The QtiPlot Handbook

Ion Vasilief

<ion_vasilief@yahoo.fr>

Stephen Besch

Copyright © 2004 - 2011 Ion Vasilief

Copyright © 2010 Stephen Besch

Copyright © 2006 - june 2007 Roger Gadiou and Knut Franke

This document is a handbook for using QtiPlot, a program for two- and three-dimensional graphical presentation of data sets and for data analysis.

This manual is organized in several chapters:

-The first chapter describes the main concepts and terms which are used in QtiPlot.

-The second chapter is a tutorial on how to obtain plots from different data sets. It is the one you need to read first to understand the basics of QtiPlot and to be able to draw plots.

-The three following chapters are descriptions of all the commands, buttons and dialogs used in QtiPlot. These chapters are the reference manual of QtiPlot.

- The two following chapters describe more deeply some specific possibilities of QtiPlot, that is the statistical and mathematical analysis of data, and the scripting.

Legal notice: Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

What QtiPlot does

Command Line Parameters

Specify a File
Command Line Options

General Concepts and Terms

Tables
Matrix
Plot Window
Note
Log Window
The Project Explorer

2. Drawing plots with QtiPlot

2D plot from data.
2D plot from function.

Direct 3D plot from a function
3D plot from a matrix

Multilayer Plots

Building a multilayer plot panel
Building a multilayer plot step by step

3. Command Reference

The File Menu

File-> New ->
File -> Open (Ctrl-O)
File -> Open Excel
File -> Open ODF Spreadsheet
File-> Open Image File (Ctrl-I)
File -> Append Project... (Ctrl-Alt-A)
File-> Recent Projects
File -> Close
File-> Save Project (Ctrl-S)
File-> Save Project as... (Ctrl-Shift-S)
File-> Save Window as...
File -> Open Template
File -> Save as Template
File-> Print (Ctrl-P)
File-> Print Preview
File-> Print All Plots
File -> Export Graph
File -> Export
File -> Import
File -> Quit (Ctrl-Q)

The Edit Menu

Edit -> Undo (Ctrl-Z)
Edit -> Redo (Ctrl-Shift-Z)
Edit -> Cut Selection (Ctrl-X)
Edit -> Copy Selection (Ctrl-C)
Edit -> Paste Selection (Ctrl-V)
Edit -> Delete Selection (Del)
Edit -> Delete Fit Tables
Edit -> Clear Log Information
Edit -> Preferences...

The View Menu

View -> Toolbars... (Ctrl-Shift-T)
View -> Plot Wizard (Ctrl-Alt-W)
View -> Project Explorer (Ctrl-E)
View -> Results log
View -> Undo/Redo Stack...
View -> Show/Hide Scripting Console

The Scripting Menu

General Scripting Commands
Notes Specific Scripting Commands

The Graph Menu

Graph -> Add/Remove Curves... (Alt-C)
Graph -> Add Function... (Ctrl-Alt-F)
Graph -> Add Error Bars... (Ctrl-B)
Graph -> New Legend (Ctrl-L)
Graph -> Add Equation (Alt-Q)
Graph -> Add Text (Alt-T)
Graph -> Draw Arrow (Ctrl-Alt-A)
Graph -> Draw Line (Ctrl-Alt-L)
Graph -> Add Rectangle (Ctrl-Alt-R)
Graph -> Add Ellipse (Ctrl-Alt-E)
Graph -> Add Time Stamp (Ctrl-Alt-T)
Graph -> Add Image (Alt-I)
Z-Order Commands...
Graph -> Add Layer (Alt-L)
Graph -> Add Empty Inset Layer
Graph -> Add Inset Layer With Curves
Graph -> Arrange Layers (Shift-A)
Graph -> Automatic Layout command
Graph -> Extract to Graphs command
Graph -> Extract to Layers command
Graph -> Remove Layer (Alt-R)

The Plot Menu

Line
Scatter
Line+Symbol
Special Line+Symbol ->
Columns
Rows
Special Bar/Column ->
Area
Pie
Vectors XYXY
Vectors XYAM
Statistical Graphs ->
Panel ->
Data -> Plot 3D ->

The 3D Plot menu

3D Wire Frame
3D Hidden Lines
3D Polygons
3D Wire Surface
Bars
Scatter
Contour+Color Fill
Countour Lines
Gray Scale Map

The Data Menu

Data -> Disable tools
Data -> Zoom In/Out and Drag Canvas
Data -> Zoom/Drag Canvas Horizontally
Data -> Zoom/Drag Canvas Vertically
Data -> Zoom in (Ctrl-+)
Data -> Zoom out (Ctrl--)
Data -> Rescale To Show All (Ctrl-Shift-R)
Data -> Data Reader (Ctrl-D)
Data -> Select Data Range (Alt-S)
Data -> Screen Reader
Data -> Draw Data Points
Data -> Move Data points (Ctrl-Alt-M)
Data -> Remove Bad Data Points (Alt-B)
Data -> Remove Bad Data Points

The Analysis Menu

Commands for the analysis of data in tables
Commands for the analysis of curves in plots

The Table Menu

Set Column As
Column Options...
Set Column Values...
Recalculate
Fill column with
Clear
Add Column
Set Columns...
Hide Selected Columns
Show All Columns
Set Optimal Column Width
Move to First
Move Left
Move Right
Move to Last
Swap columns
Set Rows...
Delete Rows Interval...
Move Row >
Go to Row... (Ctrl-Alt-G)
Go to Column... (Ctrl-Alt-C)
Extract Data...
Convert to Matrix

The Matrix Menu

Set Properties...
Set Dimensions... (Ctrl-D)
Set Values... (Ctrl-Q)
Recalculate (Ctrl-Return)
Rotate 90 (Ctrl-Shift-R)
Rotate -90 (Ctrl-Alt-R)
Flip V (Ctrl-Shift-V)
Flip H (Ctrl-Shift-H)
Expand...
Shrink...
Smooth
Transpose
Invert
Determinant
Go To Commands
View Commands
Palette
Show Column/Row (Ctrl-Shift-C)
Show X/Y (Ctrl-Shift-X)
Convert to Spreadsheet

The Format Menu

Plot...
Curves...
Scales...
Axes...
Grid...
Title...

The Windows Menu

Folders
Cascade
Tile
Next (F5)
Previous (F6)
Rename Window
Duplicate
Script Window (F3)
Window Geometry...
Hide Window
Close Window (Ctrl-W)
Numbered Window List

Customization of 3D plots

Frame
Box
No axes
Front Grid
Back Grid
Left Grid
Right Grid
Ceiling Grid
Floor Grid
Enable perspective
Reset rotation
Fit frame to window
Bars Style
Dots
Cones
Cross Hairs
3D Wire Frame
3D Hidden Lines
3D Polygons
3D Wire Surface
Floor Data Projection
Floor Isolines
Empty Floor
Animation

4. The Toolbars

The Edit Toolbar
The File Toolbar
The Plot Toolbar
The Table Toolbar
The Column Toolbar
The Plot 3D Toolbar

5. The Dialogs

Add Custom Action

Add Error bars

Add Function

Add/Remove Curves

Arrange Layers

Line Options

Column Options

Contour Curves Options

Plot Details

Custom curves for lines and scatter plots
Custom error bars
Plot Details for pie plots
Custom curves for box plots
Custom curves for pie histogram

Define surface plot

Export ASCII

Fast Fourier Transform

Integrate Function Dialog

The Fit Wizard

General Plot Options

Plot Wizard

Project Explorer

Preferences Dialog

General Preferences
Tables Preferences
2D Plot Preferences
3D Plot Preferences
Notes Preferences
Fitting Preferences

Printer-setup

Set Column Values

Set Matrix Dimensions

Import ASCII files

Matrix Properties

Set Matrix Values

Surface plot options

Scale Tab
Axis Tab
Grid Tab
Title Tab
Colors Tab
General Tab
Print Tab

Text options

6. Analysis of data and curves

Fast Fourier Transform

Correlation

Convolution

Deconvolution

The Fit Wizard

Fitting to specific curves

Fitting to a line
Fitting to a polynomial
Fitting to a Boltzmann function
Fitting to a Gauss function
Fitting to a Lorentz function

Multi-Peaks fitting

Filtering of data curves

FFT low pass filter
FFT high pass filter
FFT band pass filter
FFT block band filter

Interpolation

7. Mathematical Expressions and Scripting

8. Frequently asked questions

List of Tables
4-1. Edit toolbar commands.
4-2. File toolbar commands.
4-3. Plot toolbar commands
4-4. Plot Toolbar Zoom Commands
4-5. Table toolbar commands.
4-6. Line Plots
4-7. Scatter Plots
4-8. Line & Symbol Plots
4-9. Bar Chart Plots
4-10. Statistical Plots
4-11. Vector Plots
4-12. Special Line/Symbol Plots
4-13. 3D Plots
4-14. Column toolbar commands.
4-15. 3D Plot toolbar commands.
7-1. muParser: Predefined Fundamental Physical Constants
7-2. muParser: Supported Mathematical Operators
7-3. muParser: Mathematical Functions
7-4. muParser: Non-Mathematical Functions
7-5. Python: Supported Mathematical Functions

List of Figures
1-1. A typical QtiPlot session
1-2. The QtiPlot table
1-3. The QtiPlot matrix
1-4. An example of QtiPlot 2D graph
1-5. The QtiPlot Note Window
1-6. The QtiPlot Log window
1-7. The QtiPlot Project Explorer
2-1. A simple 2D plot: the table.
2-2. A simple 2D plot: the default plot.
2-3. A simple 2D plot: the plot finished.
2-4. A 2D plot with two Y axes.
2-5. Direct plot of a function.
2-6. Function plot: filling of the X column.
2-7. Function plot: filling of the Y column.
2-8. Example of a 3D Plots.
2-9. Definition of a new surface 3D plot
2-10. The 3D surface plot created using defaults
2-11. The 3D surface plot after customization.
3-1. The Smooth -> Savitsky-Golay... dialog.
3-2. The Smooth -> Moving Window Average... dialog.
3-3. The Smooth -> Lowess... dialog.
3-4. The FFT Filter -> Low Pass... dialog.
3-5. The FFT Filter -> High Pass... dialog.
3-6. The FFT Filter -> Band Pass... dialog.
3-7. The FFT Filter -> Band Block... dialog.
3-8. The Interpolate... dialog.
4-1. The QtiPlot Edit Toolbar
4-2. The QtiPlot File Toolbar
4-3. The QtiPlot Plot Toolbar
4-4. The QtiPlot Table Toolbar
4-5. The QtiPlot Column Toolbar
4-6. The QtiPlot Plot 3D Toolbar
5-1. The Add Custom Script Action... dialog box.
5-2. The Add Error Bars... dialog.
5-3. Example of a plot with both X and Y Error Bars.
5-4. The Add Function... dialog box: Cartesian Coordinates.
5-5. The Add Function... Dialog Box: Automatic Detection of Constants.
5-6. The Add Function... dialog box: Parametric Coordinates.
5-7. The Add Function... dialog box: Polar Coordinates.
5-8. The Add Layer Dialog Box.
5-9. The Add/Remove Curves... Dialog Box.
5-10. The Arrange Layers dialog: the Geometry Tab
5-11. Example of a vertical arrangement for two plots.
5-12. The Arrow Options Dialog: First Tab
5-13. The Arrow Options Dialog: Second Tab
5-14. The Geometry Dialog: Third Tab
5-15. The Column Options... Dialog.
5-16. The Values tab.
5-17. The Colors Tab.
5-18. The Contour Lines tab.
5-19. The Labels tab.
5-20. The Plot Details Dialog: Layer properties.
5-21. The Plot Details Dialog: Canvas with a solid background color.
5-22. The Plot Details Dialog: Canvas with a background image.
5-23. The Plot Details Dialog: Layer geometry.
5-24. The Plot Details Dialog: Layer Speed Mode.
5-25. The Plot Details Dialog: Plot Associations.
5-26. The Plot Details Dialog: Assign Axes.
5-27. The Plot Details Dialog: Line formatting.
5-28. The Plot Details Dialog: Symbol formatting.
5-29. The Plot Details Dialog: Labels formatting.
5-30. The Plot Details Dialog for formatting error bars.
5-31. The Plot Details Dialog for pies: Pie Segment Formatting.
5-32. The Plot Details Dialog for pies: Pie Geometry.
5-33. The Plot Details Dialog for pies: Pie Labels Formatting.
5-34. The Plot Details Dialog for box: Pattern Formatting.
5-35. The Plot Details Dialog for box: Whiskers Formatting.
5-36. The Plot Details Dialog for box: Percentile Formatting.
5-37. The Plot Details Dialog for histogram: Pattern Formatting.
5-38. The Plot Details Dialog for histogram: Spacing Formatting.
5-39. The Plot Details Dialog for histogram: Data Formatting.
5-40. The New -> New Surface 3D Plot dialog box.
5-41. The New -> New Surface 3D Plot dialog box.
5-42. Export of a selection from a table to an ASCII file.
5-43. The FFT... dialog box for a curve.
5-44. The FFT... dialog box for a table.
5-45. The Integrate Function... dialog box.
5-46. The first step of the Fit Wizard... dialog box.
5-47. The second step of the Fit Wizard... dialog box.
5-48. The third step of the Fit Wizard... dialog box.
5-49. General plot options dialog: The Scale Tab.
5-50. General plot options dialog: The Grid Tab.
5-51. General plot options dialog: The Axis Tab.
5-52. General plot options dialog: General Settings.
5-53. The plot wizard dialog box.
5-54. The project explorer panel.
5-55. The preferences dialog: general parameters for the application.
5-56.
5-57.
5-58. The preferences dialog: table options.
5-59. The preferences dialog: 2D plot options.
5-60. The preferences dialog: 3D plot options.
5-61. The preferences dialog: note options.
5-62. The preferences dialog: fitting options.
5-63. The Print dialog.
5-64. The Set Column Values... dialog.
5-65. The Set Dimensions... dialog for matrix.
5-66. The dialog box.
5-67. The Set Properties... dialog for matrices.
5-68. The Set Values... dialog for matrix.
5-69. The surface plot options dialog box.
5-70. The general plot options tab.
5-71. The 3D plot print options.
5-72. The axis title options dialog.
5-73. The legend/text options dialog.
6-1. An example of the FFT.
6-2. An example of a correlation between two sine functions.
6-3. The results of the Fit Wizard....
6-4. The results of a Fit Linear.
6-5. The results of a Fit Polynomial..., showing the initial data, the curve added to the plot, and the results in the log panel.
6-6. The results of a Fit Boltzmann (sigmoidal).
6-7. The results of a Fit Gaussian.
6-8. The results of a Fit Lorentzian.
6-9. The results of a Fit Multi-peak ->Gaussian....
6-10. Signal after a FFT low pass filter
6-11. Signal after a FFT high pass filter
6-12. Signal after a FFT band pass filter
6-13. Signal after a FFT block band filter
6-14. Comparison of the three methods of interpolation

List of Equations
6-1. Fourier equation
6-2. Covariance function of two signals x(t) and y(t)
6-3. Boltzmann equation
6-4. Logistic dose response equation
6-5. Gauss equation
6-6. Lorentz equation

		Next
		Introduction