The Sample Symbols Dialog can be used to customize the symbols, size, and color of samples. A custom VSP font is used as the default set of sample symbols, but any installed font can be used, including Windows symbol fonts such as Wingdings and the symbol fonts installed with ESRI software.
Symbols can be assigned to all samples that meet a specified condition. For example, all samples whose sample type is Random can be displayed with a particular symbol, and samples with a value greater than some threshold can be assigned a different symbol. User-defined parameters can also be used to make these symbol assignments. In the example below, the samples have been given symbols based on the Collection Team user-defined parameter.
Disabling edge smoothing of screen fonts can sometimes cause display problems with the default Visual Sample Plan symbol set, such as lines not being displayed. This setting can be changed from the Windows Display Properties under Appearance -> Effects. For optimal display, select Standard smoothing instead of ClearType.
This dialog contains the following controls:
| Assigned symbols: | Contains a list of all currently assigned symbols. This list will be empty at first, until a symbol assignment is applied as described below. |
| Symbol Set drop list: | Select from the list of currently loaded fonts to display the symbols available. To add more fonts to this list, select Add... to choose from the list of all installed fonts. |
| Example Sample Symbol: | Shows an example of how samples will be displayed with the currently selected symbol, color, size and style. |
| Color Settings: | Choose to either use the standard VSP sample coloring scheme, or assign a specific color to the sample. If Default Color is selected, samples will be colored relative to the color of the sample area they are in for greatest contrast, or colored according to value if that option has been enabled. Selecting Custom Color will fix the color of the sample to the selected color. |
| Size & Style: | Select the font size and style (regular, bold, or italic) to be used for this symbol. |
The following controls allow a sample symbol to be assigned to all samples that meet a particular condition:
| Condition parameter drop list: | Select the parameter to base symbol assignment on. This can be the sample type, the sample value, or a user-defined parameter. |
| Comparison drop list: | Select the comparison operator. |
| Operator choices: | |
| = | Equals |
| != | Does not equal |
| < | Less than |
| > | Greater than |
| <= | Less than or equal to |
| >= | Greater than or equal to |
| $ | Contains text |
| !$ | Does not contain text |
| Comparison Value text box / drop list: | The value that will be compared against the comparison parameter above. |
| Apply button: | Once a condition has been selected, pressing Apply will assign that symbol to all samples that meet the criterion. The symbol will be added to the list of Assigned Symbols, and can then be edited by modifying the symbol characteristics and pressing Apply again, and can also be deleted entirely. |