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Supported Graphics Devices
Introduction
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Dataplot supports a number of graphics device drivers. Some
of these (e.g., Postscript) are built-in directly and are thus
available on all implementations of Dataplot. Other drivers
require local installation (typically, this just means linking
with an appropriate graphics library) and may or may not be
available on a given implementation. Certain types of graphics
output may be post-processed by external software.
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Chapter 7 of Volume I of the online Reference Manual discusses the commands for specifying the graphics devices. The Frequently Asked Questions discusses the issues of printing graphs and importing graphs into word processors in the PC Windows environment.
Built-in Device Drivers
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DATAPLOT supports the following built-in device drivers:
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Device Drivers That May Require Some Local Installation
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In addition, the following devices are available, but may
require some local installation (usually linking the proper
device library). The installation notes give instructions for
installing these devices (when the appropriate vendor library is
available).
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Adding New Device Drivers
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I have a number of devices that I plan to add support for in
Dataplot. Feel free to send me requests for additional
device support. My criteria for deciding to add a device
are:
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Currently, I am investigating adding Cairo and OpenGL device drivers.
Ghostscript/ |
Ghostview
Using the popular and
freely downloadable Ghostscript/Ghostview programs can
greatly extend the list of supported devices on the Unix
and Microsoft Windows platforms. Ghostscript/Ghostview can
read Postscript files and view them on the screen or convert
them to many other common formats. In particular, the most
common use of Ghostscript/Ghostview is to print Postscript
files on non-Postscript printers.
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NOTE: Recent enhancements (as of 1/2003) to Dataplot now invoke Ghostview or Ghostscript automatically. Specifically,
Dataplot Post Processor
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Many years ago I wrote a post-processor for DATAPLOT. This
will read either DATAPLOT metafiles (i.e., the GENERAL device)
or Tektronix 4014 format files. There are currently 2 versions
available. One uses the Disspla subroutine library while the
other uses the Template subroutine library. Although these
libraries are no longer available. However, these can be
used as a template for other graphics libraries.
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With the availability of Ghostview/Ghostscript, graphics editing programs such as the GIMP, and image conversion programs such as Image Magick and NetPBM, I don't really find any particular need for the post processor anymore. However, the source is available upon request (the most likely use is to adapt it to a local graphics library). If you are interested in the post processor, contact Alan Heckert. The CGM metafile can be used if you have a local post-processor that reads CGM format files. DATAPLOT currently only generates clear text ecoded CGM files. Many post-processors only read binary encoded CGM files. If you have LIBPLOT installed, you can use the LIBPLOT CGM file.
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Date created: 6/5/2001 |