IRIS Explorer Overview and Module Description

Introduction

Iris Explorer is a data-flow, object-oriented system for Data Visualization. It allows the user to connect pre-built modules together using a "drag - and drop" approach. The modules are X Windows programs developed in C or FORTRAN. Iris Explorer has three main components:

• The Librarian module contains the list of modules (in beige) and previously created maps (in blue). The modules are in beige and maps are in blue.
• The Map Editor is the work area for creating and modifying maps. Here is the Map Editor with a Map.
• DataScribe is a data conversion tool for moving data between Explorer and other data formats

A Map is a dataflow network of modules connected or "wired" together. The user wires together the modules by connecting the appropriate ports, e.g. the output port of one module to the input port of the next module. Note that the data formats must be compatible. Each module accepts data, processes it, and then outputs it to the next module. A map can be created and then stored for future use. It can also be made part of another map.

Data Types

There are several different data types in IRIS Explorer.

• Lattice: Arrays in one or more dimensions that hold node coordinates and data values at the nodes. This is the most common data type.
• Pyramid: A hierarchy of lattices, with information on how the lattices are connected. It is used for molecular data and finite element data.
• Geometry: A collection of geometric primitives such as points, lines, and polygons. It is used by the Render module to visually display a dataset.
• Parameter: A scalar value such as an integer, float, or string. It is usually set by a widget on a module.
• Pick:A data type that lets the user select an area of an object in the display window and collect data about the selected area.

IRIS Explorer Modules

IRIS Explorer Groups of Modules

IRIS Explorer Web Site (UK)

IRIS Explorer User's Guide (in pdf with no images - 352K)

IRIS Explorer HTML Documentation

Existing Visualization Systems
HyperVis Table of Contents