




Figure: The Network Viewer
The Network Viewer (NetView) provides an interactive pseudo-3D view of
the network structure. A default view is associated with each network
object, although networks may have as many additional NetViews as is
necessary. The NetView can be spatially divided into four regions:
Actions, Members, View, and Scale.
The NetView contains the following variables which control some of the
display features of View and Scale Regions:
10.7 NetView Variables
int skew
-
The skew controls the pseudo-3d depth dimension of the NetView's units.
A skew of zero provides no perceived depth (2D). The default is 0.15.
UnitShape shape
-
Controls the shape of the units in the NetView and how their values are
graphically displayed. This is also available as the Disp Md menu
on the right-hand side of the NetView. The possible choices are:
COLOR
-
A rectangular shape filled with a color from the colorscale
corresponding to its value. If the unit's value is less than the minimum
value of the colorscale then it will appear as stippled version of the
minimum color. Similar stippling will occur it is greater than the
maximum value of the colorscale. If the unit contains no value for the
selected member it will be displayed as a stippled version of the View
Region's background color.
AREA
-
LINEAR
-
A rectangular shape filled with a background color corresponding to the
midpoint value of the colorscale and a foreground rectangular spiral shape
of with an area corresponding to the ratio of the unit's value to
maximum range on the scalebar. Unit values above the scalebar's midpoint
have spirals filled with the color of the maximum value of the scalebar,
while units with values less than the scalebar's midpoint have spirals
filled with the color of the minimum value of the scalebar. AREA spirals
scale the size of their area with respect their value/scalebarmax ratio.
LINEAR spirals scale their width and height linearly with respect to
their value/scalebarmax ratio.
FILL
-
FILL is similar to the AREA UnitShape but instead of a centered spiral
area the FILL UnitShape begins covering an area at the bottom of the
Unit and "fills" the unit left to right and bottom to top, covering a
percentage area of the unit equal to the units value/scalebarmax ratio.
DIR_FILL
-
This is similar to FILL except that the unit is divided with a
horizontal line across the middle. Unit values greater than the
midpoint of the colorscale fill the upper half of the unit only, while
values less than the midpoint of the colorscale only fill the lower half
the unit.
THREE_D
-
THREE_D Units utilize the pseudo-3D nature of the View Region to create
a varying rectangular height field perspective of the unit's value. Unit
values greater than the midpoint of the colorscale rise "above" the
3-D plane of the unit and unit values less than the midpoint of the
colorscale sink below the 3-D plane of the unit. The units are colored
in the same was as the COLOR UnitShape.
ROUND
-
Round units have a circular or oval shape and are colored in the same way
as the COLOR UnitShape.
HGT_FIELD
-
Like THREE_D, but each of the four corners of a unit are placed at the
average height computed from the four adjacent units to that corner.
This produces a smoothly-shaped field of height corresponding to average
values of units. The units are colored in the same was as the COLOR
UnitShape.
HGT_PEAKS
-
The same as HGT_FIELD, except that the center of the unit has a peak
that is exactly the height corresponding to the value of the units.
ColorScale* colorspec
-
Controls the color spectrum used by the colorscale.
(see section 6.18 Color Scale Specifications).
float prjn_arrow_size
-
Controls the size of the arrowheads at the end of the projections.
float prjn_arrow_angle
-
Controls the angle (sharpness) of the arrowheads at the end of the
projections. Smaller values = sharper arrowheads.
FontSpec layer_font
-
The X11 specification for the font to use in drawing the
layer names in the View Region
FontSpec unit_font
-
The X11 specification for the font to use in drawing the
unit names and values in the View Region.
Label_Group labels
-
This group contains the arbitrary network labels visible in the View
Region. Labels are usually created and place using the "New Label"
button in the Action Region, however the can also be directly created in
this group. Editing these labels allows the user to change the text or
font of the label, using a standard XWindows font specification string.
NetViewGraph_Group idraw_graphics
-
This group contains the idraw graphics included in the network display
-- the menus Load Graphic and Remove Graphic manipulate these
objects.
UnitTextDisplay unit_text
-
Controls whether or not the unit's names and values are overlayed on top
of the unit. This variable is also accessible directly in the NetView's
Scale Region.
SplitUnitLayout unit_layout
-
Controls how the units are split when multiple members are
selected for display in the Member Region of the NetView.
bool auto_scale
-
Controls whether or not the range of the scale in the
Scale Region automatically adjust to range of values currently on display
in the View Region. This variable is also accessible directly in the
NetView's Scale Region as a toggle box.
FloatGeometry spacing
-
Controls the spacing of the units and layers in the View
Region. Useful values range from "0" to "1.0".
The NetView provides the following functions on its Action Menu:
ResetProjectionPoints()
-
Repositions the projection arrows in the NetView using a highly
sophisticated positioning algorithm. If for some reason the positions
are not quite ideal, the projections may be repositioned using the Move
Mode.
ResetLayerNames()
-
Repositions the Layer Name text in the lower left corner of
the Layer Box for each of the layers in the NetView.
LoadGraphic(File name, float scale)
-
Loads and Idraw image file of name
name
and scales
it by scale
. The image is displayed in background of the the View
Region.
RemoveGraphics()
-
Removes all included graphics.
In addition the NetView provides a Selection menu with two sets of
complementary functions. The Set version of these sets a given
parameter or specification of the objects selected in the NetView. The
Show version selects those objects in the NetView which have a given
parameter or specification. These are very useful for constructing the
network, and providing visual feedback about its state.
Set/ShowUnitSpec(UnitSpec* spec)
-
The unit specification, for units, groups of units, or layers.
Set/ShowConSpec(ConSpec* spec)
-
The Connection specification, for projections.
Set/ShowPrjnSpec(PrjnSpec* spec)
-
The Projection specification, for projections.
Set/ShowPrjnConType(TypeDef* con_type)
-
The type of Connection object to be created by the projection
(
con_type
of Projection).
Set/ShowPrjnConGpType(TypeDef* con_gp_type)
-
The type of Con_Group to be created by the projections
(
con_gp_type
of Projection).
Set/ShowLayerSpec(LayerSpec* spec)
-
The Layer specification, for layers.
Set/ShowLayerUnitType(TypeDef* unit_type)
-
The type of units to be created by the layer (
el_type
of the
layer).




