Re: [Fwd: Re: Introducing real 3d in Gnuplot (Was: Re: please try POV-Ray and VRML terminals )]

[Robert H. <en...@no...>]

> 	But you have mentioned a 3D interface?  What does that entail?  Just
> allowing options to current commands for 3D or a GUI?  I dont understand
> the extent of the interface?

Rereading the original messages, I can see the confusion, however I
suspect the word "interface" is being used to refer to the interface
between the core of gnuplot and the terminal drivers. These two parts
are conceptually separate, and have a well defined interface (or "API"
-- application program interface), which allows additional terminal
drivers to be easily written.

Unfortunately the existing 'API' doesn't allow for 3D.

Hope that clears it up.=20

> On Tue, 2005-04-12 at 14:57 +0100, Robert Hart wrote:
> > At the moment, the design of gnuplot assumes 2D output, and therefore
> > all the information passed to the terminals is just 2D, *even for 3D
> > plots*. So we are not really after a "more feature-full 3D", just a
> > sensible way of making the existing 3D information available to a
> > terminal (such as POV-Ray) that would have something useful to do with
> > it.
> >=20
> > Rob
> >=20
> > On Tue, 2005-04-12 at 03:47 -0500, Justace Clutter wrote:
> > > Guess I should have sent this to the list (opps)
> > >=20
> > > Justace
> > >=20
> > > email message attachment, "Forwarded message - Re: Introducing real 3d
> > > in Gnuplot (Was: Re: please try POV-Ray and VRML terminals )"
> > > On Tue, 2005-04-12 at 03:47 -0500, Justace Clutter wrote:
> > > > Well,
> > > >=20
> > > > 	I did not read the earlier posts, but based on the subject before =
the
> > > > subject change I can get an idea.  If I got this wrong then I will =
run
> > > > to the corner...  |-).  So, you are wanting a more feature-full 3D
> > > > interface, and really it is the output that you are most interested=
 in I
> > > > am sure.  PovRay is a well developed application that does its job =
very
> > > > well.  To try to mimic the functionality of PovRay inside of gnuplot
> > > > would increase the complexity of the gnuplot code by an enormous am=
ount.
> > > > Now, gnuplot can already do 3d plots, with hidden line removal, and
> > > > tentative shading.  This can give you an idea where you can then mo=
ve
> > > > the plot over to povray.  Now as for the axes and the such, you wou=
ld
> > > > have to build that.=20=20
> > > > 	Trying to make a 3D interface does sound cool, but at what expense.
> > > > Why not make a povray terminal where the plot is rendered with povr=
ay
> > > > elements that can then be rendered, or manipulated by any povray ed=
itor
> > > > later.  To paraphrase a quote that I saw earlier...  Unix is an ide=
a, or
> > > > a style, where you create individually strong programs to work toge=
ther.
> > > > So, did I get this all wrong or am I on the right track.  If I did =
not
> > > > get this right, what true benefit would creating a 3D interface have
> > > > over using povray?
> > > >=20
> > > > Justace=20
> > > >=20
> > > > On Mon, 2005-04-11 at 18:35 +0200, Ga=EBl Varoquaux wrote:
> > > > >   I have had a good look at gnuplot's source code to try to figur=
e out
> > > > > what need to be done to build a 3d terminal interface.
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   My conclusion is that there is a quite large amount of work. As=
 I
> > > > > really would like this to happen I am ready to give it a try, eve=
n though
> > > > > this is way beyond any project I have ever tackled yet. I will of=
 course
> > > > > need some coaching in the process, as I am new to gnuplot's code =
and I do
> > > > > not know what is the development policy.
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   I think our first goal should be to build a working 3d interfac=
e, even
> > > > > if it does not implement all of gnuplot's possibility. Here are a=
 few
> > > > > random ideas I collected.=20
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   I think we should define a term3d api (the terminal code file .=
trm
> > > > > could go in a separate directory, term3d for instance). It would
> > > > > reproduce as much as possible the current terminal api, but in 3d
> > > > > (positions would be given in 3d).
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   The plotting code in gnuplot's main source file would have to be
> > > > > modified to use this api. As a temporary solution I suggested to =
tamper
> > > > > only with the code called by splot and leave plot out for 3d term=
inals
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   A flag could say weather the current terminal is 3d or not. In =
the
> > > > > different functions called by splot a switch could call the 3d
> > > > > function's when needed. Something like :
> > > > >=20
> > > > > #ifdef TERM3D
> > > > >     if (term_is_3d) {
> > > > >=20
> > > > >     }
> > > > >     else
> > > > >     {
> > > > > #endif=20
> > > > >=20
> > > > > #ifdef TERM3D
> > > > >     }
> > > > > #endif=20
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   The functions that will require modification are all that call
> > > > > map3d_xy and map3d_xyz, all that do direct calls to term->move
> > > > > term->vector (I am forgetting other evil 2d calls ?).
> > > > >=20
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   That's the current state of my projects. To implement those ide=
as I
> > > > > will need some support and guidance from a gnuplot developer. Wha=
t do
> > > > > you think of this plan of action ? can you give me some support ?=
 I will
> > > > > be very slow at working on this project : my work does not give m=
e a lot
> > > > > of free time.
> > > > >=20
> > > > >   I must stress that I am totally unexperienced as far as working=
 on a
> > > > > real project goes.
> > > > >=20
> > > > > --
> > > > >   Ga=EBl
> > > > >=20
> > > > >=20
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> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > gnuplot-beta mailing list
> > > > > gnu...@li...
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> > > >=20
>=20
>=20
--=20
Robert Hart <en...@no...>
University of Nottingham


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