Add graphical objects

In all MedCalc graphs, you can draw additional text boxes, lines, rectangles, ellipses, connectors and error bars.

Text box

Example:

To add a text box in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next Add text box:

Next click in the graph to set the new text box position.

To edit the text box characteristics, double click on the text box or right-click on the text box and click Format text box... on the context menu:

Line

Example:

To add a line in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next Draw line.

Next click in the graph and drag the mouse to create the line.

To edit the text box characteristics, double click on the line object or right-click on the line object and click Format line object... on the context menu.

Rectangle

Example:

To add a rectangular frame in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next raw rectangle.

Next click in the graph and drag the mouse to create the rectangle.

To edit the line characteristics, double click on the rectangle or right-click on the rectangle and click Format rectangle... on the context menu.

Ellipse and Circle

Example:

To add an ellipse in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next Draw ellipse.

Next click in the graph and drag the mouse to create the ellipse. To draw a circle: press the Shift key while dragging the mouse.

To edit the ellipse characteristics, double click on the ellipse or right-click on the ellipse and click Format ellipse... on the context menu.

Connector

A connector is commonly used to indicate statistical significance of differences between groups.

Example:

To add a connector in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next Draw connector.

Next click in the graph and drag the mouse to create the connector.

To edit the (optional) text attached to the connector, to rotate the connector or to edit its characteristics, double click on the connector object or right-click on the connector object and click Format connector... on the context menu.

Error bar

Example:

To draw an error bar in the graph: right-click in the graph and on the context menu click Add graph object and next Draw error bar.

Next click in the graph and drag the mouse to create the error bar.

To rotate the error bar or to edit line color and style, double click on the error bar or right-click on the error bar and click Format error bar... on the context menu.

Selecting graphical objects

To select a graphical object:

• place the mouse pointer over the object and click the left mouse button
• small circles at the corners of the object (grab handles) indicate that the object is selected
• to add other objects to the selection, press the Ctrl key while clicking on the other objects.

Moving, resizing and deleting graphical objects

Graphical objects can be moved from their original location or can be changed in size or shape.

• select one or more objects
• click on one of the objects and move the mouse to move the selected objects, or use the arrow keys on the keyboard
• click on one of the objects' grab handles (the small circles at the corners of the object) and move the mouse to resize the selected objects
• press the Delete key to delete the selected objects.

See also

• Graphs
• Format graph
• Graph legend
• Reference lines