ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) (10/12/87)
Can anyone recommend a graphics library? Specifically, I need a package callable from MSC 4.0, which will work with CGA, EGA, and Hercules cards. I need to be able to draw lines, circles, set individual pixels, and write simple text (no fancy fonts needed). I also need to be able to define windows or viewports. The main requirement is that the package be able to sense the card it is running on, and autoscale my drawing commands. Is there such a beast?
mroz@moose.steinmetz (peter a mroz) (10/13/87)
In article <1987@isis.UUCP> ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) writes: > > Can anyone recommend a graphics library? Specifically, I need a >package callable from MSC 4.0, which will work with CGA, EGA, >and Hercules cards. I need to be able to draw lines, circles, set >individual pixels, and write simple text (no fancy fonts needed). >I also need to be able to define windows or viewports. The main >requirement is that the package be able to sense the card it is >running on, and autoscale my drawing commands. Is there such a beast? I've used the Graphics Development Toolkit (GSS*CGI) from Graphics Software Systems with great success. GSS*CGI provides a set of primitives that draw pixels, bitmaps, lines, arcs, filled regions, and text. They also have polled functions and cursor interrogation routines. Bindings are supplied for Microsoft Fortran, Ryan McFarland Fortran, MSC, Lattice C, and even Basic. GSS*CGI operates using device drivers loaded in at bootup time using CONFIG.SYS, so you don't have to worry about what type of display you're using when you actually run your package. They have device drivers for just about every type of display. GSS*CGI costs $495, and here's their address: Graphics Software Systems 9590 SW Gemini Drive PO Box 4900 Beaverton, OR 503-641-2200 Although I've never used either package, Halo Graphics and Metagraphics make products with a similar functionality. I don't have Halo's address. I've got a product description of the Metagraphics' MetaWINDOW subroutine library. It sounds like a pretty good package. Here are some highlights: Features: o Dynamic hardware determination and runtime support o Full object drawing functions (points, lines, etc...) o Off-screen virtual bitmaps o Comprehensive set of over 200 graphic/windowing functions o 43 different types of display adapters are supported Here's a portion of a quote from Jeff Duntemann, from Complete Turbo Pascal: "MetaWINDOW is written in hand optimized assembly code and is very fast. It is virtually bug free, and the manufacturer has been very responsive to questions." (This is their literature, not my opinion!) I don't have a price. Their address is: Metagraphics Software Corporation 269 Mount Hermon Road PO 66779 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 408-438-1550 Hope this is of some use Peter Mroz General Electric | ARPA: mroz@ge-crd.arpa Corporate Research and Development | UUCP: mroz@moose.steinmetz.ge.com PO Box 8, 37-2081 | clever saying stuck in here Schenectady, NY 12301 | 518-387-6021
mcdonald@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu (10/15/87)
I have tried the GSS-GCI package and found that it executed (on an EGA) from 3 to 200 (sic)(!!!!!!) times slower than my own routines. One program went from 20 seconds (my code) to an hour! Doug McDonald