XPROFILE MANUAL

Table of Contents

• Name
• Version
• Synopsis
• Description
• Arguments
• Options
• Some Basic Usage Notes
• Types Of Data Files
• Using The Buttons
• Plot Mode Options
• Current File Options
• Current Map Options
• Canvas Activity
• Macro and Preference Files
• See Also
• Author
• Acknowledgments
• Bug Reports

NAME

VERSION

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

Xprofile is written in C and uses X windows. It is an X upgrade of the program "PROFILE" but with many additional features. PROFILE was written for SunWindows, and XProfile leans heavily on Xview to simplify the conversion from SunWindows to X windows. The structure of the original PROFILE code was adapted from the program XY.c written by Paul Wessel (then) of LDGO and many of the conventions are the same.

Xprofile was developed on a variety of SUN workstations running Solaris 2.x, and compatibility with other environments should not be assumed. It is a fairly straightforward program, however, so modifications should not be extensive. Xprofile requires a color monitor to work properly.

ARGUMENTS

data_files

specifies the data files to be read in for plotting. Wild cards can be used.

OPTIONS

SOME BASIC USAGE NOTES

To start XProfile, type "XProfile" and return. A window will appear after a short time, composed of three main elements: a section at the top with several buttons that generate windows for user input, a section on the left side used to set options for the various files that are read in, and a "canvas" on which pictures are drawn.

TYPES OF DATA FILES

Multidimensional data sets

Multidimensional data sets consist of ASCII files with up to five columns of information, with each row corresponding to a given point. Xprofile will always try to read in X and Y, although these could be assigned to the same column (in which case the plot will be a straight line). The default is for Y to be in the first column and X to be in the second column (this is because lat-lon files usually have lon first). The remaining three columns are optional and can represent two numerical values associated with the point and an ASCII identifier. At present the ASCII identifer cannot have any blank spaces; use underscores (sorry). The other two possible columns are called "Z" and "Value" columns and either or both (or neither) may be read in. At present up to 8 columns of data can be parsed. It is a matter of trivial reprograming to make this number larger.

The multidimensional data set is the default file type, and up to 50 of them may be read in. Each dataset may contain up to 20000 points. The program will abort if either of these dimensions are exceeded.

Maps

Maps are ASCII files containing points that are connected together with lines and may be filled with shades or patterns. The format of a map file is as follows: the first line is in integer indicating the number of independent contours or "islands" in the map file. The next line is the number of points that describe the first contour. This line is followed by (Y,X) ordered pairs (e.g., latitude and longitude), and this is repeated for the total number of contours. (Note that there is a read option that allows you to interchange (Y,X) for (X,Y) is you need to do so). As an example, the following lines could be read in as a map file to draw two boxes on the screen:

2
5
0. 0.
0. 1.
1. 1.
1. 0.
0. 0.
5
-1. -1.
-1. 2.
2. 2.
2. -1.
-1. -1.

Contourable data sets are those in which Z values are specified on a regularly spaced grid, and XProfile will attempt to either shade or draw in lines of equal value between the grid spaces. There are two different kinds of contourable data sets, the "full contourable" and the "compressed contourable". In the "full contourable" file a value is specified for each grid point, while for the "compressed contourable" only non-zero values are specified.

An example of the full contourable file is as follows:

250.0 -430.0 12.0 10.0
84 50 0 0 0
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
... (more lines)

An example of the full contourable file with a variable grid is as follows:

250.0 -430.0 12.0 10.0
4 2 1 0 0
1. 1.
1. 2.
1. 3.
1. 4.
2. 1.
2. 2.
2. 3.
2. 4.
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
5.460
... (more lines)

In this case we have 4 x grid points and 2 y grid points. Lines 3-11 specify the (4 x 2) locations of the grid points, first looping
over the x coordinates (with y constant). This is then followed by 8 values.

An example of the "compressed contourable file" is as follows:

24.5 120.5 2.50000E-02 2.50000E-02
50 41 1 0 0
24 11 .396902
25 11 .1160919
24 12 .1175342
25 12 9.51509E-02
26 12 9.62864E-03
23 10 2.07099E-02
24 10 1.23623E-02
25 10 1.11698E-03
.... (more lines)

24 11 .396902

Focal Mechanisms

Focal mechanisms are specified by single line entries, as shown in the following example:

15. 5. 45. 88. 178. 0. 0. 32

USING THE BUTTONS

READ

This button brings up a window for inputing the names of data files to be read in. The file name and directory are typed in the first two input rows, and the data file type and other options are selected in the buttons above. The first four selectable options are for the default data sets, and tell the program how many (and which) columns are to read in. The next four tell the program if the data set is a map or contourable data set or a focal mechanism set. The final option reverses the order of the first two columns; by default the first column is y and the second is x. The lower six lines allow the user to offset and scale the x, y, and z values in the dataset. Note that this scaling is irreversible so that the dataset needs to be read in again if a mistake is made.

When the information is correct select "OK", or, if you want to quit, select "CANCEL". Up to 50 data sets and 50 maps can be read in. Note that once a data set is read in it becomes the "Current" data set or map.

DRAW

This button draws a picture on the screen, using the selected maps and data sets. The program will determine the maximum and minimum values for the plot based on the data read in, but these can be changed by typing in new ones. There are several options for setting ticks (the program tries to make an intelligent choice, but this can always be overruled). Note that tick marks will "reset" after a certain change of value if desired. The reason for this is to allow several plots to appear on the screen with the correct axes. A good strategy for viewing multiple graphs is to use either the X or Y offset buttons to move subsequest graphs to a different location, and then set the "reset" value to match the offset. Also note that changes to the Z variable range are made using the "SET CONT" option. The Header and X label will be shown at the bottom of the screen, but the Y label will not (thanks to some problem with X Windows handling vertical text). The final button allows the current palette to be drawn as part of the picture (see also SHOW PAL).

DELETE

Allows the user to delete some set of data sets, either only the current data set of all of the selected data sets.

SEL PLOT

This button allows the user to select which datasets to plot on the screen (or to delete).

SEL SECT

This button allows the user to specify which datasets will be included in a cross section.

NEXT

Makes the next data set in the list the current data set

PREVIOUS

Makes the previous data set the current data set.

VIEW SECT

Creates a new window to look at data in a section.

PS-DUMP

Creates a PostScript file that can be sent to the printer

PS-PREF

Allows the user to select various options for the PostScript file such as the file name and orientation of plot.

DEL MAP

Allows the user to delete some set of maps, either only the current map of all of the selected maps.

SEL MAP

Allows the user to select which maps to plot on the screen.

MAP++

Makes the next map the current map

MAP--

Makes the previous map the current map

MAP PREFS

This is used to specify the parameters used in calculating the various projections available, for example the latitude used in calculating the short distance projection when using latitude-longitude data.

PLOT PREFS

This contains some parameters used in plotting that have been removed from the main screen as they are not as often selected (by me, anyway). Current options:

Header fontsize

Size of the font for the header to use in the PostScript plot. No effect on the screen.

Font

(Several Choices) This is the font to use in the PostScript plot. No effect on the screen.

Annotation Fonsize

Size of the font for axes to use in the PostScript plot. No effect on the screen.

Background

Set a color for the background of the plot (solid within the bounds of the axes). Default is white.

SET CONT

This sets the contour intervals and base level for contouring, and the pixel interval when shading. The program tries to make an intelligent choice of contour interval based on the maximum and minimum values in the data set. Note that "thick" and "thin" lines may show up the same on the screen but will be different in the PostScript file. The "base value" is the value from which contours are calculated, and no value less than the base value is contoured. The screen will be redrawn after this is selected.

READ MACRO

Reads in and performs functions according to a Macro file (see below)

WRITE MACRO

Writes a macro that the user can use to recreate a picture on the screen.

READ PAL

Read in a palette.

SHOW PAL

Draw the current palette on the screen.

WRITE DATA

Output current datafile to another ASCII file.

DEL FM

Delete a focal mechanism file

SEL FM

Select (or deselect) focal mechanism file

QUIT

Quit.

PLOT MODE OPTIONS

Projection type

Current options are:

Linear XY	Linear X vs Y
Short_Dist Projection	Convert Lat/Lon to distance
Azimuthal-Equidistant	Convert to Az-Eq about specified origin
UTM Projection	Universal Transverse Mercator
Hypit Projection	Uses the HYPIT dist routine

Draw grid

(Just like it sounds).

X positive right/Y postive up

Use these to reverse the directions of the plot.

Show labels

If you have entered labels in the plot, you can select this option to remove them temporarily.

Equal X-Y Scaling/Full Screen

Sets the scaling for the plot. If Full Screen, the entire screen is used, and for Equal X-Y Scaling the units in x and y are taken to be the same.

# decimals in X/Y/Z annotation

Number of decimal places in the axis labels. This will also change on the screen.

CURRENT FILE OPTIONS

Symbol type

this is the type of symbol used in plotting. In addition to 5 shapes (cross, circle, square, diamond, triangle), you can choose "no symbol" to not have any point or "item number" to plot the line number of the item in the file, or "Z entries" or "Value entries" to plot either of these numbers.

Plot ID's

If you read in ASCII identifiers with the file, you can use this option to make them appear on the screen.

Connect Points

Select this if you want to connect points in the order they were read in. There is an option "Connect every second point" which is useful for drawing lines.

Symbol Size

Just like it sounds. Note that if Z values are read in, the size can be scaled to Z (using the last option on the list).

Penwidth

the width of the line to use in the PostScript plot. No effect on the screen.

Shade

The shade to fill in the symbols with in the plot. Shading can be homogeneous for the data set or scaled to the Z values.

Solid/Dotted/Dot-Dash/Dashed line

The type of line to use.

Thick contour

The penwidth of the thick contour for contourable data files. The thin lines use the number given in "penwidth".

CURRENT MAP OPTIONS

CANVAS ACTIVITY

Note that there are "Canvas Activity Help Windows" that can be switched on and off. These are to help the user remember how to use the different activities.

Locate points on the screen

This allows numbers to appear on the screen showing the location of the cursor in the local coordinate frame. Pressing and holding down either right or left mouse button will cause numbers to appear on the screen below a cursor. Letting go of the button will leave the number stationary on the screen. Hitting the middle key will erase the number from the screen.

Zoom

This allows the user to zoom in on a section of the screen. Move cursor on screen to any corner of the desired zoom area, and then press the left mouse button. If you decide not to use this point and want to start over, press the middle mouse button. Otherwise, hold down the left mouse button and a box will appear. When the box covers the desired area, click the right mouse button and the program will zoom to that area.

Zoom-out

This will "un-zoom" to the previous zoom level. Just put the cursor on the canvas and press the left mouse button.

Enter Section

This action, along with the following two actions, are used to look at cross-sections of data. The procedure is to first draw (or "enter") a section (or several sections) on the screen, select a section to look at and then view it using the VIEW SECT button described above.

A section is entered by first drawing a line down the middle of the desired section and then choosing a box about this central line. This involves a number of steps, as follows:

Choose a point to be one end of the center line by moving the cursor to the desired point and depressing the left mouse button. This point will represent the left-most end of the section. As you depress the left button, a "rubber line" will appear that represents the postion of the central line of the section. If you wish to change your choice of starting position at this point, click the middle button and start the procedure over. Otherwise, move the other end of the line to the desired point and click the right button. Next, depress the left button again and a "rubber box" will appear. Move the cursor back and forth until the desired box is drawn and then click the right button. The section will be redrawn without the center line and and "L" and "R" will appear to remind you which will be the left and right sides of the section when you view it.

Delete Section

You can delete an entered section by moving the cursor to any of the corners of the section box and clicking the left mouse button. When the section is deleted, it will disappear (although the L and R will remain until the picture is redrawn).

Select Section

Before viewing a section it must be selected. To do this, move the cursor to any of the corners of the section box and click the left mouse button. When the section is selected, it will blink momentarily.

Identify a Point

If ASCII identifiers have been read in for a data set, individual points can be identified by moving the cursor over the point and pushing the left mouse button. Doing the same over a point where the ID is shown will cause it to disappear. Clicking the middle button will cause the most recent ID shown to disappear.

Get/Set a Point

This allows you to determine the Z values (or reset the Z value) of an X, Y, Z set plotted on the screen.

Enter a label

Labels may be entered on the plot by moving the cursor to the place where the label is desired and pushing the left mouse button. This point will be the beginning position of the label. If you want to start over, push the middle mouse button. Otherwise, depress the left mouse button and a rubber line will appear, which you can use to specify the angle of the label. When you are satisfied with the angle, click the right mouse button. At this point a window will appear in which you enter the label. You can also change the value of the angle and the font size if you wish. Note that the label will be written on the screen but not at the proper angle. Don't worry - it will be ok on the plot.

Delete a label

Labels can be deleted by moving the cursor to the endpoint of the label and clicking the left mouse button.

Polygon Select

Select a group of points within a polygon and reset their values.

Enter a Line

You can draw lines on the screen, with arrows if you choose.

Delete a Line

Just like it sounds.

MACRO AND PREFERENCE FILES

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

BUG REPORTS

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