>>Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 16:11:51 -0700 (PDT) >>From: James Frye <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: "Jean-Pierre.Chretien" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Subject: Re: Xfig question >> >>On Thu, 18 Sep 2003, Jean-Pierre.Chretien wrote: >> >>> >>I too would like to know if there's some source of information on xfig (or >>> >>any other usable drawing program for Linux). I need to do some simple >>> >>diagrams, but can't seem to find anything that works. I'm about ready to >>> >>hunt out my old copy of Generic CADD, and boot DOS :-( >>> >>> man xfig >>> man transfig >>> >>> But what I like in xfig (in addition to its powerful import and export >>> capabilities and the batch processing features) is the >>> object oriented interface... >> >>Which is specifically what I don't like: I want a manual with >>instructions, or a set of menus that have words on them - preferrably >>English, but I can deal with most European languages (or Japanese) far >>more readily than I can figure out what those stupid little pictures are >>supposed to mean. At least give me something I can print out on a couple >>of pages, and use as a cross-reference :-)
On my version of xfig, each of these supid pictures open en explanation when I leave the mouse pointer on them, and gives the shortcut to call the function. In addition, the explanation is recalled in the buffer line (second line under the File, Edit,... popups). Perhaps this facility is not activated by default on yours ? These are activated through the View menu. >> >>I've looked at most of the packages suggested here, and other than the >>interface issues, they all seem to lack two important features. First, >>and absolutely critical to me, is that there needs to be some color >>translation layer between screen and paper. I can't work with anything >>but a black background for more than a few minutes at most. Where's the problem with xfig ? You may fix the global background and canvas as you like. Again man xfig give you a lot of info. It's more than a couple of pages, but it's reference info. >> Second, I'd >>like to be able to draw in native units, not have to scale everything by >>hand to paper units. If I'm drawing house plans, I want to work in feet & >>inches; if I'm drawing nerve cells, I want to work in micrometers - either >>way, the computer should do the work of fitting the drawing to the paper. You may specify user units/scaling through the popup opening at the upper right corner of the drawing area. -- Jean-Pierre
