} tells PlotIT which columns to use, where range1 and range2 may be named ranges or range formats. (The braces are required for Excel ranges.) For example, if you wanted to use columns #7 and #12 as x and y values, respectively, you would use 7 as range1 and 12 as range2.

range format: aaddddd::aaddddd

or aa::aa
or dddddd::ddddd
or RdddddCddd:RdddddCddd
or Rddddd:Rddddd
or Cddd:Cddd

aa : A --> IV (1 - 256) Column designation
ddddd : 1 --> 16384 Row number

  • ASCII columns
Use the syntax: "ASCIIfile <col1, col2, ...>" where col is an integer or a character from A to IV. (The angle brackets are required for ASCII ranges.)

  • ASCII rows
Transform rows to columns (see page 2-15), and use the ASCII column syntax described above.

  • dBASE fields
Use the syntax: "dBASEfile (field1, field2, ...)" where fields are the actual field names. (The parentheses are required for dBASE ranges.)

Note: PlotIT Worksheet documents support all the above formats, and must load the entire data file. Use range specifiers only in the Curve dialog box to designate data subsets when graphing from the data file.

Using the File Information Command

Use the Information command on the File menu (command File/Information) to obtain information about a disk file. The File Open dialog box displays allowing you to change directories, to change drives, and to select a file type to list files. When you select a file, the file information is placed on the clipboard and the clipboard contents are displayed immediately in a Viewer document.

  • The File Type is displayed in the caption bar. The file name, size, and last modification date are provided, and the contents of the file are summarized, if it is a recognizable file. For example, an SGF can contain only real data (e.g., X-real, Y-real, Z-real). An SDF may contain real, logical, or temporal data (e.g., X-temporal, Y-logical). An SPF file will have listed all Elements, and dependent data filenames.

  • For non-PlotIT data files (Lotus, Excel, dBASE, Quattro Pro), any defined named ranges are listed, along with their equivalent address range.

  • For standard parameter files, the graph dimensions, background color, and Element list are given. For each element: its name, association, and dependent data files are provided.

  • For data files, summary statistics on the data are given. For each real variable, the minimum, maximum, and sum of the values (Min, Max, and Total) are displayed. For logical Y values, the number of false and true observations are displayed. The number of observations and the number of missing values are indicated. For temporal data, the number of days, the number of observations (i.e., there may be several collection times each day), the number of missing days, and the number of missing isolated observations are reported.

  • To choose the Information command using the mouse pointer, pull down the File menu from the menu bar and select Information.

For example, retrieving information on the standard parameter file, GAMMA.SPF, would result in:

File name: C:\PLOTITW\EXAMPLES\GAMMA.SPF
File size: 1288 bytes
Last mod.: 12/05/91 02:00:00
----------------------------------------
Parameter File:

Version: 2.0, Minor File Version 3
Dimensions: 24.620 wide x 18.520 high (Centimeters)
Data Clipping: X is OFF, Y is OFF, Point is OFF
Background Color = index # 8

Curve Element 1 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]
Data File: GAMMA1.SDF
Curve Element 2 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]
Data File: GAMMA2.SDF
Curve Element 3 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]
Data File: GAMMA3.SDF

Xaxis Element 1 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]

Yaxis Element 1 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]

Comment Element 1 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]
Comment Element 2 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]
Comment Element 3 (Untitled) -- Association = [1,1,0]

For example, retrieving information on the standard data file, GAMMA.SDF, would result in:

File name: C:\PLOTITW\EXAMPLES\GAMMA1.SDF
File size: 1474 bytes
Last mod.: 12/05/91 02:00:00
----------------------------------------
Data File:

# of Observations: 100
# of Missing Vals: 0

X Min: 0.1, Max: 7, Total: 355
Y Min: 0.00091188, Max: 0.90484, Total: 13.4275

Creating Charts and Graphs

PlotIT's graphing capabilities are extensive. For a thorough description use PlotIT's online Help system and its Search button to find and review graph features (graph features would be the key word/phrase on which to search).

Graphing from Unsaved Data Files

To Save or Not to Save... For some it is a question!

PlotIT developers have always supported prudent data management practices such as saving worksheet data files immediately after they have been entered. Acquiring this habit may someday save you from tedious re-typing of data after an unexpected power loss, hardware failure, or other unforeseen event.

In support of this good work habit, all versions of PlotIT have required a data file name and path when graphing from a data file (meaning, of course, that the data file has been saved to disk). Once PlotIT had the data file name, the data was retrieved and the graph constructed.

In spite of the rational basis for this procedure, there have been changes suggested from a growing number of users. They don't want to save their data file. They just want to graph their freshly entered data -- NOW!

PlotIT's hard-working design team didn't want to delay those intrepid souls by making them pause to save their data file before graphing (despite much scratching of heads over so much apparent haste), so those users now have their wish -- as a choice, of course. The safest, tried-and-true method of saving the data file before graphing is still available for the majority who wish to take small precautions to avoid the tedium of re-typing data.

Warning: If you make a graph from an unsaved data file and wish to save the graph, YOU MUST ALSO SAVE THE DATA FILE. This is because the graph is made with a Local Link to the data file. Saving the graph, but discarding the data will result in graph errors rather than the desired graph.

One process of graphing from a saved or unsaved worksheet is discussed below in the Quick Command section. Also see Worksheet Graph/Curve Command (page 3-2) and Graphing Using Local Links (page 3-31).

Quick Graphs

Quick Command

Graphs can be created using the File/Quick command or by choosing the Quick PowerBar button.

Quick graphs are pre-built by PlotIT, which relieves you of having to build a graph one element at a time. There are many ways to arrive at the same graph results using Quick, but in general, using Quick, requires at minimum, that you specify the desired graph type and specify the data file name and path.

Specifying data to be graphed

Data can be entered in several ways:
As an alternative, you can choose the button to display a pop-up menu. Choosing Files... opens the Files dialog box which allows you to browse your disk to select the desired file.

  • If your data has been entered into a PlotIT worksheet but not saved, you can mark your range to be used before choosing the Quick command by choosing the button, and selecting Paste Link.

The information necessary to be specified with a Local Link is the worksheet name and the data ranges which will become x and y (and z, if 3D) data. Data ranges are specified by indicating starting and ending cells of each range in a column-row format. Each range's starting and ending cells is separated by double periods (..), and ranges are separated by an exclamation point (!). For example, to specify a worksheet being graphed, the expression looks something like this:
PLOTITW|A:\DATA\DATAFILE.DAT!A1..A24!C10..C34
This indicates the data file is a PlotIT worksheet, on the A disk in the directory \DATA, the x values to be plotted are in column A, rows 1-24, and the y values to be plotted are in column C, rows 10-34.

  • If your data has been entered into a worksheet in another application, you can still direct PlotIT to use it:

1. Mark the data range in the other application.

2. Copy the marked range to the clipboard.

3. After choosing Quick (thus displaying the Quick Graph dialog box), choose the button to display a pop-up menu. Choose Paste Link, and PlotIT will automatically enter the necessary information in the Data File text box.

You may also choose the Ranges option, which opens a File Ranges And Selection dialog box, and specify the data ranges to be used.

If you are creating a pie chart, you can enter the data later. (You might also refer to Pie Chart information starting on page 3-13.

The procedures described above are outlined in greater detail in the sections that follow.

Using a Saved 2-Column Data File

1. Using File/Open, open the data file.

2. Choose the File/Quick command.

The Quick Graph dialog box displays.

3. Choose the Graph Type button to open the pop-up menu, and select the desired graph type.

4. Another menu with sample graphs will open, from which you specify further your graph type choice:

5. Change any of the default page settings (i.e., page height and width, scale units), if desired.

6. Specify the data to be graphed in the Data File text box by entering the filename (and path, if necessary), or using the button to display the Open dialog box, from which you can select the desired file.

7. Choose OK to create the graph.

8. Once the graph has been generated, you can select and modify (format) any of the graph elements.

Using a Saved Data File with More than 2 Columns

Follow the eight steps in the preceding section, but in step 6, add the following procedure:

Enter the data file name and path, if necessary. Specify the columns to be used by inserting a space after the filename and entering the column numbers or letters in angled brackets, separated by a comma. For example, if the file name was MYDATA.DAT in the C:\DATA directory and you wanted to plot columns A and D as (x,y) data, respectively:

C:\DATA\MYDATA.DAT <A,D>

Using an Unsaved PlotIT Worksheet Data File

Although it is recommended that you save your data files as soon as they are created, here's how you can use an unsaved PlotIT worksheet:

Follow the eight steps above, but, first mark the data range that is to be used from the worksheet. Then in step 6, click on the button and choose Paste Link.

Using an Unsaved Worksheet from Another Application

Follow the eight steps above, but, first copy the data range that is to be used from the worksheet to the Windows clipboard. Then in step 6, click on the button and choose Paste Link.

For more information, refer to DDE Links on page 3-31.

Quickly Adding a Second Curve

To quickly add another curve to an existing graph:

1. Display the graph you wish to modify in a window.

2. In a worksheet window, mark the data range to be plotted. This does not have to be the worksheet which was used to plot other curves on the graph, although it can be.

3. Choose the ->Curv PowerBar button, or the Graph/Curve command.

4. In the Worksheet Data ---> Graph dialog box, open the Graph Document drop-down list box and select the graph name you wish to modify. Do not choose New Graph.

5. Make appropriate choices as necessary in Range Orientation, Data Arrangement, and Curve Definitions, and choose OK to close the dialog box. A new curve will be added to the graph you chose in step 4.

Graphing using Range Mapper

Range Mapper is a powerful command on the worksheet Tools menu (to access worksheet Tools, a worksheet must be the active document) which allows you merely to mark data ranges and, with the click of a button, assign each range to a graph part. This allows the quick and easy plotting of complicated data files.

Once a graph has been created, Range Mapper allows you, in effect, to ask what worksheet range provided data for specific graph parts.

Preparing to Use Range Mapper

1. Display the data file in a worksheet window by entering the data or opening an existing data file. See Entering and Working with Data, on page 2-2.

2. Open a graph window -- the simplest way may be to use the Quick command (see page 3-2). This should display an axis and a curve. If you get an error, close the graph window and begin this step again, but delete all text from the Data File text box in the Quick Graph dialog box. This will display axes but no curve.

3. Tile the worksheet and graph windows so they display side-by-side. (See page 4-5.)

4. Open the Range Mapper dialog box by making the worksheet document active and choosing the Tools/Range Mapper command. Your display window should look something like this:

Assigning Data using Range Mapper

With PlotIT prepared to use Range Mapper, follow these simple steps:

1. From the Range Mapper dialog box, select the option for which you want to assign a data range. For example, to assign X data values, select the X Data Values option.

2. Mark the applicable range in the worksheet which applies to the button chosen in step 1. The range will appear in the text box beside the Set button. (If there was a previous range specified, it will appear below the text box.)

3. Choose the Set button. The new range will be used, and the graph will be updated.

Finding Data Ranges using Range Mapper

You can use Range Mapper to perform the opposite operation of the previous section. That is, you can select a range button in the Range Mapper dialog box such as the Y Data Values, and Range Mapper will highlight in gray the applicable range on the worksheet. Here's how that is done:

1. Set up Range Mapper as described on page 3-6, Preparing to Use Range Mapper.

2. Ensure that no ranges are marked. To unmark a range see page 2-5, Unmarking a Range.

3. Select any of the Ranges options in the Range Mapper dialog box. The worksheet will display the associated range in gray.

Worksheet Graph Curve Command

The command Graph/Curve (or the Curve PowerBar button) is useful when you are viewing a worksheet and wish to create a graph directly from the data. You can use this option to plot a single line curve or multiple line curves on a set of axes. (For multiple curves you must have appropriate data in your file such as multiple x,y column pairs or one x column and multiple y columns. Other data arrangement options also exist.) The following steps outline the procedure:

1. Display the worksheet containing your data.

2. Mark the data range which should be graphed.

3. Choose Graph/Curve from the worksheet menu or choose the ->Curv PowerBar button. The Worksheet Data --> Graph dialog box opens. (Questions regarding this dialog can be addressed by pressing the f1 function key.) The dialog box looks like this:

4. Select your Range Orientation and Data Arrangement.

5. Select the Graph Document. (Do you want a completely new graph or a modification of one already displayed?)

6. Specify the Curve Definitions.

7. Choose OK to close the dialog box.

8. You may choose the command Window/Tile to place the graph and the worksheet side-by-side.

General Graphing Procedures

Support for PlotIT DOS .SPF Files

If you have graph SPF files saved from PlotIT 2.0 for DOS, they can be loaded directly into PlotIT for Windows. The reverse, however, is not true. This one-way compatibility is the logical result of PlotIT for Windows being developed after PlotIT 2.0 for DOS. The current Windows version of PlotIT was specifically designed to be able to read the file structure of PlotIT 2.0 for DOS.

WARNING: If you load and modify a PlotIT for DOS version 2.0 graph file using the Windows version and save it to disk, that modified file cannot be read by PlotIT for DOS. Therefore, it is advised that whenever you perform such modifications, you save the modified graph to a new SPF filename and not overwrite the old file. This allows you to continue to use the old SPF file in PlotIT for DOS.

As has been repeatedly announced for several years in PlotIT newsletters, SPF graph files made with versions of PlotIT for DOS which precede version 2.0 may not be compatible with PlotIT for Windows. This lack of compatibility was anticipated and regularly announced in the hope of helping PlotIT for DOS users avoid future inconvenience by upgrading to version 2.0 at a nominal charge.

Source Data

PlotIT can create graphs from either a worksheet data file or from data points generated from a user- supplied equation in a FORTRAN format.

When you create graphs using Quick or add curve elements to a standard graph using Graph/Add Element, PlotIT provides a text box as part of a dialog box which allows entry of the appropriate worksheet data file name or FORTRAN equation.

Data Subsets

Sometimes when adding a second plot to an existing graph, you may wish to use the existing axes even though the coordinates of some data points exceed the range of one or more axes. When this happens, PlotIT may create odd looking plots. One way to overcome this problem is to assign a data subset which is restricted within the axes limits, rather than using the whole set of data points.

Another reason to plot a subset of the data is that your data file may contain labels or other information which can't be plotted and should be excluded.

  • One simple way to emphasize a data subset is to reduce the marker frequency. This means that instead of marking every data point, you instruct PlotIT to mark only every 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th, etc. data point. (Note: this method plots all data points but displays only markers at the specified frequency.)

1. Double-click on a data point, or select the curve and choose Format/Element. The Curve dialog box opens.

2. Choose the Symbol button. This opens a dialog as shown below:

3. Set the Frequency to the desired data marker plot frequency.

4. Choose OK in each dialog box.

Specifying Default Data File Search Paths

PlotIT uses the specified search paths to find input data files. When you create a graph, it is usually necessary to enter a filename containing the data to be plotted, or a filename containing user-defined labels, and so on.

You can always enter the full path and filename in the Data File text box, or activate the button beside the text box, choose Files..., and use the Open Files dialog box. However, it may be easier to simply enter the data file name and let PlotIT find it -- as long as the data resides in one of the specified search paths.

You can define up to five search paths in the Search Paths dialog box.

1. From an active worksheet or graph, choose the Format/Search Paths command. This opens the Search Paths dialog box.

2. If desired, enter up to two custom search paths in the bottom text boxes.

3. Assign priorities 1 (highest) through 5 (lowest) by typing the priority in the text box to the left of each default search path. Typing a zero (0) priority directs PlotIT to ignore the search path as a default option.

4. Choose OK to close the dialog box and accept your priority designations.

Choosing a Graph Type

When you choose Quick , the Quick Graph dialog box opens as shown below.

  • You select your graph type by choosing the button below the sample curve, which offers the default curve type Trace. A pop-up menu offers various choices.

When building a graph without using the Quick command, you specify the graph type as you add appropriate elements (the individual axes, curves, labels, etc.).

1. Choose Graph/Add Element. The Add Element dialog box displays.

2. The graph type you intend to use determines which graph element option you select.

Aligning Elements to a Grid

Aligning to a grid can occur when moving elements using the mouse. When selected, all graph coordinates and lengths are rounded to the nearest multiple of the grid resolution.

1. Open the PlotIT Configuration dialog box by choosing Tools/Options:

2. Select the Snap to Grid check box.

3. When elements are moved to their desired location, they may shift slightly as PlotIT aligns them with the grid resolution.

To see this occur, set your grid resolution to a large value (say 2.0 cm) and drag a comment around the screen. You should see it snap to an intersection of the invisible grid.

Replicating Graph Layouts

If you create a unique or complicated graph layout and wish to replicate it with other curves, this is easily accomplished. It is not done, however, using PlotIT's template feature (as some may think).

A template is a customized configuration for each graph element such as an x-axis, a curve, a surface, etc., but NOT an entire graph. Template information is stored in a file with an .SPT extension. Templates are created, saved, opened, and modified using the Format/Template command. Templates are used for loading the dialog box with default values, when creating a new element.

Since templates apply only to single elements, you would not use a template to replicate a complex graph layout. Rather, you would save a unique graph layout as a pre-defined standard parameter file, giving it a unique name that you can identify as your standard graph layout pattern.

When you wish to create a new graph using your standard layout graph, you would open the pre-defined graph, assign new data to the curves, and then save the new graph with its own filename.

Starting Over with a Clean Sheet

If you have created a first graph and wish to begin anew on another completely different graph, you have several options to accomplish this (and you may either close your previous graph or not -- it makes no difference).

Creating a Bar Chart

1. To change the existing plot to a bar chart, double-click on the curve (if you have Curve Selection on, see page 4-4 for more information) to open the Curve dialog box (or select the curve and choose Format/Element from the menu). The following dialog box displays:


If you are creating the plot for the first time using Quick, use the Curve Type button in the Quick Graph dialog box; otherwise, you will be in the Curve dialog box when you add the curve element.

2. Choose Bar Graph as the curve Class. Then PlotIT offers you the choice of curve type, which is a sub- classification of curve class. (The Quick Graph dialog box even displays examples of each curve type.)

3. Choose the desired curve type. In this case, select Bar Graph as the Class and VertBar as the Type.

Creating a Stacked Bar Chart

The horizontal bar curve is used to stack data sets horizontally on a graph; in this case, the data sets must use the same y values. Each curve added to the graph must use the HoriBar curve type; for each data set, the next bar begins where the last bar ended.

The vertical bar curve is used to stack data sets vertically on a graph; in this case, the data sets must use the same x values. Each curve added to the graph must use the VertBar curve type; for each data set, the next bar begins where the last bar ended.

To stack data sets:

1. Create the bar chart as usual using the data file which will be the bottom part of the stacked bar.

2. When the bar chart is displayed, add a second curve element (Graph/Add Element) and define it as the same bar chart as in step one (HoriBar or VertBar). Specify the source of the second data set. Specify a contrasting color and shading for this curve, so it is easily distinguished from the first curve. Optionally, you may want to select Copy From Curve Element to use the same settings as the first curve.

3. Choose OK to close the dialog box. The stacked bar curve will display.

Making a Histogram from Observations

Create the graph as you would any other graph (see page 3-2: Quick Graphs), except choose curve class Data Analysis and curve type AFrequency or Rfrequency. These curve types are expecting your data to be in "raw" form. If you have already classified the data into bins, use the Histogram curve type.

Positioning Elements on the Page

Grouping Elements Together

This is explained in the section on Removing a Graph from a Page; see page 5-2.

Plotting Using Local and DDE Links

Local Links

You can use a Local Link in place of a data or labels filename to define the appearance of a 2D graph or 3D surface. Local Links allow you to plot directly from a Worksheet document, instead of reading from a disk file. Use the following syntax:

PlotITW|<sheet>!<ranges>

  • The leading "PlotITW|" indicates this is a Local Link

  • <sheet> is the name of the PlotIT Worksheet as it appears in the caption

  • <ranges> can be in either Lotus or Excel range format (see examples below)

  • The vertical pipe character (|) and the exclamation point (!) characters are important separator characters and must be included

Examples:

DDE Links

Automatically linking DDE (dynamic data exchange) datafiles to PlotIT Graph documents means that data in use in another application such as Lotus 1-2-3 or Excel can be used in a PlotIT document. This is accomplished as follows:

1. Open the remote application you want to link with PlotIT and load or enter your data. The application must be capable of acting as a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Server. Refer to your remote application's User's Guide for additional information.

2. Select the data range desired, using a technique specified within the remote application. Copy the data to the Clipboard.

Trouble Shooting Tip: Run the Clipboard Viewer (CLIPBRD.EXE) to verify that "Link" is listed under the Display menu, if you are unsure of DDE support by the remote application.

3. Choose the button in the desired element dialog box (usually a Curve or Quick Graph dialog box) and select Paste Link on the pop-up menu. The DDE Link command will appear in the associated Data File text box. If a pop-up menu doesn't appear, the Link format was not available on the Clipboard. Recheck steps 1 and 2.

Manually linking DDE datafiles to PlotIT Graph documents

1. Open the remote application you want to link with PlotIT and load or enter your data. The application must be capable of acting as a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Server. Refer to your remote application's User's Guide for additional information.

2. Enter the DDE Link command in the Data File text box of the desired element dialog box using the standard <app>|<topic>!<item> syntax.

Since PlotIT DDE links are "cold-links", if you change the data, you manually will have to refresh the screen using the Window/Refresh command. (See page 4-5 for more information.)

2D Graphs Only

Adding Error Bars

A collection of curve types can be created showing standard error bars. Included in the class of graphs with standard error bars, are line curves, point curves, and bar curves. For these curve types, you select the attributes specific to standard error bar generation and unique to the curve type.

The data file for these curve types must have x, y, and z values. For each curve type, the z value defines the standard error bar length. Note: the actual z values need not be the standard errors; they could be standard deviations, or any other variance measurement.

1. The PlotIT Worksheet provides both Standard Error and Standard Deviation commands that can be used to prepare your data for plotting with standard error bars. Highlight a data range and use a command on the Calculate/GroupStats menu (such as standard error) to calculate the desired summary statistic for a column or a group of data, respectively.

2. Graph the data using one of the curve types described below: