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Using JMP > JMP Reports > Add Annotations and Shapes to JMP Reports and Graphs
Publication date: 04/21/2023

Add Annotations and Shapes to JMP Reports and Graphs

You can add text notes, lines, polygons, ovals, and rectangles to a report or graph using graphics tools found in the toolbar.

Add Annotations to JMP Reports or Graphs

You can add editable text notes to a JMP report or graph using the annotate tool Image shown here. To add an annotation:

1. Select the annotate tool Image shown here from the Tools menu or toolbar.

2. In the report or graph, click where you want to add the annotation. Or, click and drag to size the annotation note. A white editable text box appears.

3. Enter text.

4. Click outside the annotation.

5. (Optional) To add a tag line, right-click the annotation and select Tag Line.

You can also edit any of the following options:

Background Color

Select the background color for the annotation.

Text Color

Select the text color. The color of the text also defines the color of the annotation outline.

Font

Change the font type, style, and size. To change the default font, see Preferences for File Locations.

Tag Line

Draws a line between the annotation and the point or text it is anchored to.

Filled

Removes the background color from the annotation so that it looks transparent. A transparent note is handy for putting titles and footnotes on a graph.

Editable

Makes the annotation editable by double-clicking on it.

Fixed Size

Avoids resizing the annotation box when you add text to the box.

Reanchor

(Available only when the annotation is moved.) Annotations are anchored to a location within the report, but can be moved around independently of the anchor location. The behavior of an annotation depends on the anchor position. For example, annotations anchored inside a graph move with the axes, and annotations anchored inside an outline show or hide when the outline is opened or closed. To reanchor an annotation, turn off the tag line, move the annotation to a new location, and right-click to reanchor it.

Delete

Deletes the entire annotation.

Note: When adding multiple annotations, press Shift when selecting the annotation tool for the first time. This causes subsequent clicks to add an annotation, and you do not have to select the annotate tool from the toolbar before the addition of each annotation.

Once you have added an annotation, you can do the following:

Table 9.3 Using Annotations

Action

Instructions

Add to or edit an annotation

Click inside the text box.

Move an annotation

Click inside the annotation box and drag it. When an annotation is moved, it becomes selected, as indicated by a double blue line with handles around the perimeter.

Resize an annotation

Place the cursor on the handle of a selected note (showing in the middle of the edges and in the corners). The cursor appears as a single crossed arrow; drag to resize the annotation.

Delete an annotation

Highlight the annotation by clicking the handle of a note and then press Delete or Backspace.

Move an annotation’s tag line

1. Right-click the annotation and deselect Tag Line.

2. Drag the annotation to where you want the tag line to start (the attachment point).

3. Right-click the annotation and select Tag Line.

The tag line now starts at the point where you moved the annotation.

4. Move the annotation where you want it to appear.

Move the tag line with the annotation

Press Ctrl and drag the annotation to move the tag line endpoint with the annotation.

Add Shapes to JMP Reports

You can add editable lines, polygons, and simple shapes (ovals or rectangles) to a JMP report using the drawing tools Image shown here Image shown here Image shown here. The following sections describe how each of these tools can be used.

Note: Each graphics tool remembers the most recent options chosen. This is useful if you need many annotations or other graphics with the same characteristics. For example, suppose you want many thick green lines with an arrow on one end. Create a line the way you want it, set the options, and subsequent lines appear with those options in effect. The options persist until you change them.

Add a Line

Add a line annotation to a report window, follow these steps:

1. Click the line tool Image shown here in the tool palette.

2. Click and drag where you want to insert the line. The line appears selected, showing handles on both ends.

3. Click and drag the line to move it.

4. Click a handle and drag to rotate the line.

5. Right-click a line for options to customize the appearance of the line:

Point to and Point from

Places arrows on either end (or both ends) of the line.

Thick

Changes the width of a line to thick. Lines are thin by default.

Dashed

Changes the line to dashed. Lines are solid by default.

Color

Displays the JMP color palette to change the color of the shape.

Reanchor

Line annotations are anchored to a location within the report but can be moved around independently of the anchor location. The behavior depends on the anchor position. For example, line annotations anchored inside a graph move with the axes, and line annotations anchored inside an outline show or hide when the outline is opened or closed. To reanchor a line annotation, move the line to a new location and right-click to reanchor it. Available only when the annotation is located outside the graph.

Delete

Removes the shape from the report surface. You can also remove the shape by selecting it and then pressing Delete or Backspace.

Add a Polygon or Bezier Curve

To add a polygon (or Bezier curve) annotation to a report window, follow these steps:

1. Click the polygon tool Image shown here in the tool palette.

2. Click to create the beginning point for the first side of a polygon.

3. Click again at the location where you want to complete the first side and begin an adjacent side. A square selection box with handles appears around the polygon area.

4. Click a third time to complete the second side.

5. Continue this process until the polygon is the way you want it. Each time a side is complete, the selection box adjusts to encompass the polygon sides.

6. Double-click to release the polygon tool.

Once you have added a polygon, you can perform the following actions:

Table 9.4 Working with Polygons

Action

Instructions

Select or deselect the polygon

Click the edge of a completed polygon.

Resize the polygon

Select it and drag one of the selection box’s handles.

Move the polygon

Click between the box’s handles and drag the selection box.

Change the number of sides of the polygon

Click and drag the sides to form the new shape.

Right-click a polygon for options to customize its appearance:

Filled

Fills or empties the area of the shape.

Raised

Displays thick shaded lines around the shape. If the shape is also filled, the lower edge of the figure appears raised, giving it a three-dimensional look.

Smooth

Smooths the vertices of a polygon to produce a Bezier curve. The smoothed figure is reshaped and resized the same way as the polygon, and can be filled and raised.

Closed

Opens or closes the last segment of a polygon.

Color

Displays the JMP color palette to change the color of the shape’s sides, and its fill color when the Filled option is in effect.

Reanchor

Polygon annotations are anchored to a location within the report, but can be moved around independently of the anchor location. The behavior depends on the anchor position. For example, polygon annotations anchored inside a graph move with the axes, and polygon annotations anchored inside an outline show or hide when the outline is opened or closed. To reanchor a polygon annotation, move the polygon to a new location and right-click to reanchor it.

Delete

Removes the shape from the report. You can also remove the shape by selecting it and then pressing Delete or Backspace.

Add an Oval or Rectangle

To add an oval or rectangle annotation to a report window, follow these steps:

1. Click the simple shape tool Image shown here in the tool palette.

2. Click and drag where you want to insert the shape. An oval appears with a selection box around it.

3. (Optional) To turn the oval into a rectangle, right-click the oval and select Shape > Rectangle.

4. Double-click to release the simple shape tool.

Once you have added the shape, you can do the following:

Select the shape and drag one of the selection box handles to reshape or resize.

Click and drag an edge of the selection box (located between the handles) to move it.

Select the shape, and then right-click it for options to customize its appearance:

Filled

Fills or empties the area of the shape.

Raised

Displays thick shaded lines around the shape. If the shape is also filled, the lower edge of the figure appears raised, giving it a three-dimensional look.

Shape

Displays a submenu whose options transform the shape into either an oval or a rectangle when selected.

Color

Displays the JMP color palette to change the color of the shape’s sides and its fill color when the Filled option is in effect.

Reanchor

Shape annotations are anchored to a location within the report, but can be moved around independently of the anchor location. The behavior depends on the anchor position. For example, shape annotations anchored inside a graph move with the axes, and shape annotations anchored inside an outline show or hide when the outline is opened or closed. To reanchor a shape annotation, move the shape to a new location and right-click to reanchor it.

Delete

Removes the shape from the report. You can also remove the shape by selecting it and then pressing Delete or Backspace.

Want more information? Have questions? Get answers in the JMP User Community (community.jmp.com).