Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

2.5.9.2: Line Types

  • Page ID
    425597
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    (b) Line types

    The line types used on a graph may be controlled if the defaults are not satisfactory. Typically one does not connect data points with a line. Point plots using various symbols may be selected directly in the plot command. For example,

    plot(X,Y,'x')

    draws a point plot using x-mark symbols while

    plot(X1,Y1,':',X2,Y2,'+')

    uses a dotted line for the first curve and the plus symbol + for the second curve. Create vectors X1, Y1, X2 and Y2 and try this! Other line and point types are:

    Line Type  Point Type
    solid - point .
    dashed -- plus +
    imag imaginary part
    dotted : star *
    dashdot -. circle o
      x-mark x

    Alternatively, the line type can be modified from within the Properties Editor window after the plot command is issued. Working with the graph above, with the Properties Editor window open, first select the arrow tool sshot-7. Then click once somewhere on the actual data points. The data set will be highlighted and the Properties Editor window will change to display line properties. Under the Line menu select no line, and choose a marker from the Marker menu.

    Screen Shot 2022-03-10 at 11.25.50 AM.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Line Editor.

    Your graph will change accordingly. Finally, selecting More Properties from the Property Editor opens an additional options box.

    Screen Shot 2022-03-10 at 11.26.36 AM.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Property Inspector.

    This page titled 2.5.9.2: Line Types is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kathryn Haas.

    • Was this article helpful?