3D Graph

A 3D Graph is a projection of a 3D rectilinear coordinate system labeled with planar 2D graphs at the 3D rectangular frame. Example of which are shown below.

Each planar 2D graph can also have embedded graphics that can correspond to data in the respective dimensions, perhaps a projected representation of the 3D data. Examples of which are shown below.

Needless to say, the 3D graph can be powerful and it can also be overwhelmingly complex.

To create a 3D graph bring forward the Graphic Selector, click the 3D graph factory cell and then mouse down on a Graphic View and drag the cursor to another point. The initial and final cursor locations define the boundary of a predefined 3D graph graphic. You can also create 3D graphs from the standard Palettes menu item or drag them out from the 3D graph Factory Inspector

The Inspector Editor for the 3D graph is shown below. Notice how the subeditors give independent access to all the parameters of the projected 2D graph planes. For information on those settings see the Graphs section. In particular notice how you can drill down to each graph plane independently and alter tick, grid and all other graphical and limit attributes. If you do so then note that the 3D limit attributes, as defined below, will override 2D settings when you enter new 3D values. Also be aware that some of the 2D settings are purely graphical in nature so for example if you alter the 2D limits then that will not alter the 3D projection operator coefficients.

Viewing Parameters

Angles : Shows and defines the 3D yaw, pitch and roll angles of the view position. See Dial for a description on controlling the dials.

Perspective : Shows and defines the perspective projection from orthogonal to more skewed projection.

Automatically Reset Fields And Graph

Set Using Auto Scaler : Select this to set the graph limits to contain the 3D data.

Limits And Increments

When entering the limits and increments for a 3D graph first type in all values and then upon the last value typed, select the Apply button. Do that in order to enter all values at one time for a consistent set of values. The 3D limits must span the data in the 3D space. The entry of limits will not permit data to reside outside the 3D graph frame.

Minimum : Shows and defines the x, y, z minimum axis limits. The minimums must be less than the maximums and also contain the 3D graphics data.

Maximum : Shows and defines the x, y, z maximum axis limits. The minimums must be less than the maximums and also contain the 3D graphics data.

Increment : Shows and defines the x, y, z axis increment value.

Apply : Applies all the limits and increments at the same time.

3D Coordinate Units

X Dimension : Sets the X-Dimension unit. See Unit Selector.

y Dimension : Sets the Y-Dimension unit. See Unit Selector.

Z Dimension : Sets the Z-Dimension unit. See Unit Selector.

Synch Subplanes : When selected then setting the 3D coordinate units also sets the orthographic plane graph units. Those units can also be set by focusing on that graph plane and setting them directly in the graph Single Coordinate Graph editor.

Reference Frame

The reference frame is the frame of the orthographic projection of the 3D graph onto the projection plane. It is also coincidental to the frame of a hidden 2D linear graph. That frame can be altered in the way any 2D graphic can be altered.

Left Edge : Sets the left edge of the reference bounds of the graphic. The units are in the Graphic View units.

Width : Sets the width of the reference bounds of the graphic. The units are in the Graphic View units.

Bottom Edge : Sets the bottom edge of the reference bounds of the graphic. The bottom and y-minimum are the same (the y-coordinate is never flipped). The units are in the Graphic View units.

Height : Sets the height of the reference bounds of the graphic. The units are in the Graphic View units.

The Planes editor for a perspective graph is shown below. These options are only available for Graph IDE.

Graph Plane States

X-Y Minimum : The X-Y Minimum graph plane.

X-Z Minimum : The X-Z Minimum graph plane.

Y-Z Minimum : The Y-Z Minimum graph plane.

X-Y Maximum : The X-Y Maximum graph plane.

X-Z Maximum : The X-Z Maximum graph plane.

Y-Z Maximum : The Y-Z Maximum graph plane.

Does Flip Text : Normally text transforms according to the rotation and projection mapping which means that the text can appear from the reverse side, i.e.: it is backwards. Selecting the Does Flip Text option makes all text appear from the front, i.e.: its normal always points towards the observer.

Edit Component

Edit Focused Component : Select this to set the 3D component to edit with the mouse. Normally this is set to focus on the 3D data. 2D data can also appear on each of the six graph planes and this setting is used so that edit events are processed to one of those planes.