Graph: Point of View (3D XYZ Graphs)

Selecting Point of View in the Graph Options dialog is one way to access the options described here. Use these options to change the perspective on 3D graphs, specifically graphs that actually portray 3 dimensions, such as 3D XYZ Scatterplots. These options are also available by clicking the 3D Rotation control toolbar button on the Graph Tools toolbar when a graph is active. The window portrays the graph in the current perspective. This enables you to monitor the viewpoint distance/perspective and horizontal and vertical angles as the graph spins.

Note that when the Display interactive graphics controls check box is selected in the Options dialog, Graphs/Display options pane, a bar containing sliders will be displayed at the bottom of your graph windows. Use the sliders to adjust plot area transparency and marker transparency, and rotate 3D graphs vertically and horizontally. Click the wrench icon near the right end of the bar to display the Graph Options dialog.

Analytic exploratory spin options. Click the Analytic exploratory spin options button to rotate the graph about a vertical axis as indicated by the movement of the Horizontal angle scroll bar during rotation. After this button is clicked, it is replaced by a series of four buttons. Click the << or >> buttons to change the direction of rotation. Click the Manual button to temporarily stop the rotation and allow settings to be adjusted manually. Once you have clicked the Manual button, you can use either the << or the >> button to restart the spin action. Click the Stop button to stop the rotation of the graph and replace these four buttons with the Analytic exploratory spin options button. You can click the OK button at any time (even while the graph is spinning) to redraw the actual graph in the current perspective.

Viewpoint distance/perspective. Use the Viewpoint distance/perspective scroll bar to determine the virtual distance from which the 3D graph is being viewed. If the scroll bar is moved to the left, the distance is effectively reduced and the perception is given of seeing "inside" the volume of the graph cube. If the scroll bar is moved to the right, the cube is viewed from a more external perspective.

Vertical angle. Use the Vertical angle scroll bar to control rotation of the graph up to 180° about a horizontal line parallel to the plane of the display. Moving the scroll bar to the extreme top allows direct viewing of the top of the graph; moving the scroll bar to the extreme bottom allows direct viewing of the bottom of the graph.

Horizontal angle. Use the Horizontal angle scroll bar to control the rotation about the vertical line of the graph. Moving the scroll bar from extreme left to extreme right rotates the graph one complete rotation (360°).

Viewpoint coordinates X/Y/Z. In the X, Y, and Z fields, enter eye position parameters (i.e., X, Y, Z coordinates) to expose specific aspects of the 3D display for analytic purposes and also to create special presentation effects by changing the perspective of the graph. Use these eye position parameters to separately determine the location of the "view point" of the graph for each of the three axes X, Y, and Z. The absolute value of each parameter determines the distance between the eye and the respective axis (i.e., the degree of the perspective transformation for the respective plane). The sign of the parameter determines the side from which the axis is viewed (i.e., a value of 0 represents the "facing position" and no perspective transformation; negative and positive values represent left and right or up and down shifts of the viewpoint, respectively).

Restore initial settings. Click the Restore initial settings button to restore the initial sittings (distance, perspective, etc.) as they were when you first displayed this dialog (i.e., to leave the graph unchanged with regard to these options).