Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Bob Lounsbury]

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 8:54 AM, Oscar Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dear lyxers
>
>  I am starting a document project with a colleague using lyx. The goal is to
>  obtain a big document of a technical course. My colleague uses the windows
>  version of lyx and I use the linux version. At this initial stage we can 
> easily
>  share simple documents.  Now we are concerned with the use of a common vector
>  drawing program that can be used at both platforms. The main feature that we
>  require is that the vector drawing program can annotate drawings with latex 
> math
>  formulae. I am quite satisfied with the current support of xfig at lyx using
>  external material. However, as far as I know, xfig only runs at linux 
> machines
>  therefore we are looking for an alternative program. Could anybody care to 
> give
>  us some recommendation? Any advice related to other aspects of such a project
>  are also welcome.
>
>  Thank you very much for all your help
>  Best regards

It seems xfig can be installed under cygwin:

http://www.cs.usask.ca/~wew036/latex/xfig.html

I also thought Inkscape was a popular vector graphics program that
runs on linux, mac, and windows (from what I've read it supports latex
math but I haven't used the program):

http://www.inkscape.org/index.php?lang=en

Cheers,
/Bob

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[David A. Case]

On Mon, Apr 07, 2008, Oscar Lopez wrote:
> 
> My colleague uses the windows version of lyx and I use the linux
> version.  I am quite satisfied with the current support of xfig at lyx
> using external material. However, as far as I know, xfig only runs at linux
> machines...

Xfig runs fine under cygwin (as, in fact, does LyX itself).  Cygwin provides
excellent tools for making windows appear like linux; this may or may not
be what your colleague wants.  And there is a learning curve here.  But one
possibility is to install Xfig and LyX in cygwin, with no need for MikTex.

For information, see http://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/LyXOnCygwin.  There are pre-built
cygwin binaries for LyX-1.5.x available.

Of course, there are also other vector drawing programs (besides Xfig), so
what is outlined here is not the only option you have.

...dave case

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Walter H. van Holst]

> Of course, there are also other vector drawing programs (besides
> Xfig), so
> what is outlined here is not the only option you have.

If only Linux and Windows are required, I'd recommend Inkscape. It is
much more polished and user friendly than Xfig whose UI is a bit
daunting.

Regards,

 Walter

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Daniel Lohmann]

On 07.04.2008, at 18:51, Walter H. van Holst wrote:



Of course, there are also other vector drawing programs (besides
Xfig), so
what is outlined here is not the only option you have.


If only Linux and Windows are required, I'd recommend Inkscape. It is
much more polished and user friendly than Xfig whose UI is a bit
daunting.



I would recommend OpenOffice Draw. It is one of the few programs that  
are multi-platform and that provide excellent export to the UNIX world  
(saying: EPS) as well as to the Windows world (saying: WMF). We have  
been using it for cross Windows/Linux projects with LyX and some other  
programs for years.


Daniel

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Rich Shepard]

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008, Daniel Lohmann wrote:


I would recommend OpenOffice Draw. It is one of the few programs that are
multi-platform and that provide excellent export to the UNIX world
(saying: EPS) as well as to the Windows world (saying: WMF). We have been
using it for cross Windows/Linux projects with LyX and some other programs
for years.


Daniel,

  Well, OK. I'll put in my opinion. If you want total control over your
vector figures and plots, take a look at PyX (http://pyx.sourceforge.net/).
It's a python wrapper over LaTeX and PostScript. Truly multiplatform. Does
it all. Of course, it's not drag-'n'-drool, but you can do whatever you want
with it. The default outputs are .eps and .pdf; pick one or both.

Rich

--
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D.   |  IntegrityCredibility
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc.|Innovation
 Voice: 503-667-4517  Fax: 503-667-8863

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Steve Litt]

On Monday 07 April 2008 10:54, Oscar Lopez wrote:
> Dear lyxers
>
> I am starting a document project with a colleague using lyx. The goal is to
> obtain a big document of a technical course. My colleague uses the windows
> version of lyx and I use the linux version. At this initial stage we can
> easily share simple documents.  Now we are concerned with the use of a
> common vector drawing program that can be used at both platforms. The main
> feature that we require is that the vector drawing program can annotate
> drawings with latex math formulae. I am quite satisfied with the current
> support of xfig at lyx using external material. However, as far as I know,
> xfig only runs at linux machines therefore we are looking for an
> alternative program. Could anybody care to give us some recommendation? Any
> advice related to other aspects of such a project are also welcome.
>
> Thank you very much for all your help
> Best regards

Try inkscape. I don't know if it works on Windows, but I like it.

SteveT

Steve Litt
Books written in LyX:
Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful Technologist
Twenty Eight Tales of Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting: Just the Facts

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[G. Milde]

On  7.04.08, Steve Litt wrote:
> On Monday 07 April 2008 10:54, Oscar Lopez wrote:

> > ... My colleague uses the windows
> > version of lyx and I use the linux version. 
... 
> > Now we are concerned with the use of a common vector drawing program
> > that can be used at both platforms. 

> Try inkscape. I don't know if it works on Windows, but I like it.

Openoffice Draw should work on both platforms, but draws heavily on
the ressources.

Ipe  is a Qt based vector drawing app that
uses LaTeX for text. Ipe for win is at
http://luaforge.net/frs/download.php/2730/ipe-6.0pre30-win.zip
and Ipe for Linux might be part of your distribution.

> > The main feature that we require is that the vector drawing program
> > can annotate drawings with latex math formulae. 

You might consider using the psfrag LaTeX package for this. It can
replace alphanumeric labels in eps files with LaTeX constructs
defined in the including document. (Drawback: it does not work with
pdflatex.)

Guenter

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Siegfried MEUNIER-GUTTIN-CLUZEL]

Inkscape works very well on Windows ( at least on my XP system ...)

I also use a java implementation of xfig : jfig
see
http://tams-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/applets/jfig/

Siegfried.

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Rich Shepard]

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, G. Milde wrote:


Ipe  is a Qt based vector drawing app that
uses LaTeX for text.


  When I started looking at vector graphics applications for linux I stopped
counting at 17. I tried ipe; it's nice but didn't make my final cut.


You might consider using the psfrag LaTeX package for this. It can replace
alphanumeric labels in eps files with LaTeX constructs defined in the
including document. (Drawback: it does not work with pdflatex.)


  In addition to PyX (for which I have developed a great affinity in the
past couple of weeks), I strongly recommend PSTricks. Herbert's two chapters
in the second edition of The LaTeX Graphics Companion provide all the
knowledge one needs to start.

  Of course, that book is also valuable for Metapost and all the other
vector apps that are integrated with LaTeX.

Rich

--
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D.   |  IntegrityCredibility
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc.|Innovation
 Voice: 503-667-4517  Fax: 503-667-8863

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Paul A. Rubin]

Alan G Isaac wrote:

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, Rich Shepard apparently wrote:
I strongly recommend PSTricks. 


Don't forget about tikz, which is more than enough
for most users but it more portable.  (E.g., it can
be used with pdftex.)



I'll second this.  My graphics use is pretty much limited to network 
diagrams, for which I find TikZ excellent.  There is a graphical editor 
for TikZ under Linux (KtikZ), available as source or a .deb for Ubuntu 
Gutsy.  It uses LaTeX preview to build the image as you edit.  I've only 
played with it briefly -- I don't think it has intrinsic support for all 
the node/edge stuff (which is mostly what I use), but if you're a TikZ 
user it's worth a look.  AFAIK there's no TikZ-aware editor/IDE for Windows.


/Paul

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Maksi]

Oscar Lopez wrote:
> Now we are concerned with the use of a common vector
> drawing program that can be used at both platforms. The main feature that
> we
> require is that the vector drawing program can annotate drawings with
> latex math
> formulae.

I do not know about the math formula stuff, but I use Inkscape for Vector
Graphics in LyX. It is very comfortable as you can 
http://wiki.lyx.org/Tips/UseInkscapeSVGImages use the SVG images directly in
LyX . Also, it supports several plattforms.
And, just to mention them, there are also 
http://jpicedt.sourceforge.net/site/index.php?language=en jPicEdt  and 
http://latexdraw.sourceforge.net/ LaTeXDraw , which are way better for
integration in LaTeX (e.g. fonts) but I do not know about their vector
graphics capabilities.

Maksi

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Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[curtis osterhoudt]

If you're actually comfortable with XFig (it's almost all I need sometimes), 
look up JFig. It's not a 100% clone (which is a good thing, in my opinion).

   
 
/
  Down with categorical imperative!
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
/

- Original Message 
From: Oscar Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: lyx-users@lists.lyx.org
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2008 8:54:04 AM
Subject: multiplatform vector drawing program to use 

Dear lyxers

I am starting a document project with a colleague using lyx. The goal is to
obtain a big document of a technical course. My colleague uses the windows
version of lyx and I use the linux version. At this initial stage we can easily
share simple documents.  Now we are concerned with the use of a common vector
drawing program that can be used at both platforms. The main feature that we
require is that the vector drawing program can annotate drawings with latex math
formulae. I am quite satisfied with the current support of xfig at lyx using
external material. However, as far as I know, xfig only runs at linux machines
therefore we are looking for an alternative program. Could anybody care to give
us some recommendation? Any advice related to other aspects of such a project
are also welcome.

Thank you very much for all your help
Best regards







  

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total 
Access, No Cost.  
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Steve Litt]

On Tuesday 08 April 2008 09:33, Rich Shepard wrote:
> I strongly recommend PSTricks. Herbert's two
> chapters in the second edition of The LaTeX Graphics Companion provide all
> the knowledge one needs to start.

Is there a SVG to PSTricks converter? Can you imagine how cool that would be?!

SteveT

Steve Litt
Books written in LyX:
Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful Technologist
Twenty Eight Tales of Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting: Just the Facts

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[christian . ridderstrom]

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, Paul A. Rubin wrote:


Alan G Isaac wrote:

 On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, Rich Shepard apparently wrote:
>  I strongly recommend PSTricks.

 Don't forget about tikz, which is more than enough
 for most users but it more portable.  (E.g., it can
 be used with pdftex.)


I created a wiki page

http://wiki.lyx.org/Tips/AdditionalSoftware

where you can list the software. For now I've basically only added a link 
to this thread.


/Christian

--
Christian Ridderström, +46-8-768 39 44   http://www.md.kth.se/~chr

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Paul A. Rubin]

Steve Litt wrote:


Is there a SVG to PSTricks converter? Can you imagine how cool that would be?!



Seems to me I saw somewhere that Inkscape can read SVG (is that its 
native format?) and export to PSTricks.


/Paul

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Oscar Lopez]

Oscar Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

Thank you very much for your contributions to this thread

I would like to give a brief summary of what I have been able to learn

I gave a try to inkscape however it seems that the render of latex formula is
broken at linux at version 0.45. Last stable version I haven't been able to
compile at linux and I can not comment

So far, the more promising try have been ipe. It seems that latex formulae can
be easily inserted. There are some minor issues that I have to get used, but it
could be the tool we are looking for.

PyX seems to much low level for my taste. We were looking something more 
drag'n'drop

Before I recommend my colleague to give a try to jfig I'd like to hear from
people that have used it if jfig can be used the same way that xfig with the
external material inset (taking care of latex formula rendering internally using
some python scripts)

Other possibility would be cygwin however it will depend on the policy of the
system administration where he works.

Once again thank you very much for your valuable contributions.

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[G. Milde]

On  8.04.08, Paul A. Rubin wrote:
> Steve Litt wrote:

>> Is there a SVG to PSTricks converter? Can you imagine how cool that would 
>> be?!


> Seems to me I saw somewhere that Inkscape can read SVG (is that its  
> native format?) 

It is. 

> and export to PSTricks.

However, AFAIK, it converts text to paths in the process so it will show in
the PS (or PDF) output exactly as in the SVG.

The Effect>Render>Latex-Formula worked on my Debian/testing system
with Inkscape 0.45.1 (Mar  8 2008). It is not very suitable for
converting *all* text elements in a graphic. However, it should be possible
to customize inkscape to use the same fonts as your LyX document.
I did not take the time to figure out how to teach the Render>Latex-Formula
script which latex font package to use.

GM

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[Urtzi Jauregi]

On Wednesday 09 April 2008 11:25:48 G. Milde wrote:
> However, AFAIK, it converts text to paths in the process so it will show in
> the PS (or PDF) output exactly as in the SVG.

You can switch that option off. Read

http://wiki.lyx.org/Tips/UseInkscapeSVGImages

For details.

Cheers,

- Urtzi -

-- 
Urtzi Jauregi
Fakulteta za Matematiko in Fiziko, Univerza v Ljubljani
Jadranska 19, Si-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija

Tel: ++386 01 540 13 53
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: multiplatform vector drawing program to use

[G. Milde]

On 11.04.08, Urtzi Jauregi wrote:
> On Wednesday 09 April 2008 11:25:48 G. Milde wrote:
> > However, AFAIK, it converts text to paths in the process so it will show in
> > the PS (or PDF) output exactly as in the SVG.

>   You can switch that option off. Read
>   http://wiki.lyx.org/Tips/UseInkscapeSVGImages
>   For details.

Text to path is off by default for "normal" text but it is always used for
the special "LaTeX formula" text. 

Thus you have the options to:

* use normal text for placeholders and replace with psfrag 
  
  - additional ERT in document needed,
  + font settings of the current document apply,
  + possibility to change replacement text and font without need to edit the
graphic.

* use Effects>Render>LaTeX formula (works for non-formula text as well)

  - font settings of the currently non-configurable script eqtexsvg.py apply.
(should be the default font settings of the system).

  + WYSIWYG text in the graphic facilitates alignment, sizing, and rotation.
  
  + No ERT needed in the LyX document.
  
Guenter