Re: print -landscape/portrait

[Ben Abbott]

On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:02 PM, Ben Abbott wrote:

> After the bug-report by José, regarding unexpected behavior of  
> "print -landscape ...", I was encouraged to re-examine the  
> implementation of how the print command handles the figure paper  
> properties.
>
> A simple summary of how the compatible interaction of the figure  
> paper properties is itemized below.
>
> (1) When the paperorientation is changed, a listener is needed to  
> flip the papersize but should not modify the paperposition. This,  
> indicates that the paperorientation can be ignored when printing.
>
> (2) When the papertype is changed, a listener is needed to set the  
> papersize while accounting for the paperorientation. This indicates  
> that the papertype can also be ignored when printing.
>
> (3) When the papersize is changed, a listener is needed to set the  
> papertype, but should not modify the paperorientation.
>
> (4) When the paperunits is changed, a listener is needed to convert  
> the values for the papersize and paperposition.
>
> (5) When paperpositionmode is 'auto' the paperposition property is  
> set to produce a figure, centered on the page, and the same size as  
> that the screen.
>
> Presently, Octave has no paper property listeners in place. However,  
> we can implement printing functionality in such a manner that it  
> will function properly the absence of the listeners (under the  
> assumption that paperunits==inches and units==pixels), and work  
> correctly when those listeners are eventually implemented.
>
> (a) When printing output, Octave will ignore the paperorientation &  
> papertype, and rely upon the papersize and paperposition.
>
> (b) Octave will use an unwind_protect block to temporally change the  
> paperunits to inches (the default) to allow the listener (which is  
> not yet implemented) to change the papersize and paperposition  
> values. This block may also be used to temporally change the  
> paperposition when paperpositionmode == 'auto'.
>
> (c) with the -landscape option and paperoriention==portrait, rotate  
> both the papersize and the paperposition.
>
> (d) with the -portrait option and paperoriention==landscape, rotate  
> both the papersize and the paperposition.
>
> The attached changeset has been tested with (i) gnuplot 4.2.2 using  
> devices ps and pdf, and with (ii) gnuplot 4.3.0 using devices ps and  
> pdf.
>
> Ive also attached a m-file script to test the print function  
> (test_print.m)
>
> Jaroslav, this changeset should apply cleanly the both the  
> developers sources as well as the 3.2 sources. Presently the - 
> landscape option does  not produce the expected result (imo). Thus,  
> I recommend this change be pulled to 3.2. However, before doing so  
> I'd like it to be tested on Linux (and hopefully Windows).
>
> I hope to push this tomorrow after I've done a bit more testing  
> (specifically I need to verity printing a hard-copy works correclty).
>
> Ben
>
> <changeset.patch><test_print.m>

My first attempt had some problems when the papersize and  
paperorientation were in conflict (which is one problem I sought to  
overcome). I've attached a second attempt, with a modified text script.

I've tried printing hardcopies directly and had not problem on Mac  
OSX. If there are no objections, I'll push this changeset tomorrow.

Ben

changeset.patch
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test_print.m
Description: Binary data