[Visualpython-users] 4.0beta2 issues

[Rob S. <sa...@ph...>]

Thanks for 4.0beta2. It looks like it has some nice new features.  I look
forward to learning how to use them!


I thought I'd mention some of the issues I have had with the latest beta.
I apologize that I have not had the time to isolate the key issues myself.
Maybe someone can spot the problems. (I should mention that I am going
from Python2.3.4-VPython2003-10-05b to Python2.4.4-VPython4.0beta2. It
maybe that some of my issues already appear in VPython3.2.9.exe .)

First, it seems that the VPython windows don't react to keys anymore.
ESC doesn't seem to terminate the window. Keystrokes don't seem to be
caught with scene.kb.keys / scene.kb.getkey().


Second, here is a transparency example which seems to show a weird artifact.

from visual import *
scene.background=color.blue

for r in arange(.1,1.1,.1):
    sphere(pos=(0,0,0), radius=r,  alpha=1.1-r)

C1=cone(pos=(0,0,0),axis=vector(0.5,1,0),alpha=.25,color=color.yellow,radius=1.25)

while 1:
    rate(20)
    C1.rotate(angle=0.2,axis=vector(1,1,1))


Third, here is a more involved program which animates Ampere's Law.
http://www.physics.syr.edu/~salgado/software/vpython/Maxwell-Ampere.py
The keys (a) (e) (i) (d) (n), which toggle features in the display, don't
work in the new beta [as mentioned above]. In addition, the green and blue
figures are supposed to be [size-modified] arrows... but they show up as
squares in the new beta.


By the way, I am able to run these programs in both Python23 and Python24
by use of a registry hack, which is available on
http://www.physics.syr.edu/~salgado/software/vpython/

Any assistance on the issues raised would be appreciated.

Thanks.

rob salgado