GraphMe is a app that is developed using html, javascript and css. It can be used for drawing graphs. This document must explain how to use GraphMe. This app have a different functions and some useful advices for users.
This widget can be downloaded from the Internet in a packed format. Before using it must be unpacked. GraphMe was developed for using in web-browsers and integration in Sankore. To add this app in Sankore you should copy folder named "GraphMe.wgt" in "../library/interactive/". For example, on "windows OS" GraphMe must be in folder with following path: "C: / Program Files / Sankore 4/library/interactive/GraphMe.wgt". If you have no Sankore then you can get it on <ahref="http://getuniboard.com">http://getuniboard.com/</a>.
A) To display this app in browser just enough to open the file named "Grapheur.xhtml" (it's in root folder) with your browser. But some browsers can not display app correctly. Below is the list of browsers that are able to display app:
B) To open widget in Sankore you should first open folder "Application" that is at the left of the screen. Then you must find this app and add it to the page.
Not always it's easy to understand how to record a required function. Really if anywhere you err then graph will not displayed. Also do not forget about "*" (multiply) to multiply and "." (decimal point) to write point.
The two-dimensional function must be written as y=[...] and the three-dimensional function nust be written as z=[...]. Other examples are available to use in menu "Help" if you have some difficulties with function definition.
To define place to display you should enter a custom values in the left side of the widget. The left value must be less than the right value. In other case graph will not displayed.
You can increase or decrease the scale of displaying using buttons that are in the left menu. So you'll see more information about function. Zoom can be reset in options.
To open the menu you should click a button "Options" that is in the left of the widget. If you click on this button again then menu will close. There are some buttons for navigation between options. Their short description:
<li>SVG is a vector format of image and it can be built in HTML-page. It's compatible in most of browsers and Sankore support it very well so is it selected default.</li>
<li>There is a big difference between SVG (image) and display method SVG. If you have a compatibility problems then you should not use this method.</li>
<li>"Canvas" is a new tag that used in HTML 5.0. It define a area in which you can place some images. This display-method is faster than SVG-method, but Sankore does not fully support it. It's desirable to choose this method when you use no Sankore widget.</li>
<li>"Canvas" (point) also uses a canvas but draws a points instead of lines.</li>
<li>XPM format is little known so it's compatible just with a minority of browsers.</li>
<li>Display method "Uniboard" allows to draw directly on the page using Sankore drawing.</li>
<li>Default zoom button returns display into original state. It helps alsoto return to the origin.</li>
<li>Display options allow to display or not a grid, axis and scale. They make a mapping more readable. Also you can change the thickness of function line.</li>
<li>Offset of graph not used usually. But if you use it then you can move a mapping in any direction when a center isn't in the right place. It's avaliable in some browsers.</li>
<li>The accuracy of calculations of the graph will increase or decrease the number of points calculated. The higher the number, the more accuracy. It is useful to set this value to "0.01" if you draw functions like 0.5 * sin (10 * x * x).</li>
<li>Options in 3D, the display style to choose how the function is designed: with small points or polygons (areas). Most functions are prettier drawing surface between the points calculated. However, it is better to draw points for functions such as the hemisphere: sqrt (12 - x*x - y*y).</li>
<li>In the last tab you can change such options 3D, as the accuracy of the calculations and the color of the function.</li>
<li>The selected tool is the default. By moving the mouse, a point moves on the function and the coordinates of this point are shown in the top left of the display.</li>
<li>The second tool is moving. It allows you to move the chart with the mouse. Just keep clicking on the display and move the mouse. Unfortunately, this tool can be slow on some browsers.</li>
<li>The third tool is the tangent. This tool draws the tangent to the function at the point where is a mouse cursor.</li>
Then, this menu also allows to calculate a point of the function. Simply enter the coordinate "x" from the point where we want to find the coordinate "y" and press the "Evaluate". For example, if the function is "x * x" and that defined "x = 2", then the point whose coordinate on the X axis is "2" will be to coordinate on the Y axis "4".
Another useful tool is the analysis of function. To analyse the function click on "start the analysis". Analyses based on this widget are not 100% reliable, but are complementary to a analysis of function that you are doing yourself. It may be that this tool will be improved in a future version of the widget.
The tabs in this menu can go to the history or the additional features (point 2). To add a function click the button to the right of the current function (point 3). Below is a list that contains all the displayed functions (point 4). To remove a function, just click on the "-" button next to it. It is also possible to change the color of each function separately.
History can review all the functions that have already been drawn. When you click on a function of history current function replaced by the function of history.
"Drawing several functions simultaneously" mode is only possible with the display method "canvas" in two dimensions, but the history can be used with all methods of display.
The latest version of the widget can be downloaded from the following page: <ahref="http://gyb.educanet2.ch/tm-widgets/.ws_gen/?15">http://gyb.educanet2.ch/tm-widgets/.ws_gen/?15</a>. To update GraphMe, you can also click on "Update" in the options menu.
If you want to report a bug, have a suggestion from the widget or just want to ask a question, please contact me by e-mail at: <ahref="mailto:yannick.vessaz@gmail.com">yannick.vessaz@gmail.com</a>.
