Note: In 2008, this application was updated to AgeDepthPlot 2 for Mac OS X. The new version is much more capabable than what is described below for version one. It is not intended for sale but as a competitive edge for consulting. See www.biostratigraphy.com for age model services.
Method:
1) Create a spreadsheet containing taxa names, age ranges, depth, and
an event flag (FAD or LAD).
2) Open the data with AgeDepthPlot 1.0 and select the scales
and other options.
The age of the events will be plotted against event
depth.
3) Edit, montage, or enhance the charts in a graphics application such
as Illustrator, Canvas or ClarisDraw.
Features:
- Fast drafting of time-depth plots
- Continuously variable scales
- Major and minor scale tick marks
- Interactive measurement with mouse
- Zoom-in, crop & zoom-in, zoom-out
- Auto-coloring, or coded color
- Variable font and font size
- Select from all available fonts
- Save preferences (remember all settings for making standard charts)
- Full keyboard scrolling: Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and the 4
directional arrow keys will all function to scroll the chart in the implied
directions.
- Easy scaling
- On-line help
NOTES:
Fit Time line: Works best on sorted data. The line is
picked by looking for the next event that is deeper and older than the
previous point.
Horizon lines: Plot lines instead of interval boxes,
make the top and base data equal for each horizon, then select "Lines only"
in the Chart options dialog.
Top depth limit: is used to truncate the chart at a specified
upper limit,
i.e. if the data starts at 0 and you wish to chart only 60 to 140 then
enter 60 in the Top depth limit field in the Plot options dialog.
Base depth limit: is used to truncate the chart at a
specified lower limit,
i.e. if the data extends to 600 and you wish to chart only 60 to 140
then enter 140 in the Base depth limit field in the Plot options dialog.
Top age limit: is used to truncate the chart at a specified
upper limit,
i.e. if the data starts at 0 and you wish to chart only 60 to 140,
then enter 60 in the Top age limit field in the Plot options dialog.
Base age limit: is used to truncate the chart at a specified
lower limit,
i.e. if the data extends to 600 and you wish to chart only 60 to 140,
then enter 140 in the Base age limit field in the Plot options dialog.
Zoom in: Hold down the option key and click the
mouse button.
Zoom out: Hold down the control key and click the mouse
button.
Zoom in and crop: Hold down the option key and click
and drag the mouse to set the top and base limits of the chart.
AgeDepthPlot 1.08 does not display rotated interval labels in
the TimeDepthPlot window. However, when the chart is opened or pasted
into a graphics application the labels will be rotated correctly.
AgeDepthPlot 1.08 has a print command. The charts may be printed
from many common applications that open PICT graphics. AgeDepthPlot
is intended to automate the tedious part of drafting charts. However, a
print option may be added in the near future. |