Plot Page - Class Scatter Plots
The class scatter plot properties Plot page contains the options to change the data file and axes; set data used in the plot; edit the classes used for the plot, and display the legend. To view and edit class scatter plot properties, click on the class scatter plot in the plot window or Object Manager to select it. Then, click on the Plot tab in the Property Manager. The properties available will be specific to the type of plot.
Click one of the Plot page section names in the list below to read more information about the properties in those sections or follow this help topic sequentially to read about each property.
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Change the class scatter plot properties in the Property Manager on the Plot tab. |
Plot Type
The Plot type property displays the type of plot.
Data
Worksheet
Click the existing data file path and file name next to Worksheet to select a different data file for the plot. Click on a currently open worksheet or click the Browse option to navigate to a worksheet that is not yet open. Select a different data file in the Open Worksheet dialog, and click the Open button to change the data. The plot automatically updates.
NOTE: The worksheet columns are retained after changing the worksheet. If any of the column options are blank after changing the Worksheet, click on the blank option and select the desired column. A blank next to column means that the column does not exist in the new worksheet.
Select the Data in rows option if your data file is formatted where each row includes one variable. When the Data in rows option is selected, all plot properties that require data values are specified by selecting a data row. This includes variables such as X and Y, data labels, worksheet ranges, etc. Properties that list column letters will update to list row numbers. When switching from plotting data in columns to plotting data in rows, Grapher may not be able to select the correct rows automatically. Verify the correct rows are selected.
The property descriptions below refer to data columns, but when Data in rows is selected the property lists will include rows.
Variables
Click on the column name next to the X variable and Y variable or Z variable (XYZ class scatter plot and Ternary class scatter plot only), Radius variable (polar class scatter only), Direction variable (polar class scatter only), and Class variable fields. In the list that appears, select the new column. If the first worksheet row contains header information, the header information appears next to the column letter.
Aside from the columns containing data there are two other options, row number and sequence number. These options are available in the list that appears before the first column.
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Selecting the Row number option plots the axis with the row numbers used in the Worksheet rows section. For example, if the first row is number two, the axis begins at a value of two.
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The Sequence number option plots the data according to the total number of rows used. The sequence number always begins with the number one regardless of which rows are selected in the Worksheet rows group. Blank lines between rows are ignored when calculating the value. The sequence number increments by one when rows are adjacent or when rows are skipped.
Note that the value in neither the Row number or Sequence number can be used in the Class variable. The Row number and Sequence number cannot be used for any columns in a ternary class scatter plot.
When changing the X variable, Y variable, or Z variable to date/time data from numeric data, the Use date/time format option for the corresponding axis Labels will automatically be checked to match the new data. When changing the X variable, Y variable, or Z variable to numeric data from date/time data, the Use date/time format option for the corresponding axis Labels will automatically be unchecked to match the new data.
When the Class variable includes only numeric values, a default number of classes is automatically created and all data points are displayed in one of the classes. When the Class variable includes one or more text strings, the class Method is set to Name and the number of classes matches the number of unique text strings. Numbers are treated as text when the class method is set to Name.
NOTE: The worksheet columns are retained after changing the worksheet. If any of the column options are blank after changing the Worksheet, click on the blank option and select the desired column. A blank next to column means that the column does not exist in the new worksheet.
Plot Options
Classes
Click the Edit button next to Classes to launch the Edit Classes dialog, which allows you to edit class information.
Missing Data
Rows containing text or blanks in the plotted columns are ignored and are not plotted on the graph. You can display the missing data as part of a continuous or discontinuous line using the Missing data options. Setting Missing data to Continuous plot connects the data line before and after the missing data. Setting Missing data to Discontinuous plot breaks the line at the missing data sections of the data set. Data filtered using a Data Filter are included as missing data. Missing data is not available for all plot types.
Axes
Click on the axis name next to the X axis, Y axis, or Z axis fields to change the axes used for the plot. Select another axis name from the list. Alternatively, click Select plots/axis to change the axis used by several plots on a graph at once.
See the Axis - Add to Graph page for information about how to add a new axis to the graph. Once the new axis is added to the graph, it will be available in the X axis, Y axis, or Z axis lists.
Polar class scatter plot and ternary class scatter plot axes cannot be changed.
3D Settings
The 3D Settings section is displayed for an XYZ class scatter plot and includes options for displaying drop lines and plot projections.
Drop Lines
3D XYZ plots have vertical, horizontal, and Z drop line options. When the box next to the Vertical drop lines option is checked, lines are drawn from the points to the bottom wall (XZ plane). When the box next to the Horizontal drop lines option is checked, lines are drawn from the point to the side wall (YZ plane). When the box next to the Z drop lines option is checked, lines are drawn from the point to the back wall (XY plane).
Drop Axis
When the Vertical drop lines or Horizontal drop lines box is checked, you can choose the plane to which the lines are drawn. Drop lines are drawn from the data point to the plane that intersects the drop axis minimum.
- For vertical drop lines, the XZ plane to which the drop lines are drawn is specified by the Vert drop axis minimum location.
- For horizontal drop lines, the YZ plane to which the drop lines are drawn is specified by the Horz drop axis minimum location.
- Z drop lines are always drawn to the XY plane at the Z axis maximum. There is no Z drop axis property.
Click on the current axis name next to Vert drop axis or Horz drop axis. In the list, select the desired axis. The plot is automatically updated to show the lines from the points to this axis minimum.
Drop Line Frequency
If there are many drop lines, you can change the frequency the lines are drawn by entering a new number into the Line frequency box. For example, if Line frequency is set to 5, every fifth line is plotted on the plot. To remove all of the lines, set the Line frequency to a number greater than the total number of data points. Up to 10,000 points may be skipped.
Drop Line Properties
The drop line properties
can be individually controlled with the Vert
drop line properties, Horz drop
line properties, and Z drop line
properties sections on the Line
page. Click the 
next to the appropriate section to open the line properties options. The
Style, Color, Opacity, and Width can be changed for the drop
lines.
Projection Lines
Projection lines are also available for 3D XYZ plots. Projection lines are 2D representations of the 3D lines and appear on the various axis walls. Check the boxes next to the Back projection, Side projection, or Bottom projection options to add one, two, or all three of these projection lines to the graph. The Back projection option places the XY projection on the back wall of the graph. The Side projection option places the YZ projection on the side wall. The Bottom projection places the XZ projection on the bottom wall.
The projection line properties
can be controlled in the Projection
line properties section on the Line
page. Click the
next to the Projection line properties
section to open the line properties options. The Style,
Color, Opacity, and Width
can be changed for the projection lines.
3D Drop and Projection Lines Examples
- Horizontal drop line
- Z drop line
- Vertical drop line
- Side projection line
- Back projection line
- Bottom projection line
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Example 3D drop and projection lines in a 3D vector plot |
