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Graph Copy

The Copy Graph to Clipboard option in TableCurve 2D Graphs offers a variety of methods for copying the current graph or its numeric contents to the clipboard or to file.

Clipboard destination options are as follows:

  • Windows Bitmap to Clipboard
  • Windows Metafile to Clipboard
  • Windows Enhanced Metafile to Clipboard
  • All Numeric Info as Spreadsheet Block to Clipboard

File destination options include:

  • Windows Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) To File
  • Windows Metafile to File in Aldus Placeable Format
  • Windows Enhanced Metafile to File

Controls consist of:

  • Use Color
  • Bounding Frame
  • Preserve Superscripts, Subscripts, and Symbols in Metafiles

The All Numeric Info as Spreadsheet Block to Clipboard is the only option that does not export the graph image. This option copies all of the numeric information used to create the graph to the clipboard in a spreadsheet format. It is easily pasted into Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro Windows, SigmaPlot and many other Windows applications.

All other options export either a bitmap or a metafile. Most Windows word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics software can paste in Windows Bitmaps and Windows Metafiles copied to the clipboard by TableCurve 2D.

Bitmaps

A Windows bitmap is a raster image consisting of pixel-type information. A bitmap will accurately retain the positioning of all elements within the graph and its titles. The main drawback to using a bitmap image is the significant loss of resolution that occurs when the program importing the graph stretches, shrinks, or otherwise scales the image. This is especially true for an aspect ratio that differs significantly from the original image.

You will almost always be successful pasting a clipboard bitmap into an application. Although the Device Independent Bitmap name suggests a similar success in importing these DIB files, Windows applications are not consistent in their handling of DIBs. You may find wide variations in DIB handling even amongst different software applications from a single company. TableCurve 2D always writes the common 8-bit 256 color DIB, even if you are using a different video resolution.

Metafiles

Windows metafiles consist of a series of Windows graphics vector instructions which are intended to reproduce the original image. Windows Metafiles offer superior resolution and scaling, although the program importing the image may have difficulties in properly rendering text elements such as superscripts, subscripts, and symbols in their proper positions.

Metafiles are highly sensitive to the individual applications importing them. If you are unsuccessful in pasting a clipboard metafile image into your software, first check the Windows Clipboard Viewer to insure the image is actually there. If so, and if your software supports WMF file import, you should try importing a disk-based metafile. The Windows Metafile to File in Aldus Placeable Format option produces a disk-based Windows Metafile that is "placeable" and which is based upon the Aldus specification. This is the Windows Metafile format preferred and sometimes required by high-end desktop publishing and drawing software. The default file extension for Metafiles is [.WMF].

You may also wish to try the 32-bit Enhanced Metafile formats if your importing application is a 32-bit Win32 program which supports this new format.

Windows has traditionally offered no intrinsic support for subscripts, superscripts, or changing to a symbol font in the middle of a text string. As such, a title containing formatted text has required multiple text output instructions. When a metafile image is placed and scaled, the software importing the file may not preserve the proper character spacing across the separate text segments. If this occurs, try initially placing the image in the aspect ratio of your video display. If this fails, you should uncheck the Preserve Superscripts, Subscripts, and Symbols in Metafiles box.

Color and Bounding Frame

To copy the graph as a Page-White image, simply uncheck the Use Color item. When the Bounding Frame box is checked, there will be a thin-box at the boundaries of the image.