Product Definitions / Plots

Introduction

Clicking on the Product Definitions / Plots menu displays the Plots List page. A new NovaStar system will display an empty Plots List.

A plot in NovaStar is a group of plot panels, annotations, and points used to create one or more plot panels of point data values reported over a time period. Each plot group has a unique number and name that should describe the information plotted.

A complete plot can be defined using this page, including specific points. However, templates can be created, allowing point selection in the Data/View Plots. This is accomplished by setting the point override property (see Plot List Point Popup - override).

Multiple plot panels can be displayed vertically or horizontally on the page. The plot panel title, size, time width, and time offset can be preset or set by request. Predefined plot annotations draw colored lines on the plot at specific levels with colored labels to describe the annotation. Single or multiple plot point data analyses can be drawn on a plot panel using fixed or automatic vertical scaling. The horizontal scale is always a time line. Overlaid point plots can use the left, right, or additional scales with normal or inverted scales. Plotting styles include a line with or without plot points, plot points only, a filled area under the line, bars, a stepped lines, or a filled area under a stepped line. Multiple plot limits can be preset to change the plot or fill color by level.

Plot List

The following image illustrates the Plot List page after a plot has been selected in the list at the top of the page.

Plot List (see full-size image)

Navigation, Adding, Deleting, Modifying, and Copying Plots

The Plot List page conforms to a layout similar to many NovaStar data types which includes a list of data items. See List Features and Application Functionality for more information detailing page navigation; adding, copying and deleting plots; and modifying existing plots.

Adding a New Plot

Clicking the Add button above the Plot List on this page allows users to create a new plot by entering, at a minimum, a unique plot Number and Name. To complete plot creation, click the Apply button to create the new plot.

Identification

The following plot properties are used to identify the plot.

Plot Identification (see full-size image)

Data Label	Description
Number	Plot number must be unique for each plot. Plot numbering does not have to be sequential.After clicking Add, the next available plot number will be automatically assigned.
Name	Plot name must be unique for each plot and should describe the plot information displayed, including the data analysis options that have been selected for the plot points. Max: 100 characters.
Description	This descriptive field does not display on plot data display pages. Use it to describe the plot functionality. Max: 1000 characters.

Owner

The owner section defines the owner of the plot and the display scope: private or public. Private scope only displays this plot for the owner, the owner group supervisors, and administrators. Public scope display this plot for all group members and administrators.

Owner (see full-size image)

Data Label	Description
User	Owner of the plot. Click the user icon to assign the current user.
Scope	Public or private.

User Groups

The User groups table shows the user groups currently assigned to the plot. For more information, see the User Groups documentation.

User Groups Assigned (see full-size image)

Options

Several plot options are available.

Plot Options (see full-size image)

Data Label	Description
Plot style	Plot headings and data lists are drawn with the default styles for the NovaStar5 server. Select a custom plot style from Plot style list. The style files are Cascading Style Sheets and are stored in the folder: /tomcat/local/styles.
Orientation	Select the multiple plot panel orientation: Vertical or Horizontal.

Plot Panel List

The Panel List shows the plot panel records assigned to the plot being edited. Plot panels define the plot title, size, legend display, time anchor, time width and time offset. When a plot is first defined, no plot panel records will be assigned to the plot. At least one plot panel must be created.

Plot Panel List (see full-size image)

Plot List Panel Popup

To add a new panel, click the Add button above the Panel List table. To edit an existing panel, click the pencil icon. Both these actions result in the following popup.

Plot List Panel Popup (see full-size image)

The following panel characteristics, which are organized on multiple tabs, can be edited.

Data Label	Description
Title
Title	Plot panel title. The title is centered at the top of the plot image.
Title Size	Plot panel title font size. Default is 18 points.
Title Color	Color of the title text.
Layout
Background Color	Panel background color.
Border Color	Panel border color.
Border Width	Panel border width.
Panel Width	Panel width in pixels.
Panel Height	Panel height in pixels.
Legend
Legend	Select true to display legend, false for no legend. The plot legend shows the plot line colors assigned to the plot points.
Text Size	Plot panel scale label font size. Default is 12 points.
Text Color	Remaining text color.
Display	Display x-axis dates, date ange, neither, or both.
Period
Time Anchor	The plot can use the Ending Time or Starting Time with the time width to determine the plot time period.
Time Width	The plot panel time period width can be fixed with this parameter. Enter the plot time width value and time units. Enter 0 or select Use Request Interval to set the plot panel time period width based on the plot data request parameter (timeWidth) or from the Starting Time (startTime) and Ending Time (endTime) parameters.
Time Offset	The plot panel time period can be extended by a time offset. The total time width will be the panel or requested time width plus the time offset. A positive time offset extends the time into the future. A negative time offset extends the time into the past. The time anchor determines from where the time is extended: Ending Time or Starting Time. Enter 0 or select None to set no plot panel time offset.
Time Increment	Plot time tick interval.

Plot Annotation List

The Annotation List shows all the plot annotation records assigned to the plot being edited. Plot annotations are horizontal or vertical colored lines with colored text strings that are displayed on top of the plot panel. When a plot is first defined, no plot annotation records will be assigned to the plot.

Plot List Annotations List (see full-size image)

Plot List Annotation Popup

To add a new annotation, click the Add button above the Annotation List table. To edit an existing annotation, click the pencil icon. Both these actions result in the following popup which includes annotation characteristics, which are organized on multiple tabs.

Plot List Annotations Popup (see full-size image)

Data Label	Description
General
Panel	Select the plot panel for this annotation.
Orientation	Select Horizontal to draw a line horizonally across the plot at a limit on the left, right, or other vertical scale. Select Vertical to draw a line vertically up the plot at a time offset from the Start time or End time.
Y-axis	Horizontal orientation: Select the vertical scale for the limit to position the line. Vertical orientation: Select the Start time or End time for the time offset to position the line.
Axis value	Horizontal orientation: Position on the selected vertical scale for the line start. Vertical orientation: Time offset on the time line for the line start. Click the Time Offset: button to select the interval and direction from lists. Click the Time Offset: button again to return to the time offset value and time units display. Enter 0 or select None to set no time offset.
Text
Text	Text string for the annotation. Leave blank to draw a line only.
Text Color	Select the text color: black, blue, cyan, gray, darkgray, lightgray, green, magenta, orange, pink, red, yellow.
Align	Horizontal orientation, select the text position above, on, or below the line: Center above line Center on line Center below line Left above line Left on line Left below line Right above line Right on line Right below line Horizontal Orientation Plot Example (see also the full-size image) Vertical orientation, select the text position left, center, right of line: Center of line, top of plot Center of line, center of plot Center of line, bottom of plot Left of line, top of plot Left of line, center of plot Left of line, bottom of plot Right of line, top of plot Right of line, center of plot Right of line, bottom of plot Vertical Orientation Plot Example (see also the full-size image)
Size	Select text point size. Default is 12 points.
Parameter	Append selected display parameter key words to the text. These key words are replaced by the plot display request parameters: Plot number: _PLOTNUMBER Plot name: _PLOTNAME Ending time: _ENDINGTIME Display interval: _DISPLAYINTERVAL Data analysis: _DATAANALYSIS
Line
Line Show	Select true to plot line, false for no.
Color	Select the line color: black, blue, cyan, gray, darkgray, lightgray, green, magenta, orange, pink, red, yellow.
Thickness	Select line thickness in pixels.

Plot List Point List

The Point List displays the point records assigned to the plot being edited. Plot points define the point data analysis and plot options. Plot options include the plot scale (left or right), plot scale invert, plot scale range type and limits, plot type (line, area, bar, ...), line color, line type, line thickness, point point shape, shape color, shape filled. Multiple plot levels can be defined to change the plot line color at different limits.

Plot List Point List (see full-size image)

Plot List Point Popup

To add a new point, click the Add button above the Point List table. To edit an existing point, click the pencil icon. Both these actions result in the following popup which includes point characteristics, which are organized on multiple tabs.

Plot List Point Popup (see full-size image)

Data Label	Description
General
Panel	Select the plot panel for this point.
Point	Select the point from the pick list. Filter the list by entering text in the top search element of the pick list.
Override	Select true to allow users to replace this point with one they select. This allows general purpose plot templates to be created and used for multiple points.
Label	Enter the plot legend for this point. If blank the point pick list label is used. Click button to fill in the default label for editing from the point pick details.
Analysis
Statistic	Select the data analysis for the point readout. See the data analysis appendix for a description of the analysis types. Use default analysis will do the plot data request analysis selected. Any other analysis type selected will override the plot data request analysis.
Data type	Select the type of data displayed: Scaled: Scaled or analysis value Raw: Raw data value Score: Nova score value Rating1 - Rating5: Rating value 1 - 5
Analysis Interval	The Storm Rainfall and Rainfall Intensity data analysis require an analysis interval. See the data analysis appendix for a description of the analysis interval use for these analysis types.
Display Interval	Select the time interval for the data analysis. The time interval is used to compute the start time for the data analysis from the end time. Click the button to alternate between interval selection from a pick list or from time interval fields. Use Request Interval and Show Data Reports will use the plot data request display interval if selected or 1 day by default.
Time Offset	Select the time offset from the plot data request end time for the data analysis period, default if 0.0 seconds. A positive time offset starts in the future (After), a negative time offset starts in the past (Before). The time offset direction is selected from the After/Before list.
Multiplier	Multiply the data analysis computed value by this constant.
Adder	Add this constant to the data analysis computed value.
Display
Data class	Select a class from the plot style sheet to define the plot data list display style. The default style is plotdata.
Indicate novascore	Select true to change the data class displayed for the data analysis score value. The score value (1-5, 0 for missing) is appended to the data class name. For example if the data class name is plotdata then a score of 1 will use the class plotdata1, a score of 2 will use the class plotdata2, and so on. Missing data will use the class plotdata0. This feature is false by default. /* Plot readout background colors for scores */ td.plotdata0 {color:#888888;background- color:#ffffff;} td.plotdata, td.plotdata1 {background-color:#ffffff;} /* white */ td.plotdata2 {background-color:#ffff44;} /* yellow */ td.plotdata3 {background-color:#ffaa44;} /* orange */ td.plotdata4 {background-color:#ff8866;} /* pink */ td.plotdata5 {background-color:#ff4444;} /* red */
Digit precision	Set the number of decimal digits to display to the right of the decimal point. Select default to use the number of display digits assigned to the point type.
Axes
Scale	Select the plot scale for this plot point: default: Let the plot program assign the plot scale. Left: Use the left plot scale. Right: Use the right plot scale. 3 - 9: Use the plot scales 3 - 9 to the right of the right plot scale.
Invert	Select the plot scale invert: normal: No inversion. Plot scale has highest on top and lowest on bottom. invert: Invert the plot scale from lowest on top to highest on bottom.
Range	Select the plot scale range computation for this plot point: default: Use the plot data request scale parameter. auto: Let the plot program compute the plot scale. fixed: Use the plot scale limit to the right. point: Use the point plot scale limits.
Lower Limit	Lower plot scale limit for fixed plot range.
Upper Limit	Upper plot scale limit for fixed plot range
Graph type
Type	Select the plot type for this plot point: line: Draw a line between plot points. point: Draw plot points only - no line. bar: Draw histogram bars. step: Draw stepped lines between plot points. area: Draw a line between plot points and fill in area under plot line. steparea: Draw a stepped line between plot points and fill in area under plot line.
Number	Select the limit number for this plot point. Multiple plot points can be added to a plot that will plot point data in different colors for data ranges.
Limit	Plot data limit for this plot data range. All data values from this limit to the next are plotted with this plot point parameters. All data less than the first limit uses that limit's plot point parameters. All data greater than the last limit uses that limit's plot point parameters.
Line/Symbol
Line color	Plot line color for this level. Colors are: black, blue, cyan, gray, darkgray, lightgray, green, magenta, orange, pink, red, yellow.
Line type	Plot line type for this level. Line types are: solid, dashed, dotted.
Thickness	Plot line thickness in pixels for this level. Thicknesses are: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 , 2.5, ..., 5.0.
Shape color	Plot shape color for this level. Colors are: black, blue, cyan, gray, darkgray, lightgray, green, magenta, orange, pink, red, yellow.
Shape type	Plot shape at data points for this level. Shapes are: none, box, circle, diamond, ellipse, rectangle down, rectangle up, triangle up, triangle down, triangle left, triangle right.
Filled	Plot shape fill for this level: true or false.