beck@cs.cornell.edu (Micah Beck) (03/01/89)
In X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 7, Issue 159, message 14 of 14, Brian Thorstad asks: > Exactly what is Fig? Whose protocol is it, and where can more information > be found? To which our trusty moderator repsonded with a short description of Fig 1.4.2 However, there is more to the story. The program described by WNL is the original Fig program written at U of Texas. Two other versions exist: Fig 1.4.FS (Fig-FS) is an enhanced version of Fig developed at Cornell. It fixes various bugs and implements some extensions. Both Fig 1.4.2 and Fig-FS run only under SunView. Fig 1.4.3 (XFig) is another version of Fig which was developed by a group at Rochester, Bellcore, and MIT, which can be compiled either for SunView or for the X Window System V11. Unfortunately, most of the Fig-FS enhancements are not implemented in XFig. So much for the Fig program. As Brian indicates, Fig is also a protocol. The format of the files produced by Fig constitutes a simple graphics language. The TransFig package which I have assembled includes a set of translators from this "Fig code" to PostScript and various TeX and Troff compatible graphics languages. It also includes a manual with a fairly detailed reference guide to the syntax and interpretation of Fig code. It is quite possible for programs other than Fig to use this format: a translator exists from the PIC graphics language to Fig code, and a tool for generating numerical plots in Fig code is under development. I recommend using Fig-FS under SunView, and using the TransFig translation tools rather than the older versions which are included with some versions of Fig (f2p and f2ps). Fig-FS and TransFig are available via anonymous FTP from SVAX.CS.CORNELL.EDU in directory ~ftp/pub/fig. XFig is available via FTP from CAYUGA.CS.ROCHESTER.EDU. For more information, see the TransFig manual. Micah Beck beck@cs.cornell.edu Dept of Computer Science Cornell University
rodgers@maxwell.mmwb.ucsf.edu (03/01/89)
In v7 n159, Brain Thorstad writes asking for information about the program
fig. William Lefebvre gave an excellent summary; I would only add that
there is a modified version of fig which retains the functionality of fig
while enhancing its utility in the realm of the TeX text formatting system
in conjunction with a package known as TransFig. This version of fig (and
TransFig) are available from anonymous ftp from the host:
svax.cs.cornell.edu
Cheerio, Rick Rodgers
R. P. C. Rodgers, M.D. Telephone:
Statistical Mechanics of Biomolecules (415)476-8910 (work)
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (415)664-0560 (home)
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