Topog_Chart is a program which allows user to display time series data generated by a number of Topog programs including Topog_Climate, Topog_Soil and Topog_Dynamic. It can also be used to plot any other type of column data arranged in a free format. Examples of data that can be plotted using Topog_Chart are:
- temporal changes in observed rainfall and temperature
- temporal changes in predicted transpiration and soil evaporation
- temporal changes in observed and predicted streamflow
- temporal changes in predicted groundwater recharge
- relationships between various soil hydraulic properties
Topog_Chart also has some data interrogation capabilities. By clicking the mouse on the screen you can obtain instantaneous values on curves or calculate mean and total values for a given period of record.
Topog_Chart has been developed to provide a high degree of flexibility in data set presentation. The user can interactively change line and point colours and styles, annotate screen images with a range of font types and sizes, and zoom in on any plot segment. Topog_Chart also provides the facility to dump screen images to an ink jet plotter.
Working examples of Topog_Chart functions are given throughout this chapter. The following symbols are used:
signifies a user action
indicates a program response
Most functions in Topog_Chart are invoked by pointing and clicking the mouse. Typically the user chooses an action from the menu window by pressing a function button, then selecting an option in the selection area. Occasionally the user is required to click on a graphical object in the information area or the display window, or enter typed information in the selection area.
Several different cursors (or pointers) are used to indicate the mode in which the program is operating from time to time. A watch-face cursor, for instance, indicates that the program is busy executing some function, while a cross-hair cursor indicates that you are in zoom-in mode.
To run Topog_Chart type: $ _chart |
7.3.1
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Selecting a data file to display
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When the menu window first appears, the program goes into a waiting state where it expects the user to select a file for plotting. The user can select a file by clicking the Files function button. When the button is clicked on the program searches the operative directory for standard Topog files with special extensions such as .hyd, .climate and .soil. All detected files are listed in the selection area. If the list is too long to fit within the selection area, the window may be scrolled by clicking the mouse on either the up or down arrow on the right-hand side of the selection area.
Choose a file from the selection area. If the chosen file is corrupted or in a non-standard format, then an error message appears in the response area. After a file is chosen from the selection area the list of items within the file are displayed. Click the mouse on the item you wish to plot in the display window.
7.3.2
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Setting up multiple plot frames in the display window
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Up to five separate plot frames can be set up in the display window by clicking the frame buttons. When Topog_Chart boots, only one plot frame appears in the display window. Note that the uppermost frame button is shaded white with a feint red border. The white shading denotes that the top plot frame is visible and the red border denotes that it is the active plot frame.
To create a second plot frame click the second frame button . A second plot frame appears and now the second frame button is shaded white (denoting that it too is now visible) and has the faint red border denoting that it is now the active plot frame. Additional plot frames can be created by clicking the other frame buttons.
It is possible to temporarily hide any of the plot frames without losing the data, by clicking its corresponding frame button. Note how the frame button goes black. The hidden plot frame can be made visible again by pressing its corresponding frame button.
The shape of the mouse cursor gives information about which plot frame is active at any given time. When the mouse cursor overlies an active plot frame it has the shape of an arrow. When overlying an inactive plot frame it has the shape of a square with a dot inside. The user can make an inactive plot frame active by simply clicking the mouse within the plot frame . Thus both the mouse and frame buttons can be used to observe and change the status of plot frames.
7.3.3
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Modifying the windows
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Both the display window and the menu window can be resized simply by dragging the corners of the windows (these belong to the window manager) across the screen with the mouse. The user can also shift their position by grabbing the top of the window (ie: in the banner area labelled: CSIRO Division of Water Resources) and dragging it to a new location. The size, position, style and colour of all of the individual elements of the two windows can be adjusted by customising the .Xdefaults file. See Appendix D for more information on customising the .Xdefaults file.
7.3.4
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Initiating a program function
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To initiate a function in Topog_Chart click any button in the function button area. Once data is displayed on the screen the user can select any of the other functions like Colours, Zoom or Evaluate. The 14 individual function buttons used in Topog_Chart are described in section 7.4.
7.3.5
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Quitting a Topog_Chart session
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Select the QUIT button to quit the program. The screen is cleared and control is returned to the system.
