Hard to move 2d plots, change plot area size, add plots?

[js511]

I just upgraded to LabView 2009 to try out the new plotting functions and I am surprised at how much less versatile, e.g., the "2d Error Bar Plot" is when compared to say an old XY-graph (although I appreciate the new default colour scheme, the black and yellow looked a bit too 80s for my taste). The problems I seem to have include:

- It seems impossible to move the plot by just clicking on it. When I move over the graph area, I get a "+"-cursor (which in editing mode doesn't allow me to do anything, on the sides I get a hand cursor, again without any apparent functionality. Why is this?

- I can't change the size of the graph area. By default these plots waste a lot of space especially on the left side, so I always correct the XY graphs immediately by just dragging a corner of the graph area. In these 2d plots, that doesn't work either.

- Same thing for the Plot legend, can't resize it to add additional plots. Does this mean I can't change the default number of plots/colour schemes without first running the program?

It is possible that I just don't get a new way that these things are done in 2009, but the fact that I also can't change these features when I go to "Customize" makes me think that it might not be possible at all... this would be very frustrating and would make these new plots essentially too cumbersome to be useful. And for no apparent reason...

Can anyone help?

Cheers, 

Jochen Smolka

[The_Chancenator]

Hi Jochen,

There are actually some property nodes for the 2D error bar graph that can adjust the graph area, amongst other things. Right click on the graph on the front panel and choose Create>Property Node, and you should see several options that allow you to adjust the appearence of the graph. 

Take a look at these and post back if you have more questions.

Cheers, 

[js511]

Hi Marti,

thanks for the quick reply. I know I could always use property nodes to change the appearance. My point was more to express my surprise at how awkward these "shiny new plots" are. I've actually reverted most of my plots back to my old customised XY-graphs.

Along similar lines (maybe this should go into a new thread...), is there a way to output plots from a Mathscript node into Labview graph indicators? Now that most of the matlab plotting commands are available both as Mathscript fucntions and as Labview graphs that would make customising things very convenient.

Cheers, 

Jochen

[The_Chancenator]

Hi Jochen,

I'd recommend going ahead and creating a product suggestion for the customization of the graph (without property nodes) on the Idea Exchange board. 

As for the output of the node, I would imagine that as long as the data was in the proper format for the graph, you should be able to output it to a graph.  If its not that simple, then go ahead and post to the MathScript forum. 

Thanks!

[theodoros]

Hallo,

is this issue resolved?

I want to change the position of the plot and cursor legend to a 2d error graph from right to bottom.

is there a way to do that?

cheers

thodoros

[The_Chancenator]

Hello Thodoros,

Is there any particular reason that you are wanting to move the legend around?  The reason that I am asking is that the process is actually a bit more involved for the 2D Error Bar Plot than for a regular Waveform Graph or Chart.  Since the Error Bar Plot is an XControl in LabVIEW, you'll have to edit the properties of the particular XControl.

To do this, you'll have to locate the XControl file on your machine: C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2009\vi.lib\Math Plots\2D Math Plots\2D Error Bar

Make a copy of it so that you don't edit the actual 2D error bar plot. The easiest would probably to hide the legend, then make a new legend in the position that you would like. 

This is quite a process, and I'd really recommend that you create a product suggestion to make this a little easier.  Just post your idea on the Idea Exchange so other users can vote on it.  

Cheers, 

[gnappo]

Coud please someone teach me how to add this kind of plots (put more plots on the same figure)? Build array doesn't work and bundle cluster doesn't work.
Thank you in advance

[Ricky_V.]

Hello gnappo,

Try the LabVIEW Help for 2D Error Bar Plot Helper VI.


Ricky