From: andrew_abernathy@wire.gwinnett.com (andrew abernathy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.programmer
Subject: switch views, video, images, browsers, misc.
Date: 27 Aug 92 03:59:07 GMT
Organization: or lack thereof


	Ok, everything suddenly got serious.

	I've been trying to sell my bosses on NeXT ever since I started  
work here two years ago.  Several months ago, I finally was able to buy  
myself a machine.  I showed it off at work to generate interest.   
Yesterday, my boss told me they want to show off a prototype on the NeXT  
at a presentation of our proposal on a MAJOR job, worth MANY millions of  
dollars.  I personally, with some peripheral support, have to create this  
involved prototype, with actual data, and even, supposedly, video.  I have  
to do most of the work on my own time (the company is paying me some for  
use of my machine), and I have... TWO WEEKS ...before the proposal.   
Better yet, I don't know how to program this thing.  (I was waiting for  
3.0, a good book on programming the machine, programmed all day, didn't  
feel like it at night, etc., etc.  It has indeed come back to haunt me.)


	So what do I want?  Well, a few things.  (Keep in mind that I'll  
be using NeXTSTEP 3.0 PR2, unless my 3.0 update arrives within about a  
week.)  A lot of this stuff could probably be found fairly easily, but I  
simply don't have the time to investigate it all.  If you don't have the  
time (or inclination) to answer stupid questions, that's fine.  Please  
forgive the fact that many of these could be answered with a minimum  
amount of research on my part... I simply don't have the time to research  
much.


1)	Switch Views

Info on doing switch views, such as in multiple view inspectors.  I need  
to make HEAVY use of this.  I got, via e-mail ftp, SwitchBox, but it  
doesn't work under NeXTSTEP 3.0.  I really need to be able to create  
multiple panels and connect them separately to the view, as opposed to  
creating one big view and moving it about, but I would settle for the  
latter if I absolutely had to.


2)	Video

I really need to be able to show video.  A sequence of TIFF images would  
be fine, and my boss (supposedly) can supply the images.  However, I have  
no idea how I would get them to display, much less sequence.  This may not  
be possible with my experience in the amount of time given.  The ability  
to tell some other application to sequence the images would probably be  
sufficient, but I would also need the other application, and it can't cost  
much.  (Yeah, I know, for such a big job, you would think they could fund  
this part of the proposal some, but they didn't decide until yesterday  
that they were going to do this at all, it's actually going to be a fairly  
minor portion of the proposal, and they don't want to pour a bunch of  
money into an unproven platform and an unskilled (in NeXTland) programmer.   
It's a major coup that I'm able to get the platform this amazing level of  
exposure.  If it shows off DECENTLY with two weeks work... well, my  
imagination is running overtime.)  Any suggestions, hints, pointers are  
appreciated.


3)	Images

I also need still images.  I envision a simple view that merely displays a  
TIFF, PS or EPS image.  I could probably dynamically load such an image  
onto a large button, but again, I know nothing.  I could probably find the  
method(s) needed, but SIMPLE sample code would be GREATLY appreciated.   
(Given a fully qualified filename, load it and display in view / on  
button, whatever.  I'll have to have data / images for several objects, so  
I'll need to know anything necessary about "unloading" the image.)

Also, if anyone has experience with Graphisoft's VISA, for converting  
AutoCAD files into PostScript, I'd love to hear from you.  These are the  
images I really need to be able to throw up into a view.


4)	Matrices / Browsers

I plan to have a two-column browser... choose the system element type and  
the second column allows selection of entities of that type.  I need some  
sample code, as simple as possible, showing how to react to a choice being  
made from the browser and determining what the choice was so I can open a  
custom inspector for that entity, depending on it's element type.


5)	Miscellaneous

DBKit		I'm going to be using DBKit.  (Fortunately, I will have  
access to someone who knows a lot about database, though not DBKit.)  I  
can do the basic stuff, but it would be great to have some resource or  
resources I could e-mail (or possibly call) with questions if I run up  
against problems.  (I tend to doubt I will... I envision my prototype  
database needs to be mostly quite simple, if somewhat bulky.

Help		I'm going to set up NeXTSTEP help.  Anyone with experience  
that could give me gotchas, pointers on how to get started quick, would be  
very appreciated.

Localization	I'd like to put the main screen and menu up in an  
alternate language, preferably Spanish or French.  If someone would be  
willing to translate a few menus and a screen gratis, I would be very  
grateful.

General		I'm going to have general questions.  A battery of people  
that I can pepper with questions over the next two weeks would be great.   
Probably I would normally need code fragments and comments on gotchas;  
anyone who has full 3.0 documentation would probably be great.



I know I'm asking for a lot, but I was surprised by the request and it's  
my big chance to sell management on this platform.  Thanks for any help.

-- 
andrew_abernathy@wire.gwinnett.com (NeXTmail gleefully accepted)