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EDIS Editor Procedures - Part 3: Working With Figures

and Equations 1

Howard Beck, Petraq Papajorgji, and Fedro Zazueta 2

Figures in EDIS include any graphic file used for color or B&W photographs, line

diagrams, and other artwork. In addition, because EDIS content is delivered through

several media (such as html for web browsers, pdf files for print and CD-ROM), EDIS

graphics need to be prepared in several resolutions. All image files must be in GIF or JPG

format. For every image or diagram there must be three files provided:

1. __A file for On-screen display__. Consider the size the image should appear in the

HTML browser of the client. Usually it is recommended that images be of a size

that can fit within the browser window of a VGA display (640 by 480 pixels),

however, this is not a limitation.

2. __A file for the thumbnail in On-screen display__. Because of their size, images

tend to account for most of the time in loading a page into an HTML browser. To

avoid lengthy downloads, users are presented with a placeholder where a smaller

(faster loading) image appears. If the users require viewing the higher quality

image, they can click on the thumbnail to download it. This makes it easy to

download and browse quickly through a document. Thumbnail graphic files

should be 90 to 200 pixels wide, or less if the image is legible.

3. __A file for Print__. EDIS includes a print generator (.pdf) that will use a special

version a graphic file when print is called for. This file must be prepared in

advance to registering the graphic with the document. This is required to insure

that the file has enough resolution to go to a printer at a reasonable quality. In

general, a printer will create a good image at a resolution of 300 dpi. When

preparing a file for print, consider the approximate size of the figure in the print

and provide a graph with the according resolution. For example, a figure intended

to be 3” by 2” should be at least 900 by 600 pixels. In EDIS, the image will

always occupy a page if the width of the image exceeds 1500 pixels. The

maximum number of pixels for an image is 2070 pixels wide by 2550. Remember

that a lengthy caption will reduce the space available for the image. Images for

print can be in color or B&W. Printing color requires a color printer. Color

images on B&W printers are mapped into shades of grey.

In general, images must be as small as possible but remain clear and convey the intended

purpose. Two factors must be considered that affect the size of the image, these are: 1)

resolution, or the number of pixels that make up the picture, and 2) the color depth, or the

number of colors that each pixel can have. The quality and size of an image is

fundamentally affected by these two values.

In general, a resolution should be used that results in clear boundaries and lines in the

image. Also, the color depth should be one that is suitable for the purpose of the image

but not excessive. For example, a B&W line diagram created at a 32-bit color depth

(millions of colors) actually requires only a theoretical depth of 2 colors (B&W). The

difference between millions and 2 results in file sizes that are radically different.

Registering Images in the EDIS Editor

In this example we will use the following three images:

· Tower5.jpg, for web browser display.

· Tower5T.jpg, for thumbnail.

· Tower5PC.jpg for print.

To register the images in the EDIS editor follow the steps below.

In the Outline Pane Editor highlight Figures.

1) Click the Edit > New Figure in the Outline Menu. Figure 1 will be created and

appended to the figures list.

Screen shot

2) Click on the '+' button in the upper right hand corner of the window.

3) Select Figure 1 by clicking on it in the Outline. A window will open with three tabs.

One for the Thumbnail Image, a second for On Screen Image (web browser) and third for

the Printable Image.

4) Click on the File Editing button to the right of the File Name field. A select file

window will open. Highlight the file Tower5T.jpg.

Screen shot

5) Click Open, the thumbnail image will be shown in the display.

6) Type in the credits and the caption. The window will appear as shown below.

Screen shot

Close the image and return to the main EDIS editor window.

Inserting Image Placeholders in the Text Body

1) In the Outline Editor, select the section where the image is to be inserted.

2) In the Text Editing Pane, place the cursor at the exact position that the image should

appear. For this example select Top.

3) Position the cursor at the end of the first paragraph and press return.

4) Click Format > Insert Figure in the Text Editing Pane Menu and a list of registered

figures will appear. For this example, select Top.

Screen shot

5) Select a figure from the list and click the OK button.

Screen shot

6) Because we only registered one figure, only Figure 1 will appear. Select Figure 1 and

click OK.

7) The thumbnail for the figure will be inserted in the Text Editing Pane.

Screen shot

8) Click the Save button.

Screen shot

A Word About Equations

Equations are handled by the current version of EDIS as graphics. They are treated as

figures. Therefore, all of the instructions above apply. A few, caveats and tips are: 1)

You must include the equation number in the graph, 2) Use symbols that can be displayed

in HTML. Many (most) mathematical symbols are not available in standard HTML, as

such they can't be displayed in a browser. 3) Use the powerful equation editor such as the

ones found in office suites to create equations.

Below is an example of equations created using Microsoft PowerPoint.

1) Start PowerPoint and create a blank presentation.

2) When prompted for a new slide select a blank slide.

3) Click Insert > Object > Microsoft Equation Editor 3.0

4) Write SoilMoisture=100

5) Click on the division placeholder. A division line with placeholders above and below

will appear in the screen.

Screen shot

6) Fill the placeholders with VolumeOfWater and VolumeOfSoil

Screen shot

7) Use the Matrix placeholder to write the equation number (1).

Screen shot

8) Select File > Exit and Return to Presentation

9) Resize the image in PowerPoint and press File > Save As > JPEG File. Use Equation

1 as the file name.

10) Resize the equations using a graphics editor to produce HTML, Thumbnail and print.

Register equation as a figure as explained above and insert into the body of the text in the

appropriate heading. Rename from Figure to Equation so it can easily be identified later.