  An x-ray scattering approach to determine the two-dimensional (2D) pair
distribution function (PDF) in partially ordered 2D systems is proposed. We
derive relations between the structure factor and PDF that enable quantitative
studies of positional and bond-orientational (BO) order in real space. We apply
this approach in the x-ray study of a liquid crystal (LC) film undergoing the
smectic-hexatic phase transition, to analyze the interplay between the
positional and BO order during the temperature evolution of the LC film. We
analyze the positional correlation length in different directions in real
space.
