From graphics-request at octave dot org Sun Feb 26 22:10:59 2006
Subject: Re: Object Graphics v0.2
From: "Shai Ayal" <shaiay at gmail dot com>
To: "Bill Denney" <denney at seas dot upenn dot edu>
Cc: graphics at octave dot org
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 06:09:12 +0200

> A Note property that would be added to every type.  It would simply be a
> char matrix that the user could put any notation about the current object
> that they would like.  This property could be used to assist a user
> finding an object that they did not keep track of from the beginning.  I'm
> thinking of a function like grepobject(object, string) that would search
> all children of object and return the handle(s) of object(s) that match
> string in their note field.

In matlab you have the "userdata" property which is a matrix and the
"tag" property which is a string. both are left to the user to do with
as he pleases.

> Second, how do we want to handle implementation dependent features?  I'm
> thinking of things like when I write my SVG backend, that there will need
> to be a file name.  I've realized that filename would make sense as a
> property for any figure level object (figure and movie currently) for any
> save operations, but what should we do for other properties that don't
> make sense for all or most backends?

Well, the RFC should define the minimal set of properties, and any
backend can add specific properties. This would of course break
compatibility, so I suggest that these specific properties be limited
to the root and/or figure objects. I.e. in octplot I have the
root.fontdir property so I can find the fonts. Since it's in the root,
and should only be set at startup, it doesn't really break
compatibility.


> On Sat, 25 Feb 2006, Bill Denney wrote:
>
> > I managed to put it up on the wiki.  It now has (very rudimentary) root and
> > image objects with a couple of other changes.  Please make sure to highlight
> > your changes to the document (probably by indenting one more level than
> > whatever you're bringing the issues up about).
> >
> > http://wiki.octave.org/wiki.pl?ObjectGraphics
> >
> > I've also added an "issues" section at the top where I've summarized what I
> > saw of the issues Ole, Shai, and I have brought up so far.
> >
> > I hope to hear more discussion and expansion of this now that everyone is
> > more free to participate.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > --
> > "Handle like eggs" -- a nuclear missile in _Thunderball_
> >
>
> --
> "In the study, the researchers anesthetized the fish and cut away about 20
> percent of their two-chambered hearts. [...] 'They're not happy for a
> while,' he said."
>   -- "Study Shows Zebrafish Can Grow Heart Cells", AP, 12/13/2002
>
>