*** This version of Confluence is for testing only and contains a copy of content from June 29th 2026. No changes will be preserved. ***
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Resources
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for
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Creating
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and
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Posting
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Professional-Looking
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Graphs
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and
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Tables
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Also
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check
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out
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the
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...
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...
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for
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a
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simple
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table
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of
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common
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errors!
Figure Creation and Formatting
Presenting data in an understandable format requires thought and attention to detail. Follow these guidelines when preparing graphs for lab reports and presentations.
Formatting Figures
- Use a white background for all graphs.
- Most data will have both x and y values and thus should be presented using an xy scatter plot.
- Label all axes and include units where appropriate.
- Axis scale labels should be in the margin of the graph and not inside the graph border.
- Eliminate parts of the range in both x and y axis that aren't used or that aren't meaningful.
- Place a caption with a brief description below the graph. Add this caption using the wiki formatting, not in your graphing software.
- Use data symbols to show data points unless there is so much data that the symbols overlap. If the data symbols overlap it is better to connect the data points with a line and not show the data symbols.
- When presenting multiple plots on a single graph make sure that it is easy to distinguish the plots using the legend.
- If curve fitting is used explain why and include the equation (elsewhere in the report).
- If a model or theoretical curve is presented it should be a smooth curve without data points.
- Use the same font in the graphs as you use in the text of the report.
- Insert the graph in your report after the first reference to it in the text. Inserted the graph after the next paragraph break
- Scale the size of the graph so it is large enough to see the data and read the text without having to follow a link to see a larger image. Avoid using hyperlinks on images because that causes the export to Microsoft Word option to not include the image.
How to Include Graphs from MathCAD
- Select the graph in MathCAD by dragging a box with your mouse over the
graph. This prevents the graph from going into edit mode and losing
the formatting! - Copy the graph from MathCAD
- Paste it into PowerPoint
- Right click on the graph and select Save as picture.
- Select the png option for the file type and give the file a descriptive name
- Upload the file into the page that you want to post the graph on.
How to Include Graphs from Excel
- Eliminate border from graph, change background to white, etc. (follow the Figure guidelines above!)
- Copy the graph from Excel
- Paste it into PowerPoint
- Right click on the graph and select Save as picture.
- Select the png option for the file type and give the file a descriptive name
- Upload the file into the page that you want to post the graph on.
Captioning Figures, an example
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Wiki Markup |
|---|
_ h2. Figure Creation and Formatting Presenting data in an understandable format requires thought and attention to detail. Follow these guidelines when preparing graphs for lab reports and presentations. h3. Formatting Figures * Use a white background for all graphs. * Most data will have both x and y values and thus should be presented using an xy scatter plot. * Label all axes and include units where appropriate. * Axis scale labels should be in the margin of the graph and not inside the graph border. * Eliminate parts of the range in both x and y axis that aren't used or that aren't meaningful. * Place a caption with a brief description below the graph. Add this caption using the wiki formatting, not in your graphing software. * Use data symbols to show data points unless there is so much data that the symbols overlap. If the data symbols overlap it is better to connect the data points with a line and not show the data symbols. * When presenting multiple plots on a single graph make sure that it is easy to distinguish the plots using the legend. * If curve fitting is used explain why and include the equation (elsewhere in the report). * If a model or theoretical curve is presented it should be a smooth curve without data points. * Use the same font in the graphs as you use in the text of the report. * Insert the graph in your report after the first reference to it in the text. Inserted the graph after the next paragraph break * Scale the size of the graph so it is large enough to see the data and read the text without having to follow a link to see a larger image. Avoid using hyperlinks on images because that causes the export to Microsoft Word option to not include the image. h3. How to Include Graphs from MathCAD * Select the graph in MathCAD by dragging a box with your mouse over the graph. This prevents the graph from going into edit mode and losing the formatting! * Copy the graph from MathCAD * Paste it into PowerPoint * Right click on the graph and select Save as picture. * Select the png option for the file type and give the file a descriptive name * Upload the file into the page that you want to post the graph on. h3. How to Include Graphs from Excel * Eliminate border from graph, change background to white, etc. (follow the Figure guidelines above!) * Copy the graph from Excel * Paste it into PowerPoint * Right click on the graph and select Save as picture. * Select the png option for the file type and give the file a descriptive name * Upload the file into the page that you want to post the graph on. h2. Captioning Figures, an example {anchor:output control box}{float:right|border=2px solid black|width=200px} !Process Controller^stampbox.jpg|width=200px! h5. Basic Stamp® microprocessor control box with ports for 6 on/off devices and 6 variable speed peristaltic pumps. {float} |
An
...
...
...
...
designed
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and
...
fabricated
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around
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the
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Basic
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Stamp®
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Microprocessors
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(Parallax
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16
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port
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BS2sx
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and
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40
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port
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BS2p
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BASIC
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Stamp®
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modules)
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is
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used
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for
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on/off
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control
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of
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up
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to
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six
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devices
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and
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for
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variable
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control
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of
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up
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to
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six
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peristaltic
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pumps.
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The
...
...
...
keeps
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the
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graphic
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and
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the
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caption
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together
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and
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floats
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the
...
figure
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on
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the
...
page
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with
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text
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wrapping
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around
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it
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automatically.
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Because
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the
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top
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of
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the
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figure
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will
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align
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with
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the
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text
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that
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the
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float
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is
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above,
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I
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recommend
...
inserting the
...
figure
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wrapped
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in
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the
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float
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macro
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immediately
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above
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the
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paragraph
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where
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the
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first
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reference
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to
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the
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figure
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occurs.
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This
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will
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place
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the
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figure
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along
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side
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the
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paragraph
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with
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the
...
reference.
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Use
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anchors
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to
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refer
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to
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the
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figure
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just
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like
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you
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would
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use
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"Figure
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11"
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references in
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a
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conventional
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manuscript.
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There
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is
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no
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way
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to
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implement
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auto
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numbering
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of
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the
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Figures
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so
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for
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now
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don't
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even
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bother
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to
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use
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numbers
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in
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the
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Figure.
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Instead,
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in
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the
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body
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of
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the
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report
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where
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you
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first
...
reference
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the
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...
...
...
add
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an
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anchor
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link
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that
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connects
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to
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the
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Figure.
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Use
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heading
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5
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for
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table
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and
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figure
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captions.
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This
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makes
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it
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possible
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to
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generate
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a
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list
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of
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tables
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and
...
figures.
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Note
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that
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there
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is
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no
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numbered
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Figure
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reference
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in
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the
...
caption.
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Also
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note
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that
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the
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image
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is
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a
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hyperlink
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to
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the
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full
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size
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original
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image.
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If
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the
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image
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is
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from
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a
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different
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source
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file
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the
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hyperlink
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should
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be
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to
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the
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original
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source
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file
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such
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as
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a
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MathCAD
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or
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Excel
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sheet.
...
In
...
this
...
example
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I
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set
...
the
...
size
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of
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the
...
float
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and
...
the
...
size
...
of
...
the
...
image
...
to
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200px.
...
The
...
viewer
...
can
...
see
...
the
...
full
...
image
...
by
...
clicking
...
on
...
it.
Creating Graphs in the Wiki
Save the data as an excel spreadsheet containing only the data that you actually want to graph. For info on the parameters see the chart userguide.
| Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
h2. Creating Graphs in the Wiki
Save the data as an excel spreadsheet containing only the data that you actually want to graph. For info on the parameters see the [chart userguide|https://confluence.cornell.edu/renderer/notationhelp.action?section=advanced].
{chart:type=scatter|title=testing charting abilities|ylabel=velocity (m/s)|xlabel=time (s)|displayData=false|dataOrientation=vertical|width=500|height=400|rangeAxisLowerBound=5|rangeAxisUpperBound=150|domainAxisLowerBound=5|domainAxisUpperBound=50|colors=black,purple}
|
Using Images
Do not use poor quality images. Images are used to convey ideas, so they should be clear, legible and descriptive. You should update them until they look good enough to present in a paper. Some useful guidelines:
- Save all images as .png instead of .jpg
- Copy images into powerpoint instead of paint. They will be better quality. Save them as a png file.
- For AutoCAD drawings: Use the command plot. Then select PublishToWeb PNG. Choose a large enough paper size that your drawing looks clear and not fuzzy.
Working With Tables, an example
Tables do not convey trends nearly as well as graphs. They should only be used to display information that is not meant to be on a graph. Tables should be created using the following format. You should not use images of tables.
| Wiki Markup |
|---|
{chart} h2. Working With Tables, an example {float:right|border=2px solid black|width=270px} {anchor:analog wiring standard} h5. Wiring standard used for combining power supplies and analog data acquisition in a Category 5 Ethernet cable. || *T-568B standard* || *T-568A standard* || *voltage* || | white/orange | white/green | S\- | | orange | green | S\+ | | white/green | white/orange | ground | | blue | blue | \-5 V | | white/blue | white/blue | \+5 V | | green | orange | \+10V | | white/brown | white/brown | \-15 V | | brown | brown | \+15 V | {float} |
Here
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is
...
an
...
example
...
table.
...
This
...
is
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a
...
relatively
...
complex
...
example
...
because
...
when
...
you
...
go
...
to
...
edit
...
this
...
page,
...
you
...
will
...
see
...
that
...
the
...
simple
...
table
...
code
...
is
...
included
...
in
...
a
...
"float"
...
command.
...
Here
...
I
...
refer
...
to
...
the
...
table
...
by
...
creating
...
an
...
internal
...
link
...
(an
...
anchor)
...
that
...
will
...
take
...
the
...
viewer
...
to
...
the
...
top
...
of
...
the
...
table.
...
For
...
example
...
here
...
I
...
am
...
talking
...
about
...
the
...
...
...
...
that
...
we
...
use
...
in
...
the
...
AguaClara
...
laboratory.
...
Note
...
that
...
I
...
position
...
the
...
floating
...
table
...
above
...
the
...
paragraph
...
where
...
it
...
is
...
first
...
referenced
...
so
...
that
...
it
...
appears
...
along
...
the
...
side
...
of
...
that
...
paragraph.
...
I
...
haven't
...
figured
...
out
...
an
...
automatic
...
way
...
to
...
set
...
the
...
width
...
of
...
the
...
table.
...
Currently
...
I
...
am
...
doing
...
it
...
by
...
trial
...
and
...
error.
...
If
...
someone
...
figures
...
out
...
a
...
better
...
way,
...
please
...
edit
...
this
...
!
...
To
...
create
...
a
...
simple
...
table,
...
you
...
just
...
need
...
a
...
series
...
of
...
vertical
...
slashes
...
in
...
rows--
...
two
...
slashes
...
makes
...
a
...
header
...
cell,
...
and
...
one
...
slash
...
makes
...
a
...
regular
...
cell.
...
This
...
code:
| No Format |
|---|
bq. || column 1 || column 2 || column 3 || | item 1 | item 2 | item 3 | bq. h4. Produces this table: || column 1 || column 2 || column 3 || | item 1 | item 2 | item 3 | When you are creating tables: # Never put in a picture of a table, create a table using this wiki coding and always show all equations used to calculate any values in your table # Attach the source file! If you did a bunch of calculations in an Excel file, make sure to create a wiki table showing those results, and then attach the original Excel file with all your calculations. Create a link on the wiki to that attached file. \\ h2. Adding Equations |
Produces this table:
column 1 | column 2 | column 3 |
|---|---|---|
item 1 | item 2 | item 3 |
When you are creating tables:
- Never put in a picture of a table, create a table using this wiki coding and always show all equations used to calculate any values in your table
- Attach the source file! If you did a bunch of calculations in an Excel file, make sure to create a wiki table showing those results, and then attach the original Excel file with all your calculations. Create a link on the wiki to that attached file.
Adding Equations
All equations should be added using MathType. Do not simply type in an equation to the wiki.
| Wiki Markup |
|---|
{float:right|border=2px solid black|width=400px}
[!Style Guide for Figures, Tables, and Equations^MathTypeHelp.png|width=400px!|Style Guide for Figures, Tables, and Equations]
{float}
* |
- The
...
- first
...
- time
...
- you
...
- use
...
- MathType
...
- to
...
- create
...
- LaTEX
...
- code
...
- you
...
- need
...
- to
...
- do
...
- the
...
- following
...
- steps
...
- In
...
- the
...
- Mathtype
...
- window
...
- click
...
- the
...
- preferences
...
- tab
...
- and
...
- then
...
- at
...
- the
...
- top
...
- click
...
- translators
...
- click
...
- the
...
- dot
...
- by
...
- Translate
...
- to
...
- other
...
- languages
...
- and
...
- in
...
- the
...
- pull
...
- down
...
- box
...
- select
...
- "TeX-Plain
...
- TeX"
...
- make
...
- sure
...
- to
...
- uncheck
...
- the
...
- two
...
- boxes
...
- at
...
- the
...
- bottom.
...
- This
...
- allows
...
- you
...
- to
...
- paste
...
- equations
...
- into
...
- the
...
- wiki.
...
- Click
...
- ok.
...
- Create
...
- the
...
- equation,
...
- or
...
- open
...
- a
...
- previously
...
- created
...
- equation
...
- from
...
- a
...
- file.
...
- Highlight
...
- the
...
- entire
...
- equation
...
- in
...
- the
...
- Mathtype
...
- window
...
- and
...
- copy
...
- it.
...
- Make
...
- sure
...
- you
...
- are
...
- working
...
- in
...
- the
...
- 'Wiki
...
- Markup'
...
- editor,
...
- and
...
- not
...
- 'Rich
...
- Text'.
...
- type
...
- or
...
- copy
...
- the
...
- code
...
- below
...
- and
...
- paste
...
- it
...
- into
...
- your
...
- document.
...
- Paste
...
- your
...
- equation
...
- in
...
- the
...
- area
...
- that
...
- says
...
- 'paste
...
- equation
...
- here.'
...
No Format {latex} \large paste your equation here {latex}
...
For example:
...
| Latex |
|---|
Congratulations, you have created an equation.