Zooming in function graphics [message #91991] |
Fri, 25 September 2015 12:21  |
wlandsman
Messages: 743 Registered: June 2000
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Senior Member |
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One thing that has kept me from committing to function graphics is the difficulty with interactive zooming. Say I am plotting a time series
f = randomn(seed,1000)
p = plot(f)
Now I want to change the X axis to be [0,100] instead of [0,1000]. I know I can set p.xrange=[0,100], but it is quicker to click on the zoom region. So I follow the documentation.
"hold down the <SHIFT> button on your keyboard while pressing your left mouse button. Your mouse pointer will change into an icon of a magnifying glass. Drag your mouse to define a zoom area, then release the <SHIFT> key and mouse button for the zoom operation to complete."
Ok, I first try to shift click on x = 0 which is the Y axis. But this selects the Y axis, and now moving the cursor moves the entire plot area instead of selecting a zoom region. Other plotting systems would let one click to the left of the Y axis when zooming and the zoom region then truncates to x = 0. But in IDL function graphics this outside region is insensitive to shift click.
So my only choice to click somewhere at X greater than 0, while being very careful not to touch the X or Y axes. I end up with a plot region of [5,100]
Today, I had an epiphany that the way to make this easier is to select the higher value first. By first selecting an interior region near x=100 and moving left, I can select a [0,100] region with less worry about accidentally touching an axis. Unfortunately, the selected region is then typically [-5,100] because IDL does not reset the zoom region to where there is actually data.
But the main problem is that shift+cursor is used both to select axes and to select a plotting region. Are there any preferences I can set to help me with this? Thanks, --Wayne
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Re: Zooming in function graphics [message #91999 is a reply to message #91998] |
Mon, 28 September 2015 11:03   |
chris_torrence@NOSPAM
Messages: 528 Registered: March 2007
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Senior Member |
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On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 10:33:31 AM UTC-6, Paul van Delst wrote:
> Hello,
>
> On 09/25/15 15:21, wlandsman wrote:
>
> [description of problem about plot data/axes selection elided]
>
>> But the main problem is that shift+cursor is used both to select axes
>> and to select a plotting region. Are there any preferences I can
>> set to help me with this? Thanks, --Wayne
>
> I don't know of any preferences, but if I have to select close to the
> axes, I move the plot within the window (using the middle mouse button)
> so I can then select my region of interest -- which is now far enough
> away from the axes to not interfere.
>
> cheers,
>
> paulv
Hi Paul & Wayne,
Would it be helpful if the red zoom box snapped to the closest data point (in the X direction) while you were drawing it?
-Chris
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Re: Zooming in function graphics [message #92001 is a reply to message #91999] |
Mon, 28 September 2015 11:50  |
Paul Van Delst[1]
Messages: 1157 Registered: April 2002
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Senior Member |
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Hi Chris,
On 09/28/15 14:03, Chris Torrence wrote:
> On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 10:33:31 AM UTC-6, Paul van Delst wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> On 09/25/15 15:21, wlandsman wrote:
>>
>> [description of problem about plot data/axes selection elided]
>>
>>> But the main problem is that shift+cursor is used both to select axes
>>> and to select a plotting region. Are there any preferences I can
>>> set to help me with this? Thanks, --Wayne
>>
>> I don't know of any preferences, but if I have to select close to the
>> axes, I move the plot within the window (using the middle mouse button)
>> so I can then select my region of interest -- which is now far enough
>> away from the axes to not interfere.
>>
>> cheers,
>>
>> paulv
>
> Hi Paul & Wayne,
> Would it be helpful if the red zoom box snapped to the closest data
> point (in the X direction) while you were drawing it?
I dunno about Wayne, but I would definitely *not* want that to be the
default.
I would like me, not my data, to be in control of where the zoom box goes.
I do a lot of overshooting in my zoomboxing when I am drilling down to
very low levels so the snapping to the closest data point would not be
appreciated.
cheers,
paulv
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