xterm's Tek mode question - X

I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
stable debian repository.

I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.

Thanks,
CJ

On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:29:05 +0000 (UTC),
Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com>, in
wrote:
> In comp.os.linux.x, Chris Jones wrote:
> > I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
> > Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
> > and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
> > stable debian repository.
> >
> > I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
> > sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>
> Those are terminal sequences to test the tek graphic facilities. Start
> up an xterm in tek mode ("xterm -t"), then e.g., "cat usmap.tek".

It's been a while since I've had to use the tektronix graphics in an
xterm, but yeah, that's what I remember.

cat

and *poof* it was drawn. We'd do that to proof a plot before sending it
to a large-format plotter, which was some sort of thermal transfer device -
or was it an electrostatic?

It's been at least, umm, 14 years since I had to do that.

--
Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC
I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow
isn't looking good, either.
I am BOFH. Resistance is futile. Your network will be assimilated.

Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:
> In comp.os.linux.x, Chris Jones wrote:
>> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>> stable debian repository.
>>
>> I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
>> sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>
> Those are terminal sequences to test the tek graphic facilities. Start
> up an xterm in tek mode ("xterm -t"), then e.g., "cat usmap.tek".
>
> Other than those test files, I've never used tek mode and can't answer
> anything else about it.
>
> Elijah
> ------
> google says that plot is part of Gnu's 'plotutils'

vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
file.

--
Thomas E. Dickey
http://invisible-island.net
ftp://invisible-island.net

On 04 Oct 2008 16:25:19 GMT, Chris Jones wrote:
> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
> stable debian repository.
>
> I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
> sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>
> Thanks,
> CJ

Thanks to all!

On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
> Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:
>> In comp.os.linux.x, Chris Jones wrote:
>>> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>>> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>>> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>>> stable debian repository.
>>>
>>> I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
>>> sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>>
>> Those are terminal sequences to test the tek graphic facilities. Start
>> up an xterm in tek mode ("xterm -t"), then e.g., "cat usmap.tek".

I had taken a peek and they looked like a bunch of ctlseq's but somehow
it didn't click .. I'm more familiar with using echo and didn't realize
it was a simple as cat'ting them.

>> Other than those test files, I've never used tek mode and can't answer
>> anything else about it.
>>
>> Elijah
>> ------
>> google says that plot is part of Gnu's 'plotutils'
>
> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
> file.
>

On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 23:56:24 +0000 (UTC), I R A Darth Aggie wrote:
> On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:29:05 +0000 (UTC),
> Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com>, in
> wrote:
>> In comp.os.linux.x, Chris Jones wrote:
>> > I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>> > Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>> > and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>> > stable debian repository.
>> >
>> > I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
>> > sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>>
>> Those are terminal sequences to test the tek graphic facilities. Start
>> up an xterm in tek mode ("xterm -t"), then e.g., "cat usmap.tek".
>
> It's been a while since I've had to use the tektronix graphics in an
> xterm, but yeah, that's what I remember.
>
> cat
>
> and *poof* it was drawn. We'd do that to proof a plot before sending it
> to a large-format plotter, which was some sort of thermal transfer device -
> or was it an electrostatic?
>
> It's been at least, umm, 14 years since I had to do that.

I would assume that being more flexible, user-friendly, etc. ..
GUI-based stuff rather than terminals is what folks use these days?

On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
> Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:
>> In comp.os.linux.x, Chris Jones wrote:
>>> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>>> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>>> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>>> stable debian repository.
>>>
>>> I did find a tektests directory in the xterm source tree but I'm not
>>> sure what these .tek files contain and how they can be used.
>>
>> Those are terminal sequences to test the tek graphic facilities. Start
>> up an xterm in tek mode ("xterm -t"), then e.g., "cat usmap.tek".
>>
>> Other than those test files, I've never used tek mode and can't answer
>> anything else about it.
>>
>> Elijah
>> ------
>> google says that plot is part of Gnu's 'plotutils'
>
> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
> file.

I couldn't find those .. but then the xterm I'm using is out of an
xfree 4.3.0 tree - XTerm(222) per xterm -v. so that may be the reason.

I have a feeling my Tek emulation is not set up properly either: font
is double-spaced .. arrow keys do not work .. even after issuing CTRL+L
some of the previously typed text remains visible and overtyping it
causes non-ascii characters to be displayed etc..

It's rather difficult to figure out how it should behave since I've
never seen it properly set up and there are probably not screen shots
available anywhere .. and in any case since it seems to be nothing more
than a historical curiosity at this point .. I'm not sure I should
bother anybody with this in the first place.

I did play a bit with plotutils and got the examples on the man pages
to work and (same as the tektest samples) the results are quite
striking.

Thanks.

Chris Jones wrote:
> On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
>> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
>> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
>> file.
>
> I couldn't find those .. but then the xterm I'm using is out of an
> xfree 4.3.0 tree - XTerm(222) per xterm -v. so that may be the reason.

http://invisible-island.net/vttest/
http://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html

Also -

http://vt100.net/tektronix/4014-um/

--
Thomas E. Dickey
http://invisible-island.net
ftp://invisible-island.net

Chris Jones wrote:
> I would assume that being more flexible, user-friendly, etc. ..
> GUI-based stuff rather than terminals is what folks use these days?

generally (but the GUI-based stuff suffers from all of the problems the
terminals did: lack of documentation, standardization except by market
share, etc).

--
Thomas E. Dickey
http://invisible-island.net
ftp://invisible-island.net

On 13 Oct 2008 11:14:10 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
> Chris Jones wrote:
>> On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
>>> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
>>> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
>>> file.
>>
>> I couldn't find those .. but then the xterm I'm using is out of an
>> xfree 4.3.0 tree - XTerm(222) per xterm -v. so that may be the reason.
>
> http://invisible-island.net/vttest/

Thanks. Found the tek tests in the "other terminals" sub menu - but
haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

> http://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html

Heavy stuff :-)

> Also -
>
> http://vt100.net/tektronix/4014-um/

Downloaded it but all I have is blank pages - with evince .. Haven't
had the time to look into this.

Thanks.

On 15 Oct 2008 01:59:03 GMT, Chris Jones wrote:
> On 13 Oct 2008 11:14:10 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
>> Chris Jones wrote:
>>> On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
>>>> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
>>>> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
>>>> file.
>>>
>>> I couldn't find those .. but then the xterm I'm using is out of an
>>> xfree 4.3.0 tree - XTerm(222) per xterm -v. so that may be the reason.
>>
>> http://invisible-island.net/vttest/
>
> Thanks. Found the tek tests in the "other terminals" sub menu - but
> haven't had a chance to play with it yet.
>
>> http://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html
>
> Heavy stuff :-)
>
>> Also -
>>
>> http://vt100.net/tektronix/4014-um/
>
> Downloaded it but all I have is blank pages - with evince .. Haven't
> had the time to look into this.

My bad .. the 4014 manual and evince somehow do not get along.

I accidentally found that the reason I was getting blank pages was that
on my old/slow machine it took almost five (5) minutes to render the
first few pages.

I installed xpdf and was able to cursorily read through the manual and
I am rather amazed at what I read/saw.

It seeems that this terminal that goes back some 35 years had better
graphic capabilities than anything you can run on a PC. They are not
screenshots but there are a couple of photos that appear to display
highly complex graphics such as I have never seen on PC hardware.

I tried the vttest program and though it's not much use to me - I'm not
trying to verify that a particular emulation conforms to the original -
I did eventually manage to run the tek tests under "other terminals" and
it looks as if in my setup I was getting a VT emulation window with the
vttest menu - although $TERM was set to "tek4014" IIRC, and the result
of each test - such as a grid .. a display of Hello World in the four
available fonts .. was displayed in a separate "tek" window.

I'm still not sure why I'm getting text that looks like this:

H e l l o W o r l d

... when I start an "xterm -t" but that's not really such a major issue
after all.

This whole thing got me curious as to whether I could use a tek window
to display a graph of my CPU utilization .. or network up/down-load
traffic .. etc. - e.g.

But at this point what puzzles me most of all is why nobody seems to use
this emulation despite its potential?

Anyway .. sorry to bother you folks.

Have a great day!

Chris Jones writes:

> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
> stable debian repository.


% gnuplot
[...]
prompt: set term
[...]
tek40xx Tektronix 4010 and others; most TEK emulators
tek410x Tektronix 4106, 4107, 4109 and 420X terminals
[...]
vttek VT-like tek40xx terminal emulator
[...]
prompt: ^D
%

--
TORPEDOED BY AIRCRAFT. SINKING. U-326.

Chris Jones writes:

> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
> Tektronix emulation

other than gnuplot, i do remember the PLOT10 fortran library

--
CLICKED BY HUNDREDS OF CORVETTES. SINKING. U-653.

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:27:27 +0200, Giacomo Boffi wrote:
> Chris Jones writes:
>
>> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>> stable debian repository.
>
>
> % gnuplot
> [...]
> prompt: set term
> [...]
> tek40xx Tektronix 4010 and others; most TEK emulators
> tek410x Tektronix 4106, 4107, 4109 and 420X terminals
> [...]
> vttek VT-like tek40xx terminal emulator
> [...]
> prompt: ^D
> %

This looks rather interesting.

The trouble is that the xterm/tek window that I run gnuplot in is not
displaying fonts correctly. As a result I have to type blindly and the
screen is quickly cluttered by overwrites and once in gnuplot I don't
know how I can clear the screen.

Maybe it's just my X resource file that screws up everything.

But let me take a look at the gnuplot doc and see if I can figure out
what's happening.

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:27:27 +0200, Giacomo Boffi wrote:
> Chris Jones writes:
>
>> I'm wondering if there are any programs that might help demo xterm's
>> Tektronix emulation - found examples that used such things as "graph"
>> and "plot" but I haven't been able to locate these programs in the
>> stable debian repository.
>
>
> % gnuplot
> [...]
> prompt: set term
> [...]
> tek40xx Tektronix 4010 and others; most TEK emulators
> tek410x Tektronix 4106, 4107, 4109 and 420X terminals
> [...]
> vttek VT-like tek40xx terminal emulator
> [...]
> prompt: ^D
> %

The reason my fonts looked as if they were double-spaced was that the
tek window was full-screen. If I leave the tek window to the default
size that's specified the fonts are ok.

Chris Jones writes:

> once in gnuplot I don't know how I can clear the screen.

Control+Button2 popups a menu that contains a RESET command
--
TORPEDOED BY FOUR BROKEN IRC SERVERS. LEAVE BOAT. U-735.

On Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:15:50 +0200, Giacomo Boffi wrote:
> Chris Jones writes:
>
>> once in gnuplot I don't know how I can clear the screen.
>
> Control+Button2 popups a menu that contains a RESET command

Good point!

I tend to forget that there is a life beyond the keyboard -- I was using
CTRL+L which naturally doesn't make any sense to the "vttek terminal"

I'm a lot more interested in the capabilities of xterm's 4014 emulation
than gnuplot per se, but I must say that with even my very elementary
notions of mathematics gnuplot is a lot of fun.

What I find rather surprising is that I'm in an xterm window in VT mode
... then I start gnuplot and set term to vttek .. then do something like
a "splot sin(x) * cos(x) / tan(x)" or whatever .. and all of a sudden my
VT window/terminal becomes a graphic display .. now there's some magic
here that I don't understand.

To me that's the hard part .. with the countless samples I found in the
various gnuplot galleries .. and all the scripts that go with them ..
not to mention the excellent tutorials .. learning gnuplot should really
be a breeze!

At this point and following the above sequence .. everything works very
smoothly .. the only thing that the tek emulation does not appear to
have is color(s) .. presumably the original tektronix terminal did not
have that either.

Also, I'm curious of the possibility of using the tek emulation to
graph something like my CPU utilization or network activity in "real
time" on the terminal. I've written a few awk one-liners that display
the numbers on my gnu/screen status line - so I can tell at a glance
what's going on .. and I was thinking it would be cool to do the same
thing "graphically".

Thanks for your tips and apologies for my total ignorance and dumb
questions.

On 13 Oct 2008 11:14:10 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
> Chris Jones wrote:
>> On 09 Oct 2008 11:40:25 GMT, Thomas E. Dickey wrote:
>>> vttest also has some test-screens for the tek4014 emulation (including the
>>> mouse). The control sequences are documented in xterm's control sequences
>>> file.
>>
>> I couldn't find those .. but then the xterm I'm using is out of an
>> xfree 4.3.0 tree - XTerm(222) per xterm -v. so that may be the reason.
>
> http://invisible-island.net/vttest/
> http://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html
>
> Also -
>
> http://vt100.net/tektronix/4014-um/

And .. does your tek emulation support color?

Thanks!

On Nov 1, 6:27*pm, Chris Jones wrote:

> And .. does your tek emulation support color?

no - that terminal type didn't support color (here's a comment on that
from another source):
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/softw...7/tektroni.pdf

On Sat, 1 Nov 2008 16:45:23 -0700 (PDT), dickey wrote:
> On Nov 1, 6:27*pm, Chris Jones wrote:
>
>> And .. does your tek emulation support color?
>
> no - that terminal type didn't support color (here's a comment on that
> from another source):
> http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/softw...7/tektroni.pdf

Thanks for confirmation... unfortunately!