Using and Customizing Charts, step by step,click by click :
Open File Button: -
Gives a standard dialog box to open a selected CSV file. The file must be in the new format used in Medit32 and msmac08. If you have a CSV from an older project that you want to look at, please load the project, and run Msmac, to create the new CSV for it.
Output Options button
This opens a small sub-screen with self-explanatory options to Print Preview, save the chart graphic to disk as BMP and JPG, save the grid as CSV, and open the grid directly into Excel. Large charts may take a minute to display in Print Preview, and Previewing the Grid and the Chart both together make take a minute to display also. This is so the Print Preview engine can correctly handle page breaks without breaking up the chart.
Figure 11 Output Options Dialog
Chart Options button
This open a sub-screen with many options for customizing the Charts display. Some experimentation will make things obvious. Of particular interest is the ability to adjust the line thickness of each factor displayed, and control their colors, to make it easy to highlight any selected factor on a complex chart. You can save any changes you select here as a 'Preset' ( see the Preset Button, below ) and all your customizing will be stored and recalled as part of that preset, to use in any project.
Figure 12 Chart Options Dialog
Time button
This opens a small sub-screen that allows you to 'time zoom' into any time resolution or segment you select. The scroll and toggle buttons allow easy navigation in the time domain at any resolution of chart detail. See also the 'Vertical Lines Every' entry below, to control row indicator bars
Figure 13 Time Button
Vertical Lines Every drop-list–
with this, you control the interval of the vertical lines on the chart, to suit whatever zoom level and display size you are using.
Figure 14 Vertical lines dropdown list
Chart size drop-list
This list gives you options to be able to see exactly what your finished exported graphic will look like, and retain the best output quality. The default chart size - window size' will allow the Chart to resize on the screen as you resize the window, use the drag bar, etc. All of the other size options will lock the chart display into the selected size, which you select based on your particular needs at the moment. You can then manipulate the chart in true 'WYSIWYG' style and see exactly what your output will look like, while retaining best resolution and presentation. Select your output size for printing, screen or projector display of various sizes, etc.
Figure 15 Chart Size Dropdown List
Presets drop-list
Presets consist of groups of all selected factors coupled with display options ( line sizes etc ), for easy recall. You can make your own, as many as you like, and save them with any name you choose. You may have project-specific presets, or generic ones, or both - just give them a name and save them.
Figure 16 Sample Preset Charts
Favorites buttons
This cycles through the 'top 5 favorite presets' that have been selected. You can use the Arrow keys on your keyboard to rapidly navigate the blue buttons, or click on them as desired. This makes it very easy to make a change to an SI5, hit 'Update Charts' on the main grid form, and rapidly look at five different charts ( the chart tool will see the new CSV that resulted from 'Update Charts', and update itself instantly ). To set up any combination of 5 presets ( either the factory-shipped ones, or your own creations ), just select the Preset you want to make a 'Favorite', right-click on any of the blue buttons, and click 'OK' on the message box. That preset will now be one of your 'Favorites' in that position.
Field list drop-list
this shows all available fields in the CSV. Used in combination with the 'Add selected Field' button to add a field to the current chart and grid. 15 fields maximum on any one chart.
Figure 17 Field List Drop-List
Fields Selected drop-list
This shows all fields currently being displayed. The appear in the order in which they were selected. You can remove them with the 'Removed Selected Field' button. 15 maximum at any time.
Figure 18 Field Selected drop-list
Save as Preset button
This will ask for a name to save the current combination of fields and chart options as a new Preset. Make as many as you want, including temporary ones that you might delete later. No limit to how many presets you can have. Pick good descriptive names.
Delete Preset button
Remove the currently selected preset. You will be asked to confirm the deletion.
Set as Default button
Set the current preset as 'Default' that will always come up first.
Add Selected Field button
Add a field to the current chart and grid. This will NOT be saved into the Preset unless you specifically do so as above.
Clipboard button
Copies the current chart, in WYSIWYG form, into the clipboard, for pasting into other apps, etc.
Remove Selected Field button
Remove the field selected in the drop list form the chart. This will NOT affect the preset, unless you do the 'Save Preset' process above.
Help for charts button
Displays this Help File
Chart graphic elements –
The various elements on the chart (the chart itself, Title , Legends, Footnote, etc ) can be dragged, moved, and re-sized by selecting them on the chart itself. This is useful for fine-tuning the appearance after setting your desired WYSIWYG output format and size ( as above ). This is NOT saved in the Preset.
Automatic Updates