Some more viewing options

[Roberto]

Hi,

With nowadays wide screen monitors I would like some more efficient viewing options.
For some graphs the y-value isn't very important: a lengthy x-axis and a recognizable vertical trend can be a practical setup.
For other graphs x and y values are just as important (particularly in look-up graphs requiring identical resolution in h and v direction) which makes a square graph area the most practical one. A used-to compromise is a ratio according to default paper sizes (letter, A4, etc.).
However, nowadays wide screen monitors go way beyond the last two aspect ratios and tools in the top and bottom of the screen makes it even worse. Therfore...

Feature request 1:
Option to maximize the image in the workspace according proper aspect ratio (much like the Set Client Area but then in one click automatically maximized, in correct aspect ratio and without a Windows frame border).

Feature request 2:
Option for a vertical toolbar on the left side of the screen; making the horizontal toolbar float, dragging it to the left and letting it show two-columns produces an inconvenient "compressed" toolbar. I rather see a spacy one fixed to the left. Plenty of space for that on a modern monitor and simultaneously it gains more height for the client area letting the graph.

Please look at

[DPlotAdmin]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I'm not sure I see that #1 is much better than maximizing the document window and dragging the plot corners to whatever aspect ratio you want.

[Roberto]

Hi,

I updated the image example with adding four buttons:

Below:
Zoom x2 - Zoom /2

Added:
Fit Height (keep width) - Fit Width (keep height)

Maximize (normal DPlot behavior / often stretched) - Maximize Aspect (according aspect ratio)

Updated image: www.pluginmind.com/temp/DPlot-feature_request2.jpg

I think the spacy left docked toolbar, Fit to max with keep aspect ratio and additional zooming options are useful ones

Cheers,
Roberto

[Roberto]

Hi David,

Didn't know about plot corners being draggable. Indeed helpful but it's still a trial and error thing.

What I consider as "proper aspect ratio" is horizontally and vertically having the same resolution. This means same number of pixels between tick intervals horizontally and vertically.

This image at www.pluginmind.com/temp/Stretched_example.jpg shows the impression of a stretched plot: five ticks horizontally and vertically is not showing a "square" grid.

If the plot grid is exact square then it also is less tedious preventing aliasing patterns when resizing an exported plot: it will look in both directions either totally crap or acceptable.

But you're right it can be done with dragging the plot corners albeit not the quickest and most convenient way if a plot is repeatedly watched at different zooms or if the plot is exported and resized. A click of a button would be ideal.

Just a feature request; no idea if "the majority" would find it useful. Here's at least one vote for that feature However, a spacy left-docked toolbar would be my favorite feature request at this point

Roberto

[DPlotAdmin]

"This means same number of pixels between tick intervals horizontally and vertically."
I'm not in favor of resizing the window as shown in your first example, but I'll look into adding an option to do the above. It would have similar functionality to the "Square log cycles" menu command, but for linear scales.

[Roberto]

Hi David,

Neither am I in favor of resizing the window!
I just used it for showing max plot size at proper aspect ratio (as I said I didn't know before I was able to drag the plot corners).

Forget about the very first image. This is the one I intended to request for:
www.pluginmind.com/temp/DPlot-feature_request3.jpg

Hopefully more people and you like the idea afterall. Often not too exiting ideas realized turn out quite handy afterall

Roberto

[DPlotAdmin]

It's a good idea and I'll look into it. It's a bit more complicated than "Square log cycles" because with log-log plots you know how many intervals there will be, regardless of settings. But it is definitely worth looking into.