DESCRIPTION

gescape (Escape) - provides a standard way of implementing nonstandard GKS features. NCAR GKS has only two user-accessible escape functions defined: one for changing the name of a metafile and another for pausing in an X window.

SYNOPSIS

#include <ncarg/gks.h>

void gescape(Gint func_id, const Gescape_in_data *in_data, Gstore *store_data,Gescape_out_data **out_data);

DESCRIPTION

func_id

(Input) - A function identifier specifying the requested activity. The legal values for func_id are "-1391" for changing a metafile name and "-1396" for effecting a pause in an X window.

in_data.escape_r1.size

(size_t, Input) - Size of the input data record array (for input data record, see below).

in_data.escape_r1.data

(void *, Input) - Input data record. For calls to gescape with func_id equal to -1391 the input data record should be a character string containing the desired metafile name left justified and blank filled; for calls to gescape with func_id equal to -1396 the input data record should be a character string containing the workstation identifier encoded as a five character number.

store_data

(void *, Input) - Storage for output data. Not currently in use for NCAR GKS.

out_data.escape_r1.size

(size_t, Output) - Size of the output data record array. Not currently in use for NCAR GKS.

out_data.escape_r1.data

(void *, Output) - Output data record. Not currently in use for NCAR GKS.

USAGE

The sizes of the data records must always be at least "1" in value.

EXAMPLES

gescape can be used to dynamically change the name of an output metafile and to do so one should use the calls gopen_gks and gopen_ws instead of c_opngks. If you are using c_opngks, see the man page for setusv(3NCARG) for changing the name of the metafile.

To change the name of the output metafile inside your program, you should make a call similar to the following:

      
       int str_len = 12;
       Gescape_in_data in_data;
       gopen_gks("stdout",0);
       in_data.escape_r1.data = (Gdata *)malloc(str_len*sizeof(char));
       strcpy(in_data.escape_r1.data, "new.cgm.name" );
       in_data.escape_r1.size = str_len;
       gescape(-1391,&in_data,NULL,NULL);

The call to gescape to change the metafile name must always occur just before the call to gopen_ws that opens a CGM workstation. Setting the environment variable NCARG_GKS_OUTPUT overrides any attempt to change the name of an output metafile via a gescape call.

See the "User's Guide for NCAR GKS-0A Graphics" for a more complete example of changing metafile names from within a code.

Here is an example of a piece of code that will create an X window, draw a line, and then pause waiting for a mouse click or a key click.

   
       Gescape_in_data in_data;
       int str_len = 5;
       gopen_gks("stdout",0);
       gopen_ws(3,NULL,8);
       gactivate_ws(3);
       c_line(0.,0.,1.,1.);
       c_sflush();
       in_data.escape_r1.data = (Gdata *)malloc(str_len*sizeof(char));
       strcpy(in_data.escape_r1.data, "    3" );
       in_data.escape_r1.size = str_len;
       gescape(-1396,&in_data,NULL,NULL);
       gdeactivate_ws(3);
       gclose_ws(3);
       gclose_gks();

The functions c_frame and c_ngpict are in general much easier to use and more flexible than the direct ESCAPE call for pausing in an X window. It is suggested that those functions be used.

ACCESS

To use the GKS C-binding routines, load the ncarg_gks and ncarg_c libraries.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1987-2009
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
The use of this Software is governed by a License Agreement.