[cad-linux] try again without the control characters

Hello all,

Last night I posted to Sourceforge (lx-viewer.sourceforge.net) an=20
experimental version (0.93a) of the next release.  I am putting it out=20
because there are some things I need help with and I don=E2=80=99t have the=20=
proper=20
hardware.   This is what=E2=80=99s changed and also a list of items I could=20=
use help=20
and input on:

1)  I found a bug in the code of the previous version which I believe made i=
t=20
impossible to read the help manual on any computer other than my own.  I hav=
e=20
fixed the bug but if someone could compile and run this version , hen hit F1=
,=20
and then let me know what comes up on the screen I would appreciate it.=20

2)  The hot keys for 3D views based upon the numerical keypad should work. =20
There is also a new menu selection of predefined 3D views (above left, above=
=20
right, etc, etc).

3)  Plotting and printing to postscript printers should work.  If there is n=
o=20
file in the pcp directory called "default.pcp" then the program will setup=20
based on imperial units and scales.  When you get the settings where you lik=
e=20
them click the "save pcp" button and create a file called "default.pcp". =20
After this the program will read and initialize on settings from that file.=20
It should also be possible to read pcp files from Intellicad and perhaps Aca=
d=20
and use them.  I have not tested this at all but if someone would take this=20
on I would appreciate it.

4)  The colors that come up in the color dialog box appear to be skewed too=20
dark on my system.  [To raise the color dialog box go to the second tab in=20
the plot dialog, select any line from the list box, and then click on the=20
color button that is on the right side of  the screen].   I don=E2=80=99t kn=
ow if=20
this is a function of  the video card in my computer, X11, or the color=20
definitions themselves.  I=E2=80=99ll appreciate any feed back if someone wa=
nts to=20
look at and comment on them.

5)  Postscript printing is confined to 72 dpi (a limitation of QT2.3)  After=
=20
seeing plots I would appreciate people=E2=80=99s opinions as to whether or n=
ot we can=20
live with this or do we need to proceed with the migration to QT 3.x=20

6)  Now for the big one.  I made a stab at writing HPGL output direct to a=20
serial port.  I don=E2=80=99t have a serial printer which I can test this on=
 so I=20
have no idea how or even if this code works.  I suspect that even if it does=
=20
work I=E2=80=99ll end up flooding the input buffer of the printer since all=20=
I do is=20
dump data to the port.  Right now the output port is hard coded as=20
/dev/ttyS1.  If you have a printer on a different port post a message and=20
I=E2=80=99ll tell you how to change it.  Brad and Keith are already looking=20=
at this=20
for me, but if someone else out there has access to an old but functional pe=
n=20
plotter on a serial port and wants to check this out I=E2=80=99ll appreciate=
 the=20
feedback.  Please note that this is HPGL not HPGL/2.  The difference is=20
basically pen plotters vs. ink jet plotters. =20

The code posted last evening  is the source files only.  The required OpenDW=
G=20
libraries (ad2.a, ad3.a and adinit.dat) are not included in this archive. =20
These files will need to be copied over from your previous installation.  On=
=20
the other hand not including them knocks 1meg or so off the down load file=20
size.  =20

Again, this code is experimental.  While I could use feed back on the items=20
listed above I don=E2=80=99t think I=E2=80=99ll be answering help requests f=
or using or=20
compiling it.  I apologize in advance for that, but my time is somewhat=20
limited.  If you need a "stable" version please continue to use 0.92.      =20

Andy

    =20
 =20

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