Contour Data Map

Click the Home | New Graph | Contour Surface | XY Contour Data Map or Home | New Graph | Contour Surface | XZ Contour Data Map command to create a contour map from a data file (such as a .DAT or .XLS file). Data is gridded using the inverse distance algorithm. Click the XY Contour Data Map or XZ Contour Data Map buttons to create contour maps from data files.

 

A contour data map is created from a data file of X, Y, and Z values.

A contour map is a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional data. Two types of contour data maps may be created: XY data maps and XZ data maps.

XY Contour Data Map

The first two dimensions of the XY data map are the XY coordinates; the third dimension (Z) is represented by lines of equal value. The relative spacing of the contour lines indicates the relative slope of the surface. The area between two contour lines contains only grid nodes having Z values within the limits defined by the two enclosing contours. The difference between two contour lines is defined as the contour interval.

XZ Contour Data Map

The XZ contour data map uses the X and Z axes rather than the X and Y axes. The first two dimensions of the XZ data map are the XZ coordinates; the third dimension (Y) is represented by lines of equal value. The relative spacing of the contour lines indicates the relative slope of the surface. The area between two contour lines contains only grid nodes having Y values within the limits defined by the two enclosing contours. The difference between two contour lines is defined as the contour interval.

An overlay control is available for XZ contour data maps. This feature allows you to overlay the XZ contour map on a surface data or surface grid map that is part of the graph. See Plot - Contour Data Maps for more information.

Creating a New Contour Data Map

To create a new contour data map:

1. Click the Home | New Graph | Contour Surface | XY Contour Data Map or Home | New Graph | Contour Surface | XZ Contour Data Map command.
2. Select a data file in the Open Worksheet dialog. You can select a new data file or you can select an open data file in the Open worksheets section.
3. A contour data map is created using the default properties.

Editing an Existing Contour Data Map

To change the features of the contour data map, select the contour data map and edit its properties in the Property Manager.

Click the following tabs in the Property Manager to change different properties:

Plot

Data Limits

Levels

Grid

Line

Fill

See Also

Inverse Distance to a Power

Plot - Contour Data Maps

Levels

Contour Data Map

Contour Grid Map

Contour Function Map