Time Plots

This section will cover time plots and their properties.  Some plot properties are based on time window settings.  For more information on window specific settings (including adding plots to windows) see the time window overview.


Time Plot Overview

Time plots consist of two parts, the title bar (items 1-6 below) and the plot area (items 7-9 below).  The plot area is free floating and will not necessarily be next to the title bar information.  The plot can overlap other plots using different zoom and spread settings.  The waveform color will always match the plot name color, and for all spread modes other than common zero are shown in the same order from top to bottom.

1. Input Range	Displays the current input range of this channel in microvolts.  Since the plot area is not dedicated to a specific waveform, and different plots could have different input ranges and zoom factors, there is no set area that directly maps to voltage.  The waveform will begin to clip when it reaches the positive or negative limits of the input range.
2. Plot Name	This is the name of the AE that supplies data to the plot.  The waveform will be the same color as the plot name, and the order (from top to bottom) of the plot names is the same as the order (from top to bottom) of the waveforms (except in common zero spread mode).
3. Audio Menu	Displays the audio menu.
4. Plot Properties	Clicking this icon will make the properties page visible, select the display tab, and select the plot in the properties tree.    See the detailed description of time plot properties for more information on plot properties.
5. Maximize/Restore Plot	Toggles the view for the plot.  If the plot is in normal view (shown above), clicking this icon will maximize the plot, showing only this plot in the plot area of the time window.  When in maximized view, the icon changes to a double square, and clicking on it will return the plot to normal view (all plots for this window are visible).
6. Zoom Plot	Clicking on this icon will cycle through the preset zoom options.  The fixed zoom options are: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, and 32x.   The zoom factor is a multiplication of the factor applied to the data being plotted, but does not change the data  processed by __prod_name.
7. Zero Line	This line indicates where the zero voltage level of the signal is located.  This line is not part of a fixed grid, and will move as the spread type is changed.
8.  Waveform	The waveform or trace of the selected acquisition entity's signal.  If the window is in overlay mode, traces will not be cleared as new data is shown.  Otherwise the signal is overwritten according to the current plot type for this window.  The color of the trace will always match the color of the plot name.  To change the trace color, see Time Plot Properties below.
9. Grid Line	The vertical lines can be used to approximate time differences  between different points of the waveform.  The time  per line can be approximated by taking the time frame of the window and dividing by the number of vertical lines.  These lines are fixed and will not be changed as the plot type and spread type are changed.

Time Plot Properties

The Time plot properties are shown in the properties window when a  Time window or a Time plot is selected in the properties tree. Selecting a Time window will allow you to make changes to all plots in the window.  Selecting an individual plot will only allow changes to that individual plot.

1. Plot Label	Enter a label into the edit box.  The label will be displayed after the plot name in the tree view on the properties page.
2. Plot Enable	This is used to stop plotting data for only a single acquisition entity's plot  in a window, but do not want to remove the plot from the window. This works like a pause button on a DVD player.  It will lock in whatever is currently displayed in the plot.  If an action is taken that will clear the plot, the last data displayed will be cleared.  No data will be added to the plot while it is disabled, but otherwise is processed normally.   The plot enable check box must be in 1 of the following states: Checked :  The plot will display all data in the plot as is appropriate. Unchecked:  The will not be any new data displayed in the plot.
3. Trace Color	Clicking the arrow next to the trace color will provide a list of available colors for the acquisition entity(s) selected (see below). If the desired color is not listed, selecting Other  will provide the user with more custom color options (see below).  This color can be changed at any time.