Version 3.1.4 of xfig, a menu-driven tool that allows users to draw and manipulate objects interactively, is now available on RCS on all platforms.
To access xfig 3.1.4, enter the following commands from a UNIX prompt:
setup xfig-new
xfig &
The objects in xfig are divided into primitive objects and compound objects. The primitive objects include ARC, CIRCLE, CLOSED SPLINE, ELLIPSE, POLYLINE, POLYGON, PICTURE, BOX, ARC-BOX, SPLINE, and TEXT. You create these objects by selecting various tools from the toolbar on the left side of the xfig screen; once created, these objects can be moved, rotated, flipped vertically or horizontally, scaled, copied, aligned within a compound object, or erased. (Please note, however, that you cannot flip the TEXT primitive.) You can edit the attributes of any primitive object using a popup panel.
A compound object contains a number of primitive objects. You cannot individually modify the primitive objects that constitute a compound object, but you can manipulate them as an entity; a compound object can be moved, rotated, flipped vertically or horizontally, scaled, copied, or erased. You may only rotate a compound that contains any boxes or arc-boxes by 90 degrees.
xfig 3.1.4 contains numerous bug fixes from the previous version, as well as several new features such as allowing for the import/export of JPEG (JFIF) images, and increased resolution.
For more information on using xfig, refer to the man page on RCS by entering man xfig at a UNIX prompt.
Version 3.1.4 of the xfig package will become the system default on Monday, January 6, 1997, and you will no longer have to set it up.
If you have any further questions about using xfig, please contact the consultants at the ACS Help Desk locations, or direct electronic mail to consult@rpi.edu.