McIDAS User's Guide
Version 2010.1

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MFPLOT

Plots a frequency distribution of MD file data.


Format

MFPLOT parm file [keywords] "label


Parameters

parm

MD file data key to plot; see the Remarks

file

MD file number (default=current)

"label

text label for the distribution plot; the double quote is mandatory (default=DISTRIBUTION)


Keywords

conditions

conditions to meet when searching for a record to plot; use any or all of the options below

 

ROW=

min max

range of row numbers (default=all rows)

 

COL=

min max

range of column numbers (default=all columns)

 

schema key=

min max units

range and units of other schema keys used to limit the search

COLOR=

graphics color level of the plotted data (default=3)

LENGTH=

length of each class interval, in parm's units; see the Remarks

NUMBER=

number of class intervals; see the Remarks (default=10)

XDIVIDE=

majr minr

number of major and minor divisions for the x-axis (default=10 5)

XRANGE=

min max

range of parm's values for the x-axis; see the Remarks (default=from search conditions)

YDIVIDE=

majr minr

number of major and minor divisions for the y-axis (default=10 5)

YRANGE=

min max

range of occurrences of parm's values for the y-axis (default=computed based on the number of matches in the MD file)


Remarks

MFPLOT plots a frequency distribution of any key in the file. Use the MDL KEYS=LIST command to list the valid keys.

Specify the program keywords COLOR, LENGTH, NUMBER, XDIVIDE, XRANGE, YDIVIDE and YRANGE using the entire keyword name to avoid confusing them with keywords entered as schema search conditions.

If parm is used as a search condition keyword, the data is plotted in its specified units, and its minimum and maximum values are the defaults for keyword XRANGE. Otherwise, the units for the plot are the schema's default for parm, and the defaults for keyword XRANGE are parm's low and high values among all matching records.

Do not specify both the NUMBER and LENGTH keywords. If one is specified, the other is automatically calculated using these formulas:

NUMBER=(max-min)/LENGTH

LENGTH=(max-min)/NUMBER

Max and min are from the keyword XRANGE. For example, if the x-axis range is from 250 K to 300 K and NUMBER=10, then LENGTH=5 (each class interval includes 5 K). If LENGTH=2, then NUMBER=25.

Keywords XDIVIDE and YDIVIDE define the number of major and minor divisions on the graph. Minor defines the number of subdivisions for each major segment. Labels are placed at each major division.


Examples

MFPLOT T 5 TIME=12 "World Temperatures at 12 UTC

This entry plots a frequency distribution of 12 UTC temperatures in MD file 5. The data is plotted in the default units with the minimum and maximum values along the x-axis set to the low and high values among all matching records. The title World Temperatures at 12 UTC appears at the top of the plot.

MFPLOT SPD 2131 LENGTH=1 YDIVIDE=30 2 SPD=10 60 KT

This entry plots a frequency distribution of wind speeds between 10 and 60 knots in MD file 2131. The length of each class interval is 1 knot; the y-axis has 30 major divisions, each with 2 minor divisions.

MFPLOT P 19 XRANGE=100 300 MB LEV=TRO1 TIME=0 NUMBER=20 "Tropopause Heights

This entry plots a frequency distribution of 0 UTC tropopause heights between 100 and 300 mb in MD file 19. The length of each class interval is 10 mb.

MFPLOT TD 7 ROW=1 12 COL=1100 1600 COLOR=6

This entry plots a frequency distribution of dew point temperatures in graphics color level 6 using the data in rows 1 through 12 and columns 1100 through 1600 in MD file 7.


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