Metafile functions

GDDM-GKS V1R1 Programming Guide and Reference

Metafile functions

GDDM-GKS V1R1 Programming Guide and Reference
SC33-0334-00

A GKS metafile (GKSM) is a sequential file that you can use for long-term storage of graphical and non-graphical data. You could use GKSMs for transporting data between GKS applications or between different physical locations.

GKSMs are GKS workstations; there are two types:

MO - metafile output
MI - metafile input.

Several different MO or MI GKSMs can be used concurrently. A metafile can have data written into it as an MO workstation; then the workstation can be closed, and the metafile can be opened as an MI workstation to retrieve the data.

Graphical output data is sent to an active MO workstation in the same way as to a physical-device workstation, but the data is stored, and no graphics image is created. In addition, the Write item to GKSM (GWITM) function is provided, to allow you to add user data to the metafile.

To retrieve data, three functions are used:

Get item type from GKSM (GGTITM) - yields information about the current item;
Read item from GKSM (GRDITM) - reads an item and makes the next item current
Interpret item (GIITM) - uses information in an item (that has been read from the GKSM) to make changes in the GKS state variables, and generate a graphics image on all active workstations.

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