Win32GKS - GKS for Windows
Features of Win32GKS
Win32GKS is a complete Level 2c implementation of the GKS standard. In addition to all the standard output functions it fully supports the GKS bundle concept as well as segment storage. It supports the full range of logical input devices in all modes.
Workstations
- A GKS "workstation" is a device to which output may be directed and/or from which input may be received. Win32GKS supports multiple windows on the display and in principle any printer or plotter which has a Windows driver. GKS metafile input and output workstations are also provided for disk storage and retrieval of graphical information in either binary or character encoding. Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), Windows Metafile (WMF) and clipboard output allows picture export to other applications.
Standard output
Win32GKS provides a full set of GKS output primitives
- Polylines - six styles, various widths
- Polymarkers - six styles, various sizes
- Text - very complete stroke-precision implementation using Windows vector and TrueType fonts almost arbitrary choice of size, position and orientation; vector fonts may be scaled differently in the x and y directions even when at an angle
- Fill area - hollow, solid, pattern (32 variations), and hatch (6 styles)
- Cell array - array of coloured or shaded parallelograms
The colour capabilities of a device, if any, are used to expand the range of appearances of the above primitives
Bundles
Bundles are collections of attributes for each of the standard types of output. If an application elects to use bundles then with no programming effort the developer can guarantee that lines, markers, text, and fill areas drawn from different bundles will all appear distinguishable no matter what the capabilities of the output device
Segment storage
GKS output primitives may be collected in "segments". Segments may be drawn, made invisible, highlighted, and transformed (translated, scaled, and rotated). Segments may be copied from a central store called WISS (Workstation Independent Segment Storage) to any output workstation, with optional transformation. With GKS it is a simple matter to design a program which allows the user to manipulate a drawing on the display and then render a final version on a slower device such as a printer or a plotter
Input devices
For the display workstation Win32GKS provides logical input facilities which allow the end-user to enter the following kinds of input using the keyboard and mouse:
- Locator - enter a position - one device active simultaneously, six types
- Stroke - enter a connected sequence of positions - one device active simultaneously, three types
- Valuator - enter a number - up to three devices active simultaneously, three types
- Choice - enter a choice - up to three devices active simultaneously, one type
- Pick - pick a segment from those displayed - one device active simultaneously, one type
- String - enter an arbitrary string - three devices active simultaneously, one type
Both synchronous and asynchronous input are supported. Graphical refresh and device input are supported using a multithreaded design which is truly asynchronous
Trademarks
Win32GKS is a trademark of Oxford Scientific Software Ltd
All other trademarks belong to their respective owners and are acknowledged
|