Plotting Utility Help

Our Plotting Utility helps you interactively plot and compare scalar data from different instruments and sensors.

Quick Instructions

1. Log in - You need to log in to search for data. If you haven't registered, it's easy to create a new account.
2. Open Plotting Utility
3. Choose an instrument and sensor from the Instrument/sensor Selection tab. You can browse instruments by type, location or research project.
4. Use the time period selection area to refine the time period you wish to examine.
5. Click Update Plot(s).
6. Add more plots for the same time period by choosing different instruments and sensors.
7. Right-click on a sensor to overlay its values on an existing plot.
8. Roll your cursor over plot curves for interactive data read-outs.
9. Zoom in on time periods of interest by clicking and dragging directly on the data plot.
10. Save your plot settings by clicking Save All Current Plot Settings; you can then regenerate the same plots later with a single click.
11. Save your plot as a graphic by clicking the Generate Plot Image button, then right clicking.

Tips

• Plot tools let you grab images, change styles, add titles and legends, access numerical data, refine axes, etc.
• An unwanted plot can be removed by clicking its red X.
• Adjusting the time period automatically adjusts all active plots.

Detailed Instructions

Instrument & Sensor Selection

The instrument/sensor selection tab in the upper-left panel lets you browse the full list of instruments with scaler sensor data in our archive. Use the dropdown selector to display instruments by type, location or research project. When you find the instrument and sensor you're looking for, select it by clicking on it. When you do this, a scalar plot is generated in the plot area.

Right-click on a sensor to overlay its values on an existing plot.

Time Selection

Use the time period selection area to define the time period over which you want to plot data. You can choose presets such as Last 10 Minutes of Last 7 Days, or can define custom time periods using the date-time boxes and calendar buttons. Whenever you change the time period, click the Update Plot(s) button to redisplay data over the new period. Every new time period is recorded in the time period history box on the right side of this panel, and you can click previous time periods to revert to previous plots. You can also browse time periods by clicking the Previous and Next Time Period buttons.

If you wish to save a time period and plot set for future reference, click Save All Current Plot Settings (more on this below).

Plot Tools

A set of tool icons appears in the upper-right corner of each plot. Click them to:

• display the legend
• generate the plot as a graphic (png format), which you can save to your computer
• open a data file containing scalar values used to generate the plot
• add a plot title, revise axis ranges and change the curve type
• delete the plot

Demo Video

The following video introduces all of the plot tools:

Saving Your Plots

You can save your plots in different ways:

• graphic (png format) files
• saved settings
• links

Saving Graphics

To save any plot as a graphic (png format) file:

1. click the Generate Plot Image button (the plot will be displayed in a separate window)
2. right-click on the image
3. choose Save image as...
4. choose a name for the graphic file
5. browse to the location you want to save it on your computer
6. click save

Saving Settings

You can also save all the settings associated with a plot, including date, time, instruments, sensors, curve colours and styles, etc. This allows you to easily recreate the same plot in the future. To save current settings:

1. click Save All Current Plot Settings
2. enter a name for your saved plot
3. click Save

Saving Links

In addition to saving graphics and settings, you can also save links that will open the Plotting Utility and regenerate your plots. To do so:

1. right click on a saved setting in under the Saved Plots tab
2. click on Reference Link
3. a new browser window is opened
4. copy the web address shown at the top of the newly opened plot window

Saving Demo

The following video demonstrates all three ways to save plots: