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Connecting a Graphics Device to the Computer
Directing Graphics Output to a Port or Print Queue
Directing Graphic Output to the Terminal's Printer Port in Pass-Through Configuration
Directing Graphic Output to a Plotter in Eavesdrop Configuration
Directing Graphic Output from a Workstation
Configuring Graphics Languages and Devices
GIF* (Graphics Interchange Format)
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Formats
HPGL (Hewlett Packard Graphics Language)
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
PostScript
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
Metafile Formats
ReGIS
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
Sixel
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
Tektronix
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
XWindows
Configuration
Considerations
Supported Devices
X Terminal Emulation Software
Graphics Programs and Descriptions
You will find the following information in this section:
For a computer to display output on a graphics device, there must be a connection between the computer and the device. Computers have ports, which are connections through which a separate device (such as a printer, plotter, or graphics terminal) can communicate with the computer. Every port has a name by which you refer to it to direct output its way.
Historically, ports were inside the computer. Now, however, there is often a network or phone line (via modem) which allows you to connect to ports on a terminal server or computer. In addition to the network ports available, you also may have ports available on your PC, Macintosh, or workstation.
In the configurations in this section, a port refers to a serial port to which the computer can direct output. You can connect a graphics terminal, printer, or plotter to a serial port.
This section describes four ways to connect graphics devices to the computer. After you have the graphic devices correctly connected, you can direct graphic output to them. You can
If unused ports are available, you can connect the printer, plotter, or graphics terminal to a port. In this configuration, the graphics device is independent of the terminal.
Example port name: - /dev/ttyp16
You can connect a supported graphics device to a computer through the terminal's printer port. This type of configuration is called "pass-through." When you configure any device (except Hewlett Packard plotters) directly to your terminal, the Wisconsin Package assumes you have it connected to the printer port. Each graphics program, then, automatically turns on the terminal's printer port whenever you send graphics output.
For HP plotters, where the Package does not automatically assume pass-through printing, use the -PASSthru command-line parameter when you run each graphics program to turn on your printer port.
To direct output to a graphics device connected to the terminal's printer port, define your graphics configuration for the appropriate graphics language and device (see "Defining Your Graphics Configuration" in Chapter 5, Using Graphics for more information). When you are prompted "To what port is your device connected:", type Term.
Note: If you are using a VT220, or a terminal emulator that supports pass-through printing, you can attach your graphics device to the terminal's pass-through port.
No output appears on your screen while a graphic is being printed or plotted. To stop a graphic from printing, plotting, or displaying, press <Ctrl>c.
Example port name: - term
You can connect a supported Hewlett Packard graphics device to the Wisconsin Package in a configuration where the graphics device serves as an intermediate connection between the computer and the terminal. This type of configuration is called "eavesdrop." If you configure an HP7470, HP7475, or HP7550 plotter to your terminal, the Package will assume you have it connected in eavesdrop configuration.
Even if you are not going to draw graphics, you must turn on HP plotters connected in eavesdrop configuration for the terminal to communicate with the computer.
Example port name: - term
You can use a workstation to connect to the Wisconsin Package and display graphics. In this configuration, the graphics devices may or may not be independent of the workstation. That is, on a workstation you may have access to supported graphics devices through network access or via a direct connection to your workstation's printer port (see dashed lines in figure below).
To direct output to your workstation (X Windows Graphics) or to a graphics device connected to the workstation's printer port, define your graphics configuration for the appropriate graphics language and device (see "Defining Your Graphics Configuration" in Chapter 5, Using Graphics for more information). If you are prompted "To what port is your device connected:", type the port name for the connected device.
Example port names: - /dev/ttyp10, /dev/ttyp11, term, /dev/tty01
You will find the following graphics languages and their Wisconsin Package supported devices described in this section:
* The Graphics Interchange FormatE is the Copyright property of CompuServe Incorporated. GIFSM is a Service Mark property of CompuServe Incorporated. The GIF-LZW compression software is licensed under U.S. Patent 4,558,302 and foreign counterparts.
GIF is an optional graphics driver that is sold separately from the Wisconsin Package. For more details on purchasing this driver, contact Genetics Computer Group at (608) 231-5200.
To initialize GIF as your graphics configuration, type % gif. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Fonts
By default, characters are drawn with font 1 (see Appendix I of the Program Manual).
Color
The GIF driver supports the following colors:
White - Black - Forest Green
Blue - Red - Magenta
Cyan - Purple - Orange Red
Light Green - Green - Light Blue
Violet Red - Yellow - Navy Blue
Yellow Green
Note that some GIF viewers allow you to edit colors.
Interlaced GIF
The GIF driver is capable of generating interlaced GIF files. Interlaced GIF files allow the image to load in waves, which is sometimes described as the venetian blind effect. This effect lets the web browser load the image in waves instead of waiting until the entire image is downloaded before displaying it. You can turn this option on by setting the symbol GIFInterlace to the value TRUE.
% symbol -s GIFInterlace TRUE
To initialize HPGL as your graphics configuration, type % hpgl. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Pen Speed
Most HPGL devices allow you to reduce the pen speed to give better color saturation and precision. You can do this with the command-line parameter -SPEed=number, where number ranges from 1.0 (slowest) to 10.0 (fastest). The lower the number, the higher the pen quality. The default is 10.0.
Connecting a Graphics Device to the Computer
If your answer to the prompt "To what port is your device connected" is term:, the Wisconsin Package expects that your plotter is connected in "eavesdrop" configuration. However, if you connect a graphics device to the terminal's printer port, you have connected your graphics device in "pass-through" configuration. You then must add the parameter -PASSthru to the command line to print to the device. You must set the graphics device's internal switches to expect pass-through configuration.
(For more information, see "Directing Graphic Output to the Terminal's Printer Port in Pass-Through Configuration" earlier in this chapter.)
To initialize PostScript as your graphics configuration, type % postscript. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Page Size
If the dimensions of the page are not exactly 8.5 x 11 inches, the plot may not be centered correctly.
Paper Loading
Laser printers always feed their paper automatically. Therefore, Wisconsin Package programs do not prompt you to press <Return> when your device is ready. Thus, with laser printers the -AUTOFeed command-line parameter is unnecessary.
Also, the -NOUNLoad command-line parameter does not work with PostScript.
Printer Memory Requirements
Hewlett Packard and PostScript printers have minimum memory requirements to print PostScript graphics. HP LaserJet III and HP LaserJet IV printers with PostScript cartridges require 4.5 megabytes of memory. PostScript printers require 2.5 megabytes of memory.
Supported Programs
% lprint. Prints text files on a PostScript printer connected to a port with the logical name LPrintPort.
% red. Lets you format text to create publication-quality documents on a PostScript laser printer.
To initialize ReGIS as your graphics configuration, type % regis. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Fonts
By default, characters are drawn with font 1 (see Appendix I of the Program Manual).
To initialize Sixel as your graphics configuration, type % sixel. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Fonts
By default, characters are drawn with font 1 (see Appendix I of the Program Manual).
Form Feeds
The Sixel language driver puts a form feed in front of and behind the graphic output to ensure that it draws the graphic on a clean page.
The resolution and speed of the following dot-matrix printers are poor, but they provide a way to preview Wisconsin Package graphics on relatively inexpensive and widely available printers.
To initialize Tektronix as your graphics configuration, type % tektronix. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Fonts
The Wisconsin Package normally uses a device's default font for text in graphic output. This is the font you see when you use -FONT=0. However, no high-quality firmware character set font (font 0) is available for Tektronix 4014 devices. Therefore, unless you specify otherwise, characters are drawn with font 1 (see Appendix I of the Program Manual).
Graphic Display
Tektronix 4100- and 4200-series terminals, which use picture segments, cannot be cleared from the terminal keyboard. That is, after displaying graphic output for the first time during a session, subsequent graphic displays are drawn on top of existing ones. Therefore, to clear the graphics from these terminal screens, type % clearplot. This command draws an empty plot to clear the screen.
Terminal Emulators
For those accessing the Wisconsin Package through terminal emulation software, you may need to toggle between your graphics window and text window manually. If you are using SmarTerm or VersaTerm Pro, GCG provides the "SmarTerm-Tek4014" and "VersaTerm-Tek4105" supported devices to automatically open and close the graphics window for you.
To initialize X Windows as your graphics configuration, type % xwindows. The computer prompts you for specific setup information. For example
Multiple Windows
By default, the X Windows driver creates only one graphics window per user on a workstation. You can create additional windows by using command-line control to specify a unique window name by typing % xwindows workstation_type window_name, where workstation_type refers to a color or monochrome display and window_name sets a unique name for the window, for example % xwindows color fred. This name (fred) appears in the banner at the top of the window.
If you have multiple X Windows open and you want to direct output to a specific window, initialize the window by typing the same % xwindows command you used to set it up. For example, if you created a window with the command % xwindows fred, type that command to switch to that window for graphic display. If you have a second window you created with the command % xwindows Window2, type that command to switch to the second window.
Color Configuration
X Windows can display with a background color you specify. For color terminals, you can use command-line control to specify the color as an optional third parameter to the % xwindows command, for example
% xwindows color window_name bgcolor=color_name.
where color_name equals one of the following:
White - Black - Green
Blue - Red - Magenta
Cyan - Purple - Orange Red
Light Green - Forest Green - Light Blue
Violet Red - Yellow - Navy Blue
Yellow Green
Note: Not all terminals are able to display all colors. X servers have a limit to the number of simulations they can display. If X Windows is unable to display the color you request, a default background color is chosen.
Also, note that graphical web browsers, such as NetScape, use many of the
available colors on your X terminal. By closing NetScape or starting it with
the -install option, you will improve the chance that X Windows will
be able to display all of the colors listed.
Monochrome Configuration
X Windows can display with a background color you specify. For monochrome terminals, the background window color can be either black or white. To switch your current monochrome background, type % xwindows mono window_name bgcolor.
To switch back to the original background color, type % xwindows mono.
Fonts
By default, characters are drawn with font 1 (see Appendix I of the Program Manual).
X Window Buttons
Use any mouse button to select a button on the bottom of the XWindows graphics screen. Click on the "Zoom" button to zoom and pan on the graphics in the window. Click the "Restore" button to return the graphic to normal window size. Click "Exit" to close and exit the graphics window.
X Windows terminal or workstation
Microcomputer running X server software
GCG recommends the following X terminal emulation software for the Macintosh and PC.
Note: The addresses and numbers below were compiled in August 1996. If you find that any of these addresses or numbers are out-of-date, contact GCG's technical support.
The table below alphabetically lists each Wisconsin Package program producing graphic output and its description. For more information about these programs, see the Program Manual.
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Copyright (c) 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Genetics Computer Group, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Molecular Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Licenses and Trademarks Wisconsin Package is a trademark of Genetics Computer Group, Inc. GCG and the GCG logo are registered trademarks of Genetics Computer Group, Inc.
All other product names mentioned in this documentation may be trademarks, and if so, are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used in this documentation for identification purposes only.