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Java IDLgrWindow Based Histogram Plot Generator

This drawable object example inherits from IDLgrWindow and creates a histogram plot for a selected monochrome or RGB image file. While this example does contain several custom methods including those for opening a file, creating the plots, and changing plot characteristics, it does not use keyboard or mouse events. See Java IDLitWindow Surface Manipulation for such an example.


Example Code
The object definition file, export_grwindow_doc__define.pro is located in the examples/doc/bridges subdirectory of the IDL distribution.

Complete the following steps to duplicate this example.

  1. In an IDL Editor window, open the object definition file by entering .EDIT export_grwindow_doc__define.pro at the command prompt.

    2.  


    Note
    It is a good idea to test the functionality of an object before exporting it. After compiling the file, enter the following lines at the command line and make sure the output is what is expected for this object.
    oPlotWindow = OBJ_NEW("export_grwindow_doc")
     oPlotWindow->CHANGELINE, 2
    This will display a three channel histogram plot and change the plot linestyle to dashed.

     

  2. Open the Export Bridge Assistant by entering IDLEXBR_ASSISTANT at the command line.

    3.  

  3. Select to create a Java export object by selecting File  New Project  Java and browse to select export_grwindow_doc__define.pro. Click Open to load the file into the Export Assistant.

    4.  


    Note
    Export Bridge Assistant details are available in Specifying Information for Exporting. Refer to that section if you need more information about the following items.

     

  4. Set export object characteristics as described in the following table. When you select the tree view item listed in the left column, configure the related properties as noted in the right column.

    5.  


    Note
    Set the Export parameter to True for all items in this list unless otherwise noted.

     


    Tip
    You can select multiple items in the tree view and set properties for the group.

     

    Table 13-2: Example Export Object Parameters

    Table 13-2: Example Export Object Parameters
    Tree View Item
    Property Configuration
    IDL Export Bridge Project
    Accept the default value or make changes as desired:
    • Output classname

      •  

    • Process name

      •  

    • Output directory
    export_grwindow_doc
    Drawable object equals True
    Package name
    export_grwindow_doc
    OMODEL property
    OVIEW property
    OXAXIS property
    OXTEXT property
    OYAXIS property
    OYTEXT property
    Type — JIDLObjectI
    Array — False
    OPLOTCOLL property
    Type — JIDLObjectI
    Array — True
    SFILE property
    Type — JIDLString
    Array — False
    CHANGELINE method
    Enter different name if desired and mark Export as True
    STYLE argument
    Mutability — In
    Type — JIDLNumber
    Array — False
    CREATEPLOTS method
    Enter different name if desired and mark Export as True
    IMAGE argument
    VROWS argument
    VCOLS argument
    Mutability — In
    Type — JIDLNumber
    Array — True
    Convert majority — False
    VRGB argument
    Mutability — In
    Type — JIDLNumber
    Array — False
    OPEN method
    Enter different name if desired and mark Export as True
    SFILE argument
    Mutability — In
    Type — JIDLString
    Array — False
    NOTE: You can choose not to export this parameter. If so, the method follows the path for cases where no argument is defined. (You will need to modify the Java code to read export_grwindow_doc.OPEN() instead of passing an argument.) If you do choose to export this method, the argument must either be a null string or a full file path.

     

  5. Save the project by selecting File Save project. Accept the default name and location or make changes as desired.

    6.  

  6. Verify that the object elements you want to export are listed in the Export log panel. If the expected items are not present, one or more items may still have an UNSPECIFIED field value that must be changed.

    7.  

  7. Build the export object by selecting Build Build object. The Build log panel shows the results of the build process. A subdirectory, named export_grwindow_doc (based on the object name), contains the .java and .class files, and is located in the Output directory.

Using the Java Export Object

The following section describes using the Java export object in a simple application.


Example Code
The file for this example, export_grwindow_doc_example.java, is located in the examples/doc/bridges/java subdirectory of the IDL distribution.

  1. Open the file named export_grwindow_doc_example.java in the location referenced above and copy it to your <output directory>/export_grwindow_doc directory where <output directory> was the directory specified as the Output directory in the Assistant.

    2.  

  2. Open the Windows Command window by selecting Start Run and enter cmd in the textbox.

    3.  

  3. Use the cd command to change to the directory containing the export_grwindow_doc directory.

    4.  

  4. Reference the classpath of javaidlb.jar in the compile statement. Enter the following two commands (as single lines) to compile and execute the program, replacing IDL_DIR with the IDL installation directory: 
    5. javac -classpath 
   ".;IDL_DIR\resource\bridges\export\java\javaidlb.jar"  
   export_grwindow_doc\export_grwindow_doc_example.java  
java -classpath 
   ".;IDL_DIR\resource\bridges\export\java\javaidlb.jar"  
   export_grwindow_doc.export_grwindow_doc_example

     


    Tip
    See Note on Running the Java Examples for information on executing Java commands on a non-Windows platform.

After compiling and running the project, a Java interface will display a histogram plot of an RGB image. You can change the linestyle of the plot by making a selection from the listbox. You can also create a histogram plot for a new image by clicking the button.

  IDL Online Help (March 06, 2007)