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Plot Basics

The NeXtMidas PLOT command plots the following types of files:

  • Midas Blue Files - Types 1000, 1999, 2000, 3000, 5000, 5010
  • Graphical Images - gif, tif, jpg, png, etc.
  • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Images
  • Shape files (*.shp)
  • KML files (*.kml)

The single NeXtMidas command PLOT does the same thing as all these X-Midas commands combined: xplot, xrtplot, xraster, xrtraster and xgeoplot! PLOT identifies the file type of the first file and applies the appropriate plot type. The type can be overridden with the type= modifier.

The following sections detail a few caveats associated with the NeXtMidas PLOT command.

Stacking Order

By default, layers (or files) are stacked the way they are entered on the command line (first is on the bottom). If Backing Store is used for a layer, that layer(s) is drawn first.

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Using Features

See the FEATURE explain file.

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Backing Store

Backing store is a mechanism where static layers are drawn without recomputation.

  • When-to-use:
    Use Backing-store when there are static layers with non-static layers on top. Enabling Backing-store uses more memory and you do not see the static (Backing-stored layer) draw. However, the static layer does not have to be redrawn every time.
  • How-to-Use:
    Backing-store is disabled by default, except for LayerPoly (Midas Type 1999) and LayerShape (*.shp) files. Individual layers may have backing-store enabled but it is not be used unless it is turned on at the plot level via the /ALL switch or OPTION= modifier.
  • Default Layer Enabling:
    As mentioned above, individual layers may have backing-store enabled but it is not used unless it is turned on at the plot level. Most layers are candidates for backing-store except for:
    • All Real-Time Layers - Pipe input or forced at the command line.
    • LayerGeo - Draws Geodetic (TDOA/FDOA) lines from state vector data.
    • LayerT5 - Enabled because names and symbols, which often act like features, are frequently drawn.

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Macro Interface

PLOT (and many NeXtMidas primitives) handle events and send messages to the macro in response to these events. For instance, when the LMB is clicked in a PLOT a MARK message is sent to the macro. See the PLOT explain file for a complete list of messages.

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