Plotting With Variables - HP 7470A Interfacing And Programming Manual

Plotting with Variables
In many plotting applications, it is necessary to plot using variables
rather than fixed numbers to define the X— and Y—coordinatevalues.
The values of all HP-GL statement parameters have the same restric­
tions (integer or decimals in a valid range) when sent as variables as
when sent as literals (fixed numbers). The terminators and delimiters
of HP-GL statements must be sent to the plotter too. The method of
defining output format and variable precision varies from computer to
computer. Refer to your computer manual for the appropriate format
statements that may be needed in your program.
The following BASIC program illustrates the use of variables in plot­
ting a circle and shows how PRINT statements can be used to send
variables as parameters of HP-GL commands. You will use a similar
method if you are programming in another language. Quotation marks
are used by many computers and languages to delimit literal characters.
Note the comma in line 70, which is part of the HP-GL statement to be
sent to the plotter; it is specified as a literal in quotes. With the 7470, a
space may be substituted for the literal comma, shown in quotes. If
your computer automatically sends spaces between Variables, these
spaces will delimit the coordinate parameters and a literal comma or
space will not be necessary. Since scaling is turned on in line 20, the
fractional portions of the Variables X and Y are used by the plotter.
When the plotter is not in scaled mode, fractional portions are truncated
by the plotter. Unless you are writing software to be compatible with
other HP plotters such as the 9872, it is not necessary to add a
formatting statement to assure variables are sent as integers by your
computer.
To run this program, be sure to change line 10 as necessary for your
computer to define the plotter as the system printer. Also, if PI is not a
function recognized by your computer, add a line before line 40 to
define PI as a variable (PI = 3.1416).
10 PRINTER IS 705,80
20 PRINT"IN;SP1;IP1000,1000,5000,E0O0;"
30 PRINT "SCD,25000,0,25000;"
40 FOR T=0 TU 2*PI+PI/20 STEP PI/20
50 X=4.S*1000*CDS(T)+12500
B0 Y=4.5*1000*SIN(T)+12500
?0 PRINT"PH",X,",",Y,";PD;"
80 NEXT T
90 PRINT "PU;SPO;"
100 END
CONTROLLING THE PEN AND PLOTTING 3-11