Modifying Legend Display Options

You can determine the range of values displayed in a contour or symbol plot, the number of intervals, and the color coding used in the plot. Current options are reflected in the plot legend.

Before you begin: You must have a contour, isocontour, or symbol plot displayed before you can modify the legend options.
  1. Double-click the plot legend.

    The Legend Options editor appears.
  2. To set limits on the maximum and minimum values in the color coding legend, enter a value in the Max and Min boxes.
    The color coding of the contour or symbol plot changes according to the new maximum and minimum values.

    The imposed limits are always displayed at the bottom of the color coding legend, and actual result value ranges are displayed at the top of the legend. A marker appears on the legend depending on whether the imposed maximum or minimum limits are greater or less than the actual maximum or minimum values:

    • If the imposed maximum limit is less than the actual maximum value, the imposed maximum limit is indicated by a marker at the bottom of the color coding legend; a similar marker is used if the imposed minimum limit is greater than the actual minimum value:

      In this example all values greater than the imposed maximum are colored in red; all values less than the imposed minimum are colored in blue.
    • If the imposed maximum limit is greater than the actual maximum value, the actual maximum value is indicated by a marker on the top of the color coding legend; a similar marker is used if the imposed minimum limit is less than the actual minimum value:

  3. To modify the numerical format used for result values, select one of the following options in the Format list:
    OptionDescription
    Automatic Expresses very large and very small values in scientific format, and expresses all other values with no exponent and using the specified number of significant digits.
    ScientificExpresses all values as a number between 1 and 10 that is multiplied by an appropriate power of 10.
    DecimalExpresses all values with no exponent and using the specified number of significant digits.
    DefaultUses the default dimension display that is defined in Me > Preferences > General > Parameters and Measure > Units.
  4. To modify the number of significant digits shown for result values, enter a value in the Number of digits box.
  5. To control whether contours are represented by continuous or discrete colors, select either Linear or Discrete from the Type list.

    If you request a contour of discrete colors, you must specify the number of color intervals you want to display.

  6. To modify the number of colors used in the legend, enter a value in the Number of intervals box.
    Example of a legend with ten intervals:

    Example of a legend with three intervals:

  7. To view layers of equal contour value, select the Iso-contours check box.
    The contour plot is divided into colored layers for each of the intervals. Each layer contains points with the same result value.
  8. To control the color of values that are above or below the plot limits, select Use out of range colors and select the Above maximum and Below minimum color swatches.
  9. To modify the distribution of values across the color range, select the Smooth colors check box.
    Smoothed colors:

    Nonsmoothed colors:

  10. To reverse the color order in the legend, select the Reverse colors check box.

    By default, the colors vary from blue (for the minimum value) to red (for the maximum value):

    Example of reversed colors:

  11. To change the orientation of the legend, select either Vertical or Horizontal from the Legend Orientation list.
  12. To restore the Max or Min values to their original defaults, click next to the appropriate box.
  13. To restore all legend options to their defaults, click Defaults.
  14. Click Close to exit the editor.