Add, Combine, and Change Graphs

In Grapher, a Graph is an object that contains the plots, axes, legends, summation plots, and other items used to display data as any of the plot types. Plots are the lines, symbols, or bars that display the data on the graph. Plots can be added to a graph with the Graph Tools | Add to Graph | Plot command or can be moved between graphs in the Object Manager.

Add a Plot to an Existing Graph

To add a plot to an existing graph:

Click on the existing plot, axis, or graph in the Object Manager to select it.
Click the Graph Tools | Add to Graph | Plot command.
Select the plot type and click OK.
Set the axes to use for the new plot, if required, and click OK.
Select the worksheet to use for the new plot, if required, and click Open.
The new plot is added to the existing graph.

Drag a Plot from One Graph to Another

To drag a plot from one graph to another:

Click on a plot in the Object Manager.
Hold down the left mouse button and drag the plot to a different graph object.
Release the mouse button.
If multiple axes exist in the new graph, select the Graph, X Axis, and Y Axis in the dialog and click OK.
The plot is moved to the new graph and is drawn using the selected axes. The old graph still exists, but can be deleted if desired.

Note: dragging plots between 2D and 3D graphs is not supported.

Copy a Plot from One Plot Window to Another

To copy a plot from one plot window to another:

Open a .GRF, .GPJ, or .GRT file.
Click on a plot in the Object Manager.
Click the Home | Clipboard | Copy command.
Open another .GRF, .GPJ, or .GRT file.
Click the Home | Clipboard | Paste command.
In the Choose Axes dialog, select the appropriate Graph, X Axis, and Y Axis. Click OK.
The plot is copied to the new plot window in the appropriate graph.

Change a plot to a different type of graph

You can modify plots and graphs to different types even after they are created. Use the Graph Tools | Convert | Plot Type command to change from one plot type to another. Use the Graph Tools | Convert | Graph to 2D/3D command to change from one graph type to another.

Graph Tools | Convert | Plot Type

Select your plot in the Object Manager or Plot Window. Then click the Graph Tools | Convert | Plot Type drop down and select the type of plot you want to convert your selection to. Below you can see the steps to convert a Line plot to a Scatter plot.

Select your line plot in the Object Manager or Plot Window.
Click the Graph Tools | Convert | Plot Type | Scattercommand. The line plot changes to a scatter plot.

Graph Tools | Convert | Graph to 2D/3D

The Graph Tools | Convert | Graph to 2D/3D command can be used to convert a 2D graph to a 3D graph, or vice versa, when the entire graph is selected. You can convert from a 3D XYZ graph to a 2D graph or between 2D XY graph and 3D XY graph types. However, you cannot convert a 2D graph into a 3D XYZ graph. If a 2D graph is selected when Graph to 2D/3D is clicked, the graph will convert to a 3D XY graph.

Notes:

Some plot types, such as radar plots and pie charts, cannot be moved between plots.
When more than one axis of any type exists on the graph, a dialog appears where you specify which axes to use.
The order of the objects in your Object Manager matches their stacking order in the plot window from top to bottom.
2D plots can be moved to 3D plots, but the plot does not become a 3D plot. If you want to move a 2D plot to a 3D plot, first convert the 2D plot to a 3D plot using the Graph Tools | Convert | Graph to 2D/3D command . Then, drag and drop the 3D plot into the other 3D graph.
A 3D plot can be moved to a 2D graph. The 3D plot becomes a 2D plot.
An XYZ plot can be moved to a 2D or 3D graph. If you drag a XYZ plot to a 2D graph, only two dimensions are displayed. If you drag a XYZ plot to a 3D graph, Grapher automatically adds a new Z axis.