Scripting Graphic With Graphics

Abstract

This paper describes a system for scripting and editing graphic procedures with graphic representations or icons. The icons are small bit-map images that carry with them information about special placement, list placement, and pointers to procedures. Two interactive graphic software packages have been written, one for creating icons and one for scripting with icons. Icons can be created in two ways: 1) making bit-maps from frame buffer images and 2) drawing by grid filling. Icons have been created with pointers to a series of image transformation procedures. Scripts can be created in two ways: 1) by storyboarding icons or 2) by playing out a sequence of graphics and recording the list of events. Scripts can be edited, saved, played, and re-edited. All interaction is done with puck, tablet, menus, and visual cues. A historical overview of computer icons is presented, using several key systems as examples.