Scale and Markers

A control feature that manages the tick marks and scale labels for the gauge, allowing developers to set the number, length, and appearance of both major and minor tick marks, etc.

Overview

The Scale & Markers feature provides options to display and customize the gauge’s scale by configuring properties such as ShowScaleMarkers, MajorTickCount, MinorTickCount, MajorTickLength, and ShowMinMaxLabels. These settings determine the number and spacing of tick marks along the gauge’s arc, while also controlling the display of scale labels for the minimum and maximum values. This feature is critical for applications where precise measurement and visual scale representation are required.

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Key Points

Aspect	Description	Code Reference / Example
Scale Marker Toggle	Enables or disables the display of tick marks around the gauge.	csharp\n// Toggle scale markers\nmyGauge.ShowScaleMarkers = true;
Major Tick Count	Sets the number of major tick marks that appear along the gauge's arc.	csharp\n// Set to 10 major ticks\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 10;
Minor Tick Count	Defines how many minor tick marks are drawn between each pair of major ticks.	csharp\n// Set to 5 minor ticks between major ticks\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 5;
Tick Appearance	Controls the length and color of the tick marks and the font and color of the scale labels.	csharp\n// Set the major tick length and color\nmyGauge.MajorTickLength = 15f;\nmyGauge.TickColor = Color.Gray;\n// Configure scale label appearance\nmyGauge.ScaleLabelsFontSize = 9f;\nmyGauge.LabelColor = Color.DarkGray;
Optional Labels	Optionally display the minimum and maximum value labels along the scale.	csharp\n// Enable min and max labels\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;

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Best Practices

Recommendation	Details	Example / Explanation
Configure Tick Counts Thoughtfully	Choose MajorTickCount and MinorTickCount values that balance clarity and visual density without overwhelming the gauge.	csharp\n// A balanced configuration\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 10;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 3;
Use Consistent Styling	Align the tick color and scale label color with the overall gauge theme for a unified appearance.	csharp\nmyGauge.TickColor = Color.Gray;\nmyGauge.LabelColor = Color.DarkGray;
Enable Labels for Precision	When precise measurement is critical, enable ShowMinMaxLabels so that the endpoints of the scale are clearly marked.	csharp\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;

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Common Pitfalls

Issue	Details	Resolution / Code Example
Overcrowded Scale	Setting too many major or minor ticks can clutter the gauge, making it hard to read.	Instead of using extreme values, choose moderate counts:csharp\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 10;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 2;
Mismatched Colors and Fonts	Inconsistent tick and label colors can lead to a visually disjointed gauge display.	Ensure that TickColor, LabelColor, and font settings align with the overall gauge theme.csharp\nmyGauge.TickColor = Color.Gray;\nmyGauge.LabelColor = Color.DarkGray;
Ignoring the Display of Min/Max Labels	Omitting the display of minimum and maximum labels when needed can reduce the interpretability of the gauge.	Always verify the use-case; for precise measurement displays, enable the labels:csharp\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;

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Usage Scenarios

Scenario	Description	Sample Code
Standard Dashboard	Display a gauge with clearly marked scales for monitoring performance metrics where both major and minor ticks aid in quick visual assessment.	csharp\n// Dashboard gauge configuration\nmyGauge.ShowScaleMarkers = true;\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 8;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 4;\nmyGauge.MajorTickLength = 12f;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;
Data Monitoring Tool	For applications that require precise readings, such as a temperature or pressure monitor, display both the ticks and the min/max labels for accuracy.	csharp\n// Data monitoring configuration\nmyGauge.ShowScaleMarkers = true;\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 12;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 3;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;
Minimalist Design	In modern UI designs, a minimal scale might be preferred; in this case, fewer tick marks without extra labels provide a clean look.	csharp\n// Minimal scale configuration\nmyGauge.ShowScaleMarkers = true;\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 5;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 0;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = false;

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Real Life Usage Scenarios

Scenario	Description	Sample Integration Code
Financial Dashboard	A financial dashboard may use a gauge to display percentage metrics where the scale markers and min/max labels help users understand performance thresholds.	csharp\n// Financial dashboard scale settings\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 10;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 2;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;\n// Consistent styling for a professional look\nmyGauge.TickColor = Color.LightGray;\nmyGauge.LabelColor = Color.DarkSlateGray;
Industrial Monitoring	In an industrial setting, a gauge for monitoring temperature or pressure requires clearly visible tick marks and labels for safety and precision.	csharp\n// Industrial monitoring gauge\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 15;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 5;\nmyGauge.MajorTickLength = 15f;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;\n// Ensuring high contrast for visibility\nmyGauge.TickColor = Color.Black;\nmyGauge.LabelColor = Color.Black;
Healthcare Devices	Medical devices often require a clear and uncluttered display; thus, a limited number of major ticks without extra labels can be beneficial for readability.	csharp\n// Healthcare device gauge settings\nmyGauge.MajorTickCount = 7;\nmyGauge.MinorTickCount = 1;\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = false;

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Troubleshooting Tips

Tip	Explanation	Action
Verify Tick Count Values	Incorrect tick counts (too high or too low) may result in a scale that is either too cluttered or too sparse.	Check that your MajorTickCount and MinorTickCount values align with your design goals.Example: If using MajorTickCount = 20 leads to overcrowding, try reducing to 10.
Ensure Consistent Color Settings	Inconsistent or conflicting color settings for ticks and labels may cause readability issues.	Confirm that TickColor and LabelColor are set to complementary colors that match your application's theme.
Confirm Label Visibility Settings	If minimum and maximum labels do not appear as expected, verify the ShowMinMaxLabels property setting.	Ensure:csharp\nmyGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = true;

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Review

Aspect	Comments	Suggestions
Visual Clarity	The feature provides a robust method for displaying a detailed scale, ensuring that the gauge is easy to interpret even at a glance.	Consider adjusting the tick and label styling to fit different themes (light vs. dark) for optimal clarity.
Flexibility	Offers extensive customization through tick counts, lengths, and optional labels.	Ensure that the selected values for MajorTickCount and MinorTickCount are appropriate for the intended display size and use case.
Ease of Integration	Simple to integrate with straightforward property assignments and clear code examples.	Follow the provided integration examples to tailor the scale to the application’s requirements, ensuring consistency with the overall UI.

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Summary

Summary Point	Description
Feature Overview	Manages the gauge's scale by configuring major and minor tick marks along with optional minimum/maximum value labels.
Core Properties	ShowScaleMarkers, MajorTickCount, MinorTickCount, MajorTickLength, and ShowMinMaxLabels determine scale appearance.
Integration Methods	Properties are set directly, and the scale is rendered automatically as part of the gauge’s drawing routine.
Usage and Best Practices	Balance the number of ticks with visual clarity and ensure consistent styling with the overall gauge theme.
Troubleshooting and Tips	Verify that tick counts and color settings are appropriate to avoid a cluttered or sparse display.

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Integration Demo

Below is a full sample code snippet to demonstrate how to integrate the Scale & Markers feature into a WinForms application:

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI; // Namespace as provided

public class ScaleDemoForm : Form
{
    private SiticoneGaugeNumeric myGauge;
    private Button updateScaleButton;
    
    public ScaleDemoForm()
    {
        // Initialize the gauge with scale settings
        myGauge = new SiticoneGaugeNumeric
        {
            // Set up gauge value properties
            MinValue = 0f,
            MaxValue = 100f,
            Value = 50f,
            AnimationSpeed = 5f,
            ShowAnimation = true,
            // Set up scale and marker properties
            ShowScaleMarkers = true,
            MajorTickCount = 10,
            MinorTickCount = 3,
            MajorTickLength = 15f,
            ShowMinMaxLabels = true,
            Size = new Size(300, 300),
            Location = new Point(50, 30)
        };
        
        // Initialize a button to update scale settings dynamically
        updateScaleButton = new Button
        {
            Text = "Change Scale",
            Location = new Point(50, 350),
            Width = 100
        };
        updateScaleButton.Click += UpdateScaleButton_Click;
        
        // Add controls to the form
        Controls.Add(myGauge);
        Controls.Add(updateScaleButton);
    }
    
    private void UpdateScaleButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Example: Change the number of major and minor ticks dynamically
        myGauge.MajorTickCount = 8;
        myGauge.MinorTickCount = 2;
        myGauge.MajorTickLength = 12f;
        // Optionally, update the min and max labels display
        myGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels = !myGauge.ShowMinMaxLabels;
    }
    
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new ScaleDemoForm());
    }
}

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API Reference

Member	Type	Description
ShowScaleMarkers	bool	Enables or disables the display of scale tick marks along the gauge arc.
MajorTickCount	int	Sets the number of major tick marks displayed on the gauge.
MinorTickCount	int	Sets the number of minor tick marks displayed between major ticks.
MajorTickLength	float	Determines the length (in pixels) of the major tick marks.
ShowMinMaxLabels	bool	Determines whether the minimum and maximum scale labels are displayed.

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This documentation should provide a thorough guide for integrating and using the Scale & Markers feature in your WinForms applications. By following the provided examples, tables, and best practices, you can ensure that your gauge displays a clear and well-defined scale for improved user interaction and data interpretation.