topic Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs in Discussions

Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

scott1588 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:01:30 GMT

I'm trying some experiments to figure out how to draw lines and arrows on a graph in JSL. There is not much that has helped me in the Scripting Guide and I didn't see anything previously posted in the community. I have uploaded my JSL script and data table below.

In the data table, I have calculated the coordinates for a unit circle at 5 degree intervals. I plotted these with Graph Builder...

Initially, what I would like to do is script an arrow from the origin to each point. Here is the script I am using. I don't get any errors when I run it but it never draws the arrows. I have tried putting the FOR loop within the Graph Builder block as shown here and also outside the block. I can't seem to get either to work.

Names Default To Here (1);

dt = "Circle Arrow Data";


Graph Builder(
	Size( 540, 540 ),
	Graph Spacing( 10 ),
	Spacing Borders( 1 ),
	Variables( X( :x coord ), Y( :y coord ) ),
	Elements( Points( X, Y, Legend( 3 ) ) ),
	For( i=0, i<360, i+=5,
		Arrow( {0,:x coord[i]}, {0, :y coord[i]})
	)
);

Ultimately, my goal is to only have the arrows appear when a row or rows are selected but obviously I need to get this working first. This is really about showing wind direction on a graph but I'm taking baby steps in understanding how to draw on graphs.

Thanks in advance for any guidance provided.

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

hogi — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:54:22 GMT

excellent timing : )

new in JMP19:


New Column( "x_0",	Formula( 0 ));
New Column( "y_0",	Formula( 0 ));

Graph Builder(
	Variables( X( :x_0 ), X( :x coord, Position( 1 ) ), Y( :x_0 ), Y( :y coord, Position( 1 ) ) ),
	Elements(
		Line(
			X( 1 ),	X( 2 ),
			Y( 1 ),	Y( 2 ),
			Ordering( "Within Row" ),
			Connection( "Arrow" )
		)
	)
);

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

scott1588 — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:29:28 GMT

Hey @hogi thanks for the script. It works great.

I'm trying to understand it though... so a couple of questions.

1) What does the Position parameter do?

2) Where do the 1 and 2 come from in the X and Y arguments?

3) What does the Ordering ("Within Row") do?

There seems to be very incomplete documentation on these functions in the scripting help and scripting index.

Again, thanks.

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

hogi — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 03:51:03 GMT

I agree, the scripting index isn't as good as the ones in other programs like Mathematica or Matlab, or the huge online documentation for Python and C++.There are some activities to improve the situation:

On the other hand, there are many things you can learn by doing. Just open Graph Builder and create your graph using the drag-and-drop feature. It just takes some seconds - and optimizing the plot takes another few seconds. Then "Save Script to data table" and compare what you did with what you find in the code.

(view in My Videos)

row order is a new feature in JMP19. It can be used when sets of coordinates are used for X & Y.
and it's the new default option for this case
[notice: the graph doesn't change when I activate the option]
let's drag the coordinates into the plot, first x_0 and y_0
```
Variables( X( :x_0 ), Y( :y_0 ) ),
```
then x_coord / y_coord
Variables( X( :x_0 ), X( :x coord, Position( 1 ) ), Y( :x_0 ), Y( :y coord, Position( 1 ) ) )
now, we just have to activate the line plot. By default, it uses all available coordinated:
X(1) is x_0
X(2) is x_coord
```
	Elements(
		Line(
			X( 1 ),	X( 2 ),
			Y( 1 ),	Y( 2 ),
		)
	)
```
we can also deactivate variables via:

Then the code will reduce to:
```
	Elements(
		Line( X( 1 ), Y( 1 ),
```

Plots with lines and arrows connecting multiple coordinates: A great improvement in JMP19.

Plots with lines and arrows connecting multiple coordinates. A great improvement in JMP19!

Just imagine that instead of arrows, you want to plot three sets of coordinates (points) within the same plot. Then you have to add three point plots to the graph and disable the 'other' coordinates three times. It works, but it's messy!

Just imagine if you wanted to plot ten sets of coordinates!
A logical next step would be to copy the new 'within row' functionality to point plots.

I really hope this feature gets implemented soon!

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

scott1588 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:05:22 GMT

So the 1 and 2 arguments in the X and Y functions are just the order in which they are listed in the variables function? Am I understanding this correctly?

Then what does the Position(1) do in the Variables function? It would seem like this would make the :x coord and y: coord 1 not the x_0 y_0.

Sorry. This is just a bit confusing for me.

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

scott1588 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:17:59 GMT

Ahhh... So I took the position(1) out and ran the script. This is what I got...

So the way the variables are added would result in four separate graphs. The Position command selects which of the graphs to display.

I think that's right...

I'll play around with this some more. This would make a great tutorial video at some point,

Thanks for all your help on this

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

hogi — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:31:44 GMT

: )
As promised, it's really easy to learn from the scripts "by doing"!

Besides that, there's a good chance that this way the learning will stick much better.

Yes, you can add the Position(1) also to the first entry. But that's the default.
So, without the Position(1) for the second argument [to force the value to be added to the first "subplot"] it would be Position(2):)

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

scott1588 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:34:38 GMT

Yes. I agree. But sometimes its still difficult to understand what is going on.

For example, I replaced Position(1) with Position(2) thinking it would show a different quadrant of the graph. But... it did nothing. So the 1 in Position(1) is likely a boolean.

I can find nothing on any of this either on line or in the scripting index or the online help. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place.

At any rate, thanks again.

Re: Problems with drawing lines and arrows on graphs

hogi — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:03:41 GMT

Instead of trying to write the code and checking how it works ...

Try the inverse approach:

After creating a complicated plot in Graph Builder, inspect the code and draw conclusions:

Names Default to Here(1);
dt = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp" );
Graph Builder(
	Variables(
		X( :height ),
		Y( :name ),
		Y( :weight ),
		Y( :height, Position( 2 ) ),
		Y( :age ),
		Overlay( :sex )
	),
	Elements( Position( 1, 1 ), Points( X, Y ) ),
	Elements(
		Position( 1, 2 ),
		Points( X, Y( 1 ), Y( 2 ), Legend( 1 ) ),
		Smoother( X, Y( 1 ), Y( 2 ), Legend( 2 ) )
	),
	Elements( Position( 1, 3 ), Points( X, Y ) )
);

if there are just 2 items, there is no difference between adding a second entry - and adding a second entry as second.
Position(2) makes sense for three and more items. By default, the third item is added as third. If you want to do something else, you can add it at position(2).