Gnats 5495: Periodic slots are not repeated in graphs / Revisiting requirements
Phil's initial analysis / 6-10-2014

Based on Tim and David's e-mail discussion of last week (6-3-2014) and discussion with David today, I propose adopting the following functionality for Periodic Slots. This applies to time-plots where the bottom axis is absolute date/time.

  1. Periodic Slot curves always fill the plot's time range.
  2. Periodic Slots don't contribute to the Auto-Scale time range (which is the initial range when a plot is created)*
  3. If the plot contains only Periodic Slots, the Auto-Scale time range is the Run Controller's time range.

*Item 2 involves a simplification of the Periodic Slot's Curve Configuration and a change to the application of the Periodic Slot's "Default" time range algorithm. This is discussed below.

There is an additional possible feature which could be addressed later. TVA would like certain plots involving Periodic Slots to have a time range of the water year (which for them is the calendar year), based on the wall-clock date/time. This could be a configuration setting for the overall plot. I propose that that be addressed as a separate enhancement, beyond the scope of what we do right now (for RiverWare 6.5 and this bug 5495). For now, TVA would set the desired calendar-year range using the Edit Time Range dialog (which is shown with the "Scale to specified time range" icon button), and, of course, save the plot.

Regarding the Periodic Slot's Curve Configuration ...

Currently the Time Range controls behave as a "one-shot" operation rather than a "setting" as such. That's quite astonishing, as it is presented as a setting, and everything else in this configuration dialog behaves as a setting. If we really wanted "Default to Plot Range or to Run Length if No Other Slots Plotted" to behave as a one-shot, it should be presented as a push button, and the word "Default" doesn't make sense.

David and I propose that that whole "Time Range" section be removed from the Periodic Slot Curve Configuration dialog, and use the algorithm outlined above for time range Auto-Scaling (based on series slots in the plot, or otherwise the current run range).

- Phil