param3d
=======

3D plot of a parametric curve



Calling Sequence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


::

    param3d(x,y,z,[theta,alpha,leg,flag,ebox])




Arguments
~~~~~~~~~

:x,y,z three vectors of the same size (points of the parametric
  curve).
: :theta, alpha real values giving in degree the spherical coordinates
  of the observation point. *The default values are 35 and 45 degree.*
: :leg string defining the labels for each axis with @ as a field
  separator, for example "X@Y@Z".
: :flag=[type,box] `type` and `box` have the same meaning as in
`plot3d`:
    :type an integer (scaling).
        :type=0 the plot is made using the current 3D scaling (set by a
          previous call to `param3d`, `plot3d`, `contour` or `plot3d1`).
        : :type=1 rescales automatically 3d boxes with extreme aspect ratios,
          the boundaries are specified by the value of the optional argument
          `ebox`.
        : :type=2 rescales automatically 3d boxes with extreme aspect ratios,
          the boundaries are computed using the given data. *This is the default
          value.*
        : :type=3 3d isometric with box bounds given by optional `ebox`,
          similarily to `type=1`.
        : :type=4 3d isometric bounds derived from the data, similarily `to
          type=2`.
        : :type=5 3d expanded isometric bounds with box bounds given by
          optional `ebox`, similarily to `type=1`.
        : :type=6 3d expanded isometric bounds derived from the data,
          similarily to `type=2`.Note that axes boundaries can be customized
          through the axes entity properties (see `axes_properties`_).
        :

    : :box an integer (frame around the plot).
        :box=0 nothing is drawn around the plot.
        : :box=1 unimplemented (like box=0).
        : :box=2 only the axes behind the surface are drawn.
        : :box=3 a box surrounding the surface is drawn and captions are
          added.
        : :box=4 a box surrounding the surface is drawn, captions and axes are
          added.Note that axes aspect can also be customized through the axes
          entity properties (see `axes_properties`_). *This is the default
          value.*
        :

    :

: :ebox It specifies the boundaries of the plot as the vector
  `[xmin,xmax,ymin,ymax,zmin,zmax]`. This argument is used together with
  `type` in `flag` : if it is set to `1`, `3` or `5` (see above to see
  the corresponding behaviour). If `flag` is missing, `ebox` is not
  taken into acoount. Note that, when specified, the `ebox` argument
  acts on the `data_bounds` field that can also be reset through the
  axes entity properties (see `axes_properties`_). The ebox default
  value is [0,1,0,1,0,1].
:



Description
~~~~~~~~~~~

`param3d` is used to plot a 3D curve defined by its coordinates `x`,
`y` and `z`. Note that data can also be got or modified through the
surface entity properties (see `surface_properties`_).

Note that properties like `rotation angles`, `colors` and `thickness`
of the plotted curves can also be got or modified through the polyline
entity properties (see `polyline_properties`_).

Use `param3d1` to do multiple plots.

Enter the command `param3d()` to see a demo.



Sample
~~~~~~



Examples
~~~~~~~~


::

    t=0:0.1:5*%pi;
    param3d(`sin`_(t),`cos`_(t),t/10,35,45,"X@Y@Z",[2,3])
    
    e=`gce`_() //the handle on the 3D polyline
    
    e.foreground=`color`_('red');
    
    a=`gca`_(); //the handle on the axes
    a.rotation_angles=[10 70];




See Also
~~~~~~~~


+ `param3d1`_ 3D plot of parametric curves
+ `plot3d`_ 3D plot of a surface


.. _plot3d: plot3d.html
.. _param3d1: param3d1.html
.. _surface_properties: surface_properties.html
.. _axes_properties: axes_properties.html
.. _polyline_properties: polyline_properties.html