Automatic Offset Options

The Automatic Offset settings are offered in many 2-dimensional maps and diagrams which offer detailed legends or symbols which might suffer the problem of overcrowding. They provide a means of "smart" offset by the program to prevent overplotting.

Plot Lines Connecting Offset Diagrams to Sample Locations: Check this option for a line to be drawn from the offset diagram's new midpoint to the original position.
- Line Style: Click here to select the color and thickness of the connector line.
- Plot Arrowhead Pointing to Sample Location: If checked, an arrowhead will be plotted at the end of the line (the endpoint at the original position).
  - Fill Arrowhead with Line Color: If checked, the arrowhead will be plotted as a solid triangle color that is filled with the same color as that specified for the Line Style. If unchecked, the arrowhead will be plotted as two lines along the outer limbs of the triangle.
  - Filled (Left) versus Unfilled (Right)
  - Arrowhead Size: Enter the size for the arrowhead, as a percent of the project size.
- Plot Symbol: This option will plot a symbol at the line endpoint (i.e. the original, pre-offset, midpoint of the sample).
  - Symbol & Color: This controls the symbol type (e.g. circle, rectangle, etc.) and the color of the symbol.
  - Symbol Size: The size of the symbol as a percentage of the project diagonal (the distance from the SW corner to the NE corner).
  - Symbol Line Thickness: The thickness (in pixels) of the line segments that make up the symbol.
- Line & Symbol Plotting Order: These settings will determine if the connecting line will be plotted before (below) or after (above) the diagram is plotted.
  - Plot Line Below Diagram: This setting will plot the line before the diagram is plotted. As a consequence, the diagram may completely cover the line in which case it will not be possible to determine the offset of the diagram relative to it's original, pre-auto-offset position.
  - Plot Line Above Diagram: This setting will plot the line after the diagram has been plotted.
- Omit Lines & Symbols If Offset less than Cutoff Distance: This option will omit offset lines, symbols, and perimiter borders if the offset falls below a designated threshold distance. This may be desirable for eliminating offsets that are negligible.
  - Cutoff Distance: The distance as a percentage of the project diagonal (the distance from the SW corner to the NE corner) below which the connecting lines, symbols, and perimeters will not be plotted.
Plot Border Around Offset Diagrams: This provides another means for highlighting diagrams that have been offset.
- Line Style: This defines the color, thickness, and style (e.g. dashed) for the border that will be plotted around the diagram.

2D Map Options Overview

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