[net.graphics] Graphics and Databases

jones@miles.DEC (Ollie Jones LM04/H4 DTN 279-6676) (01/14/86)

>                                      Does anyone out there have any
>info about storing graphics in DBs?  Or, know where I can find some state-
>of-the-art documentation, or current projects.

Some random suggestions (I hope these aren't painfully obvious)...

1)  EDIF...Electronic Design Interchange Format (Version 1 0 0, 1985).

    A LISP-like, implementation-independent, way of representing VLSI and
    related CAD data.
    Write to    The EDIF Users' Group
                Design Automation Department
                Texas Instruments
                PO Box 225474, MS3668
                Dallas, TX 75265

2)  Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) Version 2.0
    Format for mechanical CAD data. 
    National Bureau of Standards Pub No. NBSIR 82-2631(AF).  Order
    from National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
         Springfield, VA  22161

3)  Intergraph Corp, of Huntsville, Alabama, has, as part of their turnkey
    CAD system, a proprietary graphics file system which is reasonably
    effective and fast for large files.  It involves
      a)  a hardware assist for file searching
      b)  a header on each stored graphical element (line, arc, shape,...) which
          contains, among other things, the element's surrounding rectangle.
    The hardware assist can scan the rectangles, which allows a fast
    spatial search (e.g. find all graphic elements near point "x").  It might
    be interesting to you, because it actually works.  I don't know
    how to chase them down, but you may be able to get access to one of their
    systems at RIT.

4)  A large part of the Phigs spec discusses a model for a graphical data base.
    A good book:  Understanding PHIGS, by Maxine Brown and Michael Heck
       Write to:  Template, The Software Division of Megatek Corporation
                  9645 Scranton Rd.
                  San Diego, CA  92121
                  (619) 455-5590

Happy Reading!

Note:  I don't have any relationship with any organization mentioned here,
       except possibly as a customer.  All the opinions expressed here
       are my own, and not those of Digital Equipment Corp.

Oliver Jones               decwrl!jones@amber.dec
Digital Equipment Corp
150 Locke Drive
Marlborough, MA 01752-1146

ken@turtlevax.UUCP (Ken Turkowski) (01/15/86)

In article <444@decwrl.DEC.COM> jones@miles.DEC (Ollie Jones LM04/H4 DTN 279-6676) writes:
>1)  EDIF...Electronic Design Interchange Format (Version 1 0 0, 1985).
>
>    A LISP-like, implementation-independent, way of representing VLSI and
>    related CAD data.
>    ...
>
>2)  Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) Version 2.0
>    Format for mechanical CAD data. 
>    ...

While you mention that EDIF is LISP-like, you fail to mention that IGES is
FORTRAN-like.

-- 
Ken Turkowski @ CIMLINC, Menlo Park, CA
UUCP: {amd,decwrl,hplabs,seismo,spar}!turtlevax!ken
ARPA: turtlevax!ken@DECWRL.DEC.COM