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[PyX/mjg.git] / manual / intro.tex
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1 \chapter{Introduction}
2 \label{intro}
4 \PyX{} is a Python package for the creation of vector drawings. As
5 such it allows one to readily generate encapsulated PostScript files
6 by providing an abstraction of the PostScript graphics model. Based
7 on this layer and in combination with the full power of the Python
8 language itself, the user can just code any complexity of the figure
9 wanted. \PyX{} distinguishes itself from other similar solution by its
10 \TeX{}/\LaTeX{} interface that enables one to make directly use of the
11 famous high quality typesetting of these programs.
13 A major part of \PyX{} on top of the already described basis is the
14 provision of high level functionality for complex tasks like 2d plots
15 in publication-ready quality.
17 \section{Organisation of the \PyX{} package}
19 The \PyX{} package is split in several modules, which can be
20 categorised in the following groups
22 \begin{tableii}{l|l}{textrm}{Functionality}{Modules}
23 basic graphics functionality & \module{canvas}, \module{path}, \module{deco}, \module{style}, \module{color},
24 and \module{connector}
26 text output via \TeX{}/\LaTeX{} & \module{text} and \module{box}
28 linear transformations and units & \module{trafo} and \module{unit}
30 graph plotting functionality & \module{graph} (including sub modules)
31 and \module{graph.axis} (including sub modules)
33 EPS file inclusion & \module{epsfile}
34 \end{tableii}
36 These modules (and some other less import ones) are imported into the
37 module namespace by using
38 \begin{verbatim}
39 from pyx import *
40 \end{verbatim}
41 at the beginning of your Python program. However, in order to prevent
42 namespace pollution, you may also simply use \samp{import pyx}.
43 Throughout this manual, we shall always assume that former import line
44 form has been used.
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