Adding Cursors to Graphs

Complete the following steps to add a cursor to a graph.

1. Right-click the graph and select Visible Items»Cursor Legend from the shortcut menu.
2. Right-click anywhere in the cursor legend, select Create Cursor, and select a cursor mode from the shortcut menu. The cursor position is defined by the cursor mode. The cursor includes the following modes:
   • Free—Moves the cursor freely within the plot area, regardless of plot positions.
   • Single-Plot—Positions the cursor only on the plot that is associated with the cursor. You can move the cursor along the associated plot. Right-click the cursor legend row and select Snap To from the shortcut menu to associate one or all plots with the cursor.
   • Multi-Plot—Positions the cursor only on a specific data point in the plot area. The multi-plot cursor reports values at the specified x-value for all of the plots with which the cursor is associated. You can position the cursor on any plot in the plot area. Right-click the cursor legend row and select Snap To from the shortcut menu to associate one or all plots with the cursor. This mode is only valid for mixed signal graphs.

Note  You cannot change the mode of a cursor after you create it. You must delete the cursor and create another cursor.

3. Click anywhere in the cursor legend row to select the cursor. Use the Operating tool or the Labeling tool to enter names and coordinates in the cursor legend.
4. Right-click the cursor legend row and select from the following options from the shortcut menu to customize the cursor:
   • Watch—When the cursor mode is Multi-Plot, associates one or more specified plots or all plots with the cursor. The multi-plot cursor reports values at the specified x-value for all of the plots with which the cursor is associated.

     If you initially select individual plots to watch and then select Watch»All Plots instead, the cursor begins to report values for all plots. If you then deselect All Plots, the cursor reports values for the plots you initially selected.

   • Snap To—Locks the cursor to a plot. When the cursor mode is Single-Plot, you can snap the cursor to one or all plots. When the cursor mode is Multi-Plot, Snap To only affects how the cursor moves along the x-axis.

     Note  If no data exists in the plot area, the cursor snaps to only All Plots or the first plot listed in the plot legend. You must have data for more than one plot to snap a cursor to plots other than All Plots or the first plot in the plot legend. For example, you must have three data sets in the plot area before you can snap a cursor to the third plot.

   • X Scale—Sets the x-scale of the cursor. This option is valid only if the cursor mode is Free.
   • Y Scale—Sets the y-scale of the cursor. This option is valid only if the cursor mode is Free.
   • Attributes—Customizes the appearance of each cursor. Attributes includes the following options:
     • Color—Displays the color picker so you can select the color of the cursor.
     • Cursor Style—Provides various cursor styles.
     • Point Style—Provides various point styles for the intersection of the cursor.
     • Line Style—Provides various solid and dotted line styles.
     • Line Width—Provides various line widths.
     • Show Name—Displays the name of the cursor on the graph. Use the Positioning tool to move the name in relation to the cursor.
     • Allow Drag—Allows the mouse to drag the cursor.
   • Bring to Center—Centers the cursor on the graph without changing the x- and y-scales. When the cursor mode is Single-Plot or Multi-Plot, this option centers the cursor on the plot on which the cursor is currently positioned and updates the cursor coordinates in the cursor legend. When the cursor mode is Free, this option centers the cursor in the plot area and updates the cursor coordinates in the cursor legend.
   • Go to Cursor—Changes the x- and y-scales to show the cursor at the center of the graph.

You also can use the Cursor properties to customize a cursor programmatically.