Re: Print using pipes

[Ben Abbott]

On Sep 23, 2010, at 10:48 PM, Michael D Godfrey wrote:

> On 09/21/2010 06:35 PM, Ben Abbott wrote:
>> I've pushed the changeset to print using pipes.
>> 
>>      
>> http://hg.savannah.gnu.org/hgweb/octave/rev/064aaf82222f
>> 
>> 
>> For the gnuplot backend a file is written by gnuplot (not using pipes). If 
>> it is necessary to convert of modify the file a system command with pipes is 
>> used.
>> 
>> For the FLTK backend, the GL2PS output is piped directly.
>> 
>> Help testing is needed to ensure everything works for all platforms.
>> 
>> Some notes on functionality.
>> 
>> (1) Support for a tight bbox and eps preview is included.
>> (2) To produce a tight bbox and preview, for eps files, epstool is used. 
>> (3) -tight & -preview do not work at the same time (epstool limitation).
>> (4) To produce the proper papersize and paperposition, ps and pdf
>>     output are always derived from eps using gs.
>> (5) Specifying the fontname and/or size using -FFONTNAME:SIZE
>>     works for all formats.
>> (6) Specifying the canvas size as -SXSIZE,YSIZE works for all formats.
>>     Depending upon the format the size is interpreted as points or as
>>     pixels.
>> (7) epslatexstandalone is not presently working for GL2PS output.
>> (8) The piping implementation for GL2PS output needs testing.
>> 
>> Short description of the implementation.
>> 
>> __print_parse_opts__.m
>>   * parses the input and sets defaults.
>>   * checks for gs, epstool, fig2dev, lpr, & pstoedit in EXEC_PATH.
>> 
>> print.m
>>   * Temporarily modifies figure properties to match the print options.
>>   * Contains the auxillary funcitons: epstool, fig2dev, lpr, pstoedit,
>>     and shell_translation.
>>   * Passes handles to auxillary functions, used to convert formats,
>>     to __fltk_print__ and __gnuplot_print__.
>> 
>> __fltk_print__.m
>>   * Produces output via pipes.
>>   * All output is derived from eps.
>>   * Relies on epstool, fig2dev, gs, lpr, and pstoedit.
>> 
>> __gnuplot_print__.m
>>   * Used gnuplot to produce an output file.
>>   * Many (most?) native gnuplot formats are supported.
>>   * Conversion to most other formats is handled by a system call.
>>     The system call may include pipes.
>>   * Relies on epstool, lpr, and gs.
>>   * Currently does not use fig2dev, or pstoedit.
>> 
>> Ben
>> 
>> 
> Ben,
> 
> I ran a local test of test_printing and got the attached
> This looks good to me. The fltk section ran without problems.
> This is on a new Fedora 13 system which I just configured.
> I had to add a few packages that would not normally be installed,
> but not much of this.
> 
> Some of the gnuplot problems are due to the fact that the "standard"
> gnuplot that comes with fc13 is 4.2.  If I installed 4.4 I am sure
> that some of these problems would go away.
> 
> So, at this point, it appears that fltk printing is in pretty good shape
> except for the timing problems when using it remotely through ssh
> or NX connections.
> 
> We need to see what Shai has to say when he gets back.  In any  case,
> this is a great deal better than it was.
> 
> Michael

I agree, your result looks good.

The "Error: terminal "corel" does not support continuous colors" message comes 
from gnuplot.

I've been meaning to do something about that. I'll look into it.

Ben