chap9.html

9 Labels

Axis Labeling

Commands affecting the labeling of the axes are:

xaxis Controls numeric labeling and tics on the x-axis.
yaxis Controls numeric labeling and tics on the y-axis.
axatic Sets number of large tics automatically for x and y.
axlabp Locates axis labels at top/bottom or left/right of plot.
axlen Sets axis lengths.
axlint Sets label interval for axes.
axlsze Sets axis label heights.
axnmtc Sets number of small tics between large tics on axes.
axnsig Sets no. significant digits in numeric axis labels (auto only).
axset Allows omission of plotting of any axis.
axtype Sets axis type for x- and y-axis.
xfor Sets format of x-axis numeric labels.
yfor Sets format of y-axis numeric labels.
xlab Sets label of x-axis.
ylab Sets label of y-axis.

The numeric axis labels are drawn such that zero will be labelled if it occurs between the low and high axis limits. If zero does not occur, then the first large tic (from the bottom or left) will be labelled. The large tics are forced to occur at integer multiples of the tic interval.

Embedded String Commands

Fonts

All labels in PPLUS can be plotted using any one of 21 character fonts and 12 symbol fonts. The default font is SR (Simplex Roman) and other fonts are called by preceding their two letter abbreviation by an @, i.e., @CI for complex italic. Symbol fonts are called by using the symbol number, i.e., @MA01 plots the first symbol in MATH and @MA12 will plot the twelfth symbol. Font changes (of the form @XX) can be embedded in any label string (e.g., xlab, ylab, plot commands).

@font selects "font" as the character or symbol font to be used, where the font abbreviations are listed below.

TABLE 6. Character Fonts

Code

Description

SR

Simplex Roman (default)

DR

Duplex Roman

TR

Triplex Roman

CR

Complex Roman

AS

ASCII Simplex roman

AC

ASCII Complex roman

CS

Complex Script

TI

Triplex Italic

GE

Gothic English

IR

Indexical complex Roman

SS

Simplex Script

CI

Complex Italic

II

Indexical complex Italic

SG

Simplex Greek

CG

Complex Greek

IG

Indexical complex Greek

GG

Gothic German

GI

Gothic Italian

CC

Complex Cyrillic

AR

Cartographic Roman

AG

Cartographic Greek

TABLE 6. Character Fonts
Code	Description
SR	Simplex Roman (default)
DR	Duplex Roman
TR	Triplex Roman
CR	Complex Roman
AS	ASCII Simplex roman
AC	ASCII Complex roman
CS	Complex Script
TI	Triplex Italic
GE	Gothic English
IR	Indexical complex Roman
SS	Simplex Script
CI	Complex Italic
II	Indexical complex Italic
SG	Simplex Greek
CG	Complex Greek
IG	Indexical complex Greek
GG	Gothic German
GI	Gothic Italian
CC	Complex Cyrillic
AR	Cartographic Roman
AG	Cartographic Greek

TABLE 7. Symbol Fonts
Code	Description
ZO	Zodiac
MU	Music
EL	Electrical
WE	Weather
MA	Math
SM	Simplex Math
MP	Map
LM	Large Math
IZ	Indexical Zodiac
IM	Indexical Math
CA	Cartographic
PM	Plot Marks

A clear font command @CL is available to change the default font. The next font called after a @CL becomes the new default font. The font is reset to the default at the start of each label. The command dfltfnt can also be used to change the default font to one of your choice.

Control characters (such as "_" for subscripting in PPLUS labels) for the two ASCII fonts AS and AC must be preceded by an <ESC> (this is ascii code=27). For example, to subscript while using the ASCII fonts you must have <ESC>_ in the label precede the character to subscript. Specifically, the PPLUS command "plot,@ASZ<ESC>_5" will result in a plot title of capital Z followed by a subscripted 5 in the ASCII Simplex Roman font. (See the section in this chapter on subscripting.)

Pen Selection

The pen may also be selected by giving the change pen command @Pn, where n is the character 1-9 and A-G. This allows the selection of up to 16 pens/colors. The color and font is reset to the default font and previous color after the character string is drawn. The PEN command can be used to change the default color by typing pen,0,default_color. If you need to select a color index beyond the range of P1 to PG, you can use the change color command @Cnnn where "nnn" is a 3-digit color index. (It must be 3 digits.)

Character Slant

The slant used in drawing the fonts may be changed by using the command @Zn, where n is the character 0-9 and A-G. This allows the selection of slant angles from 0 to 45 in 16 increments. The slant is reset to zero after the character string is drawn.

Subscripting, Superscripting and Back Spacing

An ^ (up arrow) embedded in any label string will cause the next character to be drawn superscripted an _ (underscore) will draw it subscripted and a \ (backslash) backspaces over the last character drawn. The control characters ^, _ and \ are available in the two ASCII fonts AS and AC by preceding the control character by an <ESC> (ASCII code=27). For example, to subscript while using the ASCII fonts you must have <ESC>_ in the label precede the character to subscript.