Numeric Axis

A Numeric axis is one which plots values as numbers. This is different from a Time Series axis and a Category axis. A log scale, grid and custom tick mark spacing are available on this axis.

Numeric Axis Window

Axis

Draw Axis?

To draw the axis and any associated grid and tick marks, check this box. To disable all axis features for this axis, uncheck this box.

Log Scale?

To plot this axis using a log scale, check this box.

Color

This sets the color of the axis and tick marks.

Reference Lines

Reference lines allow you to place lines on the plot at places that you specify. You could use them to indicate a trend line or upper and lower control limits in your plot. Reference lines have their own dialog and are covered here.

Minimum and Maximum

Enter values here to specify the axis minimum and maximum range. These are in the data coordinates of the axis.

Text

This is the label that describes the axis. It will normally appear below or next to the axis. You may enter text and allow the Analysis Engine to format it by typing in the text box. Press the Edit button to edit font and positioning features of the axis text.

Positioning Algorithm

This specifies the method that the Analysis Engine will use to position the axis. The default behavior is to place the X axis at the bottom of the plot and the Y axis on the left side of the plot. Other positioning methods are:

Lines Into Margin: When you select this option, you must enter a value in the Axis Position text box. This value is the number of lines to move the axis into the margin. The X axis will move down this number of lines and the Y axis will move left this number of lines.
User Coordinates: This option allows you to move the axis into the plot area. When you select this option, you must enter a value in the Axis Position text box. This value is the coordinate on the other axis where you want this axis drawn. For example, if you want to place the X axis at a value of 5.0 on the Y axis instead of 0.0, enter 5.0 in the Axis Position box.

Grid

The grid is a set of lines that are drawn all the way across the plot. They allow you to read you data values from the plot more accurately.

Draw Grid?

To draw the grid, check this box. To turn off all grid drawing, uncheck this box.

Color

The color to use for the grid lines.

Line Style

The type of line to use for the grid lines. There are seven line styles including a blank line.

Enable Grid Tick Marks?

This feature only works with the Log Scale enabled. Set the Grid Line Style to a blank line to see this feature. It will draw tick marks facing into the plot along the axis at each grid point.

Grid Tick Mark Length

This is the relative length of the grid tick marks. The default size is 1.0. A value of 0.5 makes a line half as long. A value of 2.0 makes a line twice as long.

Grid Bounds

This defines where the grid starts and stops. You can choose to draw the grid only on part of the axis.

Default

The default behavior is to draw the grid all of the way across the axis.

Increment

With the Increment method for grid spacing, you must specify an Initial Point in the coordinates of the axis. Then you must specify an Increment in the coordinates of the axis. You may optionally choose to specify a Final Point where grid drawing should stop. For example, to draw a grid from 1.0 to 2.0 with a grid line at each 0.1 mark, enter 1.0 for the Initial Point, 2.0 for the Final Point and 0.1 for the Increment.

Divisions

With the Divisions method of grid spacing, you must enter an Initial and Final Point where the grid will start and stop. In addition, you must specify the number of divisions (as an integer) to place between the Initial and Final Point. For example, if you wish to draw a grid between 1.0 and 2.0 with 10 evenly spaced divisions, enter 1.0 for the Initial point, 2.0 for the Final Point and 10 for the Divisions.

Tick Marks

Tick Marks are the small ticks that are placed along the axis to indicate where values lie.

Draw Tick Marks?

Check this box to draw tick marks. Uncheck it to turn of tick mark drawing.

Draw Tick Mark Labels?

Check this box to draw the tick mark labels. Uncheck this to disable all tick mark label features.

Label Color

This sets the tick mark label color.

Font Style

This sets the font style for the tick mark labels (plain, bold, italic or bold/italic).

Draw Tick Marks Perpendicular to Axis?

Check this box if you would like the tick marks to appear perpendicular to the axis. This is used on the X axis when you have long tick mark labels or on the Y axis to set the tick mark labels horizontal.

Size

This is the relative of the tick marks in pixels.

Custom Tick Marks

Custom Tick Marks allow you to set values and labels on the axis wherever you choose. They will override the default tick marks.

Custom Tick Marks window

To use them, press the Edit Custom Tick Marks button. This will bring up a separate dialog window. On the left is a table where you can enter the tick mark labels. On the right is a table where you specify the positions on the axis where the tick marks should be drawn. To add a line to the table, press the Insert Row button. You must add the same number of lines to both the left and right tables.