LocatorPane
LocatorPane [{x,y},back]
represents a pane with a locator at position {x,y} and background back.
LocatorPane [Dynamic [pt],back]
takes the locator position to be the dynamically updated current value of pt, with the value of pt being reset if the locator is moved.
LocatorPane [{pt1,pt2,…},back]
sets up multiple locators at positions pt1, pt2, ….
LocatorPane [Dynamic [{pt1,pt2,…}],back]
takes the locator positions to be dynamically updated current values of the pti.
LocatorPane [pts,back,{{xmin,ymin},{xmax,ymax}}]
specifies the range of coordinates for the locator.
LocatorPane [pts,back,{{xmin,ymin},{xmax,ymax},{dx,dy}}]
uses jumps dx, dy.
Details and Options
- The background in a locator pane can be a graphic or any other expression.
- For a Graphics object g, LocatorPane [pt,g] by default takes the range of coordinates for pt to be the range of graphics coordinates corresponding to PlotRange in g.
- For a general expression, LocatorPane [pt,expr] takes the range of coordinates for pt to be 0 to 1 in each direction.
- The following options can be given:
- whether to zoom to fullscreen when activated on a touchscreen
Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (2)
Create a locator pane with a single locator and a background image of a disk:
Create multiple locators:
Use Dynamic to connect locator positions to variables:
Do the same for multiple locators:
Scope (8)
LocatorPane Content (2)
Use a graphic as the background:
Include an empty graphic:
Use any expression as the background:
LocatorPane Control (6)
Specify a range of coordinates for locators:
Specify both a range and jump size for locators:
Use any expression as the appearance for locators:
Use multiple locators:
Use a dynamic setting:
Connect the dynamic setting to a Slider2D :
Options (15)
Appearance (3)
Use any expression as the appearance for locators in LocatorPane :
Multiple locators with different appearances:
Use Appearance->None for invisible locators:
Use an invisible locator to implement a constrained movement:
AutoAction (2)
By default, the locator does not change until you click in the locator pane:
By setting AutoAction , the locator changes as the mouse moves over the locator pane:
Background (2)
Change the background colors:
Change the background color dynamically:
ContinuousAction (2)
By default, variables are continuously updated:
Setting ContinuousAction to False makes variable updates only when the locator is released:
Enabled (2)
By default, LocatorPane is enabled:
By setting Enabled->False , the locator is disabled but visible in its current state:
LocatorAutoCreate (4)
By default, each click in the locator pane will move the nearest locator:
By setting LocatorAutoCreate->True , you can use Alt+Click to create or remove locators:
By setting LocatorAutoCreate->All , create a locator on each click (Alt+Click to remove):
Make an interactive plot that runs through all locators:
Applications (6)
Set up an array of movable random points:
Create a locator that is constrained to follow the curve:
Use CurrentValue ["CurrentLocatorPaneThumb"] to enforce different drag restrictions on different points:
Visualize solutions to a linear system of differential equations :
Interactive curve fit plot:
Interactive three-point circle [more info]:
Properties & Relations (2)
LocatorPane is a special case of EventHandler :
Use Setting to extract the setting of a LocatorPane :
Neat Examples (3)
Use AutoAction to select the locator closest to the mouse point:
Constrain the locator to a circle:
Visualize solutions to a linear system of differential equations :
Tech Notes
Related Workflows
- Use Locator Controls
History
Introduced in 2007 (6.0) | Updated in 2008 (7.0) ▪ 2012 (9.0)
Text
Wolfram Research (2007), LocatorPane, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/LocatorPane.html (updated 2012).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2007. "LocatorPane." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2012. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/LocatorPane.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2007). LocatorPane. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/LocatorPane.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_locatorpane, author="Wolfram Research", title="{LocatorPane}", year="2012", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/LocatorPane.html}", note=[Accessed: 10-April-2025 ]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_locatorpane, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={LocatorPane}, year={2012}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/LocatorPane.html}, note=[Accessed: 10-April-2025 ]}