
       XY PLOTTING WORKSPACE FOR APL*PLUS /PC VERSION 11

'APLPLOT.AWS' is a general purpose XY plotting workspace written in 
Manugistic's APL*PLUS/PC Version 11.  It was originally designed as a 
replacement for the APL plotting workspace that used to run on the 
MIT Lincoln Laboratory mainframe computer (now deceased).  The
mainframe workspace had it's beginnings in the old Tektronix 'PLOT10'
workspace, which had been highly modified and embellished over the 
years.  Because of the differences in the graphics environments, the
only similarity remaining is the syntax of the commands, and the 
autoscaling algorithm, which Tektronix obtained from an even older 
FORTRAN program.

The workspace contains 4 main plotting functions: PLOT, XLOGPLOT,
YLOGPLOT and XYLOGPLOT.  The syntax depends on the arguments you
wish to plot.  For example:

PLOT Y -- Draws a plot of Y[i] vs i   ([]IO=1)
PLOT Y VS X -- Draws a plot of Y[i] vs X[i]
PLOT Z AND Y VS X -- Draws a plot of Y[i] and Z[i] vs X[i]
PLOT (U VS W) AND Y VS X -- Draws 2 completely independent plots

This last feature is somewhat unique.  Very few plotting packages
can plot multiple curves against independent X-axis variables.  
This can also be used to place limit-lines and other marks on
a plot.  The logplot functions all behave in a similar fashion.

There are a variety of plotting options that can be set by the
user: autoscaling, X and/or Y grids, line or point plotting,
line colors and patterns.  There is also a mouse operated marker
and labeling capability.  The size and placement on the screen 
can be set by the user, and there are global variables for 
axis labels and a title.

The workspace uses Manugistics '[]Gxxx' graphics commands built
into the APL*PLUS/PC interpreter.  It will run with VGA and EGA
display systems.  Hard copy is available for Epson and HP 
LaserJet printers.  A mouse is required for the marker/labeling
functions.

This is the "developer's" version of the workspace.  The functions 
in the workspace are heavily commented, and there is a large 
HELPPLOT variable that describes the operation of the various 
features in detail.  There are also test (demo) variables to 
exercise various functions.

Because MIT Lincoln Laboratory is phasing out usage of APL*PLUS/PC,
this workspace is supplied 'as is'.  If anyone has problems or is
interested in adding new features, the code is there in all it's
gory detail for people to to play with.  If you have problems or
questions, you can try emailing me at home, but I make no promises
I'll be able to devote much time to responding.

There are 4 files available: a straight Version 11 workspace 
(APLPLOT.AWS), an SLT version (APLPLOT.SLT), and 'zipped' versions
of both (APLPLOT.ZIP and APLPLOTS.ZIP).  If you aren't running 
Version 11, you can try the SLT version.  Some features may not work 
properly in the older versions of APL*PLUS PC.  Although I'm not 
certain it helped much, I specifically asked for permission to 
release the APL*PLUS PC version using the excuse that it was 
'obsolete'.  We are now using APL*PLUS II for most of our work, and 
I have a version of the plotting software for that.  If you are 
using APL*PLUS II, you can start with the SLT version and get it up 
and running with relatively few changes.

Doug White
MIT Lincoln Laboratory: gwhite@ll.mit.edu
                  Home: gwhite@tiac.net



