Graphics Plus/Graphics Plus.iso/general/procssng/compstol/cmpsttl1.lha/CompositeTool/v1.1.adoc/CompositeTool.ch.1.a

Text File | 1990-05-08 | 14.1 KB | 446 lines

1.1    NCSA CompositeTool

CompositeTool Basics    1.1

National Center for Supercomputing Applications

April 1990






1.1    NCSA CompositeTool

CompositeTool Basics    1.1

National Center for Supercomputing Applications

April 1990




5/2/90




Chapter 1    CompositeTool Basics



Chapter Overview
Installing the Program
Setting Up a Non-NCSA Installation
Invoking CompositeTool
Standard Features
Mouse Buttons
Title Bars
CompositeTool Messages
Working with CompositeTool
Opening a Canvas
Changing the Canvas Color
Loading an Image
Entering Text
Using the Feature Option
Clearing the Display
Exiting CompositeTool

Chapter Overview

This chapter outlines general information about NCSA
CompositeTool such as how to use the mouse buttons, open frames,
interpret messages, and retrieve program files. A tutorial which
describes how to set up a non-NCSA installation (both personal and
system installations) is also included.

This manual assumes you have knowledge of UNIX and the
SunView system. Please refer to manuals outlining these items if
you are unfamiliar with them.


Installing the Program

You can only invoke CompositeTool from the physical machine
that you are logged on to. That is, if you log on to another machine
remotely, CompositeTool cannot be invoked from that machine.

For example, if you were to log on to machine "venus," invoke
SunView, bring up a shell window, and (within that shell window)
remotely log on to machine "newton," you would be unable to
invoke CompositeTool from that shell window.


Setting Up a  Non-NCSA
Installation
To install NCSA CompositeTool, you need to place its files in a
directory, modify a Makefile and run Make. CompositeTool uses
the Sun User Defaults Database mechanism to specify installation
dependent filenames. The Makefile is targeted toward two forms
of installation:  personal and system. You should first run a
personal installation to produce a working local version of the
program. Once satisfied with the local version, you can run a
system installation as root for a system wide version. In the steps
below, personal installation information is preceded by a star (*).

Install NCSA CompositeTool:

1.    Put a copy of dist.tar.z in your current directory.

    The directory must contain enough space to include the
    following:

    Ñ    Extracted files from compressed tar file ~1.2 MB
    (megabytes)

    Ñ    *Space for Personal installation:

        Sun-3    ~ .6 MB
        Sun3861    ~ .6 MB
        Sun-4    ~ .6 MB

NOTE:  Some of this space is recovered, because the
compositetool.o object file is removed.

    Ñ    System installation╤no space is used in this directory
    unless you so designate it in the Makefile.

NOTE:  Temporary space is required to do either installation.
Consult the Makefile in the distribution for approximate sizes.

2.    Enter the following command line to extract the directory
./v1.1.dist, and place it in your current directory.

        zcat dist.tar.Z | tar xvfB -

3.    Enter the following command line and read the documentation
in the Makefile.

        cd v1.1.dist


*Personal Installation╤Step 4

Ñ    Change any required macros (only one at most) in the
Makefile, and then enter:

        make personal

CompositeTool displays some messages on the screen.

Ñ    The executable, compositetool, is now ready to execute in
SunView IN THIS DIRECTORY! If you move out of this
directory, you will have to change some personal defaults by
either editing $HOME/.defaults or by entering the following
command in SunView to change them:

    defaultsedit


System Installation╤Step 4

Ñ    Change any required macros (three at the most) in the Makefile.

Ñ    Become superuser by entering:

        su root
        password: <fill in>

Ñ    On the next line, enter:

        make system

CompositeTool displays some messages on the screen.

Ñ    Add the system directory where compositetool and associated
files were installed to your search path, by editing the
appropriate startup file for your login shell. For example, if you
use the C shell, edit the .login or .cshrc file in your home
directory. If you use the Bourne shell edit the .profile in your
home directory.


Invoking CompositeTool
Start CompositeTool by following the steps below.

1.    Log on to a Sun Workstation. (Enter your name and then your
password at the respective prompts.)

2.    To invoke SunView (running SunOS 4.x), enter:

    sunview

3.    In a shell window, enter the directory location of the desired
file.

For example, if you installed CompositeTool in /usr/local/bin,
then in a window (shell or command), you would enter:

    /usr/local/bin/compositetool

NOTE:  If you plan to use CompositeTool frequently, place its
directory in your search path. You can then run the program from
any directory of your choice by entering:

    compositetool

You are now ready to run CompositeTool. Read the succeeding
sections, "Mouse Buttons" and "Composite Tool Messages" for
general information on SunView and the program's operation
before continuing moving to the tutorial.


Standard Features

Mouse Buttons
The left mouse button is the only one used for CompositeTool
functions. Whenever reference is made in this manual to pushing
depressing, or clicking a button, the left mouse button is implied.

The middle and right mouse buttons retain their default SunView
functions. Typically, the middle mouse button is used to move a
window. In order to move a CompositeTool window, place the
cursor anywhere within the window (either inside the window or
on the window title bar), depress the middle mouse button, and
move the CompositeTool window to its new location on the screen.

Typically, the right mouse button is used to invoke the window
frame menu. In order to invoke the SunView Frame menu, (which
likely contains such options as Done, Resize, Hide, Move, etc.),
place the cursor anywhere within the window (either inside the
window or on the window title bar), press and hold down the right
mouse button, and make the Frame menu selection.


Title Bars
All CompositeTool frames except for the Canvas frame contain
title bars. Title bars are located at the top of the frames and contain
the name of the frame, as well as information on current options
you have chosen within the frame; e.g. tag numbers change as
successive ones are chosen, palette names change, etc. The title bar
in the Base frame reflects the application name, its version
number, and the name of your current directory.


CompositeTool Messages
Each time CompositeTool performs an operation, a uniquely
numbered message is generated. These messages are displayed
on the Base frame (Figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1  Base Frame


Most messages simply echo the operation performed (for example,
when CompositeTool is invoked, message number 1 tells you that
the CompositeTool Base frame is displayed). These messages also
serve to jar your memory. Once you are familiar with
CompositeTool, you should be able to run the program using these
messages and not have to refer to the manual. While you are
learning the program you are advised to glance at these messages
frequently.

When you make an error (for example, refer to a file that does not
exist or that you cannot read), an error message is generated. You
are invited to test CompositeTool by entering illegal data (for
example, entering a letter where an integer is expected, or vice
versa). Please report any problems you encounter to NCSA
Software Tools (See Bugs and ReadMe pages of this manual).


Working with CompositeTool

Opening a Canvas
Open a new canvas by selecting the Canvas button from the Base
frame (Figure 1.1). By default, the canvas only partially covers the
screen. You may adjust the canvas size by moving the mouse
pointer into the canvas window and holding down the right mouse
button. The SunView Frame Selection menu appears on the screen.
Select a screen size from the submenu located under the Resize
option. For this tutorial, select FullScreen. The canvas now covers
the entire screen.

Move the canvas into the background so that the Base frame again
appears on the screen. Once again, hold down the right mouse
button until the menu box appears on the screen. Select the Back
option.


Changing the Canvas Color
The default color of the canvas is pixel value 0, which is always set
to white by CompositeTool. Other pixel values in the range
(0-255) are available for use. (Refer to Chapter 2 the section "Raw
Palette Files" and Chapter 3 the section "Palette Frame" for more
detailed information on pixel values and color mapping.)

Change the canvas color by following the steps below.

1.    Select the Palette button from the Base frame. Notice that the
Palette button disappears from the Base frame. It reappears
when the you close the Palette frame. (See Appendix A,
"Limitations of NCSA CompositeTool.") The Palette frame in
Figure 1.2 appears.

Figure 1.2 Palette Frame


2.    Position the cursor after the "Load background color:" option
and click or simply press RETURN. A prompt appears.

3.    Enter the pixel value 75.

4.    Click the Load background color button and wait for the
message "Program setting read from file" to appear in the Base
frame. CompositeTool has now read the file.

5.    Click the Done button to close the frame.

NOTE:  You do not have to click the Done button immediately after
entering options. Doing so simply closes the window, thereby
allowing an unobstructed view of the image.

5.    Click the FinalPic button on the Base frame. The canvas is now
blue.

NOTE:  Unless you select this button after frame entries, stored
data will be used to display your image, instead of what was just
entered.

NOTE:  A canvas must be displayed before CompositeTool draws
in an image, contour, or vector.


Loading an Image
NCSA CompositeTool contains some sample files for you to load in
for viewing and manipulation. A list of the files contained in
CompositeTool are listed in Appendix B, "CompositeTool Files."
For now you will load an image entitled, demo.session.a.

1.    Select the FileUtil button from the Base frame. The FileUtil
frame appears as shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3  File Utility Frame


2.    Enter the command line below at the "File:" entry.

        demo.session.a/demo.session.a

NOTE:  We assume here that CompositeTool was started in the
present working directory which contains the demo.session.a
directory. See Appendix A, "Limitations in NCSA CompositeTool"
for information about specifying paths.


3.    Click the Read button and wait until CompositeTool reads in the
file.

4.     Click the Done button.
5.    Click FinalPic in the Base frame. The image DemoData
appears on the screen.


Entering Text
Next, you will enter text on the sample image. (Refer to Chapter 3,
the section, "Text Frame" for more detailed information on
entering texts and choosing fonts.)

1.    Click the Text button in the Base frame. The Text frame in
Figure 1.4 appears.
Figure 1.4  Text Frame


Notice that at the top of the window is the line Tag Selector followed
by four buttons labeled, -5, -, +, +5. These buttons allow you to move
through all of your entered tags (Table 1.1). Tags are numbered
identifiers that are attatched to each piece of text (numbers, letters,
or words) you've entered into the Text frame and which now appear
in your displayed image. (For simplicity's sake, entered text will
be referred to as tags for the rest of this discussion.)

Table 1.1    Tag Advancing/
Detracting Buttons
Button            Purpose

    -5    Moves backwards through tags by 5
    -    Moves backwards through tags by 1
    +    Moves forward through tags by 1
    +5    Moves forward through tags by 5


Assume you have entered twenty tags in your image. Currently
you are viewing the first tag you entered. You know this because
CompositeTool numbers your tags from 0 upward, and the title bar
displays the tag number, t0. Also, the Color, X-origin, and Y-
origin lines give the color and x, y location of the tag, respectively,
while the Text Body line lists the name you assigned the tag. The
Font directory lists the directory location of the word's font and the
Font line lists the name of the word's font.

You want to view and alter tag 2, (t2 in the title bar).

2.    Click the "+" button twice to move to this tag. "Y-axis" should
appear on the Text Body line.

3.    Move your cursor to this line and click.

4.    Enter the word test after Y-axis. Your tag should appear as
follows:

    Y-axis test

5.    Click the DRAW it button.

6.    Save the new text by clicking the STORE displayed values
button. If you don't click this, the values will not be entered.

7.    Click the FinalPic toggle (OFF) button so that it toggles to
FinalPic toggle (ON). The text will now  be a part of the new
composite.

8.    Click the Done button.

9.    Click the FinalPic button in the Base frame. The altered tag
will appear in your image.


Using the Feature Option
From this point on in the tutorial, you will subtract items from your
display instead of add them. Eventually you will exit the
application with a blank screen.

The Feature frame allows you to add x and y axes, grid marks,
and tick marks to your image. Because the display
session.data.a already contains these items, you will erase
them in order to practice using the Feature frame options.

1.    Choose the Feature button from the Base frame. The Feature
frame appears on the screen.

2.    Select the button Features OFF to turn off the annotation options.
Notice the the eight option buttons in the center of the frame
automatically toggle OFF as shown in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5  Features Frame



3.    Select the button DRAW it and click the button Done.

4.    Click FinalPic in the Base frame. The image will be redrawn
without any axes, grid marks, or tick marks.


Clearing the Display
Choose the Clear button from the Base frame to clear the display on
your canvas, but not the actual canvas itself. Click the Clear button
now.


Exiting CompositeTool
Exit the CompositeTool application completely by selecting the Quit
button from the Base frame. A confirmation box appears on the
screen asking, "Are you sure you want to Quit?" Click the Confirm
button.