Global attributes apply to the whole plot object. Setting changes affect all curves and surfaces within the plot object. Global settings for standard plots can be specified in the Maple command that creates the plot, or by using the main menus or context menus once the plot is created. Global settings for smart plots are changed by using main menus or context menus once the plot is created.

For information about changing a particular global attribute setting, click one of the following hyperlinks.

Change Axes Style

Change Grid Style

Change Lighting

Change Projection

Change the Range of an Axis

Options Dialog

Individual attribute settings affect one curve or surface. Changing one of these settings customizes the curve or surface and makes it more easily identifiable. The plot itself also has values for these attributes, which are used when the individual curve doesn't have the attribute set.  If a curve has an attribute set, this set is used: if not, the curve uses the plot's attribute. When you set an attribute from the plot menu or the context menu it applies to the individual curve selected, if there is one.  If none is selected, it applies to the plot, setting its attribute.  However setting the plot's attribute does not change the color of a curve if the curve has an individual attribute set.  You may need to select the curve and change its attribute specifically.

For information about changing an individual curve or surface attribute setting, click one of the following hyperlinks.

Change Curve Style

Change Line Style

Change Line Width

Change Shading

Change Color

Change Surface Style

Change Symbol Size

Change Symbols

Display or Remove a Legend

Scaling Constrained

The appearance of a plot can be changed interactively by using the plot menu and plot context menu, the plotting toolbars (2-D plot toolbar, 3-D plot toolbar), and the drawing toolbars. Many of these attributes are then remembered when you execute the plot command again.

This persistence does not apply to all plot options that are changed interactively.  In particular, when multiple curves are displayed together, only global attributes are remembered upon re-execution.

Attributes that are specified in the command line will override any changes made interactively.  Note that some plot commands have default attributes that will also override changes made interactively.  See the help page for a specific command for information on its default attributes.

Note: To forget all interactively defined attributes of a plot, delete the output from the worksheet and then re-execute the plot command; all attributes are set to their defaults.

The following is a list of plot attributes that are remembered when they are applied globally or when there is only one curve displayed.

Animation options set in the animation toolbar

Axes styles, including tickmarks and color, but not an added dual axis, axis labels, gridlines, or view changes

Color

Constrained scaling

Curve style

Drawing on plots

Legend and its position, but not changes to text or font

Line style and width

Size of plot output in a worksheet, but not pan or scale manipulations

Symbol size and style

Textplot attributes set by using the context menus, but not changes to font

Title and caption, and their fonts

Transparency

Further notes:

Plot attributes changed interactively may not be remembered upon saving and reopening the file.

Curves that are dragged and dropped onto an existing plot are not redrawn on re-execution.

You can always explicitly set plot options within the plot command, or through the Plot Builder.

To disable plot persistence:

From the Tools menu, select Options and go to the Interface tab.

Clear the Remember plot attributes when re-executing check box.

See Options>Interface for details.