Axes, Annotation and Scale bar

Introduction

Example of a scene with axes, annotation and scalebar

Geographical grids, axes annotation, scalebars and text are natural display features when working out displays and presentation graphics. This chapter gives a brief documentation of the standard menus for text and annotation graphics in the system.

On this page:

Geographical coordinates with axes

Use the command Geographical coordinates to display axes and coordinate annotation on a dataset.

Geographical coordinates can be accessed as a command (found in Shared Commands > Visualization) or as a stand alone menu from Tools > Geographical Management. In either case the rules for a correct display is the same.

Push Display under Default display see the default values.
Type in Longitude/Latitude start, Long/Lat increment and Longitude/Latitude stop values to set a custom geographical grid.

Sometimes it may be useful to create an item command that will save your settings for a specific dataset. This will save you time next time you want to display axes over the same area. Read more about creating item commands.

Scale bar

To display a scale bar open Tools > Scalebar display

Guide lines when displaying scale bar

Push Draw Scalebar to display the scalebar in default position and appearence.
I you prefer a specific position, do as follows:
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1. Set the screen in 2D mode.
2. Place a cursor mark at the preferred position by a cursor click.
3. Check in the box Use XYZ coordinates
4. Click Update cursor to world coordinates to get the cursor coordinates.
Push Draw Scalebar to display the scalebar in preferred position.
Set other menu options for scalebar appearence.
Redraw the scalebar.

Text annotation

The Three dimensional text command lets you create text annotation anywhere in the graphical window. You can create 2D or 3D text, display the text in any angle or stick the text to a surface. All these things can be found out whith a little test and trying. When everything is fine save the command object. Optionally save it as an Item command or copy a present CO so you work with and save a copy of the command object.

As an example here are the guide lines for drawing a text at an angle along a line.

Guide lines for text annotation at an angle

Write in the desired text in the text field.
Set the screen in 2D mode and make two cursor positions:
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1. First cursor position: at end of text
2. Second cursor position: at start of text
If the screen is in 3D mode use y to attach the cursor point to a surface.
Push Update cursor to coordinates.
Push Update dip and azimuth. Azimuth is for rotation around z axes. Dip is for 3D mode.
Check in the Dip and Azimuth boxes.
Select text attributes.
Push Execute to display the text.

With a little training one can place text at any angle and position.

Example map with geo grid, scale bar end 3D text