Use a cursor on a graph to read the exact value of a point on a plot. The value at that cursor displays in the cursor legend that is associated with the graph.

Tip If you instead want to highlight data points on the plots, use an annotation instead of a cursor.

Figure 19. Sample Graph with Cursors shows an example of a graph with multiple cursors.

Figure 19. Sample Graph with Cursors
Graph with a sine wave and multiple cursors on a black background.

You can customize the appearance of a cursor in several ways. You can:

  • Label the cursor on the plot
  • Specify the color of the cursor
  • Specify line, point, and cursor style

Complete the following steps to add a cursor to a graph.

  1. Right-click the graph and select Visible Items » Cursor Legend from the shortcut menu.
    The cursor legend appears:
  2. Right-click anywhere in the cursor legend, select Create Cursor, and select a cursor mode from the shortcut menu. The cursor position is defined by the cursor mode.
    The cursor mode defines the cursor position within the graph. Cursors have the following modes:
    Cursor ModeBehavior
    Free Creates a cursor that you can freely move within the plot area, regardless of plot positions.
    Note If you drag a graph cursor past the edge of the graph, the graph scrolls in the direction of the cursor. To disable this behavior, right-click the graph and select Advanced » Cursors Scroll Graph from the shortcut menu. If you disable this behavior, the scales do not update when you drag the cursor past the edge of the graph.

    Cursors Scroll Graph does not apply to the Compass Plot, Error Bar Plot, Feather Plot, and XY Plot Matrix.
    Single-Plot Positions the cursor only on the plot that is associated with the cursor. You can move the cursor along the associated plot.

    Right-click the cursor legend row and select Snap To from the shortcut menu to associate one or all plots with the cursor.
    Multi-Plot Positions the cursor only on a specific data point in the plot area. The multi-plot cursor reports values at the specified x-value for all of the plots with which the cursor is associated. You can position the cursor on any plot in the plot area.

    Right-click the cursor legend row and select Snap To from the shortcut menu to associate one or all plots with the cursor.

    Note This mode is only valid for mixed signal graphs.
    Tip You cannot change the mode of a cursor after you create it. You must delete the cursor and create another cursor.
    Note In a multi-plot graph, the y value in the cursor legend may sometimes display in parentheses. This happens if there is no y value in the plot corresponding to the current x position of the cursor, and thus the y value has to be interpolated.
  3. To enter names and coordinates in the cursor legend, select the cursor row in the cursor legend and edit the name or coordinates.
  4. To customize a cursor, right-click the row in the cursor legend row and select from the following options:
    • Watch: Available only when the cursor mode is Multi-Plot. Associates one or more specified plots or all plots with the cursor. The multi-plot cursor reports values at the specified x-value for all of the plots with which the cursor is associated.

      If you initially select individual plots to watch and then select Watch » All Plots instead, the cursor begins to report values for all plots. If you then deselect All Plots, the cursor reports values for the plots you initially selected.

    • Snap To: Locks the cursor to a plot.

      When the cursor mode is Single-Plot, you can snap the cursor to one or all plots. When the cursor mode is Multi-Plot, Snap To only affects how the cursor moves along the x-axis.

      Note If no data exists in the plot area, the cursor snaps to only All Plots or the first plot listed in the plot legend. You must have data for more than one plot to snap a cursor to plots other than All Plots or the first plot in the plot legend. For example, you must have three data sets in the plot area before you can snap a cursor to the third plot.
    • X Scale: Sets the x-scale of the cursor. This option is valid only if the cursor mode is Free.
    • Y Scale: Sets the y-scale of the cursor. This option is valid only if the cursor mode is Free.
    • Attributes: Customizes the appearance of each cursor. Attributes includes the following options:
      • Color: Displays the color picker so you can select the color of the cursor.
      • Cursor Style: Provides various cursor styles.
      • Point Style: Provides various point styles for the intersection of the cursor.
      • Line Style: Provides various solid and dotted line styles.
      • Line Width: Provides various line widths.
      • Show Name: Displays the name of the cursor on the graph. Use the Positioning tool to move the name in relation to the cursor.
      • Allow Drag: Allows the mouse to drag the cursor.
    • Bring to Center: Centers the cursor on the graph without changing the x- and y-scales.

      When the cursor mode is Single-Plot or Multi-Plot, this option centers the cursor on the plot on which the cursor is currently positioned and updates the cursor coordinates in the cursor legend.

      When the cursor mode is Free, this option centers the cursor in the plot area and updates the cursor coordinates in the cursor legend.

    • Go to Cursor: Changes the x-scale and y-scale to show the cursor at the center of the graph.

You also can use the Cursor properties to customize a cursor programmatically.