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VCS Hints: Page Description Panel |
The Page Description Panel is used to specify picture descriptor forms that define how plots are displayed on the VCS Canvas (drawing area). There are three primary elements in each picture descriptor form that correspond to text windows of the template (in green), the graphics method (in blue), and the data (in red). Names are assigned to these text windows from the scroll windows below the Page Description Panel. These scroll windows include a green `Template' window, a blue `Graphics Method' window, and a red `Data' window. (See Hints on the the Template Panel, the Graphics Method Panel, and the Data Panel for details.) Once template, graphics method, and data have been assigned to the picture descriptor form, the plot is drawn on the VCS Canvas.
How to Use the Page Description Panel
Drawing Continents:
There are six predefined continental outlines to choose from: 'None', displays
no continents; `Fine', displays highly detailed coastlines and smaller
islands; `Coarse', displays approximate continents and excludes smaller
islands; `United States', includes `Fine' continents and 50 continental
state boundaries; `Political Borders', includes `Fine' continents and sovereign
political borders; and `Rivers', includes `Fine' continents and major rivers.
The user can include additional continental outlines in VCS through input files `other7', `other8', ..., `other12'. The `Fine', and `Coarse' continental outlines are internal to VCS, while all other continental outlines are external, and should be located in the $HOME/PCMDI_GRAPHICS directory for access by VCS. If VCS cannot find a chosen external continental outline, then it will use `Fine' as its default. See the Setup Information on Continents Mapping Options for further information.
To select a continental outline, move the pointer over the `Options' menu button and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the pointer over the `Continents' menu item while continuing to hold down the left mouse button. Now move the pointer over desired continental outline menu item and release the left mouse button.
Note: if the data to be plotted have `longitude' as the first dimension and `latitude' as the second dimension, and if `None' is not selected as the continental outline type, then continents will automatically be drawn on the plot.
Updating the VCS Canvas:
Updating of the graphical displays on the VCS
Canvas can be deferred until a later time. This is helpful when generating
templates or displaying numerous plots. The pulldown menu options for updating
are `Automatic': VCS updates the VCS Canvas as necessary; `Manual': no
updating of the VCS Canvas occurs; and `Now': the VCS Canvas is updated
immediately.
To select an update option, move the pointer over the `Options' menu button and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the pointer over the `Update' menu item while continuing to hold down the left mouse button, and move the pointer over desired update option.
Creating a Picture Descriptor Form:
To create a new picture descriptor form, move the pointer over the `Options'
menu button and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the pointer
over the 'Picture' menu item while continuing to hold down the left mouse
button. Next, move the pointer over the `Create' pull right menu item and
release the left mouse button. A new picture descriptor form will appear
at the end of the list.
Turning All Plots Off:
To turn off all VCS plots at once, move the pointer over the `Options'
menu button and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the pointer
over the `Picture' menu item while continuing to hold down the left mouse
button. Next, move the pointer over `All Off' pull right menu item and
release the left mouse button. All plots on the VCS Canvas will disappear.
Removing a Picture Descriptor Form:
Picture descriptor forms consist of two rows: a label row, including `Id',
`P', `On/Off/Err', Template', `Graphics', `Data'; and an input row, including
text windows and a button. For quick removal of a picture descriptor form,
move the pointer over the label row and click the right mouse button. As
an alternative, select the label row with the left mouse button. Then move
the pointer over the `Picture' menu button and select the red `Remove'
menu item. All selected picture descriptor forms will be removed.
Removing All Picture Descriptor Forms:
To remove all picture descriptor forms at once, move the pointer over the
`Options' menu button and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the
pointer over the 'Picture' menu item while continuing to hold down the
left mouse button. Next, move the pointer over the `Remove' pull right
menu item and release the left mouse button. All picture descriptor forms
and all plots on the VCS Canvas will be removed.
Copying and Dropping a Template Name:
Move the pointer to the green `Template' scroll
window below the Page Description Panel. To copy a template name, click
the middle mouse button. To drop, move the pointer to the green
`Template' input text window of the desired page descriptor form, and click
the middle mouse button. The selected template name will appear
in the `Template' input text window.
Copying and Dropping a Graphics Method Name:
Move the pointer to the blue `Graphics Method'
scroll window below. To copy a graphics method name, click the middle
mouse button. To drop, move the pointer to the blue `Graphics' input text
window of the desired page descriptor form, and click the middle
mouse button. The selected graphics method name will appear in the `Graphics
Method' input text window.
Copying and Dropping a Data Name:
Move the pointer to the red `Data' scroll
window below. To copy a data name, click the middle mouse button.
To drop, move the pointer to the red `Data' input text window of the desired
page descriptor form, and click the middle mouse button. The selected
data name will appear in the `Data' input text window.
Monitoring the Status of a Picture Descriptor Form:
The `Status' button both controls and indicates the status of a picture.
Before the picture descriptor form is created, the `Status' button is red
(indicating `Error' status). When assignments are made (without error)
to the `Template', `Graphics', and `Data' input text windows, the button
turns green (indicating `On' status). Once the picture descriptor form
is complete, toggling between `On' (green) and `Off' (yellow) states switches
the display of the plot (in the VCS Canvas)
on or off.
Showing the `Id' of a Picture Descriptor Form:
Move the bottom horizontal scrollbar to the left. This action will uncover
the picture descriptor form `Id' name.
Setting the Picture Priority:
The picture with the highest priority number is displayed on top of all
others. To change a priority, select the `P' input text window and enter
the desired priority number, followed by a `Return' or `Enter'.
Enlarging the Page Description Panel:
Move the pointer to the green down-arrow button in the lower right corner
of the panel and click the left mouse button. The panel will extend to
the bottom of the VCS window. Select the green up-arrow button to restore
the panel to its former size.
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