FOCUS Interactive
Graphics Software

Using FIGS

Launching FIGS

Setup for Netscape

    To start up the FIGS display program you need to have a FIGS executable on the same system on which you are running Netscape (this is the case on all e831 systems at Wideband). If you have the FIGS executable, then you need to take the following steps to inform Netscape thatit should use FIGS to view graphics files:

      1. Select General Preferences... from the Options menu
      2. Select Helpers
      3. Press New...
      4. Type "FIGS file" in the field labeled Description
      5. Type "application/e831-ster" in the field labeled Type
      6. Type "ster" in the field labeled Suffix
      7. Press the button labeled Application
      8. Type "/home/eeg/figs_e831.csh %s" in the field following the button.
      (Note that the location of figs_e831 may be different for your local system) 9. Press OK to save this setting.

Displaying Event Reconstructions

(figs_e831.csh filename.ster)
  • MC simulations (MCFOCUS.run)
  • Expressline data
  • make your own figs files (drve831.csh)

Output to PostScript

You can output the files in postscript format. Changing the window size will determine the printing aspect ratio.
You can choose the PS format that you want from the File Menu.

File Window

This is the main file window which is opened when starting FIGS.

  • the Quit button exits FIGS completely and is always active
  • The Filename is displayed in the upper left hand box. If you want to open another .ster file, simply enter it in here.
  • The Command box allows display commands to be entered directly.(for advanced users only)
  • The text display maintains a log of information about the file and graphics display:
    • After loading a FIGS file (####.ster) it starts by reading the geometry of the detectors. Then when each event is read in it displays information for the event and geometry.
    • With each new event, the display tells you how much Memory is being used, first the number of graphics objects (gobs) read in out of the total (with the corresponding %),and also the amount of memory occupied by the graphics data out of the total (with corresponding %).
    • If you select a track or object it displays that object's name in the file display window.

    Preset Views

    • F.I.G.S.
    FOCUS Interactive
    Graphics Software
    		This is the Preset Viewing window that pops up when you start FIGS. From this you can choose which preset view (perspective as well which drawings are on/off) *. You can open multiple windows with multiple views, all linked to the same event.

    Click the next event button to move to the next event in the file (for all open windows). When you reach the end of the file, you will see no event displayed. Click next event again, and it will return you to the first event in the file.
    *. Check with "What does FIGS have now" to see which views are currently supported.

    You also have the option to open the FIGS Display window at another IP address by typing it in the box.

    Go to Main FIGS Display Screen (imagemap)

    Mouse Controls

    In addition to standard left-button functions, the mouse offers the following control over the FIGS display
  • Mouse Zoom: You can zoom in on a region of the display by creating a box with the mouse and clicking inside of that box.
  • Screen centering: Clicking the middle mouse button over a certain position in the display will reposition the crosshairs to that location and also center the screen around that position. (Coordinates of Crosshairs can be displayed at the top of the screen)
  • Track/Detector Selection: you can use the mouse to select any track or object. This highlights it in red and allows you to take advantage of the centering controls at the top of the Main Display screen to help you move through the display.
    Note: When you select an object, it becomes the last object drawn, and therefore appears on top, rather than in the appropriate perspective.

    Last updated July 8, 1997