Annotating Plots in Manual Mode

Since the very first release of EMME/2, it was always possible to manually annotate a completed plot by use of the graphic command "m". In this "manual mode", lines could be drawn on the screen using different patterns and text items could be placed anywhere on the screen in one of up to four (depending on the availability of hardware character sizes) standard sizes. One serious limitation with this approach was that the annotations were strictly local to the screen, i.e. they would be lost as soon as the screen was erased and would also not be copied to the plot file.

In release 3.0, this old style "manual mode" graphic command has been replaced by a new and much more powerful approach. While the basic elements of the annotations are still text and line drawings, many new features are now available:

• Annotations are automatically copied into the plot file, when the graphic command "p" is used to send the current plot to the plot file.
• Annotations are not lost when the current plot is altered using a graphic command (e.g. change window, scale, or node number toggle). The annotations will be redrawn automatically on the new plot.
• Full color support is available for color equipment. This allows the manual mode to be used to establish color legends for plots using color indices.
• Text annotations may be chosen from a variety of sizes and slants and may also be written in an arbitrary direction (not only horizontally).
• Annotations may be based on hardware or user coordinates. If based on hardware coordinates, they will remain fix on the screen even if the window changes, whereas annotations based on user coordinates will move and be scaled according to the current window. Annotations based on user coordinates are, of course, only available on network plots.
• Annotations may be saved in annotation files, labeled "a" to "z". These annotation files may be recalled later whenever needed.
• When a plot is sent directly to the plot file (such as in batch mode or when switch number 1 is on), annotations may be specified at the same time as demarcations.
• The annotation files are stored in external ascii files, named "annot[a-z]". This makes it simple to exchange annotations between different data bases and there is no limit on the length of these annotation files. Since these files contain the annotations using a simple ascii protocol, it is also possible to modify them with a text editor or build them externally. The special annotation file "annot0" always contains the last manual annotation which was not saved.

With all these new possibilities, I am sure that manual annotations will be used for a variety of purposes, such as color legends, additional plot titles, company logos, distance indicators, major street and site names, compass lines -- to name but a few. The approach is even general enough that it might be used to replace demarcations for certain applications.

The new manual plot annotation mode is still activated by the graphic command "m". The following is a summary of the commands available once in annotation mode. Note that these commands are all based on striking a single key when the graphic input cursor is visible (and must not be followed by a <return>):

Key sequence: Action:

a[udlra] Set angle for text writing direction (up, down, left, right, arbitrary). For arbitrary angle "aa", the direction is specified by the two cursor positions. Default direction is towards the right (i.e. horizontal text).

b Draw a line from the end point of the last line back to the starting point of the current line sequence. This command is used to "close" a polygon by connecting its last corner point to the starting point.

c[1-9a-z] Set color index (1=black/white, 2=red, 3=green, 4=blue, 5-9 device dependent). The letters "a" to "z" correspond to color indices 10 to 35. Default color index is 1.

d Start a line drawing sequence. The pointed position defines the first point of the line(s) to be drawn. The following points to be connected are entered by positioning the cursor and pressing a space character (see " " below).

g Go back to the graphic command level.

h Select hardware coordinate mode. Elements defined in hardware coordinate mode will not be sensitive to a change in window. This is the default mode. This command initializes line pattern, color index and text attributes to their default values.

l[1-5] Set line pattern (1=solid, 2=dotted, 3=dot-dash, 4=short dash, 5=long dash). Default line pattern is 1.

s[\|/][1-9] Set text size to one of 9 standard sizes (1 smallest - 9 biggest). The number may be preceded by an optional slant specifier (" "," ","/"). Default is no slant (" ") size 4. The slant specifier may be repeated in order to increase the slant.

t<text> A text is placed at the pointed position. The current size, slant and directions apply. Note that each character is drawn and the cursor then reappears for the next character. Once in text input mode, the pointed location is not important. The text input mode must be terminated by entering a semi-colon ";", otherwise the characters typed will still be considered part of the text.

u Select user coordinate mode. Elements defined in user coordinate mode will follow any change in the network window. This command is only allowed for network plots. This command initializes line pattern, color index and text attributes to their default values.

" " (space) Each point is connected by a straight line to the previous point. The line is drawn using the active line pattern and color index.

>[a-z] Save the following annotations in named annotation file (names "a" to "z" available). This command is only valid if switch 13 is on. Note that the graphic command "P" should not be used right after an annotation has been saved.

<[a-z] Recall the named annotation file.

@ Cancel the current annotations and redo the plot.

. Use the last annotation (only valid as 1st command).