Coyote Library PostScript Files

ASPECT

   Plot, data, Position=Aspect(2.0/3.0)

The program has been updated to also work with a page of PostScript or Printer output. For example, I use it to keep the correct aspect ratio of a graphics plot when I send the plot directly to the printer (via the Printer device). For example, here is code I use in an object graphics program to make the graphics output appear on the printed page with the same aspect ratio as in the display window:

   info.thisWindow->GetProperty, Dimensions=wdims
   plotAspect = Float(wdims[1]) / wdims[0]
   windowAspect = 11.0 / 8.5 ; Letter page. Modify for A4 page.

	; Calculate the proper position on the PostScript page.

   position = Aspect(plotAspect, WindowAspect=windowAspect)

	; Change the dimension and location of the view to page mapping.

   info.thisView->SetProperty, Dimensions=[position[2]-position[0], position[3]-position[1]], $
      Location=[position[0], position[1]], Units=3

      ; Print the document.

   info.thisPrinter->Draw, info.thisView, Vector=info.vector
   info.thisPrinter->NewDocument

cgFIXPS

FSC_PSCONFIG

This program is the most sophisticated I have ever offered for free, and one of the most sophisticated I have ever written. I was trying to push and extend a number of ideas I am writing about in an upcoming IDL object programming book. Pushing the envelope in terms of what is possible is the only way I know to see how far I can really go. To that end, I am not recommending this program to anyone using versions of IDL older than IDL 5.2. Moreover, you really should use it on a 24-bit display, although it will work on an 8-bit display. (It just won't look as nice, and it will probably cause color flashing if you have other graphics on this display, as it uses the IDL object graphics class library.) The program works wonderfully well on my Windows NT 4 machine running IDL 5.3. Your mileage may vary.

I've tested the program on as many machines as I can get my hands on, but I'm pretty sure it is not bug free. And I am pushing the notion of "cross-platform compatibility" as hard as I can. Please let me know if you discover problems.

Because this program is as sophisticated as it is, I've written a complete on-line help page to show you how to use it. Plus, for people who really don't want to know anything about it, there is a wrapper function, PSConfig, that provides a simplified function interface to the object's graphical user interface and configuration keyword methods. PSConfig works very much like my older program, PS_Form.

One of the feature's of this program is that it relies on a number of compound widget objects, which you will have to download to use with the program. These are: FSC_Droplist, FSC_FileSelect, FSC_Field, and FSC_PlotWindow. All of these programs, as well as PSConfig and PS_Plotter, an example program showing one way to use the object, are available in the Coyote Library. For additional information, please see the on-line help page.

The program is now updated (9 November 2007) to allow CMYK output.

PS_START/PS_END

Here is an example of creating a line plot in a PostScript file named lineplot.ps and at the same time creating a PNG file named lineplot.png for display in a browser:

   PS_Start, FILENAME='lineplot.ps'
   Plot, Findgen(11), COLOR=cgColor('navy'), /NODATA, XTITLE='Time', YTITLE='Signal'
   OPlot, Findgen(11), COLOR=cgColor('indian red')
   OPlot, Findgen(11), COLOR=cgColor('olive'), PSYM=2
   PS_End, /PNG

The programs interface with PSConfig to configure the PostScript device, so any keywords appropriate to PSConfig (and there are a lot of them) can be used with PS_Start. Numerous programs from the Coyote Library are required with these programs, but be sure you get a new version of FSC_PSConfig if you are just downloading this file.

PSCONFIG

You can download all of the programs you need from theCoyote Library.

The program is used like this:

   keywords = PSConfig(Cancel=cancelled)
   IF cancelled THEN RETURN
   thisDevice = !D.Name
   Set_Plot, 'PS'
   Device, _Extra=keywords
   Plot, findgen(11) ; Or whatever graphics commands you use.
   Device, /Close_File
   Set_Plot, thisDevice

The program is now updated (9 November 2007) to allow CMYK output.

PSWINDOW