diff --git a/docs/source/graphics.rst b/docs/source/graphics.rst index 4ce6619b8..bab6b3332 100644 --- a/docs/source/graphics.rst +++ b/docs/source/graphics.rst @@ -11,24 +11,26 @@ NEMO programs also need to display their data of course. Here we will make a distinction between *graphics* and *image* data. A simple but flexible *graphics* interface has been defined in NEMO and is used extensively in programs that need such output. These are controlled by -the user via the ``yapp=`` (system) keyword. +the user via the ``yapp=`` :ref:`system_keywords`. -To display *image* data we rely mostly (but see *ccdplot(1NEMO)* for an exception) +To display *image* data we rely mostly (but see +`ccdplot(1NEMO) `_ +for an exception) on external software. Often images would need to be copied to a FITS file for this -(but see ``nds9`` for an example that can use NEMO's image format). - +(but see ``nds9`` for an example that can use NEMO's image format), and +use 3rd party programs such as *ds9*. The YAPP graphics interface --------------------------- The programs in NEMO which use *graphics* are rather simple and generally allow no -interactive processing, except perhaps for a simple 'hit-the-return-key' -or 'push-a-mouse-button' between successive plots or actions. A very +interactive processing, except perhaps for a simple 'hit-the-Enter-key' +or 'click-a-mouse-button' between successive plots or actions. A very simple interface (API) was defined (**yapp**, Yet Another Plotting Package) with basic plot functions. There are currently a few yapp implementations -available, such as a postscript-only device, and pgplot. +available, with a postscript-only device, and pgplot the most common ones. If your output device is not supported by the ones available in the current yapp directory (``$NEMO/src/kernel/yapp``), you may have to write a new one! @@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ A reasonably experienced programmer writes a functional yapp-interface in an hour or so. Although this method results in a flexible graphics interface, a -program can currently only be linked with one yapp-interface, which +program can currently only be linked with one yapp-interface at a time, which is selected at NEMO's installation time via the **configure** script. This might result in the existence of more than one version of the same @@ -48,16 +50,17 @@ screen, Hence we may see program names such as {\tt snapplot} (the default), ``snapplot_ps`` (postscript), or ``snapplot_cg`` (color Sun screen when this was popular) . -Again: actual names may differ on your system. +Again: actual names may differ on your system, and it may never be used. If programs are linked with the multiplexing libraries *yapp_pgplot* interface, several device drivers are transparently present through pgplot, and the system keyword ``yapp=`` is then used to select a device (a default can be set by using the **YAPP** environment variable). -See also the :ref:`iface` chapter -or the -`yapp `_ +See also the +:ref:`iface` +chapter or the +`yapp(5NEMO) `_ manual page. However, despite these grim sounding words, we currently @@ -65,6 +68,12 @@ almost exclusively use the PGPLOT implementation of yapp, which is very flexible You will need to have pgplot installed on your system, which is another story in itself. +.. note:: + The command ``mknemo pgplot`` may work if you cannot find a system package installer. + This will install PGPLOT system files in ``$NEMOLIB``. + + + pyplot=: python matplotlib -------------------------- @@ -81,20 +90,28 @@ General Graphics Display Another convenient way to present data in graphical form is by using the table format. We have already encountered the *tables* created by many NEMO programs. These tables can be used by NEMO programs -such as *tabplot(1NEMO)*, *tabhist(1NEMO)*, and other packages +such as +`tabplot(1NEMO) `_ +and +`tabhist(1NEMO) `_, +and other packages such as *gnuplot*, *xgobi*, *xmgrace*, -*xgraphic*, and -*glueviz*. +*xgraphic*, +*glueviz*, and +*topcat*. Image Display Interface ----------------------- -Data in *image(5NEMO)* format can be transferred in -*fits(5NEMO)* format and subsequently displayed and analyzed within +Data in +`image(5NEMO) `_ +format can be transferred in +`fits(5NEMO) `_ +format and subsequently displayed and analyzed within almost any astronomical image processing system. They are generally much better equipped to display and manipulate data of this kind of format. A number of standalone display programs can also understand FITS