 SPLASH Help Index

Menu Commands

File menu

View menu

Graph menu

Analysis menu

Detrend menu

Mode menu

Window menu

Help menuHow To

Compute a Minimum Variance Matrix

Create a Hodogram

Create a Dynamic Spectra WindowPerform a Fourier Transform

Rotate Plotted Data into Field-Aligned Coordinates


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New	Creates a new CDA file.
Open CDA Template	Opens an existing CDA file.
Open Flatfile	Reads and plots the data from a new flatfile, using the graphing parameters set in the current CDA file.
Close	Closes an opened CDA file.
Save	Saves an opened CDA file using the same file name.
Save As	Saves an opened CDA file  to a specified file name.
Export MetaFile	Writes out the data contents of the current window as a Windows 16-bit metafile.
Export ASCII	Write out the data contents of the current window as an ASCII file.
Export Markers	Writes out the data contents of selected marked regions in the main plot window in ASCII format.
Print	Prints the contents of the current window.
Print Preview	Displays the plots on the screen as they would appear printed.
Print Setup	Selects a printer and printer connection.
Print Overlap	Specifies the amount of overlap in time series plots on multiple page printing.
Exit	Exits SPLASH.


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Reverse previous editing operation.
Cut	Deletes data from the .CDA file and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the .CDA file to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the .CDA file.
Paste Link	Pastes from the clipboard a link to data in another application.
Insert New Object	Inserts and embeds an object, such as a chart or an equation in a .CDA file.
Links	List and edit links to embedded .CDA files.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.


Graph menu commands

The graph menu offers the following commands:

No Panel Tracking	Disables tracking of the cursor within the panels
Track One Panel	Sets cursor tracking to display data values at the position of the cursor for the panel containing the cursor
Track All Panels	Sets cursor tracking to display data values at the position of the cursor for all panels in the same column as the panel containing the cursor
Track Additional Variables	Enables/disables tracking the values of the additional variables with the cursor position.
Page Options	Sets display parameters for the entire page.
Panel Options	Sets display parameters for the individual panels.
Data Options	Determines what data is displayed in the panels in the main plot window.
Marker Options	Allows editing, copying and removing of markers.
X-Axis Options	Changes X-Axis graphing parameters for the individual panels.
Y-Axis Options	Changes Y-Axis graphing parameters for the individual panels.
Additional Variable Names	Changes the variable names for the additional variables displayed along the X-Axis of the bottommost panel.


Analysis menu commands

The analysis menu offers the following commands which may be applied to data in the

analysis window  or the fourier transform window:

Fourier Transform	Creates a Fourier Transform window
Taper	Subtracts a linear fit from the data and applies a ½-wave cosine taper to the endpoints
Filter-->Boxcar	Applies a boxcar filter to the data.
Filter-->Gaussian	Applies a gaussian filter to the data.
Filter-->Running Average	Smooths the data with a running average.
Filter-->Remove Flagged Data	Removes flagged points from the displayed data


Detrend menu commands

The Detrend menu offers the following commands which may be applied to data in the

analysis window  or the fourier transform window:

Taper	Subtracts a linear fit and applies a ½ wave cosine taper to the ends of the data.
Running Average	Subtracts a running average from the data.


Mode menu commands

The Mode menu offers the following commands which apply to markers in the main plot window:

Hide Markers	Hides all markers.
Analysis Mode	Displays all markers, and allows analysis of data in the marked regions.


Window menu commands

The Window menu offers the following commands, which enable you to arrange multiple views of multiple .CDA files in the application window:

New Window	Creates a new window that views the same .CDA file.
Cascade	Arranges windows in an overlapped fashion.
Tile	Arranges windows in non-overlapped tiles.
Arrange Icons	Arranges icons of closed windows.
Split	Split the active window into panes.
Window 1, 2, ...	Goes to specified window.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new .CDA file in SPLASH.

You can open an existing .CDA file with the Open .CDA File command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File Open command
Open .CDA File command (File menu)

Use this command to open an existing .CDA file in a new window.  You can open multiple .CDA files at once.  Use the Window menu to switch among the multiple files.  See Window 1, 2, ... command.

You can create new .CDA files with the New command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+O


Open flatfile command
Open Flatfile command (File menu)

Use this command to change the data file associated with the .CDA file.  The graph parameters will remain unchanged, but the plotted data will come from the new data file.  If the short names of the data columns in the currently plotted data file match the short column names in the new data file, then the plotted data will simply be replaced by the data in the new file.  If the short column names do not match then an Assign Column Names dialog will appear, allowing the user to map the names of the columns in the old data file to those in the new data file.


exporting data as a metafile
Export Metafile command (File menu)

Use this command to save the current plots to a Windows 16-bit Metafile.  Upon selecting this menu item, a printer options dialog box will appear.  Select the print options that most closely match the desired characteristics of the output graphics (e.g. black and white vs. color, or portrait vs. landscape).  You may use the Print Preview command from the file menu to preview the window contents as they will appear in the metafile.


exporting data from marked region(s)
Export Markers command (File menu)

Use this command to print the data in marked regions to an ASCII file.  SPLASH will prompt you for the name of the ASCII file to write to.  You may append the data from the marked regions to an existing file.  Selecting this command will bring up the Export Markers dialog box


exporting data in ASCII format
Export ASCII command (File menu)

Use this command to export the data from an analysis window or from a fourier window into an ASCII format file.


Print Overlap command (File menu)

Use this command to specify a time interval by which subsequent time series plots from the main plot window will overlap upon being printed out.  This command only works for printing, not for scrolling through the data.


File Open dialog box

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open.  This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

List Files of Type

Select the type of file you want to open: e.g. .CDA files

Drives

Select the drive in which SPLASH stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which SPLASH stores the file that you want to open.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Close command
Close command (File menu)

Use this command to close all windows containing the active .CDA file.  SPLASH suggests that you save changes to your .CDA file before you close it.  If you close a .CDA file without saving, you lose all changes made since the last time you saved it.  Before closing an untitled .CDA file, SPLASH displays the Save As dialog box and suggests that you name and save the .CDA file.

You can also close a .CDA file by using the Close icon on the .CDA file's window, as shown below:


File Save command
Save command (File menu)

Use this command to save the active .CDA file to its current name and directory.  When you save a .CDA file for the first time, SPLASH displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your .CDA file.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing .CDA file before you save it, choose the Save As command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Save As command
Save As command (File menu)

Use this command to save and name the active .CDA file.  SPLASH displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your .CDA file.

To save a .CDA file with its existing name and directory, use the Save command.


File Save As dialog box

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a .CDA file with a different name.  A filename can contain up to eight characters and an extension of up to three characters.  SPLASH adds the extension you specify in the Save File As Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the .CDA file.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the .CDA file.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four .CDA files you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the .CDA file you want to open.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your SPLASH session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  SPLASH prompts you to save .CDA files with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


Undo/Can't Undo command (Edit menu)

<< Your application's user interface for Undo may differ from the one described below.  Modify this help text accordingly. >>

Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible.   The name of the command changes, depending on what the last action was.  The Undo command changes to Can't Undo on the menu if you cannot reverse your last action.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+Z or

ALT-BACKSPACE


Redo command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the .CDA file and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+X


Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point.  This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in SPLASH, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in SPLASH,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

<< Add or remove toolbar buttons from the list below according to which ones your application offers. >>

Click	To

Open a new .CDA file.

Open an existing .CDA file.  SPLASH displays the Open dialog box, in which you can locate and open the desired file.

Save the active .CDA file or template with its current name.  If you have not named the .CDA file, SPLASH displays the Save As dialog box.

Print the active .CDA file.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the SPLASH window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator	Description

CAP	The Caps Lock key is latched down.

NUM	The Num Lock key is latched down.

SCRL	The Scroll Lock key is latched down.


New command (Window menu)

Use this command to open a new window with the same contents as the active window.  You can open multiple .CDA file windows to display different parts or views of a .CDA file at the same time.  If you change the contents in one window, all other windows containing the same .CDA file reflect those changes.  When you open a new window, it becomes the active window and is displayed on top of all other open windows.


Cascade command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Horizontal command (Window menu)

Use this command to vertically arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Vertical command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows side by side.


Window Arrange Icons Command

Use this command to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If there is an open .CDA file window at the bottom of the main window, then some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this .CDA file window.


Split Command (Window menu)

Use this command to split the active window into panes.  You may then use the mouse or the keyboard arrows to move the splitter bars.  When you are finished, press the mouse button or enter to leave the splitter bars in their new location.  Pressing escape keeps the splitter bars in their original location.  << In a single .CDA file interface application, this command will appear on the View menu. >>


1, 2, ... command (Window menu)

SPLASH displays a list of currently open .CDA file windows at the bottom of the Window menu.  A check mark appears in front of the .CDA file name of the active window.  Choose a .CDA file from this list to make its window active.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using SPLASH and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of SPLASH.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of SPLASH.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the SPLASH window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and .CDA file.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

.CDA file Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the .CDA file

Restore button


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the .CDA file window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the .CDA file.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the .CDA file.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the SPLASH window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a .CDA file window.


Next Window command (.CDA file Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open .CDA file window.  SPLASH determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (.CDA file Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open .CDA file window.  SPLASH determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note:  If you have multiple windows open for a single .CDA file, the Close command on the .CDA file Control menu closes only one window at a time.  You can close all windows at once with the Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a .CDA file window

ALT+F4 closes the <<YourType>> window or dialog box


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


View Ruler Command
Ruler command (View menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Choose Font Dialog
Choose Font dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Choose Color Dialog
Choose Color dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Edit Find Command
Find command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Find Dialog
Find dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Edit Replace Command
Replace command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Replace Dialog
Replace dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Modifying the .CDA file

<< Write application-specific help here that provides an overview of how the user should modify a .CDA file using your application.

If your application supports multiple .CDA file types and you want to have a distinct help topic for each, then use the help context i.d. generated by running the MAKEHELP.BAT file produced by AppWizard.  Alternatively, run MAKEHM as follows:

makehm IDR_HIDR_,0x2000 resource.h

If the IDR_ symbol for one of your .CDA file types is, for example, IDR_CHARTTYPE, then the help context i.d. generated by MAKEHM will be HIDR_CHARTTYPE.

Note, AppWizard defines the HIDR_DOC1TYPE help context i.d. used by this help topic for the first .CDA file type supported by your application.  AppWizard produces an alias in the .HPJ file for your application, mapping HIDR_DOC1TYPE to the HIDR_ produced by MAKEHM for that .CDA file type. >>


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.

<< If you wish to author help specific to each message box prompt, then remove the AFX_HIDP_xxx values from the [ALIAS] section of your .HPJ file, and author a topic for each AFX_HIDP_xxx value.  For example, AFX_HIDP_INVALID_FILENAME is the help topic for the Invalid Filename message box. >>


Computing a Minimum Variance Matrix

The user may compute the minimum variance eigenvectors and eigenvalues for a region

of the data displayed in the main plot window.  First, select the region of data to be included

in the analysis by delimiting it with a marker (see Setting a Marker HID_MARKER_SETTING for details).


Hide Marker Mode command (mode menu)

Selecting this command causes any markers in the main plot window to become invisible.  They may no longer be selected with the cursor until Analysis Mode is selected from the mode menu.


Analysis Mode command (mode menu)

Selecting this command causes any markers that exist in the main plot window  to become visible.  Markers may be hidden by choosing the Hide Marker Mode command from the mode menu.


Enter the text for the window title here.  Formatted text may be used.


Enter the text for the window footer here.  Formatted text may be used.


Formatted Text

Special formatting commands may be applied to user supplied text in SPLASH, such as axis labels and the page title.  These commands are all demarcated as escape sequences starting with the character “\”.  Entered in a text string, they will have the following effects on the visible text.

Escape Sequence	Resulting Text Format
\D, \d	Begin subscript mode (subsequent text is drawn below the baseline)
\U, \u	Begin superscript mode (subsequent text is drawn above the baseline)
\H?, \h?	Reduce font height by a factor of ?/10 where ? is an integer from 1-9.
\R, \r	Return to baseline (ends subscripting or superscripting) - and restores text to its original height
\P, \p	Backspace (allows overstriking)
\I,  \i	Begin italics
\B, \b	Begin boldface
\L, \l	Begin underlining
\S, \s	Begin symbol font
\O, \o	Begin ordinary text (ends italics, underlining, boldface and symbol font)
\N, \n	Insert newline
\C?, \c?	Start colored text where “?” is one of the following letters: r = red, b = blue, g = green, a = gray, l = black, c = cyan, m = magenta, p = purple, I = pink, o = orange, y = yellow, w = brown

A note about subscripting:  When formatting subscripts and superscripts the user will typically want to reduce the size of the text as well.  To ensure that the subscripts and superscripts are drawn an appropriate distance above or below the baseline, the text height should be changed before the sub/super-script command is given.  I.e. the text string “ex” would result from the string “e\h7\sx”.


Formatting

In SPLASH, annotated text on graphs, such as titles or axis labels,  may be formatted with special text formatting syntax.  Footers have their own set of formatting commands.


File Print command
Print command (File menu)

Use this command to print a document.   This command presents a Print dialog box, where you may specify the range of pages to be printed, the number of copies, the destination printer, and other printer setup options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+P


Print dialog box

The following options allow you to specify how the document should be printed:

Printer

This is the active printer and printer connection.  Choose the Setup option to change the printer and printer connection.

Setup

Displays a Print Setup dialog box, so  you can select a printer and printer connection.

Print Range

Specify the pages you want to print:

All	Prints the entire document.
Selection	Prints the currently selected text.
Pages	Prints the range of pages you specify in the From and To boxes.
Copies

Specify the number of copies you want to print for the above page range.

Collate Copies

Prints copies in page number order, instead of separated multiple copies of each page.

Print Quality

Select the quality of the printing.  Generally, lower quality printing takes less time to produce.


Print Progress Dialog

The Printing dialog box is shown during the time that SPLASH is sending output to the printer.  The page number indicates the progress of the printing.

To abort printing, choose Cancel.


File Print Preview command
Print Preview command (File menu)

Use this command to display the active document as it would appear when printed.  When you choose this command, the main window will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be displayed in their printed format.  The print preview toolbar offers you options to view either one or two pages at a time; move back and forth through the document; zoom in and out of pages; and initiate a print job.


Print Preview toolbar

The print preview toolbar offers you the following options:

Print

Bring up the print dialog box, to start a print job.

Next Page

Preview the next printed page.

Prev Page

Preview the previous printed page.

One Page / Two Page

Preview one or two printed pages at a time.

Zoom In

Take a closer look at the printed page.

Zoom Out

Take a larger look at the printed page.

Close

Return from print preview to the editing window.


File Print Setup command
Print Setup command (File menu)

Use this command to select a printer and a printer connection.  This command presents a Print Setup dialog box, where you specify the printer and its connection.


Print Setup dialog box

The following options allow you to select the destination printer and its connection.

Printer

Select the printer you want to use.  Choose the Default Printer; or choose the Specific Printer option and select one of the current installed printers shown in the box.  You install printers and configure ports using the Windows Control Panel.

Orientation

Choose Portrait or Landscape.

Paper Size

Select the size of paper that the document is to be printed on.

Paper Source

Some printers offer multiple trays for different paper sources.  Specify the tray here.

Options

Displays a dialog box where you can make additional choices about printing, specific to the type of printer you have selected.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


Track One Panel (Graph menu)

If this menu item is checked the value of the data at the horizontal cursor position will be displayed for the panel containing the cursor.


No Panel Tracking (Graph menu)

If this menu item is checked the values of the data at the cursor position will not be displayed in any panel


Track All Panels command (Graph menu)

If this menu item is checked, the value of the data at the horizontal cursor position will be displayed in all panels in the main plot window, as long as they are in the same column as the panel containing the cursor.  If the item is unchecked, the data values will only be displayed for the panel containing the cursor.


Track Additional Variables command (Graph menu)

If this menu item is checked the values of the additional variables corresponding to the horizontal position of the cursor will be displayed.


Page Options command (Graph menu)

This command brings up the Page Options dialog box  which lets the user set the page parameters, such as fonts, page title, footer, and tolerances.


Page Options dialog box

The Page Options dialog box allows you to use the following dialog box items to set the page display properties of the main plot window.  It may be called up by selecting the Page Options menu item from the analysis menu, or by clicking the mouse near the top of the page in the main plot window.

Title

Enter the text to be used as the page title in the edit control.  Formatted text may be used.

Tolerances

Click this button to bring up the Set Tolerances dialog box to set annotation and gap tolerances.

Page Footer

Enter the text for the page footer in the edit control.

Show Footer

Checking this check box causes the footer text to be displayed on the main plot window, and in all printed pages.

Font Styles

The combo boxes allow you to select the font for the page title, axis labels and numbers.

Font Sizes

The numbers in the edit control indicate the font size in points of a printed page for the page title, axis labels, and numbers.  The screen fonts scale with the window height, and thus cannot be set directly.

Portrait/Landscape

This radio button determines whether the displayed font sizes in points reflect the font size for a printed page in portrait mode, or in landscape mode.

Intra-Panel Spacing

The number in this edit box determines the vertical spacing between panels, as a percentage of available space.  E.g. 0% spacing will place the panels flush against one another.

Columns Per Page

The number in this edit box determines the number of columns the graphs are to be arranged in.


Panel Options command (Graph menu)

Selecting this command brings up the Panel Options dialog box which lets the user set graphing parameters for the individual panels.


Panel Options dialog box

The Panel Options dialog box is a tabbed dialog box, allowing the user to set properties for grids and traces in the individual panels.  It may be used by selecting the Panel Options command off of the graph menu.

Grids

Panel

Selects the panel for which the grid properties will be displayed and set.

Grid on Major/Minor Ticks

Check this checkbox to show grids on the major/minor tickmarks.

Color

Selects the grid line color.

Style

Selects the grid line style.  Only the solid line style will work for grids with thickness grater than 1.

Thickness

Grid line thickness (in pixels).

Set All Panels

Applies the grid settings to all panels on the page.

Traces

Panel

Selects the panel for which the properties will be displayed and set.

Trace

Selects an individual trace within the panel for which the properties will be displayed and set

Show Line

Checking the checkbox causes a line connecting the points of a trace to be drawn.

Color

Selects the color of the trace.

Style

Selects the line style of the trace.  Only the solid style will work for line thicknesses greater than 1.

Thickness

Sets the line thickness (in pixels) of the printed line.

Show Symbol

Checking the checkbox causes a symbol to be drawn at every point on the selected trace.

Symbol

Selects the shape of the symbol printed at each point on the trace.

Color

Selects the color of the symbol printed at each point on the trace.

Set All Panels

Applies the trace settings to all panels on the page.

Size

Fix Panel Width

Use this control to fix the panel width at an absolute value.  Specified units may be inches, cm or mm.  If the panel width is fixed, the horizontal size of the panel will no longer change with the size of the main plot window.  The panel width will be fixed to the specified value on both the screen and the printed page.

Relative Vertical Size

Sets the size of a panel to a percentage of the default height.

Set All Panels

Applies the size settings to all panels on the page.


Data Options command (Graph menu)

If the active window is the main plot window, selecting this menu item brings up the Reset Data dialog box, allowing the user to select which data is displayed on the page.

If the active window is the fourier transform window, this menu item will bring up a dialog allowing the user to select which fourier components are viewed in the two plots.


Data Options dialog box

The Data Options dialog box may be brought up by selecting the Data Options command from the Graph menu.  It allows the user to change which data is displayed in the main plot window.

The dialog box controls are discussed below.

Columns

Contains a list of the data columns contained in the data file.  Select the column names

here to add a trace to a panel or as an additional variable.

Is Time?

A “yes” in this list indicates that the corresponding data column is of type “time”.  If a the units of a column are incorrectly labeled, click on the appropriate item in this list box to change the units.

Panels (Add, Remove, Up Arrow, Down Arrow)

Clicking the Remove button will remove the selected panel from the page.  The Add button allows the user to create a new panel.  On clicking the Add button, a new dialog will appear, asking the user to specify the variables to be plotted on the X and Y axes of the new panel.  Additional traces may be added using the the Traces list box (see below).  Clicking the up and down arrows will move the selected panel upwards or downwards on the page.  Note that this does not change the options on a given panel.  i.e. if the bottommost panel is moved to the top of the page, the user may have to turn off the X-Axis annotation on that panel using the Annotation Page of the Axis Options dialog box.

Traces (Add, Remove, Up Arrow, Down Arrow)

Clicking the Remove button will remove the selected trace from the current panel.  Clicking the Add button will add the trace(s) selected in the Columns list box to the currently selected panel.

Clicking the up and down arrows will move the currently selected trace to the top or bottom layer

of the page.

Additional Variables (Add, Remove, Up Arrow, Down Arrow)

Clicking the Remove button will remove the selected trace from the list of additional variables.  Clicking the Add button will add the data column selected in the Columns list box to the list of additional variables.  Clicking the up and down arrows will move the currently selected variable upwards or downwards on the page.


Data Options dialog box

The Data Options dialog box occurs when the user selects opens a new data file.  It allows the user to select which data is displayed in the main plot window.  The following options let you select the data displayed in the various panels and the additional variables displayed at the bottom of the main plot window.

Columns

Contains a list of the data columns contained in the data file.  Select the column names here to add them to the panels or add them as additional variables in the main plot window.  You may select multiple column names in this list.

X, Y1, Y2, Y3 Edit Boxes…

After selecting column names in the columns list, click in any of the edit boxes to add traces to a panel.  If there are multiple selections in the columns list, each trace after the first will be added as additional traces.  Clicking on the left and right arrows will reveal different traces in the edit boxes.

Clear Axes

Click on this button to clear the contents of the X, Y1, Y2, Y3  edit boxes.

Panel List

Lists the panels in the main plot window.  Click on an item in this list to change the traces in that panel.

Add (in Panel group)

Click on this button to add the panel defined by the traces in the edit boxes to the end of the panel list.

Insert (in Panel group)

Click on this button to insert the panel defined by the traces in the edit boxes to the position in the panel list just above the current selection in the panel list.

Update (in Panel group)

Click on this button to replace the traces in the currently selected panel in the panel list, by the traces specified in the edit boxes.

Remove (in Panel group)

Click on this button to remove the currently selected panel from the panel list.

Additional Variables

Contains a list of the additional variablesdisplayed in the main plot window.

Add (in Additional Variables group)

Click on this button to add the currently selected traces in the columns list to the additional variables list.

Insert (in Additional Variables group)

Click on this button to insert the currently selected traces in the columns list to the additional variables list.

Update (in Additional Variables group)

Click on this button to replace the currently selected item in the additional variables list with the currently selected traces in the columns list to the additional variables list.

Remove (in Additional Variables group)

Click on this button to remove the currently selected item from the additional variables list.


Marker Options command (Graph menu)

Brings up the Marker Options dialog box

See Also

 Setting a marker, Moving a marker, Editing a marker, Copying a marker.


Marker Options dialog box

This dialog may be brought up by selecting the Marker Options command from the graph menu.The dialog items in the Marker options dialog box allow the user to set properties for markers in the different panels.  Selecting a particular marker from the list by clicking on it causes its properties to be displayed below the marker list, where they may be edited.  The following dialog box items appear in the Marker Options dialog box:

Panel

Selects the panel whose markers will be displayed in the list box.

Label

Displays the text of the marker label.  To change the label, edit the text here. Formatted text commands may be used.

Start At

The beginning point of the marker.

End At

The end point of the marker.

Draw Borders

Selecting this checkbox causes vertical lines to be drawn at the start and end points of the markers.

Color

Selects the fill color for extended markers.

Draw Opaque

Selecting this checkbox denotes this marker as an opaque marker.

Fill (not yet enabled)

Selects the fill style for extended markers.

Copy

Allows the user to copy the currently selected marker from the current panel to any other panels in the main plot window.  (see Copying a marker)

Remove

Deletes the currently selected marker from the current panel.

See Also

 Setting a marker, Moving a marker, Editing a marker, Copying a marker.


Minimum Variance Matrix Dialog Box

The text in the edit box displays the currently saved minimum variance eigenvectors and eigenvalues, as well as the most recently computed minimum variance eigenvectors and eigenvalues.  The user may choose to preview the data rotated into field-aligned coordinates before deciding whether or not to save the minimum variance matrix.

Preview/Don’t Preview

Selecting the Preview Button will apply the most recently computed minimum variance matrix to the data plotted in the main plot window (but only to the data columns which were used to compute the matrix).  The data may be restored to their original values when the user is finished with the dialog box.  Either the Preveiw or the Don’t Preview Button must be pressed to progress to the next set of options for the minimum variance matrix.

Save and Apply

Selecting this button will apply the new minimum variance matrix to the data plotted in the main plot window, and save the new minimum variance matrix with the data.  Choosing this option will NOT affect the data in the file itself, just the data as it is viewed on the screen.  If this option is selected, the plotted data may be restored to their original values at a later time.

Save Only

Selecting this button will save the new minumum variance matrix, but will not apply it to the data in the main plot window.  If the Preview button was pressed, the data in the main plot window will be restored to the original data.

Don’t Save

Selecting this button will discard the new minimum variance matrix and, if the Preview button was pressed, restore the data in the main plot window to the original data.


X-Axis Options command (Graph menu)

Brings up the Axis Options dialog box.  From this dialog, the you can set the X-Axis parameters for the individual panels.


Y-Axis Options command (Graph menu)

Brings up the Axis Options dialog box.  From this dialog, the you can set the Y-Axis parameters for the individual panels.


Axis Options dialog box

This dialog box may be used to alter the X-Axis or Y-Axis properties of a panel.  It may be brought up by selecting the X-Axis Options command or the Y-Axis Options command  from the graph menu, or by clicking on the axis of a panel.  The Axis Options dialog box is a tabbed dialog box with pages that set the properties for the Axis range, ticks, annotationand label:

Range

Panel

Selects the panel for which the axis range options may be viewed/set.

Min

Sets the minimum of the axis range.

Max

Sets the maximum of the axis range.  The range maximum may be set as an additive increment to the range minimum.  I.e. if you want the axis range to be 5 minutes, simply type “+ 5 min” in the Max edit control.  If no units are specified, seconds will be assumed.  Other units which will work are “sec”, “min”, “hours”, “days”, “weeks”.

Equal X & Y Axis Scaling

Forces the scale of the X-Axis and Y-Axis to be the same.

Is Time Axis

This box is checked if the units of the axis are type time.  This cannot be changed by the user.

Scaling

Selects linear scaling or log10 scaling for the axis.

Range Options

Selects the desired range option for the axis.

Span

Sets the axis range if the floating center range option is selected.

Center

Sets the method of determining the axis center if the floating center range option is selected.

Set All Panels

Applies the axis range options to all panels.

Ticks

Panel

Selects the panel for which the axis tick options may be viewed/set.

Major Tick Every

Sets the increment between major tickmarks.  If Auto is checked and the axis is a time axis, the tick increment is set to an integer multiple of the most reasonable whole time unit (e.g. hours, minutes, days).  If Auto is selected and the axis is not a time axis the major tick interval will be set to 1/5 of the axis range.

Minor Tick Every

Sets the increment between major tickmarks.  If Auto is checked the minor tick increment is set to ½ the major tick increment.

First Tick At

Selects the position of the first major tickmark plotted on the axis.  If Auto is checked, the first tickmark is placed at the minimum of the axis range.

Tick Style

Determines whether the ticks are drawn on the panel interior, panel exterior, both or neither.

Tick Placement

If Bottom/Top is checked, ticks are drawn on the bottom /top Y-axis (Left/Right for the Y-axis).

Length

Sets the length of the major/minor tickmarks as a percentage of panel height.

Set All Panels

Applies the axis tick options to all panels.

Annotation

Panel

Selects the panel for which the axis annotation options may be viewed/set.

Draw Line at axis Zero

Causes a vertical line to be drawn at zero on the axis for the specified panel.

Enable Annotation

If this box is checked the axis on this plot will be annotated.

Show Date

If this box is checked, the date corresponding to the axis minimum will be displayed at the left side of the plot.  This option is disabled if the axis is not of type time.

Date Format…

Clicking this button allows the user to set the format of the date displayed on the left hand side of a time axis.  The date may contain two lines, formatted with the same commands as in the page footer.

Annotate Every

Sets the interval between annotations.  Ignored if Annotate major tickmarks is selected.

First Annotation

Sets the position of the first point on the axis to be annotated. Ignored if Annotate major tickmarks is selected.

Annotate Major Tickmarks

If this option is selected, every major tickmark is annotated.

Annotation Style

Selects the format style for the annotated labels.  If the axis is of type time, different time formats may be selected.  If the axis is not of type time, the allowed annotation styles are of the form d, fx or ex. d implies integer labeling.  fx, and ex imply floating point and exponential labeling respectively, where x is the number of places displayed after the decimal point.

Set All Panels

Applies the axis annotation options to all panels.

Label

Panel

Selects the panel for which the axis label may be viewed/set.

Label Text

Sets the text of the label.  Specialized formatting commands may be used to change the font style and color.

Orientation

Determines whether the text is drawn vertically or horizontally.

Set All Panels

Applies the orientation option to all panels.   This will not cause all panels to have the same label.


Additional Variable Names command (Graph menu)

This command brings up the Additional Variable Names dialog box which allows the user to set the labels for the additional variables at the bottom of the main plot window.


Fonts

Different fonts may be chosen for the plot titles, labels and numbers.  These may be specified with the Page Options dialog box.


Title

The page title appears at the top of the main plot window and may be specified in the Page Options dialog box.


Footer

The footer is a line of text which appears at the bottom of the page.  The user may specify the footer text in the Page Options dialog box. The user may select whether or not the text is displayed by selecting a checkbox next to the text.  If the “print footer” option is selected, the footer will appear in the main plot window and on any printed pages, whether or not they are printed from the main plot window.  The appearance of the footer on a printed page may be viewed in Print Preview.

Special text formatting commands are available in the footer.  These commands ensure that the current date, time, or pathname to a particular file to be printed, regardless of the time or location in which the CDA file is edited.  The strings appearing below will be replaced by the appropriate text in the footer.

Footer Text String	Substituted Text
%flat	Name of flatfile (full pathname)
%file	Name of CDA file (full pathname)
%time	Current time (H:M)
%date	Current date (Month Day, Year)
%year	Current year
%doy	Current day of year

Example:

The text string:  “IGPP - %date %time - %flat” might appear in the footer as the following:

IGPP - September 25, 1996 09:02 - N:\galileo\data9\gll\plots\io_xphi=iomega


Tolerances

The user may set tolerances for plots in the main plot window.  These tolerances may be set with the Tolerances dialog box.

Gap tolerance

Gaps in the plotted data will occur wherever there is a flag in the data.  To force the data trace on the plot to span the gap, you may set the gap tolerance.  Data points separated on the X-Axis by less than this tolerance will be joined, regardless of the number of flagged points between them.  Additionally, data points separated by larger than this gap tolerance will not be joined, even if they are adjacent points.

Annotation tolerance

The annotation tolerance affects the printing of additional variables under the bottom panel in the main plot window.  If there are gaps or flags in the data where the of additional variables would have been annotated, the variables will not be printed at that position.  This can be changed by setting an annotation tolerance larger than the gap width.


SPLASH Windows

There are several different types of window in splash.  Each displays different kinds of plots, and may be used to view and analyze flatfile data.  See Main Plot window, Analysis window, Fourier Transform window and Dynamic Spectra window.


Main Plot window

This window displays flatfile data in graph format.  The particular format is specified by the .CDA files which SPLASH reads and displays.  The graphs may be time-series or X-Y plots.  Particular regions of the flatfile may be specified in the Main Plot window by setting markers.  The title displayed in the window frame (not the page title) shows the name of the .CDA file currently being displayed, or if the graphing parameters have not yet been saved, the title shows the name of the flatfile containing the plotted data.


Analysis window

This window displays a single data trace in a plot.  The plotted data may be analyzed by selecting commands from the analysis menu or detrend menu.  Plot properties may be altered by clicking the left mouse button near the item to be changed, or by selecting the item to be altered from the graph menu.

An analysis window may be created from the main plot window by clicking the right mouse button on a marked region, and selecting the Analysis Window command from the resulting pop-up menu.


Fourier Transform window

This window contains two plots displaying two components of the fourier transform of a trace.  It may be created by selecting the Fourier Transform command from the analysis menu, when an analysis window is displayed.  It may also be created by clicking the right mouse button in the marked region of a plot in the main plot window, and selecting the Fourier Transform command from the resulting pop-up menu.

To change which data components of the fourier transform are displayed in the two plots, select the Data Options command from the graph menu.  The data components which may be viewed are:

Upper plot:	real fourier component amplitude
Lower plot:	complex fourier component phase power power density

Data in the Fourier Transform window may be filtered or detrended by selecting commands from the analysis menu or the detrend menu.  Selecting the fourier transform command from the analysis menu will apply a reverse fourier transform to the current data in the Fourier Transform window, and display the resulting data in a new analysis window.


Dynamic Spectra window

This window displays the dynamic spectra of a trace.  The primary components of the window are the plot rectangle and a color bar drawn to the right of the plot rectangle.

Plot Rectangle

The plot rectangle shows actual power spectra of the data.  The horizontal axis is the time at the beginning of each spectrum.  The vertical axis is the frequency of the spectra, ranging from 0 to the Nyquist frequency.  The Z axis, defined by the color shading within the plot rectangle, shows the power contained at a given frequency in each spectrum.

Color Bar

The narrow rectangle to the right of the plot is a legend, associating the color of pixel in the plot rectangle with a corresponding power value (in log10 format).

Clicking the left mouse button inside the plot rectangle will bring up an analysis window containing the power spectrum for the data at the time corresponding to the horizontal mouse position.

See also

Creating Dynamic Spectra, Changing Dynamic Spectra Properties, Dynamic Spectra window.


Dynamic Spectra

A dynamic spectra is a series of power spectra computed at regular intervals.

See also

Creating Dynamic Spectra, Changing Dynamic Spectra Properties, Dynamic Spectra window.


Creating Dynamic Spectra

The dynamic spectra of a selected data region may be created in two ways, depending on whether you wish to create the spectra from the data in a main plot window, or from the data in an analysis window.

Main Plot window

Click the right mouse button in a marked regionthen select the dynamic spectra command from the resulting pop-up menu.  This will bring up the Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box, allowing you to set the properties for a new dynamic spectra window, containing a dynamic spectra of the data in the marked region.

Analysis window

Select the Dynamic Spectra commandfrom the analysis menu, this will bring up the Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box,  allowing you to set the properties for a new dynamic spectra window, containing a dynamic spectra of the data in the analysis window.


Changing Dynamic Spectra Properties

To change the properties of the dynamic spectra displayed in a Dynamic Spectra window, click the left mouse button inside the window (but outside the spectra plot).  The Dynamic Spectra Settings dialog boxwill appear, allowing the user to change the window properties.

To change only the Z-scale of the dynamic spectra plot rectangle, press the Tab key.  An edit control will appear at the top of the color bar.  Entering the desired upper limit for the Z-scale (in log10 units) then pressing the carriage return will change the upper limit dynamically.  Pressing the Tab key again will allow the user to do the same for the lower Z-scale limit.  Repeatedly pressing the Tab key will allow you to change the values of the upper and lower limits of the color bar.


Dynamic Spectra Settings dialog box

This dialog box is a tabbed dialog box, allowing you to change the following settings for the dynamic spectra window:

Axes

Axis

Select which axis (time, frequency, or color bar) to set the properties for.

Tick Spacing

Set the interval between tickmarks here.  Selecting Auto (the default) will place a tickmark at the beginning and end of the selected axis, with evenly spaced intervals between.

First Tick At

Set the position of the first tickmark on the selected axis here.  Selecting Auto (the default) will place the first tickmark at the axis minimum.

Labels

Title

Change the text of the page title here.  Formatted text may be used.

Time Axis

Change the text of the time axis label here.  Formatted text may be used.

Freq. Axis

Change the text of the frequency axis here.  Formatted text may be used.

Graphics

Color Table

Select the color table to be used on the power axis (Z-Axis) of the dynamic spectra.

Tile Width

Set the width (in pixels) of each power spectrum in the plot rectangle here.

Total Width

This edit box shows the total width (in pixels) of the plot rectangle in the Dynamic Spectra Window.

Tile Height

Set the height (in pixels) of each power spectrum in the plot rectangle here.

Total Height

This edit box shows the total height (in pixels) of the plot rectangle in the Dynamic Spectra Window.

Display

Points

Select the number of points in each power spectrum to be averaged together in a bandwidth average.  This effectively smoothes the data in the dynamic spectra plot rectangle.

Bandwith

Displays the total bandwidth (in Hz) of the number of points in the average.

Linear/Log10

Sets the Z-scale of the power spectra to be linear or logarithmic.

Max/Min

Sets the maximum and minimum values of the color bar axis.  These values may also be changed directly in the Dynamic Spectra window (see topic for greater detail).

Show Ion Cyc. Data

Checking this option plots the ion cyclotron data over the plot rectangle.  To use this option, you must have specified the data column containing the total magnetic field in the Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box.

Fonts

Specify the fonts and font sizes of the page title, axis labels and numbers.


Hodogram window

A hodogram window contains 5 plots.  The first two plots graph the vector components of the magnetic field.  These are the actual hodograms  The Area and Mag plots plot the area swept out by and the magnitude of the polarization vector.  The bottom plot on the page shows the individual magnetic field components.  If the data is placed in field-aligned coordiantes, the data columns are labeled Bl, Bm and Bn, where n is the minimum variance direction.

See Also

Creating a Hodogram, Viewing a Hodogram


Hodogram

A hodogram plots the perpendicular vector components of the magnetic field versus one another.  The shape of the resulting plots can reveal whether or not the data is polarized.  SPLASH displays hodograms in a Hodogram window.

See Also

Hodogram Window,  Creating a Hodogram, Viewing a Hodogram


Creating a Hodogram

A hodogram may be created from the main plot window.  The region of data to be analyzed must be indicated with a marker,  Once the marker is set, clicking the right mouse button while the cursor is over the marked region will bring up a popup menu.  Select the Hodogram command from the popup menu, and a dialog will appear, asking for the names of the data columns containing the three components of the magnetic field, as well as the time data.  Once the information in the dialog is correct, clicking OK will bring up a new hodogram window.

See Also

Hodogram Window, Viewing a Hodogram


Viewing a Hodogram

The bottom plot in the hodogram window contains two vertical bars capped by a red circle and a blue diamond.  These bars delimit the beginning and the end respectively of the magnetic field data which is plotted in the hodogram plots.  Selecting and dragging the bars dynamically changed the data shown in the hodogram, area and magnitude plots.

By default, each trace in the bottom plot is subtracted by its average value.  To change these defaults, click the right mouse button in the bottom plot.  A pop-up menu will appear which allows the user to toggle this setting on and off.


Creating a Dynamic Spectra Window

To create a spectagram from data in the main plot window, first set a marker delimiting the desired region of data.  Place the cursor over the marker and click the right mouse button.  A pop-up menu will appear.  Selecting the “Dynamic Spectra” option from the menu will bring up the Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box.  Select the desired options, click “OK” and a Dynamic Spectra Window will appear.


Minimum Variance Matrix

This matrix rotates the magnetic field vector components into field-aligned coordinates.  To use SPLASH to compute the minimum variance matrix from plotted data, see computing the minimum variance matrix.


Computing the Minimum Variance Matrix

The minimum variance matrix may be computed from a region of the data shown in the main plot window.  Click the right mouse button while the cursor is over a marked region in a plot, and select the Minimum Variance command from the pop-up menu which appears.  A dialog will appear, prompting the user to supply the three orthogonal components of the magnetic field.  The user may also select the start and stop time of the data to be included in the minimum variance analysis.  Once these values are supplied, another dialog appears, showing the newly-computed minimum variance eigenvalues and eigenvectors, as well as the previously saved eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Before choosing whether to  save the newly computed data, the user may observe the effect of applying the matrix to the currently plotted data by selecting “Preview” from the dialog.  If no preview is desired, select the button labeled “Don’t preview”.  The user may then choose to save the minimum variance matrix and apply it to the displayed data by selecting the “Save and Apply” button, or s/he may elect to save the matrix and apply it later by selecting the “Save Only” button.  If “Save Only” is selected, the new minimum variance eigenvalues and eigenvectors will be saved, but not applied to the data that is displayed in the main plot window.   The minimum variance matrix may also be applied to the data at a later time (see minimum variance matrix: applying).


Applying the Minimum Variance Matrix

Once the minumum variance matrix has been computed (see minimum variance matrix: computing ) it may be used to rotate the data into field-aligned coordianates.  Selecting  “Apply Min. Var. Matrix” from the Analysis menu, will apply the matrix to the data from which the matrix was computed.  To restore the original data, select “Un-Apply Min. Var. Matrix” from the Analysis menu.


Flatfile

A file containing data in a form which may be read by SPLASH.


CDA File

The graphing parameters for the plots displayed in the main plot window are stored in a CDA (Common Display Attributes) files.  CDA files have names with the ”.cda” extension.


Metafile

A metafile is a file which contains a sequence of graphics commands, which may be imported into a number of contexts.  SPLASH can export plots to a Windows 16-bit metafile (the Export Metafile command on the File menu)  so that they may then be imported into graphics editing programs.


Additional Variables

Additional variables appear in the main plot window, under the bottom panel.  Selected variables are printed across the bottom of the page, their values corresponding to the value of the X-axis of the bottom panel at the same horizontal position.  The variables are printed directly under each place that the X-Axis of the bottom panel is annotated.  This is a useful format for displaying data values at regular intervals, without actually plotting the data in a panel.

If there are gaps or flags in the data to be annotated, the values will not be printed.  If this occurs, annotation of additional variables can be forced by setting the annotation tolerance  to be larger than the span of the gap.  This will cause the nearest data value to the annotation point to be printed.  The printed data value will be encased in square brackets “[]” to indicate that it is approximate.

The default variable labels printed across the page bottom are the corresponding short column names of the data.  These labels may be changed with the Additional Variable Names dialog box.

Annotation tolerances may be set with the Tolerances dialog box.

See Also

Changing Additional Variable Labels


Tolerances dialog box

This dialog is obtained by pressing the tolerances button on the Page Options dialog box.  It contains the following options.

Span Line Gaps

Selecting this option will cause plots in the main plot window to draw trace such that any two points whose X-Axis separation is less than the line gap tolerance will be joined by a line, regardless of how many flagged data points lie between them.  Data points with X-Axis separation larger than this gap will not be joined, even if they are adjacent in the data array.

Smaller Than (in Line Gaps)

Specify the line gap tolerance here.

Span Annotation Gaps

Selecting this option causes additional variables to be annotated in the main plot window if they are within the annotation gap tolerance of the positions of X-Axis annotation of the bottom panel.

Smaller Than (in Annotation Gaps)

Specify the annotation gap tolerance here.

See Also

Tolerances.


Additional Variable Names dialog box

This dialog sets the labels for the additional variables  printed across the bottom of the main plot window .  It may be viewed by selecting the Additional Variable Names command from the graph menu, or by clicking the mouse button in the region where the additional variables are printed.

The items in the dialog box are:

Variables

A list of the short column names of the additional variables.  Click on the desired item in this list to edit the label.

Text

The text of the label corresponding to the selected additional variable.  Change the label by entering new text here.  Formatted text may be used.

Variable Labels

A listing of the current variable labels.

See Also

Additional Variables, Changing Additional Variable Labels


Changing Additional Variable Labels

The labels of the additional variables may be changed with the Additional Variable Names dialog box.  This box may be viewed by selecting the Additional Variable Names command from the graph menu, or by clicking the mouse button in the region where the additional variables are printed.

To change the variable name, click on the desired variable in the list of short column names on the left of the dialog.  Then enter the desired label for the variable in the edit control in the middle of the box.  The label may be viewed in the list of variable labels on the right of the dialog box.

Units may be selected for the additional variables with the units combo box at the bottom of the dialog.  Selecting degrees causes the variable values to be printed with a degree sign, and selecting radians causes the variable values to be converted to degrees and printed with a degree sign.


Marker

A marker delimits a position or a region in a graph.  The data inside the selected region may be printed out or analyzed.

The primary characteristics of a marker are the starting and ending points.  Other properties may be set to distinguish between various markers.  These properties include the marker title and color.  These properties may be edited with the Marker Options dialog box .

See Also

Setting a marker, Removing a marker, Editing marker properties, Copying a marker, Moving a marker, Analyzing data in a marked region.


Opaque Marker

An opaque marker may be manipulated just like a regular marker, but it has the special characteristic of hiding all data between its start and end points.  Data covered by an opaque marker will not be used in autoscaling of a panel.  Opaque markers are particularly useful in plotting data which may contain erroneous or spurious points.  To make a marker opaque, simply create a marker in the standard way (see Setting a marker), and then change its properties to make it opaque (see Editing a marker).


Setting a marker

Markers may only be set in the main plot window.  To set a marker, press the Control key, and click the left mouse button inside a panel.  Releasing the mouse button creates a line marker, while dragging the mouse horizontally inside the plot region before releasing the mouse button creates an extended marker.  The marker properties (e.g. color, start position, end position) may then be edited by double clicking on the marker with the left mouse button.  The marker may also be copied to the other panels in the main plot window.

Note:  Markers may only be set if Analysis mode is selected from the mode menu.

See Also

mode menu, Editing a marker, Copying a marker


Removing a marker

You may remove a marker with the Marker Options dialog box.  To bring up the dialog box, either select Marker Options from the graph menu, or double click on the marker in the main plot window with the left mouse button.  Make sure that the appropriate marker is selected in the dialog by selecting the appropriate panel from the panel list at the top of the dialog, and clicking in the list of markers.  Then click on the Remove button to delete the marker.


Editing marker properties

You may edit the properties of a marker such as the title or fill color with the Marker Options dialog box.  To bring up the dialog box, either select Marker Options from the graph menu, or double click on the marker in the main plot window with the left mouse button.  Make sure that the desired marker is selected in the dialog by selecting the appropriate panel from the panel list at the top of the dialog, and clicking in the list of markers.  The properties of the currently selected marker will appear in the controls below the list.  When you are finished editing the marker properties, you may select another marker to edit in the marker list, or click OK to return to the main plot window.


Copying a marker

You may edit the properties of a marker such as the title or fill color with the Marker Options dialog box.  To bring up the dialog box, either select Marker Options from the graph menu, or double click on the marker in the main plot window with the left mouse button.  Make sure that the desired marker is selected in the dialog by selecting the appropriate panel from the panel list at the top of the dialog, clicking in the list of markers.  Press the button labeled “Copy…”.  This will bring up another dialog box containing a list of panels to which the marker may be copied.  Select the panels to which to copy the marker, and click OK.  The selected marker will now appear in all additional panels which were selected.


Moving a marker

Moving a marker consists of changing its starting and ending positions.   This may be done in two ways.  To move the maker using the mouse, press the Shift key and click the left mouse button on the marker.  Moving the mouse horizontally while holding down the left mouse button will reposition the marker with the cursor.

To move the position of the marker more precisely, the start and end points of the marker may be moved by editing the start and stop positions using the Marker Options dialog box.  See Editing a marker for more detail.


Resizing a marker

The user resizes a marker by changing its starting or ending positions.   This may be done in two ways.  To move the maker using the mouse, press the Alt key and position the mouse over the marker’s edge until the cursor turns into two horizontal arrows.  Then, still holding the Alt key, click the left mouse button on the marker’s edge, and drag it to the desired position.

To move the position of the marker more precisely, the start and end points of the marker may be moved by editing the start and stop positions using the Marker Options dialog box.  See Editing a marker for more detail.


Analyzing data in a marked region

To analyze the data in a marked region, the region must first be selected.  Moving the mouse cursor over the marker until its endpoints turn magenta will select it.  Only one marked region may be selected at a time.

Once the marker is selected, pressing the right mouse button over the marker will bring up an Analysis popup menu with a range of options.


 Data

SPLASH plots data which is in the form of flatfiles.  You can plot a new flatfile by selecting  the New  command from the file menu.


Shortcuts

On many plots, the plot and page parameter dialog boxes may be brought up by clicking directly on the graph as well as by selecting the corresponding menu item from the graph menu.

On the range page  of the X-Axis and Y-Axis properties dialog boxes, the range maximum may be set as an additive increment to the range minimum.  I.e. if you want the axis range to be 5 minutes, simply type “+ 5 min” in the Max edit control.  If no units are specified, seconds will be assumed.  Other units which will work are “sec”, “min”, “hours”, “days”, “weeks”.  If no units are specified, seconds are assumed.

See Also

Hot Keys


Hot Keys

SPLASH responds to the following key presses:

Key	Result
R	Refreshes the screen
Page Down /  Page Up	Scrolls a time series plot forward/backward by one panel width.
Right Arrow /  Left Arrow*	Scrolls a time series plot forward/backward by one major tickmark.
Ctrl - Right Arrow / Ctrl - Left Arrow*	Scrolls a time series plot forward/backward by one minor tickmark.
Tab / Backspace *	Expands/shrinks the X-axis range of a panel by one major tickmark.
Up Arrow / Down Arrow	Increases/decreases the range used to set the axis Max/Min by 10%
Ctrl – Up Arrow / Ctrl – Down Arrow	Shifts the range of the range of the current graph (or all graphs if Track All is selected) down or up by one major tickmark

*Note:  Keyboard sequences which change the range of the X-Axis only work if the X-Axis range option is set to “fixed min/max”.


Tickmark

See Also

Tickmark length, tickmark placement


Range Options

The following three range options are available for the graph axes:

Auto Range

This option ensures that the axis range is large enough to display all of the data.  At attempt is made to round the values of the axis minimum and maximum to integer multiples of a power of 10.

Floating Center

In this option, a fixed span is specified, which fixes the difference between the axis minimum and maximum.  The center of the plot span may be centered on the mean or median of the plotted data.  The user may specify that the span be centered on the approximate mean or median, in which case the plot center is chosen so that the center of the axis range is close to the mean or median, but the endpoints of the plot fall on major tickmarks.

Fixed Min/Max -

In this option, the user must specify the axis range maximum and minimum.  The axis range is fixed, regardless of the data values.

Range Options may be set by selecting the X-Axis Options command or the Y-Axis Options command from the graph menu, and selecting the desired option in the Axis Options dialog box.

Note:  The X-Axis of a time series plot must have the fixed min/max range option.


Axis

The axis determines the properties of the panel range, tickmarks, annotation, and labeling for the panel.

See Also

range properties , tick properties , annotation properties , label properties


SPLASH Wizard

The SPLASH Wizard allows the user to select what data is displayed in the main plot window.  The wizard walks the user through the data selection process step by step.  Using the SPLASH Wizard to select the graphs imposes several restrictions on the user.  All graphs created with the SPLASH Wizard must have the same X-Axis, and may have no more than one trace per graph.  To remove this restriction, the user may opt to create the graphs with the Select Data dialog box by pressing the large button labeled “Advanced Mode” on the first page of the wizard.


Export Markers dialog box

The Export Markers dialog box is invoked by selecting the Export Markers command from the file menu.  Upon clicking OK, SPLASH will write out the data inside marked regions of the panels to an ASCII file.  The options on this dialog box are:

From Panel(s)

In this list box, select the panel(s) whose markers are to be used as regions of data to be written to a file.

Export Data

In this list box, select the data column(s) to be written to file.

Item Separators

Choose whether the data columns are to be separated with commas or spaces.

Time Format

Choose whether time is to be written out in DFS Style format, or in decimal representation.

(Kline time)

Decimal Format

Choose the format of all decimal values to be written to the file.  “d” implies integer format, “f?” (where ? is an integer) implies floating point format with ? decimal places after the decimal point, and “e?” implies exponential format with ? decimal places after the decimal point.

Export Nearest Point

Select this option if you wish to have the values of the nearest data point to a marker written to file in the event that no data is contained within a marker.  This is particularly useful if the line markers are being used to indicate events.


Panel Layout

Arrange the panels into an arbitrary number of columns by changing the number of columns per page in the Page Options Dialog Box.

Change the vertical spacing between panels by changing the intra-panel spacing in the Page Options Dialog Box.

Set the height of a panel relative to other panels in the same column on the Size page of the Panel Options Dialog Box.

Fix the absolute width of a panel on both the screen and the printed page on the Size page of the Panel Options Dialog Box.


Changing Data Files

The data file (Flatfile or PDS Label File) associated with a particular .CDA file may be changed by selecting the Open Flatfile command from the File menu.  A dialog box will appear asking the user to select a new data file to associate with the .CDA file.  If the column names of the data plotted in the .CDA file are the same as those in the new data file, the data will automatically be changed over.  If, however, the same column names do not exist in the new data file, the Assign Data Columns dialog box will appear, asking the user to supply a one-to-one correspondence between the names of the previously plotted data columns and the data columns in the newly opened data file.


Assign Data Columns dialog box

The data columns in the right list box are the data columns expected in the current .CDA file.  The data columns listed in the left list box are the data columns belonging to the newly opened data file.  Select a column in the left list box, and click on a column name in the right list box to assign a correspondence between the old data columns in the .CDA file and the new data columns in the current data file.


Creating a Fourier Transform window


Rotating the Plotted Data into Field-Aligned Coordinates


Taper command (Detrend menu)

This command subtracts a linear fit and applies a multiplicative ½ wave cosine taper to the ends of the data in the analysis window or the fourier window.  Upon selecting this command, the user will be prompted to specify the number of points N, to be tapered at each end of the data array.  The total length of the data array must be greater than 2N.


Running Average command (Detrend menu)

This command subtracts a running average from the data in the analysis windowor the fourier window. Upon selecting this command, the user will be prompted to specify the number of points, N, to be used in the average.  The ith data point is then subtracted by the average of points i-N/2,…i+N/2.  If i is within N/2 points of the end of the data array, the endpoints of the array are repeated in the average.


Data Statistics

To obtain statistics on the data in a marked region, press the right mouse button while the cursor is over a marker, and select the Data Statistics command from the resulting popup menu.  A dialog will appear containing the number of points, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of the data in the marked region.


Fourier Transform  (Analysis menu)

This command causes a fourier transform to be applied to the data in the analysis window or the fourier window.  The resulting data is displayed in its own window.  Before the transform is applied, a dialog appears asking whether to transform forwards or backwards, and whether to use every data point or every nth point.

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) altgorithm used to take the fourier transform requires that the number of elements in the data can be decomposed into multiplicative factors smaller than 16.  If this condition is true for the selected data, an FFT is performed.  If this condition is not met, the user is given the option of performing an FFT on the largest subset of points which meets the decomposition criterion, or performing a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) on the entire data set instead.  The DFT may be considerably slower than the FFT.


Dynamic Spectra (Analysis menu)

This command creates a dyamic spectra out of the data in the analysis window.  Selecting this command causes the Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box to appear, and generates a new Dynamic Spectra Window.

Note: The FFT algorithm used to generate the spectra will only FFT groups of points whose number factors into prime factors less than 16.  If a user specifies a number of points per FFT which does not meet this criterion, then the closest number less than the user-specified number will be substituted.


Dynamic Spectra Options dialog box

The items in this dialog box specify the following parameters for the dynamic spectra:

Shift Between FFT’s

Sets the number of points to skip when collecting points for subsequent FFT’s.

# Points per FFT

Sets the number of points in each FFT.  Because of the FFT algorithm used, this number must be factorable into prime factors less than 16.  If the user-specified number does not meet this criterion, then the closest number less than the user-specified number will be substituted.

Use Every Nth Point

Use only every Nth data point in each FFT.  Default N is 1.

Detrend Using N Points

Selecting this option subracts a linear fit computed from the outer N points of each group of points to be FFT’d, and applies a ½ wave cosine taper to the end N points before the FFT is performed.  N must be less than ½ the number of points in each FFT.

Include Ion Cyclotron Data in Spectra

To plot the Ion Cyclotron Data over the dynamic spectra, the user must specify the name of the data column containing the total magnetic field.  If this option is unchecked, ion cyclotron data will not be plotted over the dynamic spectra.

FFT Time Interval

This edit box displays the total time interval (in seconds) corresponding to each FFT.

Nyquist

This edit box displays the Nyquist frequency for each FFT (in Hz).

# of FFT’s

This edit box displays the number of groups of points to be FFT’d.

Tile Width

Specifies the number of screen pixels in width corresponding to the data from each FFT.  This parameter may be changed after the dynamic spectra is computed.

Tile Height

Specifies the number of screen pixels in height corresponding each frequency interval.  There will be N/2 frequency intervals in the resulting dynamic spectra, where N is the number of points in each FFT.  This parameter may be changed after the dynamic spectra is computed.

Total Width

The total width (in pixels) of the resulting dynamic spectra.

Total Height

The total height (in pixels) of the resulting dynamic spectra.


Boxcar Filter command (Analysis menu)

Allows the user to apply a boxcar filter of type low pass, high pass, band pass or band stop to the data in the analysis window or fourier window.  Selecting this command produces the boxcar filter dialog box, which allows the user to preview the filter before applying it to the data.


Gaussian Filter command (Analysis menu)

Allows the user to apply a gaussian filter of type low pass, high pass, band pass or band stop to the data in the analysis window or fourier window.  Selecting this command produces the gaussian filter dialog box, which allows the user to preview the filter before applying it to the data.


Running Average Filter command (Analysis menu)

This command replaces the data in an analysis window or fourier window by its running average, effectively “smoothing” the data.  Upon selecting this command, the user will be prompted to specify the number of points, N, to be used in the average.  The ith data point is then replaced by the average of points i-N/2,…i+N/2.  If i is within N/2 points of the end of the data array, the endpoints of the array are repeated in the average.


Remove Flagged Data command (Analysis menu)

This command removes flagged points from the data array in the analysis window