9.3.7.17 The (Plot Details) Vector Tab

The 2D vectors in rectangular, polar and ternary coordinate are customized on the Plot Details Vector tab. To customize the vectors in 3D vector graph, you can go to the 3D Vector tab.

PD Vector XYXY.png

The vector tab for XYXY graphs in rectangular and polar coordinate both

PD Vector XYXY 01.png

The vector tab for Compass Plot

PD Vector XYAM.png

The vector tab for XYAM graphs in rectangular coordinate

PD Vector ThetaRAM Polar.png

The vector tab for θRAM graphs in Polar coordinate

PD Vector XYZXYZ.png

The vector tab for XYZXYZ vector graphs in ternary coordinate

Contents

Arrowheads group controls

Scale Length with Magnitude

Scale the lengths of the arrowheads according to changes in magnitude of the vectors. Available options include:

  • None
    All the arrowheads share the same length, specified by Length.
  • Log
    The lengths of the arrowheads have a logarithmic relationship with the lengths of the vectors.
  • Linear
    The lengths of the arrowheads have a linear relationship with the lengths of the vectors.
Length

Determines the length of the arrowheads. Units are measured in points.

Angle

Determines the arrowhead angles in degrees.

Closed/Open

Select the Closed radio button to display filled arrowheads.

Select the Open radio button to display the hollow (transparent) arrowheads.

Color

Select a vector color from the Color button.

Style

Change the line style for the vector. You can also do the changes with the Line/Border tool Button Border.png in the Style toolbar.

Width

Type or select the desired vector line width from the Width combination box. The line width is measured in points, where 1 point=1/72 inch.

For all 2D vector plots with this Line tab, in the Width drop-down list, you can select a column to map line width to that column. Please note that only columns in current worksheet will be listed in the drop-down list.

Once any column selected, you are also allowed to specify a Scaling Factor to multiply the width column by a value to define the vector line width. You can refer to the Scaling Factor for Symbol Size.

Transparency

Adjust the slider or enter a number in the combo box to apply transparency to vectors. Scale adjusts from 0 (not transparent) to 100 (fully transparent).

For special points, an Auto check box is used to follow the transparency setting of other vectors. Clear the checkbox to adjust transparency of the special point.

End Point group controls (XYXY or Ternary)

Select the column that contains the X end point values from the X End drop-down list for both XYXY vector and ternary vector graph.

Select the column that contains the Y end point values from the Y End drop-down list for both XYXY vector and ternary vector graph.

Select the column that contains the Z end point values from the Z End drop-down list for the ternary vector graph.

Note:
  • For Polar Vector theta r theta r, X End is used to specify the column which contains the angle coordinates of end points on Angular Axis and Y End is used to specify the column which contains the radial coordinates of the end points on Radial Axis.
  • For Compass Plot, the center of the polar is the start point, and the source XY columns are the columns which contain the angle coordinates and the radial coordinates of the end points separately. So, there is no X End and Y End options in theVector tab.

Vector Data group controls (XYAM/θRAM)

These controls apply only to XYAM vector or θRAM polar vector graphs.

Angle

Select the column that contains the vector angle offset values from the Angle combination box. Alternatively, select a value from this combination box. The units are controlled by the Angular Unit drop-down list below. For XYAM vectors, the angle is measured counterclockwise from a line parallel to the X axis, bisecting the vector; For θRAM polar vectors, the angle is from the tangent of the circle with radius R and the the direction depends on the polar Angular axis direction and the option Start Angle Follow Coordinate in Angle group.

Magnitude

Select the column that contains the vector magnitude values from the Magnitude combination box. Alternatively, select a value from this combination box. Units are measured in points.

Magnitude (XYAM/θRAM)

These controls apply only to XYAM vector or θRAM polar vector graphs.

Magnitude Multiplier

Select or type a value to proportionally increase or decrease the length of the vectors from the Magnitude Multiplier combination box. For example, type .5 to draw the vectors at half their original length. The default value is 1, so that the Magnitude combination box value determines the vector lengths.

Magnitude in

Check this check box to select what the magnitude bases on.

For XYAM vectors:

For θRAM polar vector:

Position group controls (XYAM/θRAM)

These controls apply only to XYAM vector or θRAM polar vector graphs.

Select the desired radio button to apply XY/θR coordinate values to the Head, Midpoint, or Tail of the vector.

Angle (XYAM/θRAM)

These controls apply only to XYAM vector or θRAM polar vector graphs.

Angle Units

Select the unit for the angles.

  • System
    Uses the setting in the Angular Units group in the Preferences: Options as the unit for angles.
  • Radians
    Uses radians as the unit for angles.
  • Degrees
    Uses degrees as the unit for angles.
  • Grads
    Uses grads as the unit for angles.
Convention This option is only for XYAM vectors.
  • Polar
    If this radio button is selected, the Offset Angle turn to 0 and Direction turn to CCW. Both options are grayed out, but updated.
  • Meteorological
    If this radio button is selected, the Offset Angle turn to 90 and Direction turn to CW. Both options are grayed out, but updated.
  • Custom
    If this radio button is selected, the Offset Angle and Direction options are editable.
Start Angle Follow Coordinate This option is only for θRAM polar vectors. Choosing this check box, the direction of the angle offset for polar vectors will follow the rule:
  • When Polar Angular axis direction is counter-clockwise,
    • Radial axis is not reversed, positive degree is clockwise.
    • Radial axis is reversed, positive degree is counter-clockwise.
  • When Polar Angular axis direction is clockwise,
    • Radial axis is not reversed, positive degree is counter-clockwise
    • Radial axis is reversed, positive degree is clockwise.

Uncheck this option, Offset Angle(deg.) and Direction option will appear like that for XYAM vectors.

Offset Angle(deg.) Type or select the degree of offset angle for the vectors. When the vector Angle value and the Offset Angle are 0, the vector direction will be at 3 o'clock.
Direction

Specify the direction for Offset Angle.

  • CW
    The vectors will rotate in the Clockwise direction.
  • CCW
    The vectors will rotate in the Counter-Clockwise direction.