IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Guide

Backward Incompatibilities

There are a few backward incompatibilities with previous versions of Data Explorer. You can click on a module name to go directly to that module's description if applicable.

AutoAxes
No longer scales the object to be smaller. This means that you may need to zoom out a bit in order to see all of the axes labels.
DXLink
Because of the new startup behavior (see "New Startup Behavior"), DXLink programs may need to add "-edit" or "-image" to the startup command string.
Get and Set
Have been replaced by GetGlobal, GetLocal, SetGlobal, and SetLocal. See "Changes to Get and Set modules".
Plot
There is a backward incompatibility with regard to the aspect parameter of Plot. This parameter now defaults to 1.0, meaning that the ratio of the y to x axis length will be made equal to one. Previously, no scaling was automatically done if aspect was not set. The previous default behavior can be obtained by specifying aspect as "inherent".
ReadImage
The ReadImage module now will store all images read in as three bytes, rather than than three floating point numbers. This will only affect visual programs in which the colors themselves are expected to be floats. This default behavior can be overridden either with an environment variable or an input parameter. In addition, images which are stored in a format such that the colors are specified as lookups into a table will be read in as "delayed colors". (Some modules may not perform properly on delayed colors images.) This default behavior may also be overridden with either an environment variable or an input parameter. See ReadImage in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Reference for more information.
Transmitters and Receivers
Version 3.1.4 prevents Transmitter and Output nodes, and Receiver and Input nodes from sharing names. These name collisions were permitted in earlier versions and could lead to incorrect behavior. Now, colliding nodes will be renamed automatically and you will be notified.
Save Image from Image Window
By default, SaveImage in PostScript format will now nearly fill the page, and will automatically choose portrait or landscape orientation.
WriteImage (and Image)
A gamma correction factor of 2 is applied to all images when they are written out. This can be changed if desired by using the format parameter of WriteImage or the SaveImage dialog of the Image tool. Previously, images were not gamma corrected when saved.
DXSHMEM environment variable
In versions of Data Explorer prior to 3.1.4, DXSHMEM, if set to anything, would force shared memory to be used. In version 3.1.4, DXSHMEM must be set to anything other than -1 for shared memory to be used; if set to -1, then the data segment will be extended, for architectures for which this is permissible.

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AutoAxes	No longer scales the object to be smaller. This means that you may need to zoom out a bit in order to see all of the axes labels.
DXLink	Because of the new startup behavior (see "New Startup Behavior"), DXLink programs may need to add "-edit" or "-image" to the startup command string.
Get and Set	Have been replaced by GetGlobal, GetLocal, SetGlobal, and SetLocal. See "Changes to Get and Set modules".
Plot	There is a backward incompatibility with regard to the aspect parameter of Plot. This parameter now defaults to 1.0, meaning that the ratio of the y to x axis length will be made equal to one. Previously, no scaling was automatically done if aspect was not set. The previous default behavior can be obtained by specifying aspect as "inherent".
ReadImage	The ReadImage module now will store all images read in as three bytes, rather than than three floating point numbers. This will only affect visual programs in which the colors themselves are expected to be floats. This default behavior can be overridden either with an environment variable or an input parameter. In addition, images which are stored in a format such that the colors are specified as lookups into a table will be read in as "delayed colors". (Some modules may not perform properly on delayed colors images.) This default behavior may also be overridden with either an environment variable or an input parameter. See ReadImage in IBM Visualization Data Explorer User's Reference for more information.
Transmitters and Receivers	Version 3.1.4 prevents Transmitter and Output nodes, and Receiver and Input nodes from sharing names. These name collisions were permitted in earlier versions and could lead to incorrect behavior. Now, colliding nodes will be renamed automatically and you will be notified.
Save Image from Image Window	By default, SaveImage in PostScript format will now nearly fill the page, and will automatically choose portrait or landscape orientation.
WriteImage (and Image)	A gamma correction factor of 2 is applied to all images when they are written out. This can be changed if desired by using the format parameter of WriteImage or the SaveImage dialog of the Image tool. Previously, images were not gamma corrected when saved.
DXSHMEM environment variable	In versions of Data Explorer prior to 3.1.4, DXSHMEM, if set to anything, would force shared memory to be used. In version 3.1.4, DXSHMEM must be set to anything other than -1 for shared memory to be used; if set to -1, then the data segment will be extended, for architectures for which this is permissible.