% @(#)plot_axes.hlq	19.1 (ESO-IPG) 02/25/03 14:03:34 
%++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
%.COPYRIGHT  (c)  1990 European Southern Observatory
%.IDENT      plot_axes.hlq
%.AUTHOR     RHW, IPG/ESO
%.KEYWORDS   MIDAS, help files, PLOT/AXES
%.PURPOSE    On-line help file for the command: PLOT/AXES
%.VERSION    1.0  21-sep-1990 : Creation, RHW
%----------------------------------------------------------------
\se
SECTION./AXES
\es\co
PLOT/AXES                                                       21-sep-1990 RHW
\oc\su
PLOT/AXES [x_axis_spec] [y_axis_spec] [x_sc,y_sc[,x_off,y_off]] [x_lab] [y_lab] 
	plot a coordinate box with large and small tickmarks and labels
PLOT/AXES [coord_str] [x_lab] [y_lab]
	plot a coordinate box around a displayed frame 
\us\pu
Purpose:  
          Plot a coordinate box with large and small tickmarks
\up\sy
Syntax:   
          PLOT/AXES [x_axis_spec] [y_axis_spec] [x_sc,y_sc[,x_off,y_off]] 
                    [x_lab] [y_lab] 
          PLOT/AXES [coord_str] [x_lab] [y_lab]
\ys\pa
          x_axis_spec = x-axis specification: start value, end value, distance
                        between the big tickmarks, distance between the small
                        tickmarks. The start value can be smaller than the 
                        end_value. If distance between small tickmarks is less 
                        than 0, a logarithmic axis will be plotted, running 
                        from 10**start_value to 10**end_value. At least the 
                        start and end values should be given. If large tickmark
                        distance fails a (hopefully) sensible default will be 
                        used. If small tickmark distance fails no small 
                        tickmarks will be plotted. Default: use the manual 
                        setting (by the SET/GRAPHICS command); if not present, 
                        the default is a linear axis from 0.0 to 1.0.
\ap\pa
          y_axis_spec = specfication for the y-axis; see above.
\ap\pa
          coord_str =   area in the displayed frame in the standard MIDAS
                        notation. This option only works on workstations, 
                        if the display window has been assigned as the plot 
                        device and a frame has been loaded!
                        The default is a frame box around the whole frame.
\ap\pa
          x_sc,y_sc,x_off,y_off = \\ scale or size in the x- and y-direction, 
                        offset in the x- and y-direction. For the scaling x_sc 
                        and y-sc, positive numbers are interpreted as scale 
                        parameters (world units/mm), negative numbers as size 
                        parameters (axis will be made sc_* mm. long). A 
                        combination of a positive and negative number is 
                        allowed. By default the plot fills the device area.\\
                        x_off and y_off determine the distance of the lower
                        left corner of the plot to the lower left corner of the
                        graphic device, measured in mm. By default, the plot
                        is put at the top left of the graphic device, allowing 
                        space for the various labels.
\ap\pa
          x_lab =       label for the x-axis. By default no label is plotted.
\ap\pa
          y_lab =       label for the y-axis; By default no label is plotted.
\ap\no
Note:     
          The command can obtain its input either from the manual settings 
          by the SET/GRAP command, or from input on the command line. 
          In case a manual setting for one or both axis is used and the large
          tickmark distance fails, no large tickmarks will be drawn (only the 
          start and end positions of the axis). In case of automatic plotting 
          the command tries to find (hopefully) sensible positions for the 
          large tick marks. Similar behaviour can be found for all other plot
          commands. 
\\
          The command can draw axes on all graphic output devices, including
          the display window in workstations. Depending on the assigned graphic
          device (with ASSIGN/GRAPHICS) the command decides in which mode it 
          will run. 
\\
          If the assigned output graphics device is the display window AND if 
          the first input parameter is given as a MIDAS coordinate string 
          (i.e. starting with `[') the command will run in the second mode 
          (see below) and will be drawn around the LOADED frame. If 
          (part of) the frame comes close to display window boundary part of 
          the coordinate frame will fall outside the window. In that case one 
          can either center the frame, or give a somewhat smaller area to 
          draw the coordinates around.
\\
	  When overplotting on the display window as described above, the
 	  command checks the descriptors to see the start and and step
          descriptors refer to RA and DEC, both in degrees. In the case the 
          format of the x-axis ticks is set to sexagesimal notation 
          (SET/GRAPH XFORMAT=HU, see SET/GRAPH), the input x-coordinates 
          are assumed to be in degrees and will divided by 15.0 to reflect
          hours, minutes, and (time)seconds.
\\
          NOTE, in case the first parameter is not a MIDAS coordinate string
          the command will always run in the first mode, independent which
          window has been assigned. In case the output graphics device is 
          the graphics window, or a hardcopy device the command will always 
          run in the first mode.
\\
\on\see
See also: 
          ASSIGN/GRAPHICS, SET/GRAPHICS, SHOW/GRAPHICS, OVERPLOT/AXES
\ees\exs
Examples:
\ex
          PLOT/AXES 0,100,25,5 1,3,1,-1 0.8,0.1,25,10 "V_Hel" "Flux"
          Plot a box with a linear scale in the x and a logarithmic one in
          the y direction; use the default scales in both x and y direction.
          The box will be put 150 mm from the left border of the graphics 
          device
\xe\ex
          LOAD/IMAGE spiral
          Load a frame
\xe\ex
          ASSIGN/GRAPHICS display
          Assign the display window as the graphics device
\xe\ex
          PLOT/AXES
          Since the display window is the assigned graphic device the command
          will try to draw a box around the displayed frame.
\xe\ex
          PLOT/AXES [@10,@10:@210,@305] "Right Ascension" "Declination"
          Plot a coordinate frame around the displayed frame.
\xe\ex
          PLOT/AXES 0,1,.25,.5 0,1 0,0,30,50 ? ? 
          A frame will be drawn on the display window with an offset of 30 mm
          in x and 50 mm in y with respect to the graphic device origin (in
          this case the display window). 
\xe \sxe
