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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

972.0. "Math Pictures" by AKQJ10::YARBROUGH (I prefer Pi) Wed Nov 09 1988 19:41

Dear moderator:

To make the most of this conference, we need a means of expressing 
geometric concepts from time to time. Character cell graphics just don't 
do the job.  I propose that the moderator permit/encourage the use of 
PostScript (R) files as a medium for drawing diagrams in this conference.

Pluses:
o	there are available tools to generate very clear graphics - it may 
	encourage the discussion of topics currently too hard to deal with 
	visually.
o 	PS printers are becoming more common and are essentially a DEC
	internal standard. 
o	as WS's become widely available with PS windows, it will
	become possible to use the files directly, on-line. 

Minuses:
o 	There is some risk of bad PS files - it's possible to screw up 
	somebody's printer.
o	PS files may take up a lot of disk space. 

Comments, anyone?

Lynn Yarbrough 
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972.1ZFC::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoWed Nov 09 1988 20:4113
     One problem with character cell graphics -- the DECwindows
     version of NOTES apparently uses a variable width font; at
     any rate the individual lines of multi-line formulas such
     as:
           2    2    2
          x  + y  = z
     
     no longer lined up, so what I saw looked more like:
     
         2  2  2
          x + y = z
     
     Dan
972.2Sixels would be better.DWOVAX::YOUNGNote early. Note Often.Thu Nov 10 1988 01:5814
    Sixels would be much better for me than PostScript.
    
    At the moment, and for the forseeable future, I am not going to
    have any way to access an interactive display PostScript device.
    I do have access to a PostScript printer at the office, but I get
    in to the office only about once a month (life in the field has
    its drawbacks).
    
    On the other hand, all of the terminals that I use to access the
    Enet with DO have Sixel capabilities.  I realize that PostScript
    has many toher advantages over Sixels, and that it is the way of
    the future, but these two points are real show-stoppers for me.
    
    --  Barry
972.3Anybody got a postscript-to-sixel converter?POOL::HALLYBThe smart money was on GoliathThu Nov 10 1988 15:151
    
972.4AITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoThu Nov 10 1988 16:209
     re: Anybody got a postscript-to-sixel converter?
     
     My workstation has DECwindows, so I should be able to view
     postscript files in a window, and capture that using the
     "print portion of screen" feature into a sixel file or a
     DDIF file (or a postscript file, but that's what it started
     as).
     
     Dan
972.5Edit postscript files before viewing!CDROM::JAGGERTue Nov 15 1988 21:0916
>     re: Anybody got a postscript-to-sixel converter?
     
>     My workstation has DECwindows, so I should be able to view
>     postscript files in a window, and capture that using the
>     "print portion of screen" feature into a sixel file or a
>     DDIF file (or a postscript file, but that's what it started
>     as).


Not only that, but you can edit the postscript file and add scale, and
translation commands, so that text is readable as a sixel file. We are
currently taking postscript files and generating sixel files from this
very process! 

TOM
972.6DDIF for picturesCLT::GILBERTMultiple inheritence happensTue Nov 22 1988 17:2011
    And the answer is ... DDIF.
    
    The DECwindows version of VAX Notes (T2.0-10) supports DDIF notes.
    When you write the note, use the 'use existing file...' option in the
    'File' pull-down menu.  Sorry, VAX Notes doesn't let you edit/compose
    the DDIF note, you'll have to use EPIC/write for that.  VAX Notes
    *does* display the DDIF note using the DDIF viewer, and will convert
    DDIF notes to simple text if appropriate/possible (just as RMS does
    if you type or compile a DDIF file).
    
    BTW, DECwindows Mail also supports DDIF files.
972.7How thick are the lines :-) ?AKQJ10::YARBROUGHI prefer PiTue Nov 22 1988 18:175
An important factor here is file size, since notes become sorta permanent.
Can someone tell me the relative volume of DDIF vs PostScript files for a
line drawing? 

Lynn Yarbrough 
972.8AITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoTue Nov 22 1988 21:155
     It might be best to post a pointer to a world-readable file
     on your own machine.  With a simple "ascii diagram" in the
     note for those who don't have DECwindows workstations.
     
     Dan
972.9one problem (from .1) has been fixedAITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoFri Mar 03 1989 19:1925
     re .1

>>     One problem with character cell graphics -- the DECwindows
>>     version of NOTES apparently uses a variable width font; at
>>     any rate the individual lines of multi-line formulas such
>>     as:
>>           2    2    2
>>          x  + y  = z
>>     
>>     no longer lined up, so what I saw looked more like:
>>     
>>         2  2  2
>>          x + y = z

     This is from the notes release notes, note 3.3 of CLT::VAXNOTES_V20_IFT
     dated 18-JAN-1989.

>>      o  The Read window formerly did not display <TAB> characters  in
>>          the text of the note.  This problem has been fixed.

     I haven't noticed the problem I mentioned in .1 for a long time.
     Apparently it wasn't a variable width font, it was tab characters
     not being handled correctly.  That's fixed now.

     Dan