| IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13247] |
Thu, 29 October 1998 00:00  |
fireman
Messages: 49
Registered: August 1991
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Member |
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Now that IDL 5.2 has been offically announced, I'm being asked if we
should upgrade. I have what RSI sent, and the press release - where
can I get more information?
Okay, you beta testers, spill.
You know who you are:
David Fanning
Robert S. Mallozzi
Matt Sheats
(who else?)
Thanks!
--
---- Gwyn F. Fireman
---- General Sciences Corporation
---- MODIS Characterization Support Team
---- Gwyn.Fireman@gsfc.nasa.gov 301-352-2118
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13281 is a reply to message #13247] |
Tue, 03 November 1998 00:00  |
davidf
Messages: 2866
Registered: September 1996
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Senior Member |
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Allan Beihl (beihl@ti.com) writes:
> Along these lines, does any one know if there are any Foundation Classes for
> IDL, like MFC for windows or JFC/Swing for Java?
>
> It would be nice to have some classes that encapsulated applications, windows,
> ect. Then all one would have to do is derive the app and windows and override
> any events they would want to catch, instead or writing and rewriting the same
> UI code....
Ah, well, it's not a Foundation Class, but this is the
whole purpose of my program XWINDOW.
http://www.dfanning.com/programs/xwindow.pro
I *always* want resizeable graphics windows that can send
the contents of the window to a PostScript, JPEG, GIF file
etc. Here is a program that can do that for *any* IDL
graphics procedure (including any you care to invent) if
they follow four simple rules:
(1) Are not defined with more than three positional
parameters. (An unlimited number of keywords are
allowed.)
(2) Are defined with an _EXTRA keyword.
(3) Do not open their own windows.
(4) Do not use a "DEVICE, DECOMPOSED=0" command. (This
is a new limitation and was exposed by the way colors
now work on the PC. :-)
For example, you could use it with the SHADE_SURF command
like this:
IDL> XWindow, 'Shade_Surf', dist(40), /XColors, /Output, $
Shades=BytScl(dist(40), Top=!D.N_Colors-1), AZ=45
Note, this program needs three other programs from my
library to work properly:
http://www.dfanning.com/programs/xcolors.pro
http://www.dfanning.com/programs/pswindow.pro
http://www.dfanning.com/programs/ps_form.pro
Taken as a whole, these programs are a "foundation class"
for constructing a whole variety of applications. (I have,
perhaps, just given away the whole store with respect to
a very lucrative consulting business. Oh, well, now that
I know how to print object graphics programs I can get into
that line of work. :-)
Cheers,
David
----------------------------------------------------------
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting
E-Mail: davidf@dfanning.com
Phone: 970-221-0438, Toll-Free Book Orders: 1-888-461-0155
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13282 is a reply to message #13247] |
Tue, 03 November 1998 00:00 |
Allan Beihl
Messages: 3
Registered: November 1998
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Junior Member |
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Along these lines, does any one know if there are any Foundation Classes for
IDL, like MFC for windows or JFC/Swing for Java?
It would be nice to have some classes that encapsulated applications, windows,
ect. Then all one would have to do is derive the app and windows and override
any events they would want to catch, instead or writing and rewriting the same
UI code....
Thanks,
--
Allan Beihl
Systems Analyst
Raytheon Systems Company
The Great One wrote:
> David Foster (foster@bial1.ucsd.edu) writes:
>
>> Does anyone know when (and indeed, if) RSI plans on implementing
>> the GUI-builder on Unix systems? I'm a bit pissed that we have to
>> pay higher prices for licenses, and then are "overlooked" like
>> this. That's not what I call support.
>
> I haven't heard of any plans for a GUI-builder on anything
> but Windows platforms, but RSI doesn't usually share this
> kind of information with me as a rule. You should ask them.
>
> If you would be interested in trying an Application-
> builder (that is, a builder that not only allowed you to
> build the GUI interface, but also allowed you to write
> IDL code either in the builder or in IDL, etc.) on
> a UNIX platform, let me know. I may be able to help you
> out. What I have in mind wouldn't be free, unfortunately,
> but it *would* run on Windows and UNIX machines. :-)
>
> Cheers,
>
> David
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting
> E-Mail: davidf@dfanning.com
> Phone: 970-221-0438, Toll-Free Book Orders: 1-888-461-0155
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13284 is a reply to message #13247] |
Tue, 03 November 1998 00:00 |
davidf
Messages: 2866
Registered: September 1996
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Senior Member |
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David Foster (foster@bial1.ucsd.edu) writes:
> Does anyone know when (and indeed, if) RSI plans on implementing
> the GUI-builder on Unix systems? I'm a bit pissed that we have to
> pay higher prices for licenses, and then are "overlooked" like
> this. That's not what I call support.
I haven't heard of any plans for a GUI-builder on anything
but Windows platforms, but RSI doesn't usually share this
kind of information with me as a rule. You should ask them.
If you would be interested in trying an Application-
builder (that is, a builder that not only allowed you to
build the GUI interface, but also allowed you to write
IDL code either in the builder or in IDL, etc.) on
a UNIX platform, let me know. I may be able to help you
out. What I have in mind wouldn't be free, unfortunately,
but it *would* run on Windows and UNIX machines. :-)
Cheers,
David
----------------------------------------------------------
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting
E-Mail: davidf@dfanning.com
Phone: 970-221-0438, Toll-Free Book Orders: 1-888-461-0155
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13359 is a reply to message #13247] |
Fri, 06 November 1998 00:00 |
davidf7203
Messages: 12
Registered: August 1998
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Junior Member |
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Mike Schienle writes:
> If it's any consolation David, I can honestly say you don't
> look a day over 60.
Yeah. Especially with my glasses. I got the "Bill Clinton"
model, thinking... Well, let's just say I still don't feel
any younger.
But, honestly people, can we get back to business here.
(I can always tell when I'm working on a project that
isn't going very well. I spend all my time doing this
nonsense.)
Hey! How about that GUI Builder!? Anyone using it? :-)
Cheers,
David
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13364 is a reply to message #13247] |
Fri, 06 November 1998 00:00 |
davidf7203
Messages: 12
Registered: August 1998
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Junior Member |
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Philip Aldis <teal@dera.gov.uk> writes:
> The only reason I'm able to answer the questions
> is because I was taught by the best.
You're a good man, Philip. Are you looking for a job?
Dick and I have been thinking about expanding our
international operations. :-)
Cheers,
David
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13371 is a reply to message #13247] |
Fri, 06 November 1998 00:00 |
philip aldis
Messages: 13
Registered: October 1998
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Junior Member |
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davidf7203@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> I'm just feeling out of sorts because I've had to get a
> pair of spectacles and everytime I want to read something
> I've left the damn things in another room and I spend half
> an hour looking around for them. And then I see this young
> lad, Phillip, who has been programming IDL for all of about two
> weeks answering quesitons that would take me almost two
> weeks to research, what with the fumbling around for my
> glasses and all, and I just think... Well, it doesn't matter
> what I think. I'll just go get my slippers and drink a warm glass
> of milk before I go to bed. :-(
>
> Cheers,
>
> David
>
The only reason I'm able to answer the questions is because I was taught by the
best.
cheers for a good start to my IDL experience,
young lad Phil Aldis
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13375 is a reply to message #13247] |
Fri, 06 November 1998 00:00 |
davidf7203
Messages: 12
Registered: August 1998
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Junior Member |
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Rose writes:
> p.s. Please, David Fanning, don't mention age as a handicap. Some of us are
> older than you might think. ;-) My feeling, one is old the moment he or she
> decides that learning something new is too much trouble.
Yes, age is not a handicap. *Feeling* old may be, however. :-)
I'm just feeling out of sorts because I've had to get a
pair of spectacles and everytime I want to read something
I've left the damn things in another room and I spend half
an hour looking around for them. And then I see this young
lad, Phillip, who has been programming IDL for all of about two
weeks answering quesitons that would take me almost two
weeks to research, what with the fumbling around for my
glasses and all, and I just think... Well, it doesn't matter
what I think. I'll just go get my slippers and drink a warm glass
of milk before I go to bed. :-(
Cheers,
David
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13399 is a reply to message #13247] |
Thu, 05 November 1998 00:00 |
rmlongfield
Messages: 68
Registered: August 1998
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Member |
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In article <owg1bz33so.fsf@kracko.harvard.edu>,
Randall Smith <rsmith@kracko.harvard.edu> wrote:
Well, speaking as an ex-NASA postdoc, yes, having those file formats
> is terrific but RSI had better watch the cost, especially for the
> small-time Unix users. I had some serious problems convincing my boss
> to go for the upgrade to v5, and many new Unix workstations are now
> IDL-free, at least where I was. When the cost of a new IDL license is
> 50% of the workstation cost, leaving it off starts sounding better and
> better.
>
> This doesn't really affect places where there is a "systems group"
> that handles computer purchases and that ensures that all is well.
> But at least in the research groups, more and more computers are
> bought simply on research grants that have finite budgets. And these
> research groups eventually propose the multi-million dollar projects
> that buy IDL as a matter of course. Unless, of course, the underlying
> research group couldn't afford IDL before, and so nobody bothers to
> buy it now. It's a slow-brewing problem, though--one that won't show
> it's head until it's too late to do anything.
>
> Randall Smith
> rsmith@cfa.harvard.edu
>
Just some thoughts on the cost of IDL. I am part of a small research group
which is part of the Netherlands weather forecasting service. We just had a
meeting with the CREASO people (who represent RSI in Europe) to try and get
some sort of deal because we needed more licenses and the cost is very high.
Well, they felt that the market justifies the cost and that other companies
were paying the high cost, so we should too. We could not convince them that
a non-profit organization has less money to throw around than a car company.
My feeling from this meeting was that we weren't buying enough licenses for
them to feel threatened if we decide to abandon IDL. It would be nice if they
had something in between a university license (which was relatively cheap)
and a company license. I don't know. I like IDL mostly because this is what
I had to use when I got here (My other choice was SGI's Explorer) and widgets
are fun. Mathlib was mentioned as a competitor but I don't know much about
it except for a few comments on this usergroup. Well, enough said...Back to
my widgets!
Rose
p.s. Please, David Fanning, don't mention age as a handicap. Some of us are
older than you might think. ;-) My feeling, one is old the moment he or she
decides that learning something new is too much trouble.
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
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| Re: IDL 5.2 reviews? [message #13414 is a reply to message #13247] |
Wed, 04 November 1998 00:00 |
Randall Smith
Messages: 4
Registered: November 1998
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Junior Member |
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davidf@dfanning.com (David Fanning) writes:
>
> Gwyn Fireman (fireman@magictrick.gsfc.nasa.gov) writes:
>
>> Now that IDL 5.2 has been offically announced, I'm being asked if we
>> should upgrade. I have what RSI sent, and the press release - where
>> can I get more information?
>
> I will say this about IDL 5.2 (whether I am suppose to
> or not): if you work for NASA and you don't get this
> upgrade you must be working in the backwaters and are
> about to lose your funding. If this upgrade is not named
> the "NASA upgrade" internally, then it ought to be. I can't
> imagine a group of people better suited to using its new
> functionality. Consider just file formats for a moment: TIFF++,
> GeoTIFF, PNG, HDF+, HDF-EOS. That list, along with unsigned
> integers, has to have NASA types drooling. :-)
>
Well, speaking as an ex-NASA postdoc, yes, having those file formats
is terrific but RSI had better watch the cost, especially for the
small-time Unix users. I had some serious problems convincing my boss
to go for the upgrade to v5, and many new Unix workstations are now
IDL-free, at least where I was. When the cost of a new IDL license is
50% of the workstation cost, leaving it off starts sounding better and
better.
This doesn't really affect places where there is a "systems group"
that handles computer purchases and that ensures that all is well.
But at least in the research groups, more and more computers are
bought simply on research grants that have finite budgets. And these
research groups eventually propose the multi-million dollar projects
that buy IDL as a matter of course. Unless, of course, the underlying
research group couldn't afford IDL before, and so nobody bothers to
buy it now. It's a slow-brewing problem, though--one that won't show
it's head until it's too late to do anything.
Randall Smith
rsmith@cfa.harvard.edu
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