Reading this prior to the section on quick and simple graphs is optional, but can offer helpful insight and perspective for your first practice graphs.
The PlotIT Menu Bar and PowerBar
The PlotIT Menu Bar is a standard and familiar Windows feature. When one of the headings is selected, a pull-down menu or dialog box appears, giving the user other information or options from which to choose.
The PlotIT PowerBar is located just under the Menu Bar and displays command buttons. The PowerBar has several layers of command icons available, which are accessed by clicking on the up and down scroll arrows at the left-center of the PowerBar.
The PowerBar replicates the commands available through the Menu Bar. It is a shortcut alternative to the Menu Bar.
Elements
PlotIT graphs are built out of various elements. Learning how to create, specify, modify, and delete these elements is the key to becoming comfortable and confident making graphs with PlotIT.
The x-axis, y-axis, curve, title, comments, etc. are each an element of a graph. To add a comment to a graph, for example, you first must create and define a comment element, then give it its desired characteristics and content.
Quick graphs are fast because they are created with some elements automatically added, such as the X- and Y-axes, and they come with standard defaults, such as the type of curve drawn.
PlotIT Lists Graph Elements
For every graph you create, PlotIT keeps track of its elements. To get a listing of the elements for a graph currently displayed in a window, click on the Select menu from the Menu Bar.
Modifying Graph Elements
To change existing graph elements, they must first be selected. An element can be selected by pointing and clicking with the mouse directly on the graph element, or opening up the Select pop-up menu from the Menu Bar and selecting from that listing.
Once a graph element is selected, it may be modified or deleted by selecting the appropriate commands such as Edit, Format, or Graph.
Hint: Give Your Graph Elements Names for Easy Identification
PlotIT keeps track of a graph's elements by assigning numbers to each type of element added. For example, if you added two comment elements to a graph, the first would be labeled #1 by PlotIT, and the second, #2. When elements are created, you have the option of giving each a name, in addition to PlotIT's assigned numbers. It is suggested that you take advantage of this option to name elements. As your graphs become more detailed and refined, you'll find it's easier to recognize specific elements by name, rather than just by number.