---
name: "comdraw"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ivtools-bin"
version: "2.0.11d.a1-3+b4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/comdraw"
---

# comdraw(1)

drawtool with distributed command interpreter

## NAME

comdraw - drawtool with distributed command interpreter

## SYNOPSIS

**comdraw** \[-port n\] \[-import n\] \['X-params'\] \[file\]

## DESCRIPTION

comdraw is a drawing editor with integrated command interpreter the user can interact with via stdin and stdout (or via telnet if ACE is built in).  The command syntax is a semi-colon separated list of commands with arbitrary number of parameters enclosed in parenthesis, with support for optional parameters and keyword arguments, i.e:

       command1(arg1 arg2 arg3 :key1 val1 :key2 val2);\
        command2(arg1 arg2 arg3 :key1 val1 :key2 val2)

The literals and operators of C are all supported except for the syntax of the conditional operator "?:".  See the comterp documentation for more details.

All arguments to commands documented below are integers unless indicated by a suffix of str (which are strings embedded in quotes) or flt (which are conventional floating point numbers).  "compview" is a graphical object assigned to an interpreter variable.

## DRAWING COMMANDS

 compview=rect(x0,y0,x1,y1) -- create a rectangle\
  compview=rectangle(x0,y0,x1,y1) -- same as rect\
  compview=line(x0,y0,x1,y1) -- create a line\
  compview=arrowline(x0,y0,x1,y1) -- create line with arrows\
  compview=ellipse(x0,y0,r1,r2) -- create an ellipse\
  compview=text(x0,y0 textstr) -- create a text string\
  compview=multiline(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create a multiline\
  compview=arrowmultiline(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create multiline with arrows\
  compview=openspline(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create an open spline\
  compview=arrowspline(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create open spline with arrows\
  compview=polygon(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create a polygon\
  compview=closedspline(x0,y0\[,x1,y1,...\]) -- create a closed spline\
  compview=raster(x0,y0,x1,y1) -- create an empty raster

## GRAPHIC STATS COMMANDS

 xylist=center(compview :xy :yx :x :y :scrn)\
     \-- center of compview (dflt :xy)\
  rectlist=mbr(compview :lbrt :lrbt :scrn)\
     \-- minimum bounding rectangle of compview (dflt :lbrt)\
  ptlist=points(compview)\
     \-- return point list from compview graphic

## GRAPHIC STATE COMMANDS

 font(fontnum) -- set current font from menu\
  brush(brushnum) -- set current brush from menu\
  pattern(patternnum) --  set current pattern from menu\
  colors(fgcolornum bgcolornum) -- set current colors from menu\
  colorsrgb(fgcolornum bgcolornum)\
    \-- set current colors by RGB name.\
       The colorname format is "#RGB" for 4 bits, "#RRGGBB" for 8 bits,\
       \#RRRGGGBBB for 12 bits, #RRRRGGGGBBBB for 16 bits\
  nfonts() -- return size of font menu\
  nbrushes() -- return size of brush menu\
  npatterns() -- return size of pattern menu\
  ncolors() -- return size of color menus

## DIRECT MANIPULATION COMMANDS

 select(\[compview ...\] :all :clear)\
    \-- make these graphics the current selection\
  delete(compview \[compview ...\]) -- delete graphic(s)\
  move(dx dy) -- move current selection\
  scale(xflt yflt) -- scale current selection\
  rotate(degflt) -- rotate current selection\
  fliph() -- horizontally flip current selection\
  flipv() -- vertically flip current selection

## GROUP/UNGROUP COMMANDS

 newgroup=growgroup(groupview compview)\
    \-- add graphic to existing group graphic\
  newgroup=trimgroup(groupview compview)\
    \-- remove graphic from existing group graphic

## COMPONENT AND ATTRIBUTE COMMANDS

 compview=setattr(compview \[:keyword value \[:keyword value \[...\]\]\])\
    \-- set attributes of a graphic component\
  attrlist(compview)\
    \-- return attribute list of component\
  compview=frame(\[index\])\
    \-- return composite component for a frame, defaults to current\
  val=at(list\|attrlist\|compview n :set val :ins val)\
    \-- return (or set or insert after) the nth item in a list.\
  num=size(list\|attrlist\|compview) -- return size of a list.\
  compview=parent(compview) -- get parent of graphic\
  comp=depth(comps) -- depth-first walk of comp tree

## VIEWER COMMANDS

 update() -- update viewer

 error=save(\[pathstr\]) -- command to save document (to pathname)	\
  compview=import(pathstr :popen :next)\
    \-- import graphic file from pathname or URL, or from a command if :popen\
       (:next imports next in numeric series)\
  export(compview\[,compview\[,...compview\]\] \[path\]\
  :host str :port int :socket :string\|:str :eps :idraw)\
    \-- remote in drawtool (or other) format\
  compview=paste(compview \[xscl yscl xoff yoff \| a00,a01,a10,a11,a20,a21\])\
    \-- paste graphic into the viewer\
  val=pastemode(\[val\] :get)\
    \-- toggle or set paste mode, default is 0, always paste new graphics\
  compview=readonly(compview :clear)\
    \-- set or clear the read-only attribute of a graphic component

 ncols() -- onscreen horizontal extent in pixels\
  nrows() -- onscreen vertical extent in pixels

 dx,dy=stod(sx,sy) -- convert from screen to drawing coordinates\
  sx,sy=dtos(dx,dy) -- convert from drawing to screen coordinates\
  dx,dy=gtod(compview gx,gy) -- convert from graphic to drawing coordinates\
  gx,gy=dtog(compview dx,dy) -- convert from drawing to graphic coordinates

 handles(flag) --     \
    \-- enable/disable current selection tic marks \
       and/or highlighting\
  highlight(compview compviewgs)\
    \-- set the highlight graphic state for a graphic

 zoom(zoomflt) -- zoom by factor\
  zoomin() -- zoom-in by 2\
  zoomout() -- zoom-out by 2

 pan(px py) -- pan viewer\
  smallpanup() -- small pan up\
  smallpandown() -- small pan down\
  smallpanleft() -- small pan left\
  smallpanright() - small pan right\
  largepanup() -- large pan up\
  largepandown() -- large pan down\
  largepanleft() -- large pan left\
  largepanright() -- large pan right

 gravity(\[flag\]) -- set/get drawing editor gravity\
  gridspacing(\[xsize ysize\]) -- set/get drawing editor grid spacing

 hide(compview) -- hide graphic component\
  show(compview) -- show graphic component\
  desensitize(compview) -- desensitize graphic component\
  sensitize(compview) -- desensitize graphic component

## IMAGING COMMANDS

 tilefile(inpath outpath \[xsize\] \[ysiz\]) -- tile pgm or ppm image file\
  val=peek(compview x y) -- peek pixel value into raster\
  poke(compview x y val) -- poke pixel value into raster\
  pokeline(compview x y vallist) -- poke list of values into a raster line.\
  pcols(compview) -- number of columns in a raster\
  pcols(compview) -- number of rows in a raster\
  pflush(compview) -- flush pixels poked into a raster\
  pclip(compview x1,y1,x2,y2,x3,y3\[,...,xn,yn\]) -- clip raster with polygon\
  alpha(compview \[alphaval\]) -- set/get alpha transparency

## PLOTTING COMMANDS

 \*\* requires plotmtv and pstoedit \*\*\
  barplot(\[var\_str value\_float\] \[...\] :title str :xtitle str \
 	:ytitle str :valtitle str :newview)\
   \-- display a barplot

## OTHER COMMANDS

 acknowledgebox(msgstr) -- popup an acknowledge dialog box\
  confirmbox(msgstr)\
    \-- popup a confirmation dialog box, and return 1, 0, or -1 if cancelled\
  run(filename) -- run commands from file\
  quit() -- quit this interpreter\
  exit() -- exit entire application\
  pause(\[msgstr\] :usec num) -- pause script execution until C/R

## OPTIONS

**-port n,** specifies the port number to accept command interpreter connections on.

**-import n,** specifies the port number run the import service on.  The import service accepts connections over the net and reads drawtool format data.

**-stripped n,** brings up a comdraw without any menubar, toolbar, panner, slider, or zoomer.  It can be controlled via stdin or telnet if built with ACE.

**-rampsize n,**\
  selects the rampsize used for gray-level image processing.

**-theight n,** (or "-th n") selects the automatic raster tiling height.

**-twidth n,** (or "-tw n") selects the automatic raster tiling width.

**-tile,**\
  enables the automatic raster tiling.

Also see the -help message and the drawtool and idraw man pages for further options.

## SEE ALSO

       comterp, drawtool, idraw

## WEB PAGES

        http://www.ivtools.org/ivtools/comdraw.html