Graphics and the Cursor

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6 Graphics and the Cursor

Table of Contents:

Graphics

Graphics are the line drawings such as maps, isolines, diagrams, or text displayed on an image frame. You can change the graphics color, line width, dash length, dash gap length, and dash gap color.

Cursor

The cursor is a visible marker on an image frame that can be moved with the mouse. You can use the cursor to point to specific locations and then determine the coordinates. You can change the color, shape, and size of the cursor.

This lesson describes how to:

define graphics parameters
generate graphics
erase graphics
save and restore graphics and frames
change the cursor shape, color and size
contour data with the cursor
zoom in on frames with the cursor
locate specific positions using the cursor
find distances between points

The following commands are used in this lesson.

Command Function

CCODE lists country codes

CUR defines the cursor size, shape and color

CW fills or erases graphics inside the cursor

DIST finds the distance on a navigated frame

DMAP lists information about files

E lists earth, image and TV coordinates

ERASE erases graphics, images or entire frames

FRMSAVE saves a McIDAS frame to a GIF, JPEG, PostScript, PPM, or BMP format file

GD defines graphics display parameters

GU graphics utility

IMGPROBE lists or plots image data for a region of the displayed image

K turns an image on and off

LVF lists virtual frame files

MAP draws maps and latitude/longitude lines

PC positions the cursor at a specific location

RVF restores virtual frames saved with command SVF

S lists Metar, Synoptic and RAOB stations within the cursor bounds

SHOWVG displays virtual graphics

STNLIST lists weather stations

STNPLOT plots stations on a navigated frame

SVF saves frames to a virtual frame file

TOWNS lists the U.S. towns closest to the cursor location

W toggles the graphics frame on and off

Z toggles the zoom function on and off

ZA displays an annotation at the cursor

ZLM draws graphics using the mouse

ZM sets the zoom factor to use with the Z command

Command	Function

CCODE	lists country codes
CUR	defines the cursor size, shape and color
CW	fills or erases graphics inside the cursor
DIST	finds the distance on a navigated frame
DMAP	lists information about files
E	lists earth, image and TV coordinates
ERASE	erases graphics, images or entire frames
FRMSAVE	saves a McIDAS frame to a GIF, JPEG, PostScript, PPM, or BMP format file
GD	defines graphics display parameters
GU	graphics utility
IMGPROBE	lists or plots image data for a region of the displayed image
K	turns an image on and off
LVF	lists virtual frame files
MAP	draws maps and latitude/longitude lines
PC	positions the cursor at a specific location
RVF	restores virtual frames saved with command SVF
S	lists Metar, Synoptic and RAOB stations within the cursor bounds
SHOWVG	displays virtual graphics
STNLIST	lists weather stations
STNPLOT	plots stations on a navigated frame
SVF	saves frames to a virtual frame file
TOWNS	lists the U.S. towns closest to the cursor location
W	toggles the graphics frame on and off
Z	toggles the zoom function on and off
ZA	displays an annotation at the cursor
ZLM	draws graphics using the mouse
ZM	sets the zoom factor to use with the Z command