Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!crash!orbit!pnet51!chucks
From: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Erik Funkenbusch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: The Amiga's Future
Message-ID: <5170@orbit.cts.com>
Date: 19 Jun 91 07:25:01 GMT
Sender: news@orbit.cts.com
Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.
Lines: 43

taab5@isuvax.iastate.edu (Marc Barrett) writes:
>>MacDraw saves files as MacDraw or as PICT.
>>MacDraw files are propietary, subject to change, unsupported.
>>PICT files are the standard Mac way of exchanging vector (and bitmap)
>>graphics.
>>Usually it is better to read PICT files.
>>
>
>   The text file included with this message went on to describe the MACDraw
>file format in detail.  MACDraw files ARE pict files, period. 
>
>   This brings up an interesting conlusion related to structured graphics.
>On the Macintosh, virtually any graphics-related program can handle 
>structured graphics.  On the Amiga, programs that can handle structured 
>graphics are practically non-existant.  Even where such programs do exist,
>they are largely incompatible with each other, supporting one of several
>incompatible structured graphics formats.
>  -------------------------------------------------------------
> / Marc Barrett  -MB- | BITNET:   XGR39@ISUVAX.BITNET        /   
>/  ISU COM S Student  | Internet: XGR39@CCVAX.IASTATE.EDU   /      
>------------------------------------------------------------    
>\        The great thing about standards is that          /
> \       there are so many of them to choose from.       /
>  -------------------------------------------------------


Well, as the author of your e-mail points out, MacDraw *CAN* save files in
PICT format, not that it ALWAYS does, or even defaults to PICT.  This is no
different than Pagestream being able to save files as PageStream or IFF.  IT
is apparent that MacDraw files are NON-COMPATIBLE with other applications
when in MacDraw format.

The ability of programs to handle strucured PICT formats is more because of
the way the Mac OS handles graphics primitives.  

.--------------------------------------------------------------------------.
| UUCP: {amdahl!tcnet, crash}!orbit!pnet51!chucks | "I know he's come back |
| ARPA: crash!orbit!pnet51!chucks@nosc.mil        | from the dead, but do  |
| INET: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org                  | you really think he's  |
|-------------------------------------------------| moved back in?"        |
| Amiga programmer at large, employment options   | Lou Diamond Philips in |
| welcome, inquire within.                        | "The First Power".     |
`--------------------------------------------------------------------------'