MARKERSYMBOL <symbol>
 
selects the current marker symbol from the current markerset file.
 
argument
 
<symbol> - specifies the symbol number of a marker symbol defined in a
markerset file.  This symbol will become the current marker symbol.  <symbol>
must be an integer between 1 and 999.  There is no default <symbol> number
because when ARCPLOT starts up, the current marker symbol is set to a hardware
default.
 
notes
 
If you do not give the MARKERSET command to access a specific markerset file
before you give the MARKERSYMBOL command, MARKERSYMBOL will access a symbol
number from the default MARKERSET file.
 
A markerset file is a system file that stores symbol definitions for a set of
up to 999 marker symbols.  Each symbol is identified by a symbol number between
1 and 999.  This symbol number is specified in the MARKERSYMBOL command to
select a marker symbol from a markerset file to be the current marker symbol.
 
ARCPLOT maintains 1035 numbered locations in memory for retaining symbol
definitions.  Symbol numbers 1011-1035 are reserved for template symbols to be
used in the MARKEREDIT menu.  Symbol numbers 1001-1010 are reserved for ARCPLOT
transactions only.  The current symbol is always copied to the location of
1000, replacing the previous settings.  (This is why you can have only 999
symbols, or a symbol other than 1000.)  Using the symbol location 1000 to store
your current marker characteristic edits enables you to make changes to the
current settings without altering a specified marker symbol.
 
Once you have set the current symbol with the MARKERSYMBOL command, you can
still change the individual characteristics of the current marker symbol by
giving commands like MARKERSIZE, MARKERCOLOR, MARKERPATTERN, etc.  For example,
in these commands:
 
A markersymbol number for which there is no marker symbol definition in either
a specified markerset file or the default markerset file, will leave the
current marker symbol unchanged.  For example, if a markerset file featuring
symbols 1 to 200 has been accessed with the MARKERSET command, a MARKERSYMBOL
specification greater than 200 will be ignored and the current marker symbol
will remain unchanged.
 
Giving MARKERSYMBOL as 0 specifies that no current marker symbol will be drawn.
No current marker symbol will be drawn until MARKERSYMBOL is given again with a
valid marker symbol number.
 
Each ARCPLOT marker symbol is made up of a number of layers.  Each layer is a
separate marker design.  Simple marker symbols will only have one layer.  More
complex marker symbols will feature several layers.
 
The following commands specify the characteristics of the current marker
symbol:
 
MARKERANGLE
MARKERCOLOR
MARKERFONT
MARKEROFFSET
MARKERPATTERN
MARKERPEN
MARKERSIZE
 
When you give one of these commands, it will apply to all of the layers in the
current marker symbol unless the MARKERLAYER command has been given to specify
one of the layers.  If you give MARKERLAYER, any changes made to the current
marker symbol will only apply to the specified layer.
 
The current settings of the following commands will affect the characteristics
of the current marker symbol:
 
MARKEROFFSET
MARKERSCALE
SYMBOLSCALE
 
When ARCPLOT starts up, the current marker symbol defaults to MARKERPATTERN 0
from MARKERFONT 0 (the hardware default font).  This is a single-layer marker
symbol in color number 1 (usually white on a color graphics terminal).  These
are the characteristics of this startup default marker symbol:
 
MARKERANGLE  0
MARKERCOLOR  1
MARKERFONT  0
MARKEROFFSET  0
MARKERPATTERN  0
MARKERPEN  0  BUTT  MITER
MARKERSIZE  0
 
This default marker is not taken from a markerset file and has no MARKERSYMBOL
number.
 
To apply the current marker layer edits to a specified marker symbol for reuse
within the current ARCPLOT session, use the MARKERPUT command.
 
To save the current marker layer edits to a specified markerset file for use
within any ARCPLOT or ARCEDIT session, use the MARKERSAVE command.
 
To list the parameter(s) of the current or a specific marker symbol, use the
MARKERINFO {symbol} command.  The marker layer characteristics will be listed
along with the current marker environment settings.
 
To return the number of the current marker symbol, use the SHOW MARKERSYMBOL
command.  To return all the marker layer characteristics of the current or a
specific marker symbol, use the SHOW MARKERINFO <symbol> <layer> command.