Graphics

Annotation Lines and Arrows

You can add lines and three types of arrows to a graph and attach them to any point in the figure. The three types of arrows include

• Single-headed arrow
• Arrow with attached text box
• Double-headed arrow

Insert a line or arrow by clicking the appropriate icon in the figure toolbar, then click down, drag the line or arrow to the desired point, and release the mouse. The arrowhead appears at the terminal end.

With the line or arrow selected, right-click to display the context menu, which provides access to a number of options.

Inserting a Text Arrow

A text arrow combines a textbox with an arrow. It is useful for labeling points on a graph. Add a text arrow to a graph by selecting the arrow icon that has a T above the arrow. Insert the text arrow and type text in the box.

Pinning the Arrowhead End

You can attach the arrowhead end to the point of interest on the graph while letting the text box automatically reposition itself as you zoom or pan the graph.

There are three ways to pin annotations:

• Right-click on the object to display its context menu and select Pin.
• Select the pin icon in the plot edit toolbar (See Pinning -- Attaching to a Point in the Figure).
• Select Pin Object from the Edit menu.

  

Modifying the Text Arrow from the Context Menu

Right-clicking on a text arrow displays its context menu, which enables you to perform a number of operations on the text arrow. The context menus for lines, arrows, and double arrows contain similar items:

• Cut, Copy, Delete -- Cut to clipboard, copy to clipboard, or delete the textbox.
• Pin to axes -- Pin the textbox to the current location (you can move the point of attachment by clicking and dragging the point while in plot edit mode).
• Unpin -- Detach the textbox from the attachment point.
• Reverse Direction -- Swap the arrow head and the textbox or move the arrowhead to the other end of a plain arrow.
• Edit Text -- Enable edit mode to change the text characters.
• Color -- Color of the text characters, textbox edge, and arrow
• Text Background Color -- Color of the rectangle enclosing the text
• Font -- Type of font used for the text
• Line Width -- Width of the textbox edge line
• Line Style -- Style of line used for the textbox edge
• Head Style -- Type of arrowhead to use
• Head Size -- Size of the arrowhead in points
• Properties -- Display the Property Editor with textbox properties.
• Show M-code -- Create M-code that recreates the graph.

For example, the following illustration shows the text border enabled and the text background color set to yellow.

Setting Line and Arrow Properties

You can use the Property Editor to set line and arrow properties by selecting Properties from the context menu. The Property Editor displays the same properties that are described above in the context menu section.

You can click the Inspector button on the Property Editor to display the Property Inspector. The Property Inspector displays all properties for the selected annotation object. However, you should not change some of these properties, because doing so can affect the proper functioning of the annotation. See the following sections in the reference documentation for descriptions of the properties you can change on the respective objects.

• Annotation Line Properties
• Annotation Arrow Properties
• Annotation Textarrow Properties
• Annotation Doublearrow Properties

Textbox Annotations

Adding a Colorbar to a Graph

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