Hi there,
For a very specific service, I have created a PHP script that uses the GD
library functions to create a PNG image from a few lines of XML data
describing a simple diagram/drawing. It's cool and works, writing the XML
data in a text editor is straightforward for me because I designed the
format. I have no idea however how I can make a simple online drawing
program that creates this XML code. The code is realy simple, just storing
things like the start and end coordinates of a line and its color. The
program however should be as intuitive as any simple drawing program: you
should see a line preview while you drag the end point after clicking
created a start point. Multiple undo, several colors, text, rectangle and
circle drawing are pretty much all the requirements.
Can I create such a program using just PHP? Any thoughts on how to make
those live line previews?
Or should I reach for other techniques like JavaScript or Java. Any other
suggestion that works well together with PHP and MySQL? I am still in the
dark here, so any hint or link to a somehow related tutorial is very much
appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Remon Huijts.
15  13012 
On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 21:17:05 +0100, "Remon Huijts" <tr*****@hotmai l.com> wrote: For a very specific service, I have created a PHP script that uses the GD
library functions to create a PNG image from a few lines of XML data
describing a simple diagram/drawing. It's cool and works, writing the XML
data in a text editor is straightforward for me because I designed the
format. I have no idea however how I can make a simple online drawing
program that creates this XML code. The code is realy simple, just storing
things like the start and end coordinates of a line and its color. The
program however should be as intuitive as any simple drawing program: you
should see a line preview while you drag the end point after clicking
created a start point. Multiple undo, several colors, text, rectangle and
circle drawing are pretty much all the requirements.
Can I create such a program using just PHP? Any thoughts on how to make
those live line previews?
No, because you're asking for actions to be taken in response to client
actions (i.e. moving a mouse). PHP can only react to page requests.
Or should I reach for other techniques like JavaScript or Java. Any other
suggestion that works well together with PHP and MySQL? I am still in the
dark here, so any hint or link to a somehow related tutorial is very much
appreciated.
A Java applet would probably be most suited? Doing this in JavaScript would
probably be possible, but awkward.
--
Andy Hassall (an**@andyh.co. uk) icq(5747695) ( http://www.andyh.co.uk)
Space: disk usage analysis tool ( http://www.andyhsoftware.co.uk/space)
"Andy Hassall" <an**@andyh.co. uk> schreef in bericht
news:44******** *************** *********@4ax.c om... No, because you're asking for actions to be taken in response to client
actions (i.e. moving a mouse). PHP can only react to page requests.
A Java applet would probably be most suited? Doing this in JavaScript
would probably be possible, but awkward.
Too bad, I was afraid of that, because my Java knowledge is still limited.
What is the best way for my future Java drawing applet to save the drawings?
The resulting drawing should be editable later, with the same applet, so I
guess drawing information has to be stored in a vector or object oriented
way, not as a bitmap. Right now my drawings are saved as simple XML data
describing the shapes, coordinates and colors, but perhaps other solutions
work better with applets?
Remon Huijts.
"Remon Huijts" a écrit le 15/12/2003 : Too bad, I was afraid of that, because my Java knowledge is still limited.
What is the best way for my future Java drawing applet to save the drawings?
The resulting drawing should be editable later, with the same applet, so I
guess drawing information has to be stored in a vector or object oriented
way, not as a bitmap. Right now my drawings are saved as simple XML data
describing the shapes, coordinates and colors, but perhaps other solutions
work better with applets?
Remon Huijts.
May be you should consider another structure to answer the client
needs. Actually not everything can be done via PHP or a Web Client. It
is a well known problem, PHP is 'in' nowadays but that doesn't mean you
could do everything with it.
Maybe completely different solution could be better for your needs
(like a separate application for this drawing need).
Keep asking questions, ask other people around you about possible
solutions even strange and choose then.
Good luck to you,
Ben.
--
Have you read the manual? http://www.php.net/manual/en/
You could of course do this with javascript, but it would be very evil and devil himself would rub his hands seeing you writing such a evil thing ;)
In such a case, i would suggest flash - it is faster, smaller, better-looking and easier to writee than a Java Applet.
--
mfg Christian (Chronial "at" web.de)
--
Composed with Newz Crawler 1.5 http://www.newzcrawler.com/
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 20:11:10 +0100, "Remon Huijts" <tr*****@hotmai l.com> wrote: "Andy Hassall" <an**@andyh.co. uk> schreef in bericht
news:44******* *************** **********@4ax. com... No, because you're asking for actions to be taken in response to client
actions (i.e. moving a mouse). PHP can only react to page requests.
A Java applet would probably be most suited? Doing this in JavaScript
would probably be possible, but awkward.
Too bad, I was afraid of that, because my Java knowledge is still limited.
What is the best way for my future Java drawing applet to save the drawings?
The resulting drawing should be editable later, with the same applet, so I
guess drawing information has to be stored in a vector or object oriented
way, not as a bitmap. Right now my drawings are saved as simple XML data
describing the shapes, coordinates and colors, but perhaps other solutions
work better with applets?
Getting the applet to POST an XML format document back to the PHP script
sounds like a reasonable way to approach it. There's always SVG if you want to
move to a 'standardised' format.
--
Andy Hassall (an**@andyh.co. uk) icq(5747695) ( http://www.andyh.co.uk)
Space: disk usage analysis tool ( http://www.andyhsoftware.co.uk/space)
Remon Huijts wrote:
Hi there,
For a very specific service, I have created a PHP script that uses the GD
library functions to create a PNG image from a few lines of XML data
describing a simple diagram/drawing. It's cool and works, writing the XML
data in a text editor is straightforward for me because I designed the
format. I have no idea however how I can make a simple online drawing
program that creates this XML code. The code is realy simple, just storing
things like the start and end coordinates of a line and its color. The
program however should be as intuitive as any simple drawing program: you
should see a line preview while you drag the end point after clicking
created a start point. Multiple undo, several colors, text, rectangle and
circle drawing are pretty much all the requirements.
Can I create such a program using just PHP? Any thoughts on how to make
those live line previews?
Or should I reach for other techniques like JavaScript or Java. Any other
suggestion that works well together with PHP and MySQL? I am still in the
dark here, so any hint or link to a somehow related tutorial is very much
appreciated.
The only thing you couldn't do in PHP/HTML/Javascript is the live line preview.
If you decide you don't need the line preview, you could use a server-side image
map to get your coordinates (ie. the coords of the line to start or the center
of a circle, etc.).
You may also want to consider Flash. It's built-in language (Actionscript) is
pretty good now - you can control almost all aspects of a Flash movie
programatically . You could store your commands in an array and have a "Finish
Button". When that button is pressed it could send the array to your existing
script. This would require creating a whole new script in Actionscript,
though. And the resulting PNG wouldn't look as good as the Flash.
I don't know much about Java, but I imagine you could use that as well.
Regards,
Shawn
--
Shawn Wilson sh***@glassgian t.com http://www.glassgiant.com
"Christian Fersch" <Fr********@web .de> schreef in bericht
news:br******** *****@news.t-online.com... You could of course do this with javascript, but it would be very evil and
devil himself would rub his hands seeing you writing such a evil thing ;)
Ghehe, I thought about JavaScript the same way. I saw some very evil
scripts, creating a table cel, div or layer for every pixel. Very dynamic
indeed, but so is the devil. Nevertheless I found some interesting
JavaScript ideas here:
http://www.sru.edu/depts/cisba/comps.../drawlines.htm
In such a case, i would suggest flash - it is faster, smaller,
better-looking and easier to writee than a Java Applet.
Sigh. I know little about Java, but approximately nothing about Flash. Some
newbie questions (if you allow me to post them in this PHP newsgroup):
- Can I have the "line preview while you drag" in a Flash thingie?
- Can a Flash thingie save/output the collected data in a re-editable
format?
Remon Huijts.
"Shawn Wilson" <sh***@glassgia nt.com> schreef in bericht
news:3F******** *******@glassgi ant.com... You may also want to consider Flash. It's built-in language
(Actionscript) is pretty good now - you can control almost all aspects of a Flash movie
programatically . You could store your commands in an array and have a
"Finish Button". When that button is pressed it could send the array to your
existing script. This would require creating a whole new script in Actionscript,
though. And the resulting PNG wouldn't look as good as the Flash.
You say "the resulting PNG", but can the ActionScript output the final
result in another format that is suitable for re-editing? If for instance I
draw some lines and elipses, but a month later I realize there is one line
too much and a rectangle should be partially behind the elipse, are these
changes possible with ActionScript? Or another way of asking: can
ActionScript read such data?
Remon Huijts.
"Jedi121" <je*********@fr ee.fr.Removethi s> schreef in bericht
news:me******** *************** *********@free. fr.Removethis.. . May be you should consider another structure to answer the client
needs. Actually not everything can be done via PHP or a Web Client. It
is a well known problem, PHP is 'in' nowadays but that doesn't mean you
could do everything with it.
Maybe completely different solution could be better for your needs
(like a separate application for this drawing need).
Yes I have been considering other solutions, that's why I posted my
question, to ask people what solutions they see fit for my problem. And a
Java applet would be such a separate application as you suggested.
So far I have read these suggestions:
- JavaScript
- Java applet
- Flash / ActionScript
Anyone suggestions or remarks on SVG or MS VML?
Remon Huijts. This thread has been closed and replies have been disabled. Please start a new discussion. Similar topics | |
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