From: oet@maz.sma.ch (Thomas Oettli)
Newsgroups: fj.mail-lists.x-window
Subject: Re: real-time X/Motif data display user interface tool (fwd)
Date: 29 Dec 92 09:47:41 GMT
Distribution: fj
Organization: Workstation Div., Supermicro Systems Group, Sony Corporation

Message-Id: <9212290631.AA17027@maz3>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 07:31:04 +0100 (MET)
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 7450      

> 
> As a postscript to our search, the following vendors have been reported to
> supply products that provide the required functionality:
> 
> V.I Corp - DataViews: DVDraw, DVPlay, and DVTools.
> (413)-586-4144 or email vi@vicorp.com
> 
> SL/GMS - SL-Draw
> Contact Michael Meagher uunet!gandhi!mike (415) 927-1724.
> 
> statsci - Splus 
> send e-mail to joe@statsci.com
> 
> 
> I have also heard of a product called Sammi from a company called Kinesix (or
> something like that).  I have no literature on them currently, but they sound
> VERY appealing to us because they provide an API to allow application programs
> to pipe data to the dynamic graphic elements, and we have and existing system
> / database.  It seems that calling their API to display our data graphically
> would allow us to minimize our engineering costs.  If anyone has seen or used
> this product, your input would be greatly appreciated.

  Another idea is IDL, we use IDL to distribute Satellite and Radar Animation
  loops on our whole Wide Area Network with 10 Sparc Servers and 200
  Workstations (Sparc2/Sparc10). There are included Network capabilities,
  powerful functions for visualization of sientific data, widgets for 
  programming userinterfaces and a lot of  other features that are missing
  in most of the other visualization packages. We tried a lot of other
  products (Shareware-Image Distribution SCRY, Utah-Raster-Toolkit, 
  Uniras, Splus and so on) before we decided to purchase IDL as our
  primary developping tool, even for programming of userinterfaces,
  we are really satisfied!

  Where to ftp IDL see part of included IDL-Readme File below.

-- 
|Thomas Oettli                    Internet: Thomas.Oettli@sma.ch       |
|Swiss Meteorological Institute   CServe:   100015.3543@compuserve.com |
|Kraehbuehlstr. 58                FAX:      +41 1 256 92 78            |
|8044 Zuerich            Europe   PHONE:    +41 1 256 93 16            | 

                          Last Revision: Wed Sep 30 11:44:30 MDT 1992
 
This document explains how to obtain IDL via the internet. It does not
discuss the VMS version, which is available via SPAN in the directory
ORION::DISKA:[IDL.V2]. ORION has the decnet address 33814.)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0) What is IDL?
1) Our Network Policy
2) Which FTP servers have IDL?
3) Form Of Distribution
4) The Files
5) Which Files Do I Need?
6) Where can I get installation instructions?
7) Where do I install IDL On My System (Updating An Existing Installation)?
8) Where do I install IDL On My System (First Installation --- System Wide)?
9) Where do I install IDL On My System (First Installation --- Single User)?
10) Sample Instructions For Getting Files Across The Internet
11) Unpacking The Distribution
12) Quick IDL Demonstration Instructions
13) Trial Demonstration Instructions
14) Running The XDemo
15) Non-Interactive Demo
16) Getting Help

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0) What is IDL?

                IDL, Interactive Data analysis Language, is a
        complete package for the interactive reduction, analysis,
        and visualization of scientific data and images.  Optimized
        for the workstation environment, IDL integrates a responsive
        array oriented language with numerous data analysis methods
        and an extensive variety of two and three dimensional
        displays into a powerful tool for researchers.
                IDL supports an extensive data import capability,
        publication quality hard copy output, and user-defined Motif
        graphical user interfaces.
                Users can create complex visualizations in hours
        instead of weeks with the aid of IDL's high level capabilities
        and interactive environment.
                IDL is useful in physics, astronomy, image and
        signal processing, mapping, medical imaging, statistics,
        and other technical disciplines requiring visualization of
        large amounts of data.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Our Network Policy

        The network distribution of IDL exists primarily for two classes
        of users:

                1) People who would like a demonstration of IDL.

                2) Existing customers under a current software support
                   agreement who wish to update their current installation
                   with the latest release.

        If you are a licensed IDL site, but you do not have a current
        software support agreement, you are still free to make use of
        this resource to update your installation. However, we ask that
        you do it in a self sufficient manner, without calling on us
        for help.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Which FTP servers have IDL?

        All of the systems listed below are used by their owners
        for other tasks. Please try to transfer the larger files during
        off hours so that these systems won't become bogged down with
        IDL traffic. This will increase the good will towards the IDL
        community and ensure that these systems remain available for this
        purpose.


        IDL is kept at the following sites:

            ----------------------
            Research Systems, Inc.
            ----------------------
                    Host:       gateway.rsinc.com (192.5.156.17)
                    Location:   Boulder, Colorado
                    Account:    ftp
                    Password:   <userid>@<localhost>
                    Directory:  pub/idl

                This system is connected to the internet via a 56KB link,
                so transfers will take longer.

            -------------------------------
            University of Colorado, Boulder
            -------------------------------
                    Host:       boulder.colorado.edu (128.138.240.1)
                    Location:   University of Colorado, Boulder Colorado
                    Account:    ftp
                    Password:   <userid>@<localhost>
                    Directory:  pub/idl

                The University of Colorado generously makes IDL
                available via their high speed internet connection.
                Please thank them by not loading it down too hard during
                working hours (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Mountain Time).

            -------------------------------
            University of Dortmund, Germany
            -------------------------------
                    Host:    lumpi.informatik.uni-dortmund.de (129.217.36.140)
                    Location:   University of Dortmund, Dortmund Germany
                    Account:    ftp
                    Password:   <userid>@<localhost>
                    Directory:  pub/idl

                European sites can obtain the distribution from this
                site. This system is also a file server for its owners,
                so the number of parallel users is restricted in order
                to maintain acceptable performance. If you are unable to
                access it due to this restriction, wait until a less busy
                time and try again.