How do I set the temp graph scale to appear in 5 degree C increments?
I have fiddled the Graph Setup max temp values, and max temp on scale values and can’t find any combination that sets the temp scale in 5 degree increments. Ideally, I want to see a 0 degree reference line and 5 degree increments above and below.
I have scanned back through old questions but do not see a statement on how to do this.
Thanks,
Bob, Ottawa
there are always 10 increment lines, so a scale range of 50 should do it?
but I guess if i had it where you set the increament, then that could be fine tuned too
Brian
The attached image shows the scale decreasing in units of 5 but then it skips by 6 and then back to 5. 
10, 5, 0, -5, -10, -16. -21, -26, -31, -36 etc…
Most times the units are not multiples of 5.
Is there any chance you could force the scale to always use units of 5 degrees and still auto-adjust?
Bob, Ottawa
the problem looks to be that is starting at 41
so the trick would be to set the auto scale start point to the nearest 5 part of
(off topic)
-23 C in Ottawa ? ? ?
that is one hell of a cold front that went through!
holy cow Batman!!!
and I thought -3 C was cold here last night!!
Brrrrrr
Happy New Year Brian! 
This response is a bit long because I am trying to provide a real and logical justification for my request.
I have played with the scale adjustment features of WD without getting it to display the data in an easy to interpret way. I have noticed on your website a display of WD Live with history data for last year. According to the history data, the coldest temperature last year was 3.1C on Jul 24 and the the hotest was 23.1C on Nov 12. I’m thinking that this (your) real-life experience may be part of the difficulty in my explaining what I would like to see.
I live in Canada. Minimum year round temps are in the -40C to -50C range. Hotest year round temps are in the 30C to 35C range. We often see temp swings in one day of 10C to 20C. (Note: This is the full range of the NZ WD Live year round weather for 2004.)
I believe…
A useful graph should show temp plots around some reasonably critical temps. 30C is a high reference temp. Temps above this start to be uncomfortable. 0C is a mid reference temp. Temps above are fine. Temps just below, with rain, mean freezing rain and this indicates real danger. -20C is a low end comfort reference temp. Temps below this to be uncomfortable. Of course, any wind produces dangerous windchill. And then there is the -40C reference point. This is the real danger point. Add a windchill and this becomes a warning to NOT go outside. Oh… I forgot to mention, temps above 35C with any major humidity is also approaching a danger zone. (I would expect most people would intuitively have their own reference temp values. They may not agree exactly with the comfort ranges I’ve mentioned but their reference temps are likely within 5C to 10C of my reference temps.)
It would be nice if WD would display temps on graph lines that easily, and consistently, show these reference temperatures. This would be accomplished by forcing the graph lines to be at intervals of 5C.
The current WD version has what seems to be an artificial default low temp of about -8C and default high temp of 40C. (This seems to be the default temp range on the NZ WD Live history records.) I can change the low temp reference by lifting or lowering the temperature line. I can adjust the low to hi temp range. I can even set the highest temp value. No combination of these adjustments allow me to fix the scale interval to be at 5C increments. No combination of these adjustments allow me to fix the scale to repeatedly show the 0C reference (or any other reference temp) as an actual graph line. No combination of these adjustments allow me to fix the scale lines to have the same number of “integer” degrees between them. This means reading the graph requires some level of mental interpretation rather than intuitively knowing by seeing… temps above the line are OK and temps below the line are not. (This is similar to the argument why analog gauges are some times better than digital gauges.)
Having played with all the WD graph controls it seems to me the algorithm using these controls is likely quite complicated. This, no doubt, evolved over time by adding small incremental features to the graph display. Perhaps it might be worthwhile re-think the graph display controls with an idea of simplification. I’m not trying to tell you how to design WD. This is only a suggestion.
So…
What I would really like to see is a graph with fixed 5C increments per line.
It would be nice to have an automatic way for WD to look at the Hi and low temps in the graph interval and automatically position the graph mid-point to show these high and low points. If the range is too big for the graph then the older temp value can be discarded in favour of showing the most recent temp within the 5C line at the top or bottom of the graph.
Note: When I have used Celsius temps the same holds true for Fahrenheit temps. 5F degree graph lines also provide visual intuitive knowledge. Of course, 32F is not as easily shown but perhaps this could be a special tweak to show this critical reference temp.
I believe this behaviour would mean a lot of the tweaking display controls would not be required.
I believe this behaviour would allow WD to automatically adapt to the temp ranges experienced in most (or all) parts of the world.
I believe this behaviour would be much easier to set-up and interpret when looking at the graph.
Is there any chance of seeing this behaviour in 2005?
Brian, Thanks for an excellent application and for considering my constructive suggestions.
While Brian digests Bob’s information - the only snippet of info I can give is that there is a box to tick in the graph setup screen to show the freezing line on the graph (although then you don’t get any hour bars appearing).
its not -8 that is the default
what WD does is check what the lowest dew point reading is, and if that is less than 0oc or 32od, then the low point of the graph starts at that lowerst dew point reading, minus a bit…
what i need to do to make it the way you want is move that low part of the graph reading to the nearest 5 degree number
Thanks for the quick response Brian and Martyn. 
I think it would be a great “enhancement” to set the lowest graph axis to the lower 5 degree multiple. I look forward to when this “enhancement” can be introduced.
The 0 degree line is one of the cool features that were waiting for me to discover. Thanks Martyn for the heads up.
i have done this now…
should work in theory
download a new 10.20z version in a about 2 hours from now
It works fine - default settings.
But if I select e.g “Max temperature range = 20oC” graphs is like below. Also Freezing line is missing.
Anyway, now graphs is “easier interpret” Thanks!
Eki
Hi,
Looks like to “Plot the freeze line” and you have to “Show the hour lines”. The hour lines are removed from the lower graph when the freeze line is plotted, but they have to first be present for the freeze line to show at all. #-o
Gus
yes, thats correct, Gus is right
(there is only 8 lines available you see )
Hi,
I have unchecked “Show the hour lines” and checked “Plot the freeze line” This same efects is 3,6,12 and 24hours graph.
Eki
actauly its the other way
you need to have the hourplot working for the temp/hum graph (as the freezing line then plots instead of the hour lines)
and also check the colour set for the hours lines
I was choosing white color to hours line. :oops:
I change it to blue and now it looks fine.
Many thanks!
i thought that might have been it, as I could not see any hour lines on the wind direction graph
Hi Brian
I have download 10.21.
The lowest scale starts at a 5 degree multiple. Cool. Thanks.
I have set the “Max temp range” to 50C.
I expected I would see a complete scale in 5C increments but I do not. I see the scale in the attached gif. The increments between all scale lines is not 5C. In some cases it is 6C.
I thought this enhancement would show the scale in 5 degree increments. Have I misunderstood?
Is there another selection value I need to assign or check to get a scale in 5 degree increments?
Thanks for you help.
the problem is because the max is not to the nearest 5 degree
instead of setting a max range, actualy set a maximum temperature number
I thought this enhancement would show the scale in 5 degree increments. Have I misunderstood?
is that sarcasm?
I am definitely not being sarcastic. I’m sorry if I came across that way.
Again… many thanks.
