Changing the plot style
In the data window, under the Data point format box, you can choose the way by which points will be plotted in a given data serie. Parameters include:
1) The symbol used for the serie (drop down menu)
2) The size of this symbol (slider)
3) The color used to draw this symbol (color box)
4) The alternate color used for analyzing trends (see Analyzing trends in your data serie in this section
Analyzing trends in your data serie
Trends are established using an ascending or descending sort of the Height/Age column (See working with data). Your can choose how your data set is sorted using this column by simply choosing the appropriate option in the pull down menu of the Data window. Two options exist then in order to analyze trends:
a) Choose Link serie under the Plot format box of the data window. This will link each point by a line with the points immediately above and below it in the data set. An arrowhead will indicate the direction of the trend (from the lowest value to the highest value). This is useful for data set with few points and where a clear path is expected.
b) For larger data sets where trends are not as clear, you can use a color gradient to look for existing trends. To do this, simply check the Apply color gradient box under the Data point format box of the data window. A color gradient will be establish where the lowest point in is represented by the Fill color and the highest point by the Alternate color. Points in between will have an intermediate calculated color representing their positing in the sorting. You can choose between two different ways of calculating the color: 1) points are equaly distant from each other, color is based solely on their position in the data set (standard), and 2) use the actual value of the points for the computation of the color, and not just their position in the data set (check the Use ordered column values for gradient box).
Plotting or hiding a data serie
You can choose to temporarily hide a data serie by unckecking its Plot serie box under the Plot format box of the data window. This option is usefull to keep several data sets together (e.g. coming from a same project or region) but still be able to plot them separately.
Selecting points and finding the name of a data point
To find the name of a given data point in the plot window first select the plot window to bring it to the front. Then, simply put the mouse pointer on top of the given data point and wait 2-3 seconds. A yellow box will appear displaying the name of the point.
You can select a point by clicking into it, or select several point by clicking in the plot window and dragging a selection rectangle over the points you whish to select. You can modify your selection by holding the shift key down and clicking on data points, thus adding them or removing them from your selection. If the plot window is selected, you can also choose to select all the point visible in the plot by choosing select all points (cmd+shift+A) from the Plot menu. To select all the points from the selected serie, make sure that the data window is in front and select Select all points from serie (cmd+A) from the plot menu.
Deleting points, creating subset and merging data series
You can delete selected points by pressing the Delete key on your keyboard. This action cannot be undone. Selected points can be transformed into a new serie by choosing Make new serie
(cmd+U) under the plot menu. Selected points can also be merged into another serie: first, choose the appropriate serie in the data window. The, make sure that the plot window is in the foreground and that the data points are selected. Finally, choose Group selected with current serie (cmd+G) under the plotmenu.
Selecting an appropriate ternary diagram
You can choose the appropriate ternary diagram for your plot in the data serie. Simply choose the appropriate folder name, and the associated graph name under the Plot format box of the data window. See Creating your own ternary diagrams and the ternary plot database for creating your own plots and sharing them with the community.
Controlling the aspect of your diagram: legend, grid and graph size
Under the Plot format box of the data window you can choose to plot the graphs legend or not. You can also choose to plot the grid (10% ticks) on top of your ternary diagram and choose the grid color. To change the size of the plot, simply drag the lower right corner of the plot window. This will impact the size of your exported PDF plot, and the software will keep track of your preferred size for the plot window.