## Working with Shape plots

This is the Shape plot for the Pyramidal cell model in `neurondemo` as it first appears on the screen. Its X axis is horizontal, the Y axis is vertical, and the Z axis is perpendicular to the page. Shape plots can be rotated, magnified or reduced, and translated.

### Rotation

1. R click in the graph window and select 3D Rotate.
2. Lift the mouse carefully off the pad, so that its cursor remains in the graph window.
3. Press the L mouse button and hold it down.
4. Use the A, X, and Z keys to examine the cell from three orthogonal directions.

   A | top view | down the Y axis
   X | side view | down the X axis, i.e. from the right
   Z | side view | down the Z axis (standard view seen above)

5. Place the mouse back down on the pad, press the L mouse button, and run the mouse around on the pad to see the cell rotate wildly.
6. Restore the standard view by pressing Z while holding the L mouse button down.
7. Use ^X, ^Y, or ^Z (^ = Ctrl key) to rotate the cell in 10o increments around the X, Y, or Z axis.

### Other operations

Use the secondary menu of the Shape plot window to

- zoom in or out by 10% increments
- click and drag to open a NewView that focusses on a particular area
- zoom in or out continuously (Zoom in/out) by clicking and dragging to R or L
- click and drag the image around the window (Translate).
  Note: you can also move the image by holding down the shift key and then doing click and drag

### When you're done

be sure to set View/Section so you don't inadvertently cause other changes to the image.

NEURON hands-on course
Copyright © 1998, 1999 by N.T. Carnevale and M.L. Hines, all rights reserved.