From: avs@ncsc.org (Terry Myerson)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.avs
Subject: Re: using the hedgehog module
Date: 12 Apr 92 23:12:39 GMT
Reply-To: avs@ncsc.org (Terry Myerson)
Organization: North Carolina Supercomputing Center

keith -

the ov_slice module in our public domain collection is great
for visualizing a slice of a vector field.

i will include our standard README file as an fyi if you are 
not current on our existence.

good luck,

-terry

----
Terry Myerson
International AVS Center
North Carolina Supercomputing Center
avs@ncsc.org

		Welcome to the International AVS Center


YOU MUST DOWNLOAD AND READ THE AVS_LICENSE FILE BEFORE MAKING USE OF THIS
ANONYMOUS FTP SITE OR ANY OF THE INTERNATIONAL AVS CENTER EMAIL FACILITIES!

****************************************************************************

	  INTERNATIONAL AVS CENTER OPENED OCTOBER 1, 1991 AT NCSC

    
    The AVS Consortium announced the opening of the new International
AVS Center at North Carolina Supercomputing Center in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina.  The AVS Consortium is made up of seven AVS vendors
who are funding and providing direction for the International AVS Center.
The seven vendors are Advanced Visual Systems Inc., CONVEX Computer 
Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, Hewlett Packard Company, 
Sun Microsystems, and Wavetracer, Inc.  

    Non-consortium vendors who have AVS ported to their platforms are 
Cray, Evans and Sutherland, Kubota Pacific Computer Inc., Set Technology 
Corporation, and SGI.  Many of these are still in beta and will be made 
available in the future.

    The full functionality of the International AVS Center was not
available until January 1, 1992.  The Center was opened in several phases.
Phase I, which opened first, provides for ftp and email access to modules and
is primarily for submission of modules from the AVS Users.  There are several
hundred modules currently available and more will be added daily.  There
is construction for the porting facilities currently underway.  Initially
modules are available for CONVEX, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, and
the Stardent Titan P3G3 (through 12/31/91).  As the hardware goes online, 
more ports are becoming available.  Rather than delay AVS User access to 
sharable code until porting was completed, it was decided to let them 
have access to what was available and let them do their own porting as 
needed until porting was completed on all platforms.

****************************************************************************

	        	     QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

    If you ever have any questions,  please forward them to avs@ncsc.org.
The staff of the International AVS Center is here to support the AVS user
community as best we can.  

****************************************************************************

                              INTERNET NEWS GROUP

    AVS users should also be aware of the Internet news group 
comp.graphics.avs .  This news group provides a forum for general 
collaboration on all AVS topics between the entire AVS user community.

****************************************************************************

                                 AVS MAGAZINE

    The International AVS Center is publishing a quarterly magazine titled "AVS
Network News." This magazine discusses AVS related issues, has user articles, 
general information, etc.  These can be ordered from your AVS Vendor or by 
sending a check or money order to the Internation AVS Center.  The check should
be in the amount of $12.00 for an annual subscription, or $3.00 for a single 
issue.  Please add $0.75 per issue if outside of Continental USA.

        The International AVS Center
        PO Box 12889
        3021 Cornwallis Road
        RTP, NC 27709

****************************************************************************

                         INTERNATIONAL AVS USERS GROUP

     You can join the International AVS Users Group for a yearly fee of
$30.00 which includes subscription to the AVS magazine, the yearly AVS catalog
of modules ( user donated and commercial), a $50.00 reduction on attending the
yearly International AVS Users Group conference and have special rates for
additional services as they become available.  To join, send check or money
order for $30.00 ( add $5.00 if out of continental USA) to:

        The International AVS Center
        PO Box 12889
        3021 Cornwallis Road
        RTP, NC 27709

     The interim President of the AVS Users Group is Stephen Franklin
from the University of California at Irvine.  Stephen will be posting
notes to the AVS newsgroup comp.graphics.avs as well as provide guidance to
organizing local groups.  More information is forthcoming.

     There will be an additional fee for local user group memberships.

****************************************************************************

                   INTERNATIONAL AVS USERS GROUP CONFERENCE

    The 1st Annual International AVS Users Group Conference was held
February 11-13,1992 at the site of the International AVS Center : 
the North Carolina Supercomputing Center, Research Triangle Park, 
North Carolina.  The conference was titled : AVS '92 and is sponsored by the
AVS Consortium : AVS Incorporated, CONVEX Computer Corporation, Digital 
Equipment Corporation, Hewlett Packard Company, IBM, North Carolina 
Supercomputing Center, SET Technology, and Wavetracer, Inc.

Conference Overview :
	
        First International Users Group Conference
	          February 11 - 13, 1992

	Summary of events:

Keynote address:
	Attentive and Preattentive Processing in Visualization
	Richard Mark Friedhoff, Author of "Visualization:  The
	Second Computer Revolution"

Lectures:
	#1 - Fundamentals of Scientific Visualization by Jim
	Thomas, SIGGRAPH Chair, Battelle Pacific Labs

	#2 - Directions AVS Might Take:  A User Perspective by
	Richard Feldmann, NIH, Division of Computer Research
	and Technology.

	#3 - Tips and Tricks with AVS and Areas that are not
	documented by Larry Gelberg, AVS Inc.

	#4 - The AVS Module Generator by Larry Gelberg, AVS Inc.

	#5 - Future Plans for AVS and the International AVS
	Center by Ray Idaszek, NCSC and Dave Kamins, AVS Inc.

	#6 - Wide Area Information Servers: A Supercomputer on
	Every Desk by Brewster Kahle, Thinking Machines.

	#7 - The AVS Data Viewer by Larry Gelberg, AVS, Inc.

	#8 - The GenTools Distributed Computational-Genetics
	Program Suite by Jesse Driver, University of Texas,
	CHPC, Balcones Research Center.

	#9 - Full Motion Video over ETHERNET in an AVS Environment
	by Dan Winkelstein, MCNC Communications Division.

	#10 - The AVS Animation Application in AVS 3.5 by Ham
	Lord, AVS Inc.

	#11 - Distributed Visualization by Rick Franklin and Wade
	Smith, CONVEX Computer Corporation.

	#12 - Video Production in AVS by John Sheehan, AVS Inc.

	#13 - Overview of Implementing AVS on a Massively
	Parallel Machine by Edward Zyszkowski, Wavetracer Inc.

	#14 - The AVS Geometry Viewer Using AVS 3.5 by Jeff 
	Vroom, AVS Inc.

	#15 - VBASE:  Vector Database in AVS by Dennis Colomb.

	#16 - Chaotic System Tools in AVS by Mike Neacsu, NCSC.

	#17 - The Visualization Revolution by Wes Bethal, 
	Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

	#18 - Network Synamation:  An Integrated Environment for
	Distributed Computing by Meng H. Lean, Xerox Corporation,
	Webster Research Center.

Tutorials:

	#1 - Getting Started with AVS and Creating Networks

	#2 - Getting Started with the Geometry Viewer (AVS3.5)

	#3 - The Data Viewer

	#4 - The AVS Animation Application

	#5 - How to Write a Module in C using the Module Generator

Workshops:

	#1 - Chemistry using AVS by Richard Hedges, Polygen/MSI
	and Dave Kamins, AVS Inc.

	#2 - Visualizing Crystals with AVS by Don R. Jones, Erin
	N. Thornton, and Anthony Ness, Battelle Pacific Labs.

	#3 - Animation in AVS by Brian Kaplan, Indiana University
	and Ham Lord, AVS Inc.

	#4 - Imaging and GIS in AVS, Dennis Colomb.

	#5 - Crystal Viewer with AVS by Steve Bong, Crystal Imaging.

	#6 - Maple V Supporting AVS by Benton Leong, Waterloo Maple.

Panels:

	#1 - AVS as an Educational and Instructional Tool by Stephen
	Franklin, University of California, Irvine.

	#2 - AVS Developers and Porters Panel, led by David Bennett,
	International AVS Center and NCSC.

	#3 - Applications Panel led by Dennis Colomb.

	#4 - Virtual Reality by John Sheehan, AVS Inc.

	#5 - Distributed Computing Group led by Ray Idaszak, NCSC.

Videotapes:

	Videotapes of many of the presentations at AVS `92 will be
available from the International AVS Center after the final editing 
is completed.

****************************************************************************

                             GETTING MODULES

    There are currently two ways to obtain modules:

    	1.	Using standard ftp protocol.
	2.	Using the AVSemail request system

****************************************************************************

                              ANONYMOUS FTP

     The International AVS Center anonymous ftp site is located on the
Internet 
at 128.109.178.23 .  If a name server is running, the server can be located 
as avs.ncsc.org .  When connected to the avs server, login as anonymous and 
provide your email address as the password.


WHAT YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU LOG IN TO THE AVS SITE:

     When you login you will get a banner message that will provide some
basic information.  If you type ls -CF, you will then see the following:

.login          AVS_README      FILTERS/        SUBMIT_RELEASE  etc/
AVS_CATALOG     SAMPLE_DATA/    MAPPERS/        WHAT_IS_AVS     pub/
AVS_FLATLINE    DATA/           RENDERERS/      bin/            usr/
AVS_LICENSE     FAQ             SUBMIT/         dev/

     THE INTERNATIONAL AVS CENTER GIVES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, FOR ANY SOFTWARE AND/OR DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

     The AVS_CATALOG provides a complete listing of current module holdings 
at the International AVS Center.  Its general format is as follows:
		    :
		    :
	NAME        : credits            ORDER NUMBER : 1111    LANGUAGE : C     
	AUTHOR      : Terry Myerson   International AVS Center ( NCSC ) 
	DESCRIPTION : This module outputs a series of "title" labels, 
		      creating a credit page.
        PLATFORMS   : STARDENT 
		    :
		    :
              
     AVS_FLATLINE provides the same information in a format suitable for
some database programs.  The general format for the AVS_FLATLINE file is 
as follows:
		    :
		    :
credits:1111:DATA:This module outputs a series of "title" labels,
creating a cre
dit page:Terry Myerson   International AVS Center ( NCSC ):-1:C:12/06/91:0101:
		    :
		    :

     The AVS_LICENSE is a file that provides the conditions under which
modules may be obtained and your agreements to share code with others.  You
must agree to the terms in order to use the International AVS Center repository
and all that it contains.  Its purpose is to ensure the sharing of everything
that has been donated and prohibit misuse of code that has been so generously
donated by others.  If you need a "special" arrangement, you must have a
release in writing from the International AVS Center.  We will contact the
donors and obtain their approval for special cases.  

     You are reading the AVS_README file.

     The SAMPLE_DATA directory is for data that has no associated
modules.  Many individuals have requested new or interesting sample data
and are also donating it.  It does not fit with the standard module
directories and so has its own directory.

     The FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions file answers common 
questions about the International AVS Center and AVS in general.

     There are four main directories of modules: DATA, FILTERS, MAPPERS 
and RENDERERS.  These directories correspond to the four columns of modules 
within AVS.

     The SUBMIT directory is for module submissions.  This directory has
write permission and will be explained below in the submission section.
	
     The SUBMIT_RELEASE form is explained in more detail in the submission
section below.  Basically, we want you to agree to certain terms before 
making your submissions available to the public.  

     WHAT_IS_AVS is a several page overview of the AVS system.  

     Your first step, after reading this AVS_README file is to download
the AVS_LICENSE file and read it.  If you have any problem abiding by the
AVS Licensing Agreement, please send email to avs@ncsc.org or US mail to the
International AVS Center, po Box 12889, 3021 Cornwallis road, RTP, NC 27709.
We will try to deal with special circumstances as they arise on a one on one
basis.

USING STANDARD FTP PROTOCOL:

     There are only a few basic commands you will need to move around 
in the AVS directories and download or submit files.  Additional information
is available in your local man pages on ftp.  The first step is to "cd" to
the directory you are interested in such as "cd DATA".  You will receive a
message on how to proceed.  You should then "cd" to the module directory you
want such as "cd abekas".  You should change your settings as follows:  type 
"bin" at the prompt to change to binary mode; type "hash" at the prompt, this 
gives a # sign on your home device that shows you that things are working; type
"prompt" to get multiple files at one time.  There are only a few other 
commands that are general. You should know get and mget.  Typing "get
filename" 
at the prompt will download any one file.  Typing "mget filenames" (or with 
wildcards *,?,etc) will get you several files at one time.  If you did
not type 
the prompt command you will be asked yes/no for each file.  If you did type 
prompt you will not be prompted, ftp will just continue to download all files 
requested.  The reverse procedure is true when you want to submit
modules using 
the put and mput commands ( more on submission later).  
                                            
     In this directory, you will find all of the files for a module.
These include the source code, scripts, networks, helpfiles, and makefiles. 
The Makefiles are named make.platform ( i.e. make.convex, make.dec5000 )

     There is another ftp option available for getting a module that
you may find easier.  Suppose you want the module read_tiff, which is
located in the subdirectory DATA/read_tiff.  If you do the following
sequence of steps, you will wind up with a tar file containing all of
read_tiff's files in it:

	ftp avs.ncsc.org
	use anonymous for the userid
	use your userid for the password
	cd DATA
	binary
	get read_tiff.tar
	bye

Then on your local machine, use "tar -xvf read_tiff.tar" to restore
the files from the archive.  This method may take a while due to
the potentially large size of the tar file.  If you use
"get read_tiff.tar.Z" instead, you will get a compressed version of
the tar file, which should come over significantly faster due to
the smaller size.  Then on your local machine, use 
"uncompress read_tiff.tar.Z", followed by "tar -xvf read_tiff.tar"
to restore the files.

****************************************************************************

                               EMAIL FACILITIES

    It was determined that there were many users who did not have ftp
protocol on their system.  For those individuals an email procedure has
been set up.  There are three email addresses associated with the International
AVS Center.  These are avs@ncsc.org for questions/module submission, 
avsemail@ncsc.org for an automated information request, and avsorder@ncsc.org 
for automated module requests.  avsorder and avsemail are both explained below.
                   
   Mailing to avsemail@ncsc.org will automatically retrieve a response which 
includes this AVS_README file and also a current module catalog.

   Mailing to avsorder@ncsc.org will automatically retrieve module
source codes.
Since some mail handlers have restrictions on the maximum size of 
a mail message, the modules that are requested will arrive in several
messages - one message per file per module.  Some modules that could be 
requested may also not be deliverable by email because of the size of 
individual files in that module.  These cases will be noted in the return 
email you receive.  Phase II will offer you option of receiving these files 
or any others via tape.  Construction is currently underway of porting 
facilities and as soon as hardware is installed, we will update this notice 
and provide instructions on how to request modules, data, etc. via tape.

    Note that you will need to remove the mail header lines after saving the 
files from within your mail system.  The title for each of a module
file's mail message will be of the form <module name>/<file name>, in
order to facilitate easier saving of these files.

HOW TO ORDER:

1.      First, review the modules available in the AVS_CATALOG

2.      Decide which modules you want.  Add a pound sign (#)
	to the beginning of each module number and make sure it is
	on a separate line of its own for each module ordered.

3.      Submit the order form.  The #module_number and name ( the # 
	is necessary in front of each module ordered with no spaces, 
	as #1037 ).

4.	When your order is filled out send it to "avsorder@ncsc.org",
	it will be processed immediately.  DO NOT send orders to 
	avsemail@ncsc.org.


        SAMPLE ORDER FORM:

*******************************************************************************
        I would like to order the following modules:

#1005 ( these lines are the module numbers)
#1023 ( NOTE that each entry must be on a separate line, this is required)
#1029 
#1130
..............You may order as many modules as you like as long as each is
..............on a separate line.


Thanks
John Doe
Smurfville, USA  (Full name and address is not required, just requested)

*******************************************************************************

        WHAT THIS ORDER FORM DID FOR YOU:
        
The #numbers order modules 1005, 1023 1129 and 1130 from the module list.
Each number told the automatic ordering service what you wanted in addition 
to the module source code.  Everything is automatic.  If you did not receive 
what you ordered, send email to avs@ncsc.org and we will correct the problem 
quickly. 

*******************************************************************************

BATCH TAPE REQUESTS:

	There is a $5.00 dollar shipping and handling fee for tapes ( $10.00
for shipping out of country and no insurance).  If you send your own tape
this is the only cost incurred.  If you wish us to use one of our tapes we
will charge you cost plus 15% for our ordering, stocking, etc costs.  This 
is still less than retail and is designed only as a cost recovery.  We are
not responsible for items damaged in transit.  Exact costs for tapes and 
handling will be determined when hardware is delivered and set up.  We will
post information as soon as it becomes available

*******************************************************************************

HOW TO SUBMIT MODULES:

	Donating a module to the International AVS Center benefits 
the entire AVS user community by facilitating further use of AVS to 
visualize complex scientific phenomena.  Any module that is not 
donated may be rewritten elsewhere - wasting someone's 
valuble time - hindering further development of other module 
capabilities for everyone's benefit.  

	There are three ways to submit modules:

	1.	Standard ftp protocol
	2.	email ( no binaries)
	3.	Sending tapes to:	The International AVS Center
					P.O. Box 12889              
					3021 Cornwallis Road
					RTP, NC 27709  
	
	There is a SUBMIT_RELEASE file that can be found when you login. 
It has the terms you agree to by submitting a module to the International 
AVS Center.  It tells us that we have permission to share these modules 
and associated files with others and that there are no known viruses in 
the code.  This will ensure that the there are no other claims from 
universities, individuals, companies, etc.  If you cannot meet these 
conditions because of special circumstances ( e.g. government lab, etc.,
please email to avs@ncsc.org and we will make special arrangements on an      
individual basis).  
                                                                           
	Several individuals have said they would contribute, but from 
past experience they knew they would be bombarded with questions about the 
code and did not have the time to spend replying to these questions.  If 
you are in this situation, we will put a unique control number in the code 
and the International AVS Center will act as the only contact between you 
and the world.  Many of the questions will be fielded by the AVS staff, 
but if a question cannot be answered internally, you will only be contacted 
by the center and not hundreds of individuals.    
                                                                             

*******************************************************************************

STANDARD FTP SUBMISSION:


	 If you have arrived at this point it is assumed that you know the
ftp site name (avs.ncsc.org).  The IPnumber will be changing shortly as
we move to a larger server, so be prepared for this number to change in the
near future.  We will post it later.

        When you login you will get a banner message that will provide some
basic information.  You will then see the following:

.login          AVS_README      FILTERS/        SUBMIT_RELEASE  etc/
AVS_CATALOG     SAMPLE_DATA/    MAPPERS/        WHAT_IS_AVS     pub/
AVS_FLATLINE    DATA/           RENDERERS/      bin/            usr/
AVS_LICENSE     FAQ             SUBMIT/         dev/

	Most of the files and directories have been explained above, except
the SUBMIT directory.  The SUBMIT directory is the only one that has write
permission.  In order to provide a minimum level of security to those who
donate modules, and try to make sure others do not accidentally copy over their
files, and to streamline the process of adding your module to the catalog,
we ask you to follow the following procedures.

	Please prepare your submission to conform to the following guidelines
as closely as you can:
	1.	one directory per AVS module / one AVS module per directory
	2.	the directory name for each AVS module should be the
		name of the module itself
	3.	all C source code should have a .c suffix
	4.	all FORTRAN source code should have a .f suffix
	5.	all C header files should have a .h suffix
	6.	all FORTRAN header files should have a .icl suffix
	7.	one Makefile per AVS module / one AVS module per Makefile
	8.	provide one file with a .txt suffix for each AVS
		module, in plain text format, which provides complete
		documentation for the module
	9.	provide a sample AVS network file, with a .net suffix
	10.	unless absolutely necessary, please do not provide
		sample data with the AVS module
	11.	do not include assembly language code

	When you "cd" to the SUBMIT" directory, a banner message will appear
that will prompt you with instructions.  You will be asked to create a
directory using mkdir as in "mkdir myname".  You will receive a message back
saying "myname.003" has been created.  This directory is invisible and 
entry into this directory can only be achieved by typing "cd myname.003".
When someone else logs in, they will see nothing, unless they know the name and
unique number identifier.  After you "cd" to your new directory you will
be able
to donate modules using standard ftp protocol.  Detailed information is 
available in the ftp man pages, but you will only need to know a few basic
commands such as bin, hash, prompt, put and mput. to donate your modules.

	You should create additional directories for each module using "mkdir".
You should type "bin" at the command line to change to binary format, then
type "hash" at the command line to show a # sign on your local machine that 
tells you things are working.  You should then type prompt if you have 
more than one file as this lets you download multiple files at one time
using mput without waiting for the prompt yes/no command.  Then type the
command "put myfile" or "mput myfiles" at the command line and they will
download to the new directory you have created.  We prefer and recommend
that all files submitted are only straight ASCII files, although if your 
files are in tar or tar.Z format, we will accept them.

	If you logout and wish to make a change, you must remember the 
unique name for the invisible directory you were given or else start all
over again.


*******************************************************************************

EMAIL SUBMISSION:

	We will accept email submissions to avs@ncsc.org, but ask you follow
these guidelines.

	Do not include any binaries.  If data files are large, put in uucp
format or provide a smaller data file with a note that larger files are 
available.  We will contact you to try to arrange obtaining these larger
files through other methods.  Please do not send data files over 200K.
Separate all files by a line of at least twenty (20) asterisk marks (*) so 
we can search for these easily.  

	Your first lines should describe the module, the platform it has
been ported to and special notes such as large data size, followed by *'s.


*******************************************************************************


BATCH TAPE SUBMISSION:

	To submit a module via tape, put it onto a tape
using "tar -cvf tapedrive filename[s]".  Label the tape with the
appropriate platform the module runs on (and the platform the tape
was made on, if different), and mail it to us at:

        The International AVS Center
        PO Box 12889
        3021 Cornwallis Road
        RTP, NC 27709

*******************************************************************************