Xref: utzoo comp.graphics:4417 comp.windows.misc:1061 comp.windows.x:7838
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!sgi!daisy!turner
From: turner@daisy.UUCP (D'arc Angel)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,comp.windows.misc,comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: CGM Metafile Integration
Message-ID: <2654@daisy.UUCP>
Date: 9 Feb 89 16:59:31 GMT
References: <109@jma.UUCP>
Reply-To: turner@daisy.UUCP (D'arc Angel)
Organization: The Houses of the Holy
Lines: 37


We are doing exactly the same thing here looking at CGM as a plot
metafile etc. vehicle and wrestling with the problems of hardcopy
in X. Is there a mail list out there for these issues? If not, 
anyone interested in starting one? Here are some of the thoughts
that we have come up, I would welcome any comments.

1. make a screen number (e.g. unix:99) be the hardcopy device 
(actually a class of display numbers, 901 is calcomp etc.).
Problem: how do you pass device dependant flags; handle the
differences in resolution; accomodate the high level abilities
of the device (everything is spans at the server level). 
Advantages: it requires a minimum change for clients (-display
flag in many cases); it handles 'remote' plotting.

2. set a switch in Xlib and save the wire protocal as a metafile
format for later replay thru some kind of a metafile interpreter.
Problem: flags and resolution are not that much of a problem 
since the issues could be resolved in the interpreter.
Advantages: it's a real metafile and can be passed around,
saved for later plotting etc.; adding new devices is easier.

3. write a whole new set of Xlib routines to handle hardcopy
Problem: clients need to be changed; it'll be a while before
the protocal etc are implemented. 
Advantages: it'll be official.

and on and on. I make no claim as to the feasibility or value of
these solutions and the list is FAR from exhaustive. It is meant to
start a discussion. If there is already a mailing list for this....
never mind.

As always flames > /dev/null

-- 
Don't take life too seriously, it ain't nohow permanent - Pogo
...{decwrl|ucbvax}!imagen!atari!daisy!turner (James M. Turner)