Line Properties

The quickest way to modify line properties (e.g., size, colors, etc.) is to right-click on the line you want to modify, and select Pattern from the shortcut menu to display the Line Properties dialog box. Use these options to change the line width, pattern, and color in the graph. The default patterns, colors, and modes of display of consecutive plots and other components of the graphs are determined by the current selections on the Documents/Graphs: Display tab of the Options dialog box. Note that the Line Properties dialog box can also be accessed by clicking the Line button on the Plot: General tab of the Graph Options dialog box. Once you have made all the desired changes, click Close.

Line width

Enter the desired line size in this field. You can change the size of the line based on points (one point is 1/72nd of an inch, this type of measurement is device independent). Line width increments of a quarter of a point (1/288 of an inch) are supported.

Line pattern

Select a pattern for the line with this option. The following patterns are available in this dialog:

Foreground color, Background color

You can select a different color for the line Foreground (i.e., the main component or the "outside" of the item, e.g., "dashes" of the dashed lines) and Background (the "inside" of the item, e.g., spaces between "dashes" in the dashed lines) with these options. When you click on the combo box arrow, a list of colors will appear from which you can select the desired color. If you select the More colors option from the list of colors, the Color dialog box will be displayed. Here, you will be able to select a single color to be added to the list of colors. To use a transparent background (or foreground), click the Transparent background (or Transparent) button. Click the Automatic background to use Windows system color. You can also select from a variety of pre-specified color styles, by clicking the Style name option.

Line style

Instead of specifying line patterns, color, and size using the options above, you can select the style you want to use for this line from the Style drop-down list box. To view a menu of options related to styles (save, save as, revert to saved, etc.), click on the button to the right of this list box. For more information on styles, see Graphics Styles.