Improvement of BDEJava

Hua Ren

Proposed implementation:
(1)  Add capability of saving graph into GIF file.
(2)  If time is available, accomplishing menu selections of node setting. 
     This is especially important for window platform with 640x480
     resolution where the whole frame can not be displayed.
(3)  If time is available, adding other menu such as Fond setting.


Weekly report (04/07-04/14):

Accomplishment:
(1)  made BDEJava working most properly under both windows 95/DOS and 
     Linux /X-window.
(2)  imported a generic GIFencoder for Java into BDEJava package. After 
     fixed a bug, off-line test with a sample data OK both in windows 95/DOS 
     and Linux /X-window.
(3)  created a menu interface for Gif encoding procedure under file menu bar:
     "Save As GIF File...". Working on converting BDE class data information 
     to graph/image has been made progress, though programming efforts are 
     still needed.

Problem Found:
(1)  current version stalled under Linux/x-Window when Create-Text been 
     selected.
(2)  applet frame in current version exceeds the maximum display area when 
     640x480 resolution used: node-select, or font-selecting canvas is out 
     of display. Resize frame cannot improve this.
 
To do
(1)  reading and familiar code and search for interface of node setting and 
     some other options for implement.
(2)  learning more about java.awt, especially graph part and event handling.
(3)  detailed design implementation strategy, coding, and test exporting 
     graph to the GIFencoder.


Weekly report (04/15-04/19)

Accomplishment:
(1)  fixed a bug in the interface for GIFencoder "Save As Gif File..."
(2)  working on interface connect to GIFencoder
(3)  working on an attempt to directly grab image from bdeGraph 

Problem Found:
	Java lacks direct export library to devices other than applet. 
I found several sample programs in GAMELAN, and they all use pixel grab
method provided by Java.awt. However, all these programs are used only
when you have an image data from loaded GIF file not from display device.
In addition, Graphics class in Java is defined as protected and default
to display device (Applet or Window). I'm not sure if I can find a way
to generate a class Image from these drawing procedure. It'd be the best way. 
The worst case would be probably to write all classes for each drawing object 
as well as a 'fprint' type of method in each bde class as they did for 
postscript output.
 
To do
(1)  continue Accomplishment (3) described above;
(2)  If (3) fails, it will need to start a very massive coding effort to 
     write classes for drawing objects and put them into each bde class;
(3)  learning more Java, especially the Java libs and awts, and studying 
     in bdeJava codes.


Weekly report (04/20-04/27)

Accomplishment:
(1)  accomplished the Gif Saving by using a "double-buffring" method
	 provided by java AWT and adding associated methods in bdeAppletFrame
	 class.
(2)  rearranged and added new items in menu bars, added or 
  	 modified some codes in bdeAppletFrame class.
(3)  cleaned up the code.
(4)	 tested all menubars using real data.
(5)	 learning the Java libs and awts, read news groups such as 
	 comp.lang.java.programer. Studying bde2java package, find the right
	 place to add or modify the code.

 
To do
(1)  add more common lines into codes and prepare documentation
	 and clean up the codes;
(2)  learning Java, especially the Java libs and awts, and studying 
     in bdeJava codes;
(3)  try loading GIF File, although it might not be able to provide
	 bde class information.


Weekly report (04/28-05/04)

Accomplishment:
(1)  	accomplished the Gif Saving by two choices:
		Save Current Graph
		Save All Graphs
	by write new function in bdeAppletFrame.java.
(2)  	continue rearranged and added new items in menu bars, added or 
   	modified some codes in bdeAppletFrame class:
   	added sub menu to Save As Gif File:
		Save Currrnt Graph
		Save All Graphs
	changed "Print..." to "Save As PS File", and rearrenged it under
	menu "Save As..."
(3)	modified the method: public string fprint() in bdeGraph.java:
	use constant instead of "0,-560".
(4)  	continue cleaned up the code and the common.
(4)	went to UML try run the new code, and continue tested  menubars 
	using real data.
(5)	learning the Java libs and awts, read news groups such as 
	comp.lang.java.programer. Studying bde2java package, find the right
	place to add or modify the code.


 To do
(1)  add more common lines into codes and prepare documentation
	 and clean up the codes;
(2)  Write the documetion


Weekly report (05/05-05/11)

Accomplishment:
(1)  	accomplished rearranging menu bars as Prof. Lechner request.
   	Now, the menu includes:
   		Save As 
   		Print...
   	and "print..." has two choices:
   		Print As GIF 
   		Print As PS 
   	and each of them has two choices:
		Print Currrnt Graph
		Print All Graphs
	   or
		Currrnt Graph
		All Graph
	
	
(2)	fixed one bug. Now "save as" can
	work well. The PS and GIF's names are correct too(without .dat).
(3)  	continue cleaned up the code and the comments (lots of them).
(4)	write the the final report and user guide draft.



 To do
	Accomplish documentations.