Specify plot extents: some but not all
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:46 pm
Hi,
I've been using DPlot for a couple of years now, and there have been several instances where it would have been convenient to set some of the plot extents to a numerical value, while letting the the other extents "float" with the data. For example, fix the x and y axis "low" limits at 0, but let the "high" limits expand as necessary. Or fix the x-axis over a given range, while letting the y-axis change to fit the data.
This would be useful for data exploration/visualization. For example, looking at curve data from several different sources to see how they differ. It would be nice to set the y axis to start at 0 (to get a sense of the relative magnitude of curve differences) without having extend the upper limit every time I add a new curve that exceeds it. The way things currently are, I have to either guess what the new maximum is, or uncheck "specify extents", click okay, then reopen the dialog box, recheck specify extents, and set the low value back to 0.
Similarly, when looking at "point cloud" data from several sources, I currently have to turn off "set extents" or worry that I won't notice any outliers in new data that sit outside the chosen extents.
This would also make the "Save Preferences/Get Preferences" system more useful. There was one occasion where I made a lot of plots that I wanted to have the same line styles, colors, legends, etc, which I put in a settings file. I also wanted them to use the same x-axis extents, but the data varied quite a bit in magnitude, so I couldn't use the same y axis extents for everything. Instead, I had to go back and set the extents manually for each plot.
Ideally, it would be nice if there were a separate check box for each extent (X-Low, X-High, Y-Low, and Y-High) in the Extents/Intervals/Size dialog (where you could still use the existing "global" check box to turn the entire feature on and off). Another possibility would be something you can write in the text box (perhaps "Auto", or even just leave them blank) to let that extent float.
I recognize that the plot-extents feature was probably baked into the program early on and it may not be simple to change or extend it now. I just wanted to make sure that the idea was on your radar.
Thank you,
-Zach Harper
I've been using DPlot for a couple of years now, and there have been several instances where it would have been convenient to set some of the plot extents to a numerical value, while letting the the other extents "float" with the data. For example, fix the x and y axis "low" limits at 0, but let the "high" limits expand as necessary. Or fix the x-axis over a given range, while letting the y-axis change to fit the data.
This would be useful for data exploration/visualization. For example, looking at curve data from several different sources to see how they differ. It would be nice to set the y axis to start at 0 (to get a sense of the relative magnitude of curve differences) without having extend the upper limit every time I add a new curve that exceeds it. The way things currently are, I have to either guess what the new maximum is, or uncheck "specify extents", click okay, then reopen the dialog box, recheck specify extents, and set the low value back to 0.
Similarly, when looking at "point cloud" data from several sources, I currently have to turn off "set extents" or worry that I won't notice any outliers in new data that sit outside the chosen extents.
This would also make the "Save Preferences/Get Preferences" system more useful. There was one occasion where I made a lot of plots that I wanted to have the same line styles, colors, legends, etc, which I put in a settings file. I also wanted them to use the same x-axis extents, but the data varied quite a bit in magnitude, so I couldn't use the same y axis extents for everything. Instead, I had to go back and set the extents manually for each plot.
Ideally, it would be nice if there were a separate check box for each extent (X-Low, X-High, Y-Low, and Y-High) in the Extents/Intervals/Size dialog (where you could still use the existing "global" check box to turn the entire feature on and off). Another possibility would be something you can write in the text box (perhaps "Auto", or even just leave them blank) to let that extent float.
I recognize that the plot-extents feature was probably baked into the program early on and it may not be simple to change or extend it now. I just wanted to make sure that the idea was on your radar.
Thank you,
-Zach Harper