WinDisp Profile Posting Menu

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WinDisp Profile Posting Menu

Profile Posting

This option produces a profile for each data value, the data points are used to define a base profile and the data values are used to plot a profile relative to this baseline. When Profile posting is selected the Data Posting Specification menu has the following form:

This menu display contains a number of standard items which are displayed for all menu styles and a number of items which are specific to the particular posting style.

General Posting Options

Profile Specific Specifications

With Profile posting up to sixteen data values can be selected. These data values are chosen from the available data items by clicking in the grid cell under the column heading Name of Data Variable in the preferred row in the data definition grid. These rows do not need to be defined contiguously, and any valid row will be posted on the display. Clicking in any cell in the Name of Data variable column brings up a drop down box from which the desired data variable can be chosen.

Station Spacing

With profile plotting, the baseline is defined using consecutive data points to form a line. If there is a line variable defined, a line break will occur with each change in the line variable data item. If there is no line variable defined, the Station Spacing parameter can be used to specify the maximum separation between consecutive data points which are considered to be part of a single line.

Display Data Range button

Once the coordinates and required data variables have been defined, the user can check the range of data values contained in the file by clicking on the Display Data Range button. Clicking on this button brings up the Data Range Menu. When this button is clicked for the first time, the currently selected data variables are read from the file and stored in a temporary binary file to speed future access to the data. This temporary file will be retained for the current WinDisp session or until it becomes invalid through a change to the data variables chosen or the line variable, so it is recommended that all data of interest are selected on first entering the Data Specification menu.

Define Data Variable

After specifying the coordinates and required data variables and the area limits and map scale, the parameters determining how the individual data values will be posted need to be specified. This is achieved by clicking on the Define Data Variable button. This will bring up the parameters for the currently selected line in the data definition grid, or the first variable specified in the grid if there is no currently valid selection. Clicking on the Define Data Variable button brings up the following form:

Data Variable

This displays the user name of the currently selected data variable.

Baseline Value

This value specifies the data value which represents the baseline for the profile. If the data value is larger than the Baseline Value the profile point will be plotted above the baseline. Data values smaller then the Baseline Value will be plotted below the baseline.

Scale

This value represents the scale used to convert the data value into an offset from the baseline. The value is interpreted as units/mm and so must be a positive value. The distance from the baseline is computed using the formula:

offset = ( value - minimum ) / scale

and the offset is made in a direction which is perpendicular to the line joining the first baseline point to the last baseline point (ie the direction is fixed for the entire line segment).

Null Value

This text box displays the null data value for the current data variable, this value is provided for information only and the null data value should be changed on the Specify Data Names menu

Logarithmic Scaling

This check box specifies if the log (base 10) of the data value should be used in displaying the data.

Number of Decimals

This integer value specifies the number of digits after the decimal point to be used in displaying numeric data values in text format.

Label Rotation

This value specifies the rotation to be applied to the currently selected data variable and is measured in degrees positive counter clockwise about the centre of the label position. This rotation is applied after any posting rotation specified on the main Posting Specification menu.

Posting Preview Window

In the lower part of the Post Variable Definition menu is the Posting Preview Window. This window is not operational for profile posting, but the Next and Previous buttons are functional so that the data values and the x, y locations can be viewed in the text boxes on the right of the preview window.

Selected Data Variable Drop-down Box

At the bottom left hand corner of this form is a drop-down box containing a list of all data variables currently specified in the data definition grid. By selecting each of the data variables in this list, the parameters defining the posting of each data variable may be specified without returning to the main form.

Finally the Display Data Range menu is accessible from this menu by clicking on the Display Data Range button at the bottom of the screen.

Any changes made from the menu can be discarded by clicking on the Cancel button, otherwise the changes will be saved if the OK button is clicked.