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.he //METAFILES PRODUCT BRIEF
.fo //Page #/May 14, 1984
.ls 2       
.sp 5
{!DESCRIPTION!}
.sp 2
.fi
.ju                             
Apollo's Graphics Metafile Resource (GMR) is the most advanced member of
the DOMAIN Graphics Resources (DGR).  GMR provides a comprehensive set
of graphics routines that application developers can use to create
advanced, interactive graphics programs with a minimum of effort.
Fully integrated with the Display Manager,
GMR is a standard feature of all DOMAIN Workstations.
.sp      
GMR combines both graphics database and advanced
graphics subroutine calls into one integrated
package.  While previous graphics systems were burdened by a clear division between
compute power and display subsystems, GMR takes advantage of the 
integration that only a graphics workstation can offer.  
This unique integration is the foundation of
a graphics architecture that offers an unprecedented combination of 
throughput and functionality.
.sp
GMR's architecture integrates graphics, text, and data
into one coherent, high-level system that
greatly simplifies development of the highly interactive, tightly-integrated
graphics applications that the marketplace demands.
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{!FEATURES                                BENEFITS!}

Comprehensive set of high       Simplifies application development;
level graphics routines         cuts time to market
                             
Fully integrated with the       Create high-productivity user
Display Manager                 interfaces with less work
                                
Runs on all DOMAIN              Promotes resource sharing; increases
workstations                    individual and group productivity

Graphics Metafile:              Off-loads graphics database;
an editable, tree-structured    shares same graphics among
database                        applications; stores data in
                                world coordinates

Graphics Metafile:              Up to 256M bytes; stores complex
a virtual file                  models in a single Metafile
                          
Nested segmentation and         Stores data compactly;
instancing of segments          simplifies modification of
                                repetitive data.
                            
High graphics throughput        Takes maximum advantage of
                                graphics hardware; stores
                                bounding rectangles for fast
                                redraw speeds
                       
Multiple viewports              Customized display of
                                graphics data
                           
Hardcopy capability             Rasterizes data for output on
                                bit-mapped hardcopy devices 

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{!The Graphics Metafile!}
.sp 2                    
The Graphics Metafile, an  editable, tree-structured, database,
is the focal point of GMR.
GMR provides a comprehensive set of routines that allows the
application to build and edit complex models.  Graphics data
is stored directly in world coordinates, and can be viewed
on all DOMAIN Workstations.  
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With GMR, data can be grouped into
segments; segments can be instanced and nested for
compact storage.  Furthermore, segments can reference or
actually contain non-graphic data.
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{!Comprehensive Set of Graphics Routines!}
.sp 2                  
GMR provides a complete set of high-level graphics routines, while
still optimizing for graphics throughput.  Data can
be displayed in multiple viewports, and GMR handles all
scaling, translation, windowing, and clipping.  Attributes
can be associated with viewports or instances to control
color, linestyle, fill pattern, etc.  Moreover,
GMR provides a powerful set of pick capabilities.
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{!Use with Existing Applications!}
.sp 2             
The modeling and editing portions of GMR can work
in conjunction with Apollo's Graphics Primitives Resource (GPR).
This level of compatibility means that existing applications
can be easily enhanced to take advantage of GMR.  For example,
within a GPR application, GMR can be used to
display a Metafile at any screen location, with 
a specified scale and rotation.
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{!User-Defined Primitives!}
.sp 2    
Programmers can define special primitives
not defined in GMR and insert these primitives 
into the Metafile.
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When GMR encounters such a user-defined command,
it takes note of the world coordinates for the command, transforms
them for the viewport, and hands that data to the user
routine, which draws 
the primitive on the screen using GPR.  GMR then
resumes traversing the Metafile.  This feature 
provides an unprecedented level of flexibility, while still
off-loading the transforming operations from the 
application developer.  
.sp 3               
{!Multiple Active Viewports!}
.sp 2           
GMR provides multiple active viewports.  
Each viewport can be used to display all or part of a
Metafile.  Data in the viewports can be scaled, translated,
and rotated easily.  All viewports can be
active at once, so changes to the Metafile are reflected
in all views simultaneously.
.sp 3          
{!Support for Input Devices!}
.sp 2    
Since GMR is designed 
to simplify interactive applications,
input devices are fully supported.
Logical input can
be handled from locator, keyboard, or function key devices.
GMR's advanced
pick capability allows pick by command, or segment, and
provides highlighting, thresholding, pick apertures,
and masks.
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.sp 3        
{!World Coordinate Flexibility!}
.sp 2       
GMR can accept world coordinate data in three formats:
16-bit or 32-bit integer, and single-precision
floating point.  Furthermore, since each segment can 
use any of the three formats, data can be stored
in the way most appropriate for that segment.
.sp 3    
{!Store Non-Graphic Data!}
.sp 2   
Non-graphic data can be stored as tags
in the Metafile.  These tags are similar to comments;
they do not affect the visual data with which thay are associated.
GMR tag routines provide search, locate, and edit capabilities.
Applications can use tags to provide pathnames to data
associated with a particular segment, or directly store
that data.  
.sp 3         
{!Designed for Speed!}
.sp 2   
GMR's file structure is designed for
high graphics throughput.  
The Metafile stores graphics commands
with world coordinate data. 
GMR handles traversing the database
and outputting the data to high-speed hardware or software modules for
display on screen viewports.  By storing bounding rectangles with each
segment, GMR eliminates portions of the "tree" that are not on the
screen.  This means that screen updates are fast, even with large files.
.sp 3
{!A Strong Foundation!}
.sp 2
GMR is a strong foundation for integrated, interactive graphics applications.
With GMR, programmers can concentrate on tailoring their
applications to the needs of the marketplace, rather than spending
their time on graphics program development.
The result is applications that reach the market sooner, and require less maintenance later.          
.sp 3
{!The Metafile Approach:!}  Caption for Metafile Graphic
.sp 2                         
GMR's Graphics Metafile uses an advanced, flexible 
approach to store both graphics and non-graphics data.
Primitives are grouped into segments that can be nested
in an easily editable tree structure.
Multiple instances of repetitive data keeps the file 
compact.  Non-graphic data can be stored as tags
within segments, or these tags can be used as pointers
to data stored elsewhere.
.sp 3
{!Multiple Viewports:!}  Caption for Multiple Viewport Graphic
.sp 2   
GMR's multiple viewport feature is extremely flexible
and easy to use.  Each viewport can display different
data, or different parts of
a single Metafile.   Data in the viewport can be scaled,
translated, or rotated.  
This multiple viewport feature
means that application developers can present
data in the way most convient for their end users.
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{_GMR ROUTINES:  A Table_}
.sp 2
GMR provides a compreshensive set of almost two hundred 
graphics routines that provide a fast, flexible foundation for application development.
For a full listing of all GMR commands, refer to the {_Programmer's Guide to the
DOMAIN Graphics Metafile Resource_}.

{!FILE!}                                                                     

    create metafile
    open metafile
    close metafile
    select metafile


{!SEGMENT!}

    create segment
    open segment
    close segment
    delete segment
    rename segment
    set/inq pickable
    set/inq temporary
    set/inq visible


{!DATA COERCION!}  

    real to integer


{!MODELING!}

    insert/read circle
    insert/read curve
    insert/read polyline
    insert/read rectangle
    insert/read user primitive
    insert/read segment instance
    insert/read draw style
    insert/read draw raster op
    insert/read draw value
    insert/read fill pattern
    insert/read fill value
    insert/read fill background value
    insert/read plane mask
    insert/read tag
    insert/read attribute class

.ne 7
{!TEXT!} 

    insert/read text string
    insert/read text background value
    insert/read text size
    insert/read text value
    insert/read font family
    include font family (pixel or stroke)

{!EDITING!} 

    delete command
    erase segment
    copy segment
    replace/insert commands
    locate tag

{!VIEWPORTS!}

    create viewport 
    clear viewport
    delete viewport
    move viewport
    select viewport
    refresh viewports           
    set/inq viewport border size
    set/inq viewport bounds
    set/inq viewport background value
    set/inq viewport visible threshold
    set/inq viewport visible mask
    set/inq refresh state

    
{!DISPLAYING METAFILES IN VIEWPORTS!}

    display full/partial file 
    display full/partial segment 
    display segment (GPR mode)
    set/inq color map
    scale viewport contents
    rotate viewport contents
    translate viewport contents
    reset viewport transformations
    

{!CURSOR!}

    set/inq active
    set/inq pattern
    set/inq position
                               

{!ATTRIBUTES!}

    create attribute block
    copy attribute block
    assign display attributes
    assign viewport attributes
    set/inq attributes in block

    
{!INPUT!}

    enable input
    disable input
    check/wait for event


{!PICK!}

    pick command
    pick segment
    pick aperture center
    pick aperture size
    pick mask
    pick threshold
    highlight picked command
    highlight picked segment
    readback picked segments

    
{!OUTPUT!}

    create bitmap