Ref Sec21.

PATTERN

Alias for PPL PATSET PATTERN=. Specifies or restores the default pattern. PATTERN is also implemented as a qualifier for the 2-Dimension graphics commands FILL, CONTOUR/FILL, SHADE, and POLYGON commands.

yes? PATTERN patt_name

or

yes? FILL/PATTERN=patt_name var
yes? SHADE/PATTERN=patt_name var
yes? POLYGON/PATTERN=patt_name var

The argument is the name of a pattern file. Many patterns are included in the Ferret distribution. Try the Unix command "Fpattern '*'" to see a list of available pattern files, or run the script

yes? go show_all_patterns.jnl

to see examples of the different pattern fills available.

Ferret has the capability to make color plots using color only:

pr with colors laid on in patterns:

The script

yes? go pattern_demo

illustrates the use of patterns and overlaying patterns on color fill plots.

The PATTERN command sets the patterns to be used in a plot generated with the SHADE, FILL and POLYGON commands. It is similar to the PALETTE command, which sets colors, but the PALETTE and PATTERN commands act independently.When Ferret is started up, only one pattern is set, SOLID. The SOLID pattern is equivalent to not using any pattern, and SHADE, FILL and POLYGON fill their cells with solid color.

Pattern files end in the file suffix .pat, but use of the suffix is not necessary when specifying a pattern. Use GO show_pattern patt_name to display the patterns specified in a pattern file.

GO show_all_patterns draws a plot showing all the available pattern files and their names.

Notice that patterns can be used with a single color, or multiple colors, depending entirely on the PALETTE specification.

A pattern file may specify one or more patterns. If there are fewer patterns specified in a pattern file than there are levels in a particular plot, the patterns will be repeated.

NOTE: The pattern capability depends on underlying graphics libraries and is available only in interactive mode and metafile batch mode.  It is not available in gif mode or batch postscript mode. That is, it can be used when Ferret is started in interactive or batch metafiles modes, but not otherwise. To summarize,

> ferret
  (Interactive mode: make hardcopy output by setting a metafile, or executing a FRAME/file=name.gif command to capture the screen image as a gif file.)

> ferret -batch my_metafile.plt

> ferret -batch
(save hardcopy output by setting a metafile)

> ferret -unmapped
(save hardcopy output by setting a metafile)

> ferret -gif

> ferret -batch my_psfile.ps