The vgTcl Suite

Change Log and Porting Notes

990603: vgtcl34 for Vega 3.4, AudioWorks2 3.4, Performer 2.2.x
1. Executable scripts now use the shell's PATH environment variable to locate the psish executable. Be sure the directory containing psish (typically /usr/local/PSI/bin) is in PATH.
2. Package Svsensortcl_ogl has become Vgsvtcl_ogl.
3. /usr/local/PSI/bin/pospeek.tcl:
  - bug fix: canvas dimensions were reversed when using map image.
  - heading and pitch are clamped to +/-180.
4. New procedures added to the Vega utility library. See /usr/local/lib32/PSI/VgtclUtil.tcl for details.
  - Vgu_ValidObjects
  - Vgu_ActualWinVisuals
  - Vgu_InitAdfActiveModules
  - Vgu_AutoPackageRequire
  - Vgu_KeySocket
  - Vgu_CmdSocket
  - Vgu_AdjustFOV
  - Vgu_AdjustNearFar
5. The following have been enhanced to use Vgu_InitAdfActiveModules:
  - /usr/local/PSI/bin/vegax.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/4view/4view.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/misc/panel.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/misc/reparent.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/misc/vega.tcl
6. The libpfpftcl loader can now parse "command line arguments " from the filename. See /usr/local/PSI/demo/argtest.pftcl for usage example.
7. In package Pftcl_ogl:
  - New command: pftclTraverse - see /usr/local/PSI/bin/showheir.tcl for usage example.
  - bug fix: pfFindFile now returns path string as result
8. New files added to distribution. See there for additional information.
  - /usr/local/PSI/bin/speedometer.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/bin/showheir.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/bin/winvis.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/bin/jsftiles.tcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/demo/argtest.pftcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/demo/smartile.pftcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/demo/texsquare.pftcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/demo/trimark.pftcl
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/town/
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/jsf/
  - /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl/demo/socket/
980828: vgtcl33 for Vega 3.3, AudioWorks2 1.6, Performer 2.2
1. The vgTcl Suite supports only OpenGL and the MIPS "n32" ABI.
2. The vgTcl Suite is a layer on "tcltk803", a version of Tcl/Tk/TclX version 8.0.3 built by MultiGen-Paradigm. tcltk803 does not interfere with the sgitcl already installed on your system as part of IRIX.
3. There are several nasty bugs in IRIX 6.2 and 6.3 (such as SGI bug #353344 "Problem in n32 mips3 _XInternAtom" and some rld problems). You must install a recent recommended patchset, or tcltk803 will not function.
4. FYI: vgTcl is a complete reimplementation using SWIG, and takes advantage of the new Tcl8 just-in-time bytecode compiler. It is built -n32 -mips3 on IRIX6.2 with the Apr98 recommended patchset, using the MIPSpro7.2 compiler.
5. The new libpfpftcl loader provides an embedded Tcl interpreter with no C code modification in standard Vega and Performer applications (such as Vega's Active Preview). See the examples in /usr/local/PSI/demo/*.pftcl.
6. Source code to the vgTcl Suite is provided.
7. Now using the Tcl8 package mechanism. vgTcl scripts must explicitly declare their interest in extension modules; for example: package require Vgtcl_ogl
  See usr/local/lib32/PSI/pkgIndex.tcl for the list of vgTcl packages.
8. The environment variable GLOPT is obsolete. vgTcl supports only OpenGL.
9. The environment variable VGTCLTKDISPLAY has been renamed PSITCLDISPLAY.
10. The environment variable VGTCLTKRC has been renamed PSITCLRC.
11. The vgTcl filesystem has moved from /usr/sgitcl/PSI. The primary location is /usr/local/PSI/vgtcl, though other files are integrated with the tcltk803 filesystem. Use showfiles vgtcl to locate specific files.
12. psish has moved to /usr/local/PSI/bin/psish.
13. system.psishrc has moved to /usr/local/lib32/tcl8.0/system.psishrc.
14. /usr/sgitcl/PSI/lib/tclIndex is obsolete and replaced by /usr/local/lib32/PSI/pkgIndex.tcl.
15. The headers in /usr/sgitcl/PSI/include have been merged and rearranged. Their replacements are found in /usr/local/include.
16. pfInitTclTk() and vgInitTclTk() are replaced by Psitcl_CreateInterp(). See /usr/local/include/psitcl_shell.h. (Side note: with the libpfpftcl loader, the need for creating an interpreter in the Vega application C code is greatly reduced; see /usr/local/PSI/demo/vginterp.pftcl.)
17. pfUpdateTclTk() and vgUpdateTclTk() are replaced by Psitcl_Update(). The update is no longer automatically installed as a Vega frame callback; the simulation loop must explicitly invoke it.
18. Greater coverage of the Vega API.
19. The result returned by vgGetPosVec and vgGetPosVecD is now consistant with the C prototype.
20. The vgtcl load command (and the awtcl and pftcl equivalents) is obsolete, replaced by the Tcl8 package require mechanism.
21. The new vgtcl break command (and the awtcl equivalent) terminates a vgtcl render loop.
22. Mouse events seem lost on reparented windows. Under investigation.
23. Many of the issues necessitating LD_LIBRARY_PATH and/or -rpath have been resolved.
24. filesel has been removed from the distribution. Tcl8 provides the native tk_getSaveFile/tk_getOpenFile procedures.
25. pospeek.tcl greatly enhanced, see the script file for details. Now has a clickable map option, with optional background image.
26. posgrab.tcl greatly enhanced, see the script file for details. Now uses a scrollable list of editable items. There is no more implicit loading of .posgrabrc; you must explicitly load using open/save file menu, or -posfile commandline option. The format of the position file has changed; but we still read the old format.
27. The escape key is no longer globally bound to the Tcl exit command; it was difficult to know when escape would kill just a gui window or the entire vega app. The demo code has been updated to explicitly bind the escape key.
28. The list in the Vgu_KeyHelp window is now clickable.
971215: vgtcl_OMEGA1 release for Vega 3.2, AudioWorks 2 1.5, Performer 2.2a440