diff --git a/base_classes/NXdata.nxdl.xml b/base_classes/NXdata.nxdl.xml
index 67b54a7b0e..7de327487b 100644
--- a/base_classes/NXdata.nxdl.xml
+++ b/base_classes/NXdata.nxdl.xml
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
.. index:: coordinates
The :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` fields contain the axis coordinates associated with the data values.
- The names of all :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` fields are listed in the
+ The names of :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` fields to be used in the plot are listed in the
:ref:`axes </NXdata@axes-attribute>` attribute.
`Rank`
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", "y"] --> the order matters
+ @axes = ["x", "y"]
data: float[10,20]
x: float[10] --> coordinates along the first dimension
y: float[20] --> coordinates along the second dimension
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", "y"] --> the order does NOT matter
+ @axes = ["x", "y"]
@x_indices = [0, 1]
@y_indices = [0, 1]
data: float[10,20]
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", ".", "z"] --> the order matters
+ @axes = ["x", ".", "z"]
data: float[10,20,30]
x: float[10] --> coordinates along the first dimension
z: float[30] --> coordinates along the third dimension
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", "z"] --> the order does NOT matter
+ @axes = ["x", ".", "z"]
data: float[10,20,30]
@x_indices = 0
@z_indices = 2
@@ -170,17 +170,18 @@
The first is an example where data dimensions have alternative axis coordinates. The NXdata group represents
a stack of images collected at different energies. The ``wavelength`` is an alternative axis of ``energy``
- for the last dimension (or vice versa).
+ for the last dimension (or vice versa) thus specifying its ``wavelength_indices`` attribute would indicate that
+ it is a potential choice for dimensions listed
.. code-block::
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", "y", "energy", "wavelength"] --> the order does NOT matter
+ @axes = ["x", "y", "energy"]
@x_indices = 0
@y_indices = 1
@energy_indices = 2
- @wavelength_indices = 2
+ @wavelength_indices = 2 --> alternative for the third dimension
data: float[10,20,30]
x: float[10] --> coordinates along the first dimension
y: float[20] --> coordinates along the second dimension
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data"
- @axes = ["x", "y", "energy"] --> the order does NOT matter
+ @axes = ["x", "y", "energy"]
@x_indices = [0, 1, 2]
@y_indices = [0, 1, 2]
@energy_indices = 2
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@
data:NXdata
@signal = "data1"
@auxiliary_signals = ["data2", "data3"]
- @axes = ["x", "z"]
+ @axes = ["x", ".", "z"]
@x_indices = 0
@z_indices = 2
data1: float[10,20,30]
@@ -322,6 +323,9 @@
When the ``AXISNAME_indices`` attribute is missing for an :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` field, its value becomes the index
(or indices) of the :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` name in the :ref:`axes </NXdata@axes-attribute>` attribute.
+ Futhermore, specifying ``AXISNAME_indices`` attributes for ``AXISNAME`` fields not listed in the :ref:`axes </NXdata@axes-attribute>` attribute
+ provides choice of alternate axes that can be selected for the plot.
+
.. note:: When ``AXISNAME_indices`` contains multiple integers, it must be saved as an actual array
of integers and not a comma separated string.
@@ -330,12 +334,16 @@
.. index:: plotting
- The ``axes`` attribute is a list of strings which are the names of the :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` fields
- that contain the values of the coordinates along the :ref:`data </NXdata/DATA-field>` dimensions.
+ The ``axes`` attribute is a list of strings which are the names of the :ref:`AXISNAME </NXdata/AXISNAME-field>` fields used
+ by default as axis coordinates in the plot of the signal data. This list must have a single entry for each of the dimensions in the
+ signal where dimensions without a default axis should be denoted by a "." in those positions.
.. note:: When ``axes`` contains multiple strings, it must be saved as an actual array
of strings and not a single comma separated string.
+
+
+