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NAME

PostScript::Graph::Key - a Key area for PostScript::Graph::Paper

SYNOPSIS

    use PostScript::File;
    use PostScript::Graph::Key;
    use PostScript::Graph::Paper;
    

Typical

A Key panel is drawn to the right of its associated graph. The area needed for the Key panel must be calculated before the graph Paper can be drawn in the remaining space.

    my $ps = new PostScript::File;
    my @bbox = $psf->get_page_bounding_box();

    # Calculate variables from the graph data
    # planned layout and available space ...
    
    my $gk = new PostScript::Graph::Key(
                num_items   => ... ,
                max_height  => ... ,
                text_width  => ... ,
                icon_width  => ... ,
                icon_height => ... ,
            );

    # Need to pass this to GraphPaper
    my $width = $pgk->width();

    my $gp = new PostScript::Graph::Paper(
                file => $ps,
                chart => {
                    key_width => $width,
                },
            );

    # Now we can link the two
    $gk->build_key( $gp );

    foreach $line (@lines) {
        ... draw line on graph_paper ...

        $gk->add_key_item( $title, <<END );
            ... postscript code 
            ... drawing icon
    END
    }

All options

    my $gp = new PostScript::Graph::Key(
        file => $ps_file,
        graph_paper => $ps_gpaper,
        max_height => 500,
        num_items => 5,
        background => 0.9,
        outline_color => [0.5, 0.5, 0.2],
        outline_wdith => 0.8,
        spacing => 4,
        horz_spacing => 4,
        vert_spacing => 6,
        icon_height => 12,
        icon_width => 40,
        text_width => 72,
        text_font => {
            size => 10,
            color => 0,
            font => 'Courier',
        },
        title => 'My Key',
        title_font => {
            color => [1, 0, 0],
            font => 'Times-Bold',
            size => 14,
        },
    };

DESCRIPTION

This module is designed as a supporting part of the PostScript::Graph suite. For top level modules that output something useful, see

    PostScript::Graph::Bar
    PostScript::Graph::Stock
    PostScript::Graph::XY

A companion object to PostScript::Graph::Paper, this is used by any module that requies a Key for a graph. The size and shape is automatically adjusted to accomodate the number of items in the space available, adding more columns if there is not enough vertical space. The textual description now wraps onto multiple lines if needed.

The opportunity is provided to draw an icon with each key item using the same code and style as is used on the graph. This is accomplished in distinct phases.

  • The total space available is typically obtained from PostScript::File, but must be known so that PostScript::Graph::Key and PostScript::Graph::Paper can divide it between them.

  • All the graph lines must exist before the graph is drawn. PostScript::Graph::Paper needs to calculate the axes and suggest the height available for the Key which will be placed to the right of the graph.

  • The PostScript::Graph::Key constructor calculates the outer box dimensions from the items required and the space available. In particular the number of text rows per item must be worked out and how many columns will be needed.

  • The key width can then be passed to the PostScript::Graph::Paper constructor, which works out the space available for the graph and usually draws the background grid.

  • build_key can then be called to draw the outer box and heading next to the grid.

  • For each graph line, the line can be drawn on the paper and its icons drawn in the key box at the same time, using the same PostScript::Graph::Style settings.

CONSTRUCTOR

new( [options] )

options should be either a list of hash keys and values or a hash reference. Unlike other objects in this series, a couple of these (max_height and num_items) are required. Another difference is that all options occur within a flat space - there are no sub-groups. This is because it is expected that this module will only be used as part of another Chart object, with these options passed as a group through that constructor.

All values are in PostScript native units (1/72 inch).

If num_items is an integer, the textual description will have one line per item. Where long descriptions are needed, item_labels can be given instead. It should refer to a list of the strings to be placed next to each key icon. The constructor calculates the number of rows needed when this text is wrapped within text_width. The text is only actually wrapped when add_key_item is called.

background

Background colour for the key rectangle. (Default: 1)

file

If graph_paper is not given, this probably should be. It is the PostScript::File object that holds the graph being constructed. It is possible to specify this later, when calling add_key_item. (No default)

glyph_ratio

A kludge provided to fine-tune how well the text labels fit into the box. It is not possible to get the actual width of proportional font strings from PostScript, so this gives the opportunity to guess an 'average width' for particular fonts. (Default: 0.5)

graph_paper

If given, this should be a PostScript::Graph::Paper object. A GraphKey needs to know which GraphPaper has allocated space for it. But the GraphPaper need the GraphKey to have already worked out how much space it needs. The best solution is to create the GraphKey before the GraphPaper, then pass the latter to build_chart. (No default)

horizontal_spacing

The gaps between edges, icon and text. (Defaults to spacing)

icon_height

Vertical space for each icon. This will never be smaller than the height of the text. (Defaults to text_size)

icon_width

Amount of horizontal space to allow for the icon to the left of each label. (Defaults to text_size)

item_labels

As an alternative to specifying the number of items (which must be single lines of text), this takes an array ref pointing to a list of all the key labels that will later be added. The same wrapping algorithm is applied to both. The box dimensions are calculated from these, but the actual text printed should be passed seperately to add_key_item.

max_height

The vertical space available for the key rectangle. GraphKey tries to fit as many items as possible within this before adding another column. Required - there is no default.

num_items

The number of items that will be placed in the key. Required unless item_labels is given.

outline_color

Colour of the box's outline. (Default: 0)

outline_width

Width of the box's outline. (Default: 0.75)

spacing

A larger value gives a less crowded feel, reduce it if you are short of space. Think printing leading. (Default: 4)

text_color

Colour of the text used in the body of the key. (Default: 0)

text_font

Font used for the key body text. (Default: "Helvetica")

text_size

Size of the font used for the key body text. (Default: 10)

text_width

Amount of room allowed for the text label on each key item. (Defaults to four times the font size)

title

The heading at the top of the key rectangle. (Default: "Key")

title_color

Colour of the key heading. (Default: 0)

title_font

The font used for the heading. (Default: "Helvetica-Bold")

title_size

Size of the font used for the heading. (Default: 12)

vertical_spacing

The gap between key items. (Defaults to spacing)

OBJECT METHODS

width()

Return the width required for the key rectangle.

height()

Return the height required for the key rectangle.

build_key( [graph_paper] )

This is where the position of the key area is fixed and the outline and heading are drawn. It must be called before add_key_item.

add_key_item( label, code [, psfile] )

label

The text for this key item

code

Postscript code which draws the icon.

psfile

The PostScript::File object the code will be written to. If it was not given to new as either file or graph_paper, it must be given here.

A number of postscript variables are provided to help with the drawing. See <L/POSTSCRIPT CODE> for the full list.

    kix0    left edge of icon area
    kiy0    bottom edge
    kix1    right edge
    kiy1    top edge

Your code should use its own dictionary and can refer to dictionaries you have begun but not yet ended at this point. For example, here is the code used by PostScript::Graph::XY. It calculates the mid point of a diagonal line and draws it using the same functions used for the main chart. line_outer etc. are provided by PostScript::Graph::Style to change style settings, draw1point just expects 'x y' and drawxyline expects an array of coordinates followed by the greatest index allowed.

        $graphkey->add_key_item( $line->{ytitle}, 
                                 <<END_KEY_ITEM );
            2 dict begin
                /kpx kix0 kix1 add 2 div def
                /kpy kiy0 kiy1 add 2 div def
                point_outer 
                kpx kpy draw1point
                [ kix0 kiy0 kix1 kiy1 ] 3  
                2 copy 
                line_outer drawxyline 
                line_inner drawxyline
                point_inner 
                kpx kpy draw1point
            end
    END_KEY_ITEM

ps_functions( ps )

Normally, this is called in build_key, but is provided as a class function so the dictionary may be still available even when a Key object is not required.

POSTSCRIPT CODE

None of the postscript functions defined in this module would have application outside it. However, the following variables are defined within the graphkeydict dictionary and may be of some use.

    kix0        left edge of icon area
    kiy0        bottom edge
    kix1        right edge
    kiy1        top edge
    kvspc       vertical spacing
    khspc       horizontal spacing
    kdxicon     width of icon area
    kdyicon     height of icon area
    kdxtext     width of text area
    kdytext     height of text area
    kfont       font used for text
    ksize       font size used
    kcol        colour of font used

BUGS

Too much space is allocated to wrapped text if accompanied by a large icon.

AUTHOR

Chris Willmot, chris@willmot.org.uk

SEE ALSO

PostScript::File, PostScript::Graph::Style and PostScript::Graph::Paper for the other modules in this suite.

PostScript::Graph::Bar, PostScript::Graph::XY and Finance::Shares::Chart for modules that use this one.