HandyGraph 2.1 User Guide
HandyGraph 2.1 User Guide
1 User Guide
Rev. May 21, 2009 Del Rey, Inc. www.handygraph.com
Welcome!
HandyGraph is your quick and easy graphing tool. With this software, you will be able to: create blank graphs and number lines graph functions graph inequalities plot points make graph paper, both linear and logarithmic
You can create the graph image just as you like it - with control over colors, line labels, size, and much more. Each graph can be saved in a variety of formats for quick insertion into documents and web pages. To use this guide, you can read straight through, or use the table of contents to jump to subjects of interest.
Table of Contents
Overview........................................................................................................................................................................... 4 CREATING A GRAPH (LINEAR) ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Size of the Graph Min and Max Values Scale Graphs to Get Started FORMATTING YOUR GRAPH ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Lines ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Color Width Style Choosing Label Lines Formatting Label Lines Labels ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Location of Labels Pi () Fractions Decimals Font Axes ................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Arrows Hide Axes Axes Names SPECIAL GRAPH TYPES .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Number Lines................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Logarithmic Graphs ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Graph Paper ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Size Formatting Graph Paper Defaults Page 2
PLOTTING....................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Plot Points ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Point Table Connect Points Point Tool Plot Functions................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Tips for Typing Expressions Inequalities and Shading .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Plotting on Number Lines............................................................................................................................................. 18 CHANGING YOUR VIEW ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Zoom View your Graph on a Page Change Min and Max by Dragging EXPORTING YOUR GRAPH IMAGE ............................................................................................................................. 20 Save for Later Use in HandyGraph .............................................................................................................................. 20 Put the Graph Image in Another Document................................................................................................................ 20 Printing ........................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Graph Images for Web Pages....................................................................................................................................... 21 Optimizing your Graph Image ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Units: Using Pixels Width and Height Mode Image Margins Transparent Background TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS ........................................................................................................................................... 22 Licensing and Updates ................................................................................................................................................. 23 Check for Updates APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Appendix A: Tools Available Appendix B: Status Bar Appendix C: System Requirements Appendix D: Key Commands for Point Table Appendix E: Functions Available for Plotting Appendix F: Credits
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Overview
HandyGraph contains 5 tabbed pages: Values, Labels, Lines, Plotting, and Plot Points. By making selections and entering data, you will create and customize your graphs. The toolbar and file menu contain additional features, which are described later.
Hints: To enter data and select options, you can use your mouse or tab through a screen. Numbers are validated and the graph is redrawn whenever you click Draw or type Enter. As your mouse hovers over various parts of the window, helpful messages appear in the status bar at the bottom (See Appendix B). To reverse a change you have made to the image, choose Undo from the toolbar.
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Scale
Set the distance between grid lines, by entering Scale for each axis. When you choose a Scale, the Min and Max values automatically adjust to be multiples of scale, so the graph ends on a grid line. If Scale is typed in scientific notation or as a fraction, Min and Max will adopt the same format.
y 5
5 x
Color
Choose from a selection of preset colors, or press More Colors to make your own custom color. Up to sixteen custom colors can be saved, and will be available whenever you use HandyGraph.
Width
Choose from 14 line widths (measured in points), as shown. When using pixel units, five width options are available.
Style
Graphs can be created as axes with tick marks or with a grid pattern. Select your preference from the Grid Lines Style choices.
y 5
y 5
0 x -5 -5 0 5
-5 -5
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y 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 x
y 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 x
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Labels
For a graph without numbers on the axes, uncheck Show labels on the Labels tab.
y
Location of Labels
Labels can be shifted slightly from the lines to which they correspond using the Label Alignment section of the Labels tab.
y 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 x
Labels will be located on the left and lower sides of the grid, when Keep outside grid is checked. By unchecking this box, you can put labels at the axes.
y 6 4 2 -6 -4 -2 0 -2 -4 -6 2 4 6 x
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Pi ()
Either axis can be labeled with , by selecting Use multiples of pi. Note that the Values tab will now show next to Min, Max, and Scale values for that axis.
y 1
1 2
0
1 2
x
2
1 0
3 2
Fractions
If Scale is a fraction, you may reduce fractions on all labels, or uncheck Reduce fractions to keep all fractions with the same denominator. Fractions will always be reduced to whole numbers when possible.
Decimals
For decimal labels, check Remove trailing zeroes for each label to be written in shortest form. To label each line with a certain number of zeroes, type the Scale accordingly on Values tab, and uncheck Remove trailing zeroes on Labels tab. Ex. if Scale = 1.000, all labels will be written with 3 digits after the decimal point. To label axes with scientific notation, type the scale in scientific notation. Ex. Scale = 1.0E-01
Font
Select the Font button in the Line Labels section to alter the size, color, and style of the line label numbers.
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Axes
Choose axes Color and Width in the same manner as Grid Lines.
Arrows
Select an arrow Style for axes. You can also choose to show positive and negative arrows together, only positive arrows, or no arrows at all.
Hide Axes
When Show Axes is unchecked, axes are treated just like other grid lines, and are not labeled with names.
1
1 2
0
1 2
1 0
3 2
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Axes Names
HandyGraph accepts up to 50 characters for x and y axis names. Enter text into the boxes.
cm 1
1 2
0
1 2
rad
2
3 2
You may also select Font size, color, and style for the names.
HINT: When typing a long axis name, you may need to increase the margins of your graph image for all of the text to show. Image margins are set on Options page.
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Number Lines
Select horizontal or vertical number lines from Graph Type. Notice that when a number line is selected, you can only enter data for the appropriate axis. Number lines can be formatted just like Cartesian graphs (see instructions above). For instance, on Lines tab, you can change the Color and Width of the ticks and axis, and change the Arrows.
Logarithmic Graphs
Choose to make x, y, or both axes logarithmic by selecting the corresponding Graph Type. When a log graph is chosen, the Scale for the log axis automatically becomes base 10. For the log axis, Min and Max must be positive numbers. For any positive number entered, HandyGraph will automatically choose the closest multiple of ten which includes your typed value. Ex. If you enter Min = 0.5, HandyGraph will set Min = 0.1. Logarithmic graphs can be labeled at every power of ten by choosing cycle, or at min and max values only.
100
10
1 0
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Graph Paper
To make custom graph paper quickly, select or File New Graph Paper to open the Graph Paper window.
Size
Choose Full page or Half page graph paper, and then set your Paper Size and Margins. For other sizes, select Custom and type the number of squares desired in each direction.
Formatting
Select Grid Line Spacing, Color, and Width to customize your graph paper. If you also wish to show Accent Lines, check Show, and set Spacing, Color, and Width for accent lines. By selecting Type: Log, logarithmic graph paper can be generated as well.
Once you have created your graph paper, Close the Graph Paper window. The main HandyGraph window will contain all of the information about the graph. You can now view, save, and print the graph paper just like any other graph. Page 13
Plotting
Plot Points
Points can be positioned by entering the x and y coordinates, or placed directly on your graph with the mouse using the Point Tool. For either method, Show must be checked in order for the points to appear on the graph.
Note that there are 4 lists of points, enabling points of four different styles to appear on the graph simultaneously. However, only one list is editable at a time. To begin, select a point list from the dropdown at the top of the Plot Points page. Alter the point Color and Style for the active list, as desired. The changes will appear on the graph and on the point list dropdown.
Point Table
To use the table to plot points, select cells and enter the x and y coordinates. Appendix D lists helpful key commands for entering data into the tables. You may also paste lists of tab delimited values (such as from Excel), or copy data from one table into another. Points appear in the order they are entered into the table. If desired, sort the point list in order of increasing x value by clicking the x heading on the point list. Likewise, click the y heading to sort by y value.
y 5 0 -5 -5 y
x 0 5
Connect Points
Points can be plotted separately or connected with lines. To connect the points, check the Connect box. A line will be drawn between each point and the subsequent point on the list. Alter the style of the connecting line using Width and Color. To connect the last point on the list to the first point, select Close figure.
5 0 -5 -5
x 0 5
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Point Tool
Add, remove, and move points directly on your graph using the handy point tool. Simply select the point tool from the toolbar to make it active. The Point Tool is associated with the currently active list, which is the list you have selected on the plot points page.
Hint: Show must be checked for the active list in order to use the Point Tool.
Once the point tool is selected, move your mouse over the graph to see the icon, with a semi-transparent image of the active point. Left-click to insert a new point. The point will snap to the closest intersection of grid lines. This and additional uses of the point tool are listed below.
Action Add a point Remove a point Move an existing point Add a point between grid lines Remove point between grid lines Insert point after an existing point
Mouse command Left-Click Hover over the point and Right-Click Left-Click the point and Drag to desired location Hold down Control key and Left-Click (Control-Left-Click) Control-Right-Click Shift-Left-Click on existing point and Drag to location of new point
Anytime the point tool hovers on the graph, the status bar (located at the bottom of the HandyGraph window) shows its coordinates. This is useful when plotting or locating points.
For a reference to these commands while using HandyGraph, on the Plot Points page. press
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Plot Functions
HandyGraph can plot two functions simultaneously, and each can be a function of x or a function of y. To plot a function: 1. Check the box below Function 1 or Function 2. 2. Select whether you want f(x) or f(y). 3. Type an expression into the box which represents the right side of the equation. Example: f(x) = 2x 3
y 5
-5 -5
For a complete list of the operators and functions which HandyGraph can plot, for quick reference. see Appendix E. Or when using HandyGraph, press
Trigonometric functions can be plotted using radians or degrees, and current units are displayed on the status bar (see Appendix B). or View To change angle measurement, select Options, and select Radians or Degrees. Page 16
When plotting two inequalities, select a color for the Intersection, or choose Automatic for HandyGraph to blend the two chosen colors.
y 5
-5 -5
To only shade the intersection of the two functions, check the box.
y 5
-5 -5
The Transparency of the inequality shading can be varied between 0% and 100%, with 0% being completely opaque. or View Options to change transparency. Select Select Behind gridlines for gridlines to appear clearly when shading, even when Transparency is set low. Page 17
To plot a number line inequality: 1. Check the box below Inequality 1 or Inequality 2. 2. Choose a comparison. 3. Type a number into the box. You can also type constant expressions such as 3 2. Example: x 1
Inequalities on number lines will appear semi-transparent. The Transparency can be changed using the Options See Inequalities and Shading section above to change Transparency or to shade the Intersection of two window. inequalities.
Number line inequalities are represented by arrows with open and closed Circles.
To use open and closed Brackets instead, choose this on the Options window.
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HandyGraph toolbar
Zoom
On the toolbar, use the and buttons to magnify your image incrementally. Alternatively, type a zoom value or select one from the list. Your current zoom percentage (%) is shown on the status bar at the bottom of HandyGraph. For the graph to fill the available space, choose Fit All. In this case the zoom percentage will change as you adjust the size of the HandyGraph window. To center on a spot as you zoom in or out, select the graph where you wish to center. or tool and click on the part of the
Hint: When you open HandyGraph again, it will remember the Zoom you last used.
Hint: This tool is useful if you want a better view of a plotted function. Page 19
Our recommendation for highest quality images in PowerPoint and word processing documents: Export as EMF, or Increase Resolution and then Export as PNG Note: For maximum resolution, open Options window, and set Resolution to 300 dpi.
Printing
Select or File Print to print your graph. HandyGraph automatically prints images at the printer resolution. To see what the printed graph will look like, choose File Print Preview. Use File Page Setup to set paper size, orientation, margins, and location of graph on paper.
Hint: In addition to page margins, each graph image also contains margins. Recommended minimum margin is half the width of your grid lines.
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Image Margins
When you want to increase or decrease margins, simply enter your desired values.
Transparent Background
You can set your background as opaque or transparent. GIF, EMF, and PNG file types support transparent backgrounds. Opaque backgrounds will appear white.
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Troubleshooting Tips
Problem Axis name gets cut off at edge of image. Solutions Increase image margins. Select View image margins. (Toolbar or menu) Options to edit
When I change line width, the lines do not appear to change. Line labels are overlapping each other
This is due to the limitations of your screen. Zoom in for a better view. (Toolbar or menu) Label fewer lines. Ex. Select every 2 or every 5 rather than every 1; (Values tab) or reduce Font size for line labels; (Labels tab) or increase Width and Height of image to put more space between labels. (Values tab)
The point tool is dim, and nothing happens when my mouse hovers over it. I do not want any axis names. How can I make them disappear? I entered a function to plot, but I do not see it on the screen.
Point tool can only be selected if the Show is checked for the currently available point list. (Plot points tab) Delete the text in the axes names boxes. (Labels tab)
If you are not sure where to expect the function, change your Min and Max values to include a wide range of numbers. Once you find the function, you can change to new Min and Max values if you wish. (Values tab) For a quick view, use the Hand tool to drag your graph to new numbers. (Toolbar)
Grid lines are cutting through the labels, making them difficult to read.
Align labels to the side of the grid line, rather than centered; (Labels tab) Or choose Keep outside grid so labels appear outside lines. (Labels tab)
For any additional problems or questions, please visit the Support section of www.handygraph.com.
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If you currently have a license which expires, you can purchase a permanent license by selecting Help Buy License Now. You will be directed to the purchasing section of www.handygraph.com. After paying for the license, you will be emailed a license key. Once you receive your license key, open HandyGraph and select Help Enter License Key, and enter your Name and Key exactly as they appear in the email. Next, if prompted, enter your computers administrator account name and password to complete the license process. Thank you for licensing your copy of HandyGraph, and supporting our efforts to develop and deliver this software.
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Appendices
Appendix A: Tools Available
The following tools can be accessed using the HandyGraph toolbar. Zoom In Tool: Zoom in and center on selected location on graph with left mouse click. Zoom Out Tool: Zoom out and center on selected location on graph with left mouse click. Point Tool: Add, remove, and move points on graph using mouse. Hand Tool: Activated when all other tools are deselected. Grab and drag graph to change min and max values.
Helpful tips about the item at the mouse location. Coordinates of Point Tool. (The coordinates only appear when the Point Tool is selected and on the graph.) Width and Height of image, including margins. Current Zoom. Units of angle measurement: Deg or Rad
Exponential and Logarithmic: ln( ) natural logarithm log( ) base 10 logarithm exp( ) exponential Special: abs( ) sqrt( ) int( ) floor( ) ceil( ) absolute value square root greatest integer function, greatest integer x floor function, greatest integer x (same as int()). ceiling function, least integer x
Appendix F: Credits
HandyGraph is a product of Del Rey, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit http://www.handygraph.com for more information. This software uses the FreeImage open source image library. See http://freeimage.sourceforge.net for details. FreeImage is used under the FIPL, version 1.0.
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