CyFlex® XYPlot
May 2012
The CyFlex® XYPlot application displays real-time graphs of selected CyFlex variables much like legacy X-Y plotters. The program is one of a suite of CyFlex plotting applications, including Stripchart, LoggerPlot, and HistoryPlot, that all operate similarly.
XYPlot displays a column of rectangular plot areas in graphs that render traces of selected variables over time in the standard X-Y graph format. A single XYPlot application may be configured into a stack of up to 8 graphs, with up to 8 traces in each graph. Each graph may have an additional “underlay” variable plot that can act as an envelope or contour map.
Each graph has an X axis across the bottom, as well as left and optionally right Y axes with selectable ranges. These ranges may also be changed interactively with the mouse to pan or zoom in both X and Y directions.
You may change the various configuration settings in a floating Configuration Dialog, save the configurations, and later reload them as desired. The dialog lets you change a wide variety of plot attributes: which CyFlex Variables to plot, their line colors, patterns, gridlines, axis scales and increments, label fonts and font sizes, etc. Stored plot data may be exported to a CSV-formatted file for analysis and charting in a standalone spreadsheet.
XYPlot joins the other CyFlex plotting applications to deliver graphics at the test console – graphics that can help to assess the performance characteristics of the test article. It is based on the same graphics software and hardware as the CyFlex Operator Display and shares much of its display and user features with the other CyFlex plotting applications.
The current XYPlot Release 1.0 provides a full complement of graphics functionality, including the following sets of features:
· Standalone application that displays selected real-time graphs in a vertical stack
· Application may be started from CyFlex menu or from command line with optional configuration file
· Plug-in version may be embedded in CyFlex Operator Display
· Each instance of XYPlot has 1-8 independently configured graphs
· Each graph has a total of 1-8 real-time traces of CyFlex Variables
· One of the traces may be a static “underlay” trace of data from a designated file
· Users may select data sampling and display refresh in either rate [Hz] or interval [sec], [min], etc.
· CyFlex Variables are assigned to traces from a name list of the currently valid CyFlex Variables
· Drag mouse to “pan” (scroll) plot in X and Y directions
· Drag mouse to “zoom” (magnify) plot in X and Y directions
· Select the line color, pattern, and thickness of a trace and display a Legend of traces by color on each graph
· Select an option for a trace to “auto range” – adjust the range of the axes assigned to it so that all of its data is displayed
· Select the range, text label, color, and pattern of each of the axes
· Select the number of gridlines and tick marks on the grid and their line color, pattern, and thickness
· Configuration settings or “specs” can be saved or loaded by filename
· Add a trace, remove a trace, or copy/paste a trace by Variable name in each graph
· Add static “underlay” traces from data files
· Plot attributes may be changed interactively: rightClick anywhere in the XYPlot window to launch the floating Configuration Dialog
· Change the attributes of the plot traces for each graph, including line color, pattern, and thickness
· Change the attributes of the gridlines for each graph, including color and pattern
· Configuration changes may be “applied” (Apply button) on trial in the dialog and then accepted (OK button) or canceled (Cancel button)
· Launch the Help browser with a persistent, expandable contents tree and help content with cross links
· Mouse over a window component to display its Tool Tip
· Export the entire data buffer to a text file formatted for spreadsheets
Any and all of these features may be started from either the Menu Bar, the Button Row, or the Configuration Dialog.
The following terms should be helpful in discussing what XYPlot can do and how it works. Refer to the annotated drawing below to identify them in the XYPlot Main Window.
·
Main
Window – the complete window that appears when the
application starts
· Configuration – the plot settings that dictate the function and appearance of the Main Window and its Graphs. The settings may be changed in the Configuration Dialog and then saved to and loaded from a configuration file
· Configuration Dialog – a floating dialog window for configuring the various settings that manage the plot functionality and appearance
· Graph – the basic plot display panel that includes the graphical plots, axes, labels, and auxiliary buttons. The XYPlot window is comprised of a column of one or more Graphs, numbered from 1 at the top.
· Channel – a CyFlex Variable selected for plotting by its numeric value, name, and units
· Plot Area – the primary rectangular portion of the graph that displays the plot of the selected CyFlex Variable channels, including the value traces, the gridlines and their labels, and the axis titles
· Frame – the border of the Main Window that includes the Title and Subtitle fields at the top and the Note field at the bottom
· Trace – the continuous plot of the numeric values over time for one channel, displayed in the Plot Area.
· Axes – the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) scales at the perimeter of the Plot Area, including numeric value labels and gridlines.
· Grid – the set of horizontal and vertical lines in the Plot Area that give numeric reference to the traces
· Button Row – the horizontal row of active buttons above the top left corner of the Plot Area for Pan, Zoom, and Export
· Legend – the horizontal row of trace identifiers above the top right corner of the Plot Area to match CyFlex Variable names with trace colors
· Data Sampling – the periodic acquisition of data from CyFlex shared memory of the current values for the specified Variables, expressed in either frequency [Hz] or interval [msec]
· Display Refresh – the periodic refresh of the Graph and its Traces, expressed in either frequency [Hz] or interval [msec]
· Data Storage – data collected for each Channel in a Graph since the last Start is stored in the program. It can be saved to a spreadsheet file from the Main Window menu:
File > Export All Data
Purpose
The Main Window is the primary window for the application that is displayed on startup. Other “dialog” floating windows can be launched from it.
Graph
The Main Window is composed of a vertical stack of one or more graphs displayed as fixed rectangular panels. Each graph is an independent instance of the basic XYPlot. Their vertical column allows them to align their X Axes and scales. However, the X Axis is displayed in each panel and they may use different CyFlex Variables and/or scales if desired.
Plot Area
In each graph there is a rectangular Plot Area in which the connected line traces of the chosen CyFlex Variables are rendered across the horizontal Time Axis. It includes horizontal and vertical gridlines and tick marks for the axis scales.
Overlay
Each Plot Area may include an optional static trace of data stored in a file selected by the user. The trace may be used as an envelope or contour map, over which the real-time traces are drawn.
Menus
The Main Window has standard pulldown menus in the top left window border for File and Help. The former provides data exporting, saving and loading configuration settings, and exiting the program. The latter launches the Help dialog browser.
Button Row
Each graph has a row of action buttons at the top left edge of its Plot Area:
· Pan – toggles start and stop panning
· Zoom – start successive zoom in, then stepped zoom out or zoom reset, and stop zoom
· Export – write Data Storage contents for this graph to a spreadsheet file
Legend
Each graph has a row of Legend graphics at the top right edge of its Plot Area. Each Legend shows a CyFlex Variable name over the trace color selected for it.
Frame
The Main Window border area outside of the graphs forms a Frame that can display user selected text for a Title, a Subtitle, and a Note.
Purpose
The Configuration Dialog is a floating dialog window launched from the Main Window that lets you select valid options for plotting attributes
Graph Tabs
The dialog has a column of numbered Graph Tabs on its left margin, one tab for each graph specified, plus an “All” tab to display the attributes of all graphs at once.
Feature Tabs
The dialog has a row of three Feature Tabs on its top margin:
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Plot tab -- organized as a spreadsheet table. Each row describes a trace of one CyFlex Variable. Each column corresponds to a plot attribute – Variable name, trace color, left or right Y axis, etc. The lower panel shows screen refresh, data sampling, and data storage settings.
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Axes Tab – organized as a spreadsheet table. The rows describe the vertical Left and Right Y Axes and the horizontal X Axis. Each column corresponds to an axis attribute, such as range, color, and number of gridlines.
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Frame Tab – displays fields to select the text and font of the Title, Subtitle, and Note in the Frame of the Main Window, as well as show / hide the Legend and select the background color on all graphs |
Buttons
The dialog has a row of buttons on its bottom margin:
· OK – accept the setting changes and close the dialog
· Apply – apply the setting changes and keep the dialog open
· Cancel – cancel the setting changes and close the dialog
Display Refresh vs Data Sampling
XYPlot offers considerable flexibility in specifying its two primary rates: Display Refresh and Data Sampling. While each may be selected independently, some consideration is recommended so that plotting is reasonable and efficient.
Display Refresh is simply the rate at which the display of the Graph is refreshed or updated.
· The allowable range of rates is 0.1 - 50 [Hz], corresponding to intervals of 10,000 – 20 [msec].
Note: as the rate increases, the interval decreases.
· Rates below 10 [Hz] may appear jerky; rates above 50 [Hz] would make no perceptible difference.
Data Sampling is the rate at which the application acquires data values for the Traces from CyFlex shared memory.
· The allowable range of rates is 1 – 50 [Hz], corresponding to intervals of 1,000 – 20 [msec].
· Rates below 1 [Hz] are slower than typical Slow Channel sampling; rates above 50 [Hz] are faster than typical Fast Channel sampling
The default rates for Display Refresh and Data Sampling are recommended to start. You may adjust them in the Plot Tab of the Configuration Dialog as desired.
· XYPlot operates as part of the CyFlex test automation system. CyFlex must be running on the test system to create the history data files that XYPlot requires for plotting.
· The system hardware must be sufficiently robust to execute the standard CyFlex operations.
· The test system must have graphics hardware adequate to support version 1.3 or later of the OpenGL cross-platform applications programming interface (API) for computer graphics and driver support.
· High-resolution monitors are recommended for display accuracy.
The following constraints and limitations must be imposed on the XYPlot configuration and operation:
Variable types – CyFlex Variables may be selected for plotting by name from the Plot tab of the Configuration Dialog.
· All currently specified Real, Integer, and Logical Variables are displayed automatically in the CyFlex Variable Names pulldown list.
Number of graphs – XYPlot supports up to eight graphs in its vertical “stack” format
· The program ignores attempts to add more than eight graphs in the Configuration Dialog.
Number of traces per graph – XYPlot supports up to eight traces, one for each CyFlex Variable selected, in any one graph.
· Together with the limit of eight graphs per program instance, you may select up to 64 traces at once.
· The program ignores attempts to add more than eight traces in the Plot tab of the Configuration Dialog.
Sample Rates – XYPlot enforces Data Sample Rates in the range 1 – 50 [Hz], covering the typical Slow to Fast Channel sample rates.
· The program ignores attempts to enter values outside this range in the Plot tab of the Configuration Dialog
Refresh Rates – XYPlot enforces Display Refresh Rates in the range 0.1 – 50 [Hz], covering rates from very low computer utilization to refresh faster than any perceptible difference
· The program ignores attempts to enter values outside this range in the Plot tab of the Configuration Dialog
Data Storage – XYPlot limits the total number of Data Samples per Trace to 360,000, the number of samples for a 10 [Hz] channel over an hour.
· Once the Data Storage buffer is full, the program drops the oldest data as it adds the newest.
· The actual clock time covered in the Data Storage clearly depends on the Data Sample Rate: high rates fill the buffer in less time than lower rates.
· The Export Data to CSV File button in the top left margin of the Graph writes the entire contents of the current Data Storage buffer to a file.
In this section we provide step-by-step explanations of how to operate XYPlot and use its various features.
How to Start the XYPlot Program
You can start the application in several standard ways:
· from the XYPlot icon on the console monitor:
XYPlot
· from the command line:
qtxyplot
· from a test mode in a General Purpose gp_test script:
@BACKGROUND_TASK
AT_START “qtxyplot”
Important! – The program will use the default configuration at startup unless you select a different one in the command line.
How to Exit the XYPlot Program
You can exit the program from the File menu at top left in the Main Window:
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File > Exit
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· The program will prompt to save the current configuration to a file.
· The program will stop and the Main Window will disappear.
· XYPlot displays channel traces after you select the channel Variables by name in the Configuration Dialog.
· The program initially displays the Overlay data, if a file has been selected.
· Plotting data stops when you click the Stop button in the middle of the bottom frame.
· Data storage also stops.
· The button label will change to Start.
What Start and Stop Plotting Do
· Starting and stopping the plot will also start and stop Data Storage. Starting again will erase any stored data and start Data Storage over.
· If you want to keep the stored data and continue collecting it, use the Pause and Resume button sequence instead.
· If you stop the plot and wish to save the stored data to a file, you must do so before you use the Start button to restart the plot.
Important! – Any sequence of Stop and then Start will erase all data currently stored.
How to Pause and Resume Plotting
· You can pause the plot display by clicking the Pause button at the right end of the bottom frame.
· Data storage will continue, up to the capacity specified in the Data Storage field under the Plot tab of the Configuration Dialog.
· The button label will change to Resume.
What Pause and Resume Plotting Do
· You can resume the plot display after a pause by clicking the Resume button at the right end of the bottom frame.
· The plot will display the data during the pause and Data Storage has not been interrupted.
· The button label will change to Pause.
How to Select CyFlex Variables to Plot
You can select which CyFlex Variables to plot from the pulldown lists:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area to launch the Configuration Dialog.
2. Select the Plot tab in the dialog. Each row displays the attributes of one trace.
3. Click in the X Variable Name field of the row for the desired trace. The list of CyFlex Variable Names includes all Real, Integer, and Logical Variables currently specified, sorted together alphabetically.
4. 
Select the Variable Name:
· Click in the Name field, scroll to your selection, and click on it, or
· Enter the first few characters of the desired Name. The list will display matching choices for you to select.
· The Name of the CyFlex Variable you have selected to plot is displayed in the field, along with its current units of measure in brackets.
5. Repeat these steps in the Y Variable field of the row for the desired trace.
6. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration dialog to make the change.
Important! – All traces in one graph have the same X Variable. If you add more than one trace, the same X Variable name is shown automatically. You can see that their X Variable fields cannot be changed.
How to Add or Remove a Trace in a Graph
You can add or remove a trace from the
Configuration Dialog:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Plot tab in the Configuration Dialog
3. RightClick on the bottom (highest number) row # button immediately to the left of the CyFlex Variable Name field to show the trace Options menu
4. To add a trace at the bottom:
a. Select Add Row in the menu to display a new trace row with default settings
b. Select the settings for the new trace in the row fields
5. To remove the bottom trace:
· Select Delete Row in the menu to remove the row and its trace in the graph
6. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the change
Important! – You may add a trace row only at the bottom and you may remove only the bottom trace row
How to Add or Remove a Graph in the Main Window
You can add or remove an entire graph
from the vertical “stack” of graphs in the Main Window from the
Configuration Dialog:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Plot tab in the Configuration Dialog
3. RightClick on the bottom (highest number) graph tab in the column on the left margin
4. To add a graph at the bottom:
a. Select Add Graph in the menu to display a new graph with default settings
b. Select the attributes for the new graph
5. To remove the bottom graph:
· Select Delete Graph in the menu to remove the bottom graph in the Main Window
6. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the change
Important! – You may add a graph only at the bottom and you may remove only the bottom graph
How to Set the Ranges of the Axes
You
can set or change the range of values for the X and/or Y Axes of the plot:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Axes tab in the Configuration Dialog.
· The Y Axes panel has one row each for the Left and Right axes.
· The X Axis panel has one row for its axis.
3. Click in the Range Minimum or Maximum field in the desired row.
4. Enter the numeric Minimum and Maximum values for the CyFlex Variable which you have assigned to the axis.
· The dialog will verify that the values are numeric and that the Minimum value is less than the Maximum.
5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the change.
Important! – For a Y Axis (its scale, labels, and gridlines) to be displayed, at least one Variable must be assigned to it in the Y Axis column in the Plot tab.
You
can let the program determine the optimum range for the X and/or Y Axes
automatically to ensure that all plotted values are visible and no clipping
occurs:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Axes tab in the Configuration Dialog.
· The Y Axes panel has one row each for the Left and Right axes.
· The X Axis panel has one row for its axis.
3. Check the box in the Auto Range column for the desired axes
4. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the change.
The program will dynamically adjust the axis ranges so that all of the data is displayed in the Plot Area.
When Auto Range is set, the Range Minimum and Maximum fields display the computed values but cannot be overwritten.
If both Left and Right Y Axes are displayed with Auto Range, then changing either one to a different gridline color is recommended.
How to Start Plotting Automatically at Startup
You can have XYPlot start plotting automatically, without having to click the Start button:
qtxyplot -a
The –a autostart parameter start plotting immediately and causes the Stop button to be displayed..
How to Set Gridlines and Tick Marks
You
can set or change the number of horizontal and vertical gridlines and tick
marks:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Axes tab in the Configuration Dialog.
· The Y Axes panel has one row each for the Left and Right axes.
· The X Axis panel has one row for its axis.
3. Enter the integer number of gridlines to display in the Grid # Lines field in the desired rows.
· The dialog will verify that the value is a positive integer and will set gridlines at appropriate intervals.
4. Enter the integer number of tick marks to display between gridlines in the Grid # Ticks field in the desired rows.
· The dialog will verify that the value is a positive integer and will set tick marks at appropriate intervals.
5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the change.
· Major Ticks have horizontal gridlines and are labeled with their numeric values at the axis; Minor Ticks are simple marks.
Note: The number in Grid # Lines that you request may not match the number of gridlines actually shown in the Main Window, and for good reason: The program computes the closest match so that the grid intervals are “nice numbers” – multiples of 1, 2, or 5 times a power of 10. The corresponding grid is easy to interpolate as a result.
What the Configuration Dialog Does
You may change the data and display attributes at any time from the Configuration Dialog. RightClick anywhere in the Main Window to bring up the dialog. It is organized in three tabs:
1. Plot
· set the CyFlex Variables to plot by name, assign to the X or Y Axes, and set the trace color, line type, and thickness
· set the screen refresh and data sampling rates or intervals for the Variables
2. Axes
· set the plot attributes for the axes: color, enable / disable auto range, minimum and maximum range, numbers of gridlines and tick marks, the axis label, and the gridlines color, line type, and thickness
3. Frame
· set the text and font for labels in the frame of the Main Window: Plot Title (top left), Plot Subtitle (top right), and Note (bottom left)
· show / hide the trace Legend at top right of each graph
· change the background color of each graph
The Plot and Axes tabs include an additional column of tabs along the left margin, one tab for each graph specified. The highlighted tab shows the number of the graph for the currently displayed plot attributes.
How
To Change the Background Color of the Plot Area
You can change the background color of the Plot Area in the graph:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Select the Frame tab in the Configuration Dialog
3. Click the Background Color field to display the Select Color dialog
4. Choose the background color:
· click in the color space
· select from most recent choices, or
· adjust values in the Hue / Saturation / Value or Red / Green / Blue fields
5. Click the OK button to make the change.
Changing the background color to white is recommended before capturing the Main Window image for printing.
How To Try Configuration Changes in the Dialog
When the Configuration Dialog is displayed, you may change any of the plot attributes and see the effect:
1. RightClick anywhere in the Plot Area
2. Change the settings you want to try and then click the Apply button. You can drag the dialog out of the view to see the results in the Main Window.
3. If you want to keep the changes, click the OK button. The dialog will close and the changes will be made in the Main Window.
4. If you do not want to keep the changes, click the Cancel button. The dialog will close and none of the changes will be made in the Main Window.
5. If you want to try other changes, make them in the dialog and click the Apply button again.
You can shift the current view in the Plot
Area both horizontally (X) and vertically (Y) with the mouse cursor:
1. To start Pan, click the Pan Start toggle button in the Button Row at top left in the graph
2. Place the cursor in the Plot Area and drag it in any direction to “pan” or shift the image
3. To stop Pan, click the Pan Stop toggle button
· You can mouse hover over the Button Row to get a “tool tip” identifying any of the buttons
· You can pan repeatedly until you click the Pan Stop button to stop. Pan remains in effect until you click Pan Stop
· Data are displayed in real-time during pan and no data is lost.
· You may launch the Configuration Dialog and change plot attributes during Pan.
· Pan and Zoom cannot be used together. Turn off one before starting the other.
You can magnify the current view in the Plot
Area both horizontally (X) and vertically (Y) with the mouse cursor:
1. To start Zoom, click the Zoom Start toggle button in the Button Row at top left in the graph
2. Place the cursor in the Plot Area and drag it diagonally to “zoom in” or magnify the image to the rectangular area you want
3. 
To stop Zoom, click the Zoom
Stop toggle button
· You can mouse hover over the Button Row to get a “tool tip” identifying any of the buttons
· You can zoom repeatedly until you click the Zoom Stop button to stop. Zoom remains in effect until you click Zoom Stop.
· Data are displayed in real-time during zoom and no data is lost.
· You may launch the Configuration Dialog and change plot attributes during Zoom.
· Pan and Zoom cannot be used together. Turn off one to enable the other.
· The X and Y Axis scales will be updated and the number of gridlines maintained through the zoom session.
You can Zoom In repeatedly for greater magnification. An integer step counter tracks the number of Zoom In events in the current session.
1. 
If you are in Zoom, for each
Zoom In step, drag the cursor diagonally to Zoom In to the rectangular area you
want
2. Click on the Zoom Step Out button each time to display each of the Zoom In steps in reverse, out to the original view. The counter will decrement for each step.
3. 
Click on the Zoom Reset
button to display the original view directly, without the steps
· You can mouse hover over the Button Row to get a “tool tip” identifying any of the buttons
· Zoom remains in effect during Zoom In, Zoom Step Out, and Zoom Reset, until you click the Zoom Stop button
Working in the Plot Tab
The Plot tab in the Configuration Dialog is the place where you can change the traces displayed in the Main Window. You may add or remove traces and change the attributes of their display. If your XYPlot has more than one graph, you can select which one you want to change with the numbered graph tabs at the left margin of the dialog.
Each row of the Plot tab indicates the current settings for one trace in the selected graph. Each cell in the row affects one of its display attributes. You may change any of these attributes by selecting from the valid choices assigned to each one.
Trace Options – options that apply to an entire row or trace: Add / Delete / Copy / Paste
1. 
RightClick on the integer row # button
immediately to the left of the X Variable Name field to show the Trace Options
menu
2. Select an option for that row in the menu:
· Add Row – add a new row below the current rows for a new trace with default values
· Delete Row – delete the row from the Plot tab and its trace from the graph
· Copy Row – copy the settings for the current row; used with Add and Paste to add a similar trace row
· Paste Row – paste the settings from the previously copied row in the added row; used after Add and Copy
The sequence to copy a row to a new one is Add, Copy, and Paste. Then edit the settings for the new trace row
Variable Names – the names assigned in a specs file for the X and Y CyFlex Variables to plot
Click and scroll in the pulldown lists of
valid Variables Names to select an X and Y Variable for each trace. The
list includes all current Real, Integer, and Logical Variables.
· If you know the first few characters of the Variable Name, click in the field and start to type the name. The pulldown list will appear, starting at the characters you enter. Scroll in this filtered list and click on your selection.
· The current units of measure are appended in brackets to the Variable Name.
Y Axis – the choice of Left or Right Y Axis for this trace
1. Click on the button to toggle between assigning the Left and Right Y Axis to the trace
2. If all of the traces in a graph are assigned to the same Y Axis, then the other axis will not be displayed, including its scale, label, and gridlines. At least one of the traces must be assigned to an axis to display it.
Color –
the color for the trace display
1. Click on the color field to open the Select Color dialog
2. Choose the trace color:
· click in the color space,
· select from your most recent choices, or
· adjust the numeric values in the Hue / Saturation / Value or Red / Green / Blue fields
3. Click the OK button to make your change
Trace / Line Type – the pattern of the trace line
Click in the pulldown list to choose from the Solid, Dashed, Dot, or Dot Dash pattern for the trace line
Trace / Thickness – the thickness of the trace line
Enter an integer in the range 1 to 5, where greater is thicker
Data Panel – the settings for data gathering and storage
1. Enter the Screen Refresh, the setting that determines how often the screen display is updated:
· Specify either the Rate [Hz] or the Interval [msec]; the program will compute the other automatically
·
Valid ranges are 0.1-50 [Hz]
or 20-10,000 [msec]
2. Enter the Data Sample, the setting that determines how often Variable values are sampled for plotting:
· Specify either the Rate [Hz] or the Interval [msec]; the program will compute the other automatically
· Valid ranges are 0.1-100 [Hz] or 10-10,000 [msec]
3. Enter the Data Storage, the setting that determines how much data is stored (at the Data Sample setting) for each Variable:
· Specify the time interval for data storage in Seconds, Minutes, or Hours
· The interval must be greater than 30 [sec]
Datapoints
–
display or hide marker symbols 
at
the recorded datapoints in the Plot Area.
Select the Show or Hide toggle button
The trace is composed of straight line segments between these datapoints.
XY Values – display or hide a text display of X and Y values for the datapoint nearest to the cursor in the Plot Area.
Select the Show or Hide toggle button
The numeric X and Y values of the nearest datapoint are displayed at the cursor and a line segment is drawn to the datapoint
The Axes Tab in the Configuration Dialog is the place where you can change the axes displayed in the Main Window. You may change the settings for either of the vertical Left and Right Y Axes and the horizontal X Axis. If your XYPlot has more than one graph, you can select which one you want to change with the numbered graph tabs at the left margin of the dialog.
Each row of the Axes Tab indicates the current settings for one axis in the selected graph. Each cell in the row affects one of its display attributes. You may change any of these attributes by selecting from the valid choices assigned to each one.
Axis – identifies the Left or Right Y Axis and to which the other fields in the row apply. The Left and Right fields in the Axis column are static.
Color – the color for the Y Axis label and scale
1. Click on the color field to
open the Select Color dialog
2. Choose the color for the axis label and scale:
· Click in the color space,
· Select from most recent choices, or
· Adjust the numeric values in the Hue / Saturation / Value or Red / Green / Blue fields
3. Click OK to make your change
Auto Range – enable or disable auto ranging to adjust the axis range dynamically so that all data is displayed in the Plot Area
Check the box to start auto ranging and disable the Range Minimum and Maximum fields
Uncheck the box to stop auto ranging and enable the Range Minimum and Maximum fields
Range / Minimum – the minimum value for the axis scale
Enter the numeric value for the minimum axis scale when auto ranging is disabled
Range / Maximum – the maximum value for the axis scale
Enter the numeric value for the maximum axis scale when auto ranging is disabled
Grid / # Lines – the number of gridlines to display from the axis
Enter the integer number of gridlines to display in the Plot Area perpendicular to the axis
Grid / # Ticks – the number of tick marks to display on the axis scale
Enter the integer number of tick marks to display between each gridline on the axis scale
Label – the text label displayed next to the axis scale
Enter descriptive text for the axis
Grid
/ Color – the color of the horizontal gridlines
1. Click on the color field to open the Select Color dialog
2. Choose the color for the axis label and scale:
· click in the color space,
· select from most recent choices, or
· adjust the numeric values in the Hue / Saturation / Value or Red / Green / Blue fields
3. Click the OK button to make your change
Grid / No Grid – show or hide gridlines
Check the box to display gridlines
Uncheck the box to hide gridlines
Grid / Line Type – the pattern of the gridlines
Click in the pulldown list to choose from the Solid, Dashed, Dot, or Dot Dash pattern for the gridlines
Grid / Thickness – the thickness of the gridlines
Enter an integer in the range 1 to 5, where greater is thicker
You may change some of the supplemental text in the Main Window margins, show or hide the Legend, and change the background color of the graphs in the Frame tab of the Configuration Dialog:
Plot Title – the text string that appears at top left in the frame of the Main Window
1. Enter the literal text string for the Plot Title
2. 
Click the Font button to display the Font dialog
3. Select the font, style, and size of the text in the dialog, then click the OK button
Plot Subtitle – the text string that appears at top right in the frame of the Main Window
1. Enter the literal text string for the Plot Subtitle
2. Click the Font button to display the Font dialog
3. Select the font, style, and size of the text in the dialog, then click the OK button
Note – the text string that appears at bottom left in the frame of the Main Window
1. Enter the literal text string for the Note
2. Click the Font button to display the Font dialog
3. Select the font, style, and size of the text in the dialog, then click the OK button
Legend – associates the trace colors with their CyFlex Variable names
Click the Show or Hide toggle button to show
or hide the Legend in each graph
Background Color – the background color of the Plot Area in each graph
1. Click on the Background Color field to open the Select Color dialog
2. Choose the background color for all graphs:
· click in the color space,
· select from most recent choices, or
· adjust the numeric values in the Hue / Saturation / Value or Red / Green / Blue fields
3. Click OK to select your color
Click the OK button at the bottom of the Configuration Dialog to make the changes.
How to Save the Data Collected to a File
You can save all of the data currently stored
and plotted in a graph to a spreadsheet (.csv) file:
1. Click the Export Data to CSV File button in the Button Row at top left in the graph
· The program will display the Save File As dialog.
2. Enter a new filename in the Name: field, or click one of the existing filenames to overwrite it.
3. Keep the default directory /tmp/ for the file, or select another directory
4. Click the Save button to save the data file.
You can save a graphical image of the XYPlot Main Window to a file:
1. Pause and optionally pan in the graph to the desired view
2. Press the PrintSC key
· The Linux KSnapshot dialog appears
3. Select Window Under Cursor in the Capture mode: list
4. Click the New Snapshot button
· The KSnapshot dialog disappears
5. Click on the Main Window
· The KSnapshot dialog appears again
6. Click the Save As button
· The Save As - KSnapshot file dialog appears
7. Complete the filename and directory entries as desired
8. Click the Save button to save the image file
Once the file is saved, the image can be printed directly from the file with any of the standard graphics programs provided in the KMenu > graphics list, such as KolourPaint or Gwenview
How to Save the Current Configuration
You can save the current plot settings to either an existing configuration file or a new one from the File menu at top left in the Main Window:
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1. File > Save Settings
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· The program will display the Save Config File As dialog.
2. Enter a new filename in the Name: field, or click one of the existing filenames to overwrite it.
3. Click the Save button at bottom right to make the change.
You can also save the current plot settings as the default configuration, the one that is loaded automatically at startup.
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File > Save As Default
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Save As Default is helpful when you want to have a common starting point, or when you want to return to the current configuration easily in the future.
You can load plot settings in an existing configuration file from the File menu at top left in the Main Window:
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1. File > Load Settings
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· The program will display the Open Config File dialog.
2. 
Select one of the existing Configuration
filenames, with the “.conf” extension.
3. Click the Open button at bottom right to load the settings
How to Load a Configuration at Startup
You can select the Configuration file to load at program startup from the command line:
qtxyplot –f [base filename]
where the base filename is the Configuration filename without the brackets and without the standard “.conf” extension.
This format assumes that the Configuration files are in their default directory:
/home/[username]/.config/Cybermetrix Inc/XYPlot/
The program will use its default configuration if no –f file option is used.
CyFlex Software Development Team
CyberMetrix, Inc.
www.cybermetrix.com