5 Graph Description Language (GDL) - Absint

3.3 Navigating Through a Graph
There are several different ways to navigate through a graph.
3.3.1 Keys
The easiest way to explore a graph is by using the arrow keys. The display window is moved 256
pixels in the corresponding direction. Scrolling corresponds to the menu items listed below. They
are located in the Scroll submenu of the Position menu.
Scrolling direction Key Menu item
↑
Scroll upwards ↑ UUp
←
↓
→
Scroll to the left
Scroll to the right
Scroll downwards
←
→
↓
LLeft
RRight
DDown
Go to origin (0,0) o Origin
The o key positions the upper left corner of the display window in the upper left corner of the
graph.
3.3.2 Mouse Pointer
The mouse pointer can be used to scroll the display window through the virtual window:
When the any mouse button is pressed and held, followed by dragging over the graph window, the
graph moves in the direction the mouse pointer was dragged.
3.3.3 Scrollbars (Fine-Tuning)
The vertical and horizontal scrollbars for the display window are used to scroll the display window
through the virtual window. These scrollbars enable the position of the visible part of the graph
to be fine-tuned. The scrollbars are enabled by the Virual Window Scrollbars-swith in the
Misc-menu.
3.3.4 Panner Window for Exploring Large Graphs
Another method of exploring large graphs is to use the panner window (see Figure 2). The main
window shows a magnified view of part of the graph whereas the panner window shows a scaleddown
view of the whole graph. The magnified part of the graph is marked by a rectangle (surrounded
by a dashed line) in the panner window. Dragging this rectangle in the panner window
enables the virtual window to be moved over the graph. The virtual window can be positioned anywhere
by clicking that position in the panner window. To open the panner window, select Panner
from the Scroll menu in the menu line (see Figure 2).
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