Grid Properties

Whether the grid is visible or not,  many operations of the Figure Editor are based on the currently defined grid.  The grid size determines the size of the workspace.  Points can be aligned to the grid.  Transformations can be performed on points relative to the grid and its origin.  Finally,  all graphs are plotted according to the grid.

Open Grid Properties dialog box

 

Grid Properties allows you to edit almost every aspect of the grid.  It consists of 3 tabbed-pages: General, X-Axis, and Y-Axis.

General

This page edits the general appearance of the grid.

Visible: When checked, the grid is visible.

Grid Style:  Sets the appearance of the grid lines or whether they appear at all.

Tick Marks: When checked, tick marks are drawn along the axis.  (this is useful if you don't use grid lines)

Font: Sets the current font used for the axis numbers and labels.

Color: Sets the color of the entire grid.
X-Axis

Number of Columns: Sets the total number of columns.  The minimum and maximum values of the x-axis are automatically calculated using this value, the number increment,  and the origin offset. 

Column Width:  Sets the actual size in centimeters of each column.

Number Increment:  Sets the counting increment.

Number Interval:  Sets the interval at which the axis is numbered.  This only affects how the numbers are displayed.  A value of 1 shows a number at every column.  A value of 2 shows a number at every other column and so on.  To turn off numbering make this blank.

Origin Offset:  Sets the position of the origin.  If it is zero (slider in the center) then the origin is in the center of the grid. 

Show X-Axis:  When checked, the X-Axis is displayed.  (It is sometimes useful to hide an axis if you want to make a number line)

Left Arrow: When checked, displays the left arrow at the end of the axis.

Right Arrow: When checked, displays the right arrow at the end of the axis.

Axis Label: Sets the axis label.
Y-Axis

The Y-Axis page works  the same as the X-Axis page.