WELCOME TO MULTIPLOT/2 v1.0s ---------------------- by Mike Stott NeoDym Systems 15 Nesbitt St Nepean Ontario Canada K2H 8C4 WHAT IS MULTIPLOT/2? -------------------- Multiplot/2 is a versatile OS/2 2.X 32 bit Presentation Manager application for generation of publication quality scientific and technical line graphs. On the same chart it can plot many sets of data to the same scale and in a variety of formats,selectable by simple menu 'click'. The data in an individual data set can consist of any number of points (greater than zero) and the points can be at arbitrary, non-uniformly spaced intervals on the x axis.Each line can be automatically plotted in a different colour and line type (i.e. dotted, dashed etc) or fixed as solid and black. The data can be replotted in many different combinations of linear, logarithmic, deciBel or polar by simple menu command. The charts are automatically scaled to accomodate the maximum range of x and y values in the data sets. Scaling is 'sensible' and in a 1-2-5 sequence. If you want to force a larger scale, just include two extra data sets in your data file, each with a single point in it. These points should be the bottom left corner and the top right corner of the chart you want. Axis labels and plot title are entered via the data file containing the numerical data. The plotted chart is displayed in an os/2 PM window which can be resized or reshaped using the mouse in the normal way. Menu chices are presented in the diplay window to enable the user to direct how the program interpolates between the data points. Available choices (v1.0) are straight line, cubic spline and 'low-pass' smoothing. The displayed chart can be copied via the clipboard to a suitable PM DTP or word processing program from which the chart can be incorporated into documents and printed. The copying can be made as an os/2 metafile or as a bitmap. Metafile is best as it enables the chart to be resized without loss of quality. Unfortunately os/2 and MS Windows metafiles are different and so this method can only be used with suitably equipped os/2 Presentation Manager programs. The OS/2 'Picture Viewer' is a simple way to display the metafile and print the result on the default printer. Charts copied to the clipboard in bitmap form can be pasted into os/2 PM or MS Windows programs. Note that bitmaps exported from MULTIPLOT/2 are copies of the display window and so reflect any resizing or reshaping made to the window. Metafiles are device independent and so do not resize or reshape with display window changes. QUICK START ----------- Copy the MLTIPLT2.ZIP distribution file into a convenient directory on your hard drive. Decompress the MLTIPLT2.ZIP distribution file using PKUNZIP (DOS) or UNZIP (OS2). Get an OS/2 command prompt by opening an OS/2 window and change to the directoty containing MULTIPLOT2. Now just type: TRYITNOW MULTIPLOT2 should now start and open up a PM window on the desktop and show a plot of the data sets in the sample1.dat file. Read the following documentation and enjoy using MULTIPLOT2. HOW TO USE MULTIPLOT/2 ---------------------- To facilitate use in semi-automated environments such as OS/2 command ( .cmd) files the program can be launched from the os/2 command line with the name of the data file to be plotted following the program name. SYNTAX: MLTIPLT2 [datafile_name] datafile_name is a qualified path\name of the file containing the data to be plotted. If datafile_name is in the current directory, just the file name will suffice. If you omit the filename, Multiplot/2 will pop up a file selection dialog window. If you prefer to launch from the Work Place Shell just display the MULTIPLOT/2 icon and double click on it. A file dialog window will pop up to enable you to select a data file for plotting MENU CHOICES: File: You can choose to exit the program or go back to the file dialog to select another file to be plotted. Edit: The menu choices copy the displayed chart to the clipboard either as an os/2 metafile or as a bitmap. The size of the bitmap is equal to the size of the displayed chart. Metafiles are device independent and so can be stretched to any size without loss of quality. Interpolation: The menu choices enable the user to determine how multiplot/2 interpolates between the dat points in the dat file. The initial default is straight line linear. One alternative is a 'smoothed' fit with rounding of the sharp corners which would otherwise occur at the data points. The third choice is a cubic spline fit to the data points taken 3 at a time. If the number of points in a set is not a multiple of 3 multiplot/2 ignores the last 1 or 2 points so as to make the number of points plotted a multiple of 3. Line: This sub menu contains a selection of choices for the line colors, line types and line width. They can be used in any combination. The 'auto' modes for color and line type cycle automatically through 14 colours and 6 line type so you should always have a unique combination for each line. Plot: This submenu enables you to redisplay the same data using any combination of linear, logarithmic or dB scales on the X or Y axes. (Note that you cannot plot data containing negative or zero values on logarithmic or dB scales ). MULTIPLOT/2 also has a menu selection to plot all the same data on a polar display. The x values are assumed to be degrees counterclockwise from horizontal. DATA FORMAT: The data file structure is very straightforward. It is an ascii text file organised as a series of data sets of points followed by lines containing the axis labels and the plot title. Each data set consists of a number (up to 100) of graph points each described by a pair of x y values followed by a 'newline'.The numerical data can be described in fixed point (e.g. 123.456) or scientific exponential (e.g. 1.23456E2). The end of a data set is indicated by a line consisting of 3 asterisks, *** . A minimum of 2 points are required for a straight line or smoothed graph and a minimum of 3 for a cubic spline interpolation. After the row of 3 asterisks following the last of the data sets, the remaining 3 lines define (1) The x axis label (2) The y axis label and (3) the plot title. These lines are ascii strings set within " " marks. If you do not want a label or title, just put in "" or omit all 3 lines. The last line of the file is a string of 3 # signs, ### followed by a 'newline'. This indicates to multiplot/2 that the end of the file has been reached and that it should now plot the data.MULTIPLOT/2 ignores anything after the ### so you can put any notes, comments etc in there. Example: X1 Y1 X2 Y2 X3 Y3 *** X1 Y1 X2 Y2 *** X1 Y1 *** X1 Y1 *** "X Axis Label string" "Y Axis Label string" "Plot title string" ### Any text you like can go after the ### sequence. The above example shows a 3-point line, a 2 point line and two single points. The scale of plot will be driven by the single points if their co-ordinates lie outside the range of the other lines.Otherwise they will be essentially ignored. The sample data files included with the program further illustrate the structure. CONTACTING NeoDym: ------------------ Via e-mail to ac902@freenet.carleton.ca Via Fax to 613 596 9015 COPYRIGHT NOTICE ---------------- This application is shareware. It is not free. It is provided to you to enable you to evaluate it for a period of 30 days. If you find it useful you must register as described below. Then you will be licensed to use it but not to resell it, reverse- engineer it or combine it with other software or packaged in a commercial book without permission. If you do not register, then you must stop using it. Copyright remains the property of NeoDym Systems division of 802784 Ontario Ltd. Permission is granted to redistribute the unaltered shareware archive (.zip file) for a small but reasonable copying charge. There is NO warranty. Support is NOT guaranteed to unregistered users. REGISTRATION ------------ Registration costs $20 US or $25 Canadian by check or money order payable to NeoDym Systems.Mail to: NeoDym Systems 15 Nesbitt St. Nepean ON K2H 8C4 Canada Registration will entitle the user to receive technical support, the latest registered version of multiplot/2 and all updates for a period of 1 year. The shareware version is limited to a maximum of 6 lines or data sets and a maximum of 20 points per line. The registered version can handle up to 20 lines and 200 points per line. The registered version does not display the 'NeoDym/unregistered' logo within the chart area. The registered version is available either as a stand-alone executable or as a DLL so you can build line plot display into your own programs. In addition, the registered version includes plot line labeling with WYSIWYG positioning of the labels and up to 3 labels per line. This feature enables you not only to label the lines but also to label certain features such as maxima or responses to events etc. Future versions will include:- -Ability to overlay plots made from different data files so you can spot differences or trends in the shapes of the lines. -Forward and inverse Fourier transforms of input data. -Selection of display options via separate "floating" tool bar. -Display of differences and ratios between selected lines. -Polynomial curve fitting and display of original and fitted curves. Display of residuals. -3 dimensional and 4 dimensional (yes 4!) plots with variable look angle. -Contour plotting. Please use the registration form below:- NeoDym Systems MULTIPLOT/2 Registration User's Name: Title (if applicable): Company (if applicable): Street Address line 1: Street Address line 2: Street Address line 3: City: Postal or Zip Code: Country: e-mail address: phone number: Fax Number: Preference .exe or .dll: