Defining a Graph using XML
| Project: | SpXZeigR - Graphing for Chemical Spectroscopies |
| Version: | IGOR.6.02.x-4.0.0-dev |
| Component: | User interface |
| Category: | support request |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | closed |
I am curious about what would be best to define a graph in XML. I am not talking about SVG, which is a way to draw a graph. I am instead talking about an XML database that defines the characteristics of the graph, for example ...
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Before I invent something like this for SpXZeigR as a "preference" type file format that thereafter has only limited use, I thought I would try to find an equivalent that is already in use. I've found this reference as a start. Does anyone have any other suggestions or references?
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| Status: | active | » closed |
I have decided to "roll my own" XML format and interface it to the Igor Pro commands to ModifyGraph. This issue is therefore considered closed.
I see that someone actually has an XML->SVG Graphing widget. You might use their format.
Yes, I saw this early on and had considered using it.
However, my thought in the meantime is, a better approach is: define an XML format for Igor Pro, create the XSL sheet to allow it to be read properly into Igor Pro, and subsequently create an XSL sheet that would translate the Igor Pro XML format to any other XML format as needed. Basically, I concluded for a number of reasons that translation from (some other XML format) -> XSL -> Igor Pro would be more of an ongoing burden to code and maintain then translation (Igor Pro XML format) -> XSL -> (some other XML format).
What would perhaps be appreciated from the WaveMetrics and Igor Pro user community is feedback on the XML format that I am defining. I hope to be doing something that might be useful to everyone over a longer term. Alternatively, I certainly hope to be working on something that does not become obsolete immediately when some other Igor Pro XML "standard" comes along.
In this regard, should I make the XML preference sheet development a separate project?
jj - did you end up defining an xml format for graphs - even if you had to roll your own it would be interesting to see what you ended up with. I presume that you were referring to a high level conceptual graph definition as opposed to a low level SVG-like primitive format. On that subject it would be good to know if anyone has ever been able to produce svg as an alternative to eps ?
thanks
Kurt
The XML format is part of SpXZeigR. Download SpXZeigR, open the XMLFiles folder, and check out the DEFAULTpreferences.xml and preferences.xsl files --- DO NOT CHANGE THEM or SpXZeigR will crash. The preferences file that users can change is in the localizations folder of SpXZeigR.
FWIW, I posted a query some time ago here as to the interest in using XML for Igor Pro preferences. The thread had no responses. I assumed by this that other things have greater interest in the user community and therefore have as yet not split out a separate XML graph/Igor Pro preference project.