andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) (09/30/86)
The Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) became an ANSI standard
on 27 August 1986. It is currently having the last editorial
touchups done and being typeset; you will be able to order it
as ANS X3.122-1986.
In the international arena, CGM was approved to become an international
standard at the WG2 meeting 17 September 1986, and subsequently accepted
by parent committee SC21 at their plenary the following week. It will
be known internationally as IS 8632, and will be identical to the ANSI
standard.
This is the second American graphics standard, although since the
first, GKS, was primarily developed in Europe and then imported, X3H3
members are particularly proud to announce the birth of this homegrown baby.
Work continues on CGI (Computer Graphics Interface, previously known as
VDI), which is based on CGM. In fact, in areas where they overlap
(the basic output, attributes, and control elements), they will be
identical. So those of you in net-land who are seeking a non-moving
target to emulate, one with some potential of being compatible with
future standards, might like to look into the CGM. It won't satisfy
the state-of-the-art folks, but for archiving basic pictures and
describing the kinds of functions needed at a device-like module
interface, it fills the bill!
Work has also begun on an Extended CGM, to be a proper superset of
CGM. This will include many of GKS's features (such as segmentation)
as well as the raster-oriented additions of CGI.
To become a member or observer on X3H3, please contact the Vice Chair,
John McConnell (decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-dssdev!mcconnell).
Andrea Frankel, Hewlett-Packard (San Diego Division) (619) 592-4664
"every time that wheel goes round, bound to cover just a little more ground"
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