[Etherape-users] Re: etherape questions

[Chuck C. <cam...@ne...>]

On Thu, Mar 23, 2000 at 08:32:11PM +0100, Juan Toledo wrote:
> 
> > One question:
> >
> > 1)Is it possible to indicate the traffic direction on the map?  It appears
> > that it is doing so, but in the same color for each direction, and the same
> > line width, so you lose the ability to see this happening.  Maybe some arrow
> > heads or something, or an offset between the two directions???
> 
> It's on the todo list. It hasn't been a priority yet. Among other things because I
> really don't know how to do it properly. I can't just put a "Show incoming traffic
> only" button for links, because what direction is incoming for a link? And if I'm
> to draw them both, I'm not really sure what is the best way to do it. This is an
> open invitation for everybody to brainstorm about it. :-)

I assume you are currently just drawing a bar of scaled thickness in the 
protocol color.  Maybe you could add some arrow heads indicating 
direction.  These would not have to scale, and could appear near the end 1/3 
of the link line (if they are all in the center of the link line, they 
might be difficult to see, and they would post on top of one another.

The arrow heads could always post in black (or the background canvas color)
if they were drawn after the link line was displayed.

Another possibility (and one I like much better) would be to use different 
line types (e.g.  dots, dashes, mixed length dashes, mixed dots and dashes, 
etc.) in fixed weight or line width to draw links of different protocol types. 
You could then offset link lines for the two directions between nodes by a 
small fixed amount with arrow heads at each end to indicate direction and use 
color variation (blue = lowest, green, yellow =  medium, orange, red = highest)
to represent packet volumes.

This latter approach would keep the high volume link(s) from dominating the
display by growing as large as the canvas.

-chuck

-- 
ACCEL Services, Inc.| Specialists in Gravity, Magnetics |  1(713)993-0671 ph.
1980 Post Oak Blvd. |   and Integrated Interpretation   |  1(713)960-1157 fax
    Suite 2050      |                                   |
 Houston, TX, 77056 |          Chuck Campbell           | cam...@ne...
                    |  President & Senior Geoscientist  |

     "Integration means more than having all the maps at the same scale!"