Instructions for using the Ternary Diagram applet
Overview : Link to the Applet
This applet is designed to allow users to plot their geological data on a Ternary diagram. The applet is composed of a triangle, a drop-down menu, and 5 buttons.
- The triangle is the graph that will display the data points.
- The drop-down menu is for precompiled data (there is no data available at present).
- The five buttons are:
- Restart: clears all data and restarts the applet.
- Continue : used to add data to the graph.
- Additional lines on/off: toggles interval lines graph on or off (10%).
- Barker Granitoid Classification on/off: toggles normative Feldspar diagram (after Barker; 1979) on or off.
- Here: allows the user to add their own data file for graphing.
Using User Defined Data
Click on the Here button at the bottom of the applet. This will open up a field where data can be pasted.
The text field gives a brief description of the proper way to input data. Clicking anywhere in the text field will clear the text field and allow the user to paste (recommended) or manually enter their data.
Data Format Requirements
- Data may be input in any delimited format (comma, space, tab, etc.).
- The first row of data must contain a header row with a placeholder (most often, this will be a sample ID) as the first entry.
For example, the header row: Qtz Ab An Di Hyp is incorrect. This will force Qtz into the ID/placeholder spot, thereby removing it as a variable. The header row: ID Qtz Ab An Di Hyp is correct.
- Each variable in the header (e.g. Qtz, Ab, An, etc.) must have a corresponding entry in each record. That is, blank spaces are not allowed.
- Data must be entered as numbers with the exception of the placeholder/ID value.
The cursor must be in the text field when entering data.
Once the data is entered, click the Continue button above the text field to return to the Ternary diagram To plot the data, select the labels for the axes from the drop down menus located above the triangle. The labels correspond to the axes as follows:
|
| Leftmost drop down menu |
Top of triangle |
| Middle drop down menu |
Bottom left of triangle |
| Rightmost drop down menu |
Bottom right of triangle |
If you select the same variable more than once in the drop down menus, you will be prompted to correct your error.
Obtaining Data from the Diagram
Once the labels have been chosen, click Continue to plot the data.
A new box will appear to the left of the triangle with the name Info On/Off.
To view the data about one or more points, Click the Info On/Off button, then click on the point(s) of interest.
In the text field that appears at the bottom of the triangle will be the data for that point(s). The Data in the text field will appear in the following order from left to right:
- Placeholder (ID);
- top of triangle;
- bottom left of triangle;
- bottom right of triangle
Adding another data set to the graph
Toggle the Info On/Off button to the off position. Click the Here button. The text field will open again displaying the previous data set. Reminder, clicking anywhere in the text field will cause the text field to clear. Enter the new data.
Important: It is required that the data from any subsequent data set(s) contain the same 3 variables (case sensitive) used for plotting as all previous set(s). It is not necessary for any subsequent data set(s) to have all the same variables; they just must contain the same 3. Order of the variables is not important. Any data set(s) that do not contain the same 3 variables will not be plotted.
Click the Continue button. You will not have to choose labels a second time. Click Continue and the next data set will appear with the previous data set on the diagram.
Known Bugs
Selecting Continue with an empty text field results in only 2 of the 3 drop down menus being visible on the main applet.
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