path: root/Build/source/utils/asymptote/doc/png/asymptote.info

This is asymptote.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.13 from
../asymptote.texi.

This file documents `Asymptote', version 1.87.

   `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net'

   Copyright (C) 2004-9 Andy Hammerlindl, John Bowman, and Tom Prince.

     Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
     document under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
     (see the file LICENSE in the top-level source directory).


INFO-DIR-SECTION Languages
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* asymptote: (asymptote/asymptote). Vector graphics language.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Top,  Next: Description,  Up: (dir)

Asymptote
*********

This file documents `Asymptote', version 1.87.

   `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net'

   Copyright (C) 2004-9 Andy Hammerlindl, John Bowman, and Tom Prince.

     Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
     document under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
     (see the file LICENSE in the top-level source directory).


* Menu:

* Description::                 What is `Asymptote'?
* Installation::                Downloading and installing
* Tutorial::                    Getting started
* Drawing commands::            Four primitive graphics commands
* Bezier curves::               Path connectors and direction specifiers
* Programming::                 The `Asymptote' vector graphics language
* LaTeX usage::                 Embedding `Asymptote' commands within `LaTeX'
* Base modules::                Base modules shipped with `Asymptote'
* Options::                     Command-line options
* Interactive mode::            Typing `Asymptote' commands interactively
* GUI::                         Graphical user interface
* PostScript to Asymptote::     `Asymptote' backend to `pstoedit'
* Help::                        Where to get help and submit bug reports
* Debugger::                    Squish those bugs!
* Credits::                     Contributions and acknowledgments
* Index::                       General index

 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---

Installation

* UNIX binary distributions::   Prebuilt `UNIX' binaries
* MacOS X binary distributions::  Prebuilt `MacOS X' binaries
* Microsoft Windows::           Prebuilt `Microsoft Windows' binary
* Configuring::                 Configuring `Asymptote' for your system
* Search paths::                Where `Asymptote' looks for your files
* Compiling from UNIX source::  Building `Asymptote' from scratch
* Editing modes::               Convenient `emacs' and `vim' modes
* Subversion::                  Getting the latest development source
* Uninstall::                   Goodbye, `Asymptote'!

Drawing commands

* draw::                        Draw a path on a picture or frame
* fill::                        Fill a cyclic path on a picture or frame
* clip::                        Clip a picture or frame to a cyclic path
* label::                       Label a point on a picture

Programming

* Data types::                  void, bool, int, real, pair, triple, string
* Paths and guides::
* Pens::                        Colors, line types, line widths, font sizes
* Transforms::                  Affine transforms
* Frames and pictures::         Canvases for immediate and deferred drawing
* Files::                       Reading and writing your data
* Variable initializers::       Initialize your variables
* Structures::                  Organize your data
* Operators::                   Arithmetic and logical operators
* Implicit scaling::            Avoiding those ugly *s
* Functions::                   Traditional and high-order functions
* Arrays::                      Dynamic vectors
* Casts::                       Implicit and explicit casts
* Import::                      Importing external `Asymptote' packages
* Static::                      Where to allocate your variable?

Operators

* Arithmetic & logical::        Basic mathematical operators
* Self & prefix operators::     Increment and decrement
* User-defined operators::      Overloading operators

Functions

* Default arguments::           Default values can appear anywhere
* Named arguments::             Assigning function arguments by keyword
* Rest arguments::              Functions with a variable number of arguments
* Mathematical functions::      Standard libm functions


Arrays

* Slices::                      Python-style array slices

Base modules

* plain::                       Default `Asymptote' base file
* simplex::                     Linear programming: simplex method
* math::                        Extend `Asymptote''s math capabilities
* interpolate::                 Interpolation routines
* geometry::                    Geometry routines
* trembling::                   Wavy lines
* stats::                       Statistics routines and histograms
* patterns::                    Custom fill and draw patterns
* markers::                     Custom path marker routines
* tree::                        Dynamic binary search tree
* binarytree::                  Binary tree drawing module
* drawtree::                    Tree drawing module
* syzygy::                      Syzygy and braid drawing module
* feynman::                     Feynman diagrams
* roundedpath::                 Round the sharp corners of paths
* animation::                   Embedded PDF and MPEG movies
* embed::                       Embedding movies, sounds, and 3D objects
* slide::                       Making presentations with `Asymptote'
* MetaPost::                    `MetaPost' compatibility routines
* unicode::                     Accept `unicode' (UTF-8) characters
* latin1::                      Accept `ISO 8859-1' characters
* babel::                       Interface to `LaTeX' `babel' package
* labelpath::                   Drawing curved labels
* labelpath3::                  Drawing curved labels in 3D
* annotate::                    Annotate your PDF files
* CAD::                         2D CAD pen and measurement functions (DIN 15)
* graph::                       2D linear & logarithmic graphs
* palette::                     Color density images and palettes
* three::                       3D vector graphics
* obj::                         3D obj files
* graph3::                      3D linear & logarithmic graphs
* grid3::                       3D grids
* solids::                      3D solid geometry
* tube::                        3D rotation minimizing tubes
* flowchart::                   Flowchart drawing routines
* contour::                     Contour lines
* contour3::                    Contour surfaces
* slopefield::                  Slope fields
* ode::                         Ordinary differential equations

Graphical User Interface

* GUI installation::            Installing `xasy'
* GUI usage::


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Description,  Next: Installation,  Prev: Top,  Up: Top

1 Description
*************

`Asymptote' is a powerful descriptive vector graphics language that
provides a mathematical coordinate-based framework for technical
drawings.  Labels and equations are typeset with `LaTeX', for overall
document consistency, yielding the same high-quality level of
typesetting that `LaTeX' provides for scientific text. By default it
produces `PostScript' output, but it can also generate any format that
the `ImageMagick' package can produce.

   A major advantage of `Asymptote' over other graphics packages is
that it is a high-level programming language, as opposed to just a
graphics program: it can therefore exploit the best features of the
script (command-driven) and graphical-user-interface (GUI) methods for
producing figures. The rudimentary GUI `xasy' included with the package
allows one to move script-generated objects around. To make `Asymptote'
accessible to the average user, this GUI is currently being developed
into a full-fledged interface that can generate objects directly.
However, the script portion of the language is now ready for general
use by users who are willing to learn a few simple `Asymptote' graphics
commands (*note Drawing commands::).

   `Asymptote' is mathematically oriented (e.g. one can use complex
multiplication to rotate a vector) and uses `LaTeX' to do the
typesetting of labels. This is an important feature for scientific
applications. It was inspired by an earlier drawing program (with a
weaker syntax and capabilities) called `MetaPost'.

   The `Asymptote' vector graphics language provides:

   * a standard for typesetting mathematical figures, just as
     TeX/`LaTeX' is the de-facto standard for typesetting equations.

   * `LaTeX' typesetting of labels, for overall document consistency;

   * the ability to generate and embed 3D vector PRC graphics into PDF
     files;

   * a natural coordinate-based framework for technical drawings,
     inspired by `MetaPost', with a much cleaner, powerful C++-like
     programming syntax;

   * compilation of figures into virtual machine code for speed, without
     sacrificing portability;

   * the power of a script-based language coupled to the convenience of
     a GUI;

   * customization using its own C++-like graphics programming language;

   * sensible defaults for graphical features, with the ability to
     override;

   * a high-level mathematically oriented interface to the `PostScript'
     language for vector graphics, including affine transforms and
     complex variables;

   * functions that can create new (anonymous) functions;

   * deferred drawing that uses the simplex method to solve overall size
     constraint issues between fixed-sized objects (labels and
     arrowheads) and objects that should scale with figure size;


   Many of the features of `Asymptote' are written in the `Asymptote'
language itself. While the stock version of `Asymptote' is designed for
mathematics typesetting needs, one can write `Asymptote' modules that
tailor it to specific applications. A scientific graphing module has
already been written (*note graph::). Examples of `Asymptote' code and
output, including animations, are available at

     `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/gallery/'.
   Links to many external resources, including an excellent user-written
`Asymptote' tutorial can be found at

     `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/links.html'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Installation,  Next: Tutorial,  Prev: Description,  Up: Top

2 Installation
**************

* Menu:

* UNIX binary distributions::   Prebuilt `UNIX' binaries
* MacOS X binary distributions::  Prebuilt `MacOS X' binaries
* Microsoft Windows::           Prebuilt `Microsoft Windows' binary
* Configuring::                 Configuring `Asymptote' for your system
* Search paths::                Where `Asymptote' looks for your files
* Compiling from UNIX source::  Building `Asymptote' from scratch
* Editing modes::               Convenient `emacs' and `vim' modes
* Subversion::                  Getting the latest development source
* Uninstall::                   Goodbye, `Asymptote'!

   After following the instructions for your specific distribution,
please see also *note Configuring::.

We recommend subscribing to new release announcements at

     `http://freshmeat.net/projects/asy'
   Users may also wish to monitor the `Asymptote' forum:

     `http://sourceforge.net/projects/asymptote/forums/forum/409349'


File: asymptote.info,  Node: UNIX binary distributions,  Next: MacOS X binary distributions,  Up: Installation

2.1 UNIX binary distributions
=============================

We release both `tgz' and RPM binary distributions of `Asymptote'. The
root user can install the `Linux i386' `tgz' distribution of version
`x.xx' of `Asymptote' with the commands:
tar -C / -zxf asymptote-x.xx.i386.tgz
texhash
 The `texhash' command, which installs LaTeX style files, is optional.
The executable file will be `/usr/local/bin/asy') and example code will
be installed by default in `/usr/local/share/doc/asymptote/examples'.

Fedora users can easily install the most recent version of `Asymptote'
with the command
yum --enablerepo=rawhide install asymptote

To install the latest version of `Asymptote' on a Debian-based
distribution (e.g. Ubuntu, Mepis, Linspire) follow the instructions for
compiling from `UNIX' source (*note Compiling from UNIX source::).
Alternatively, Debian users can install one of Hubert Chan's prebuilt
`Asymptote' binaries from

     `http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/a/asymptote'


File: asymptote.info,  Node: MacOS X binary distributions,  Next: Microsoft Windows,  Prev: UNIX binary distributions,  Up: Installation

2.2 MacOS X binary distributions
================================

`MacOS X' users can either compile the `UNIX' source code (*note
Compiling from UNIX source::) or install the contributed `Asymptote'
binary available at

`http://www.hmug.org/pub/MacOS_X/X/Applications/Publishing/asymptote/'

Because these preconfigured binary distributions have strict
architecture and library dependencies that many installations do not
satisfy, we recommend installing `Asymptote' directly from the official
source:

   `http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=120000'

Note that many `MacOS X' (and FreeBSD) systems lack the GNU `readline'
library. For full interactive functionality, GNU `readline' version 4.3
or later must be installed.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Microsoft Windows,  Next: Configuring,  Prev: MacOS X binary distributions,  Up: Installation

2.3 Microsoft Windows
=====================

Users of the `Microsoft Windows' operating system can install the
self-extracting `Asymptote' executable `asymptote-x.xx-setup.exe',
where `x.xx' denotes the latest version.

   A working TeX implementation (such as the one available at
`http://www.miktex.org') will be required to typeset labels.  You will
also need to install `GPL Ghostscript' from
`http://sourceforge.net/projects/ghostscript/'.

   To view the default `PostScript' output, you can install the program
`gsview' available from `http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview/'.  A
better (and free) `PostScript' viewer available at
`http://psview.sourceforge.net/' (which in particular works properly in
interactive mode) unfortunately currently requires some manual
configuration. Specifically, if version `x.xx' of `psview' is extracted
to the directory `c:\Program Files' one needs to put
import settings;
psviewer="c:\Program Files\psview-x.xx\psv.exe";
 in the optional `Asymptote' configuration file; *note configuration
file::).

   The `ImageMagick' package from

   `http://www.imagemagick.org/script/binary-releases.php'

is required to support output formats other than EPS and PDF (*note
convert::).  The `Python' interpreter from `http://www.python.org' is
only required if you wish to try out the graphical user interface
(*note GUI::).

Example code will be installed by default in the `examples'
subdirectory of the installation directory (by default, `C:\Program
Files\Asymptote').


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Configuring,  Next: Search paths,  Prev: Microsoft Windows,  Up: Installation

2.4 Configuring
===============

In interactive mode, or when given the `-V' option (the default when
running `Asymptote' on a single file under `MSDOS'), `Asymptote' will
automatically invoke the `PostScript' viewer `gv' (under `UNIX') or
`gsview' (under `MSDOS' to display graphical output. These defaults may
be overridden with the configuration variable `psviewer'.  The
`PostScript' viewer should be capable of automatically redrawing
whenever the output file is updated. The default `UNIX' `PostScript'
viewer `gv' supports this (via a `SIGHUP' signal). Version `gv-3.6.3'
or later (from `http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/gv/') is required for
interactive mode to work properly.  Users of `ggv' will need to enable
`Watch file' under `Edit/Postscript Viewer Preferences'.  Users of
`gsview' will need to enable `Options/Auto Redisplay' (however, under
`MSDOS' it is still necessary to click on the `gsview' window; under
`UNIX' one must manually redisplay by pressing the `r' key). A better
(and free) multiplatform alternative to `gsview' is `psview' (*note
psview::).

   Configuration variables are most easily set as `Asymptote' variables
in an optional configuration file `config.asy' *note configuration
file::).  Here are the default values of several important configuration
variables under `UNIX':


import settings;
psviewer="gv";
pdfviewer="acroread";
gs="gs";

Under `MSDOS', the (installation-dependent) default values of these
configuration variables are determined automatically from the
`Microsoft Windows' registry. Viewer settings (such as `psviewer' and
`pdfviewer') can be set to the string `cmd' to request the application
normally associated with the corresponding file type.

   For PDF format output, the `gs' setting specifies the location of
the `PostScript'-to-PDF processor `Ghostscript', available from
`http://sourceforge.net/projects/ghostscript/'.

   The setting `pdfviewer' specifies the location of the PDF viewer. On
`UNIX' systems, to support automatic document reloading in `Adobe
Reader', we recommend copying the file `reload.js' from the `Asymptote'
system directory (by default, `/usr/local/share/asymptote' under `UNIX'
to `~/.adobe/Acrobat/x.x/JavaScripts/', where `x.x' represents the
appropriate `Adobe Reader' version number. The automatic document
reload feature must then be explicitly enabled by putting
import settings;
pdfreload=true;
pdfreloadOptions="-tempFile";
 in the `Asymptote' configuration file. This reload feature is not
useful under `MSDOS' since the document cannot be updated anyway on
that operating system until it is first closed by `Adobe Reader'.

   The configuration variable `dir' can be used to adjust the search
path (*note Search paths::).

   By default, `Asymptote' attempts to center the figure on the page,
assuming that the paper type is `letter'. The default paper type may be
changed to `a4' with the configuration variable `papertype'. Alignment
to other paper sizes can be obtained by setting the configuration
variables `paperwidth' and `paperheight'.

   The following configuration variables normally do not require
adjustment:
texpath
texcommand
dvips
dvisvg
convert
display
animate
 Warnings (such as "writeoverloaded") may be enabled or disabled with
the functions
warn(string s);
nowarn(string s);
 or by directly modifying the string array `settings.suppress', which
lists all disabled warnings.

   Configuration variables may also be set or overwritten with a
command-line option:
asy -psviewer=gsview -V venn

   Alternatively, system environment versions of the above configuration
variables may be set in the conventional way. The corresponding
environment variable name is obtained by converting the configuration
variable name to upper case  and prepending `ASYMPTOTE_': for example,
to set the environment variable
ASYMPTOTE_PSVIEWER="C:\Program Files\Ghostgum\gsview\gsview32.exe";
 under `Microsoft Windows XP':
  1. Click on the `Start' button;

  2. Right-click on `My Computer';

  3. Choose `Properties' from the popup menu;

  4. Click the `Advanced' tab;

  5. Click the `Environment Variables' button.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Search paths,  Next: Compiling from UNIX source,  Prev: Configuring,  Up: Installation

2.5 Search paths
================

In looking for `Asymptote' system files, `asy' will search the
following paths, in the order listed:
  1. The current directory;

  2. A list of one or more directories specified by the configuration
     variable `dir' (separated by `:' under UNIX and `;' under `MSDOS');

  3. The directory specified by the environment variable
     `ASYMPTOTE_HOME'; if this variable is not set, the directory
     `.asy' in the user's home directory (`%USERPROFILE%\.asy' under
     `MSDOS') is used;

  4. The `Asymptote' system directory (by default,
     `/usr/local/share/asymptote' under `UNIX' and `C:\Program
     Files\Asymptote' under `MSDOS').


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Compiling from UNIX source,  Next: Editing modes,  Prev: Search paths,  Up: Installation

2.6 Compiling from UNIX source
==============================

To compile and install a `UNIX' executable from a source release
`x.xx', first execute the commands:
gunzip asymptote-x.xx.src.tgz
tar -xf asymptote-x.xx.src.tar
cd asymptote-x.xx
 By default the system version of the Boehm garbage collector will be
used; if it is old we recommend first putting
`http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Hans_Boehm/gc/gc_source/gc-7.1.tar.gz'
in the `Asymptote' source directory.

If your graphics card supports multisampling, we recommend using version
`2.6.0-rc1' (or later) of `freeglut' to support antialiasing in
`Asymptote''s adaptive `OpenGL' 3D renderer (`MacOS X' users can skip
this step since `Asymptote' is configured to use the native glut
library on that platform). Download

     `http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/freeglut/freeglut-2.6.0-rc1.tar.gz'
   and type (as the root user):
tar -zxf freeglut-2.6.0-rc1.tar.gz
cd freeglut-2.6.0
./configure --prefix=/usr
make install
cd ..
 Then compile `Asymptote' with the commands
./configure
make all
make install
 Be sure to use GNU `make' (on non-GNU systems this command may be
called `gmake').  To build the documentation, you may need to install
the `texinfo-tex' package. If you get errors from a broken `texinfo' or
`pdftex' installation, simply put

     `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/asymptote.pdf'
   in the directory `doc' and repeat the command `make all'.

For a (default) system-wide installation, the last command should be
done as the root user. To install without root privileges, change the
`./configure' command to
./configure --prefix=$HOME/asymptote
 One can disable use of the Boehm garbage collector by configuring with
`./configure --disable-gc'. For a list of other configuration options,
say `./configure --help'. For example, one can tell configure to look
for header files and libraries in nonstandard locations:
./configure CFLAGS=-I/opt/usr/include LDFLAGS=-L/opt/usr/lib

   If you are compiling `Asymptote' with `gcc', you will need a
relatively recent version (e.g. 3.4.4 or later).  For full interactive
functionality, you will need version 4.3 or later of the GNU `readline'
library.  The file `gcc3.3.2curses.patch' in the `patches' directory can
be used to patch the broken curses.h header file (or a local copy
thereof in the current directory) on some `AIX' and `IRIX' systems.

   The `FFTW' library is only required if you want `Asymptote' to be
able to take Fourier transforms of data (say, to compute an audio power
spectrum). The `GSL' library is only required if you require the
special functions that it supports.

   If you don't want to install `Asymptote' system wide, just make sure
the compiled binary `asy' and GUI script `xasy' are in your path and
set the configuration variable `dir' to point to the directory `base'
(in the top level directory of the `Asymptote' source code).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Editing modes,  Next: Subversion,  Prev: Compiling from UNIX source,  Up: Installation

2.7 Editing modes
=================

Users of `emacs' can edit `Asymptote' code with the mode `asy-mode',
after enabling it by putting the following lines in their `.emacs'
initialization file, replacing `ASYDIR' with the location of the
`Asymptote' system directory (by default, `/usr/local/share/asymptote'
or `C:\Program Files\Asymptote' under `MSDOS'):
(add-to-list 'load-path "ASYDIR")
(autoload 'asy-mode "asy-mode.el" "Asymptote major mode." t)
(autoload 'lasy-mode "asy-mode.el" "hybrid Asymptote/Latex major mode." t)
(autoload 'asy-insinuate-latex "asy-mode.el" "Asymptote insinuate LaTeX." t)
(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.asy$" . asy-mode))

 Particularly useful key bindings in this mode are `C-c C-c', which
compiles and displays the current buffer, and the key binding `C-c ?',
which shows the available function prototypes for the command at the
cursor.  For full functionality you should also install the Apache
Software Foundation package `two-mode-mode':

     `http://www.dedasys.com/freesoftware/files/two-mode-mode.el'
   Once installed, you can use the hybrid mode `lasy-mode' to edit a
LaTeX file containing embedded `Asymptote' code (*note LaTeX usage::).
This mode can be enabled within `latex-mode' with the key sequence `M-x
lasy-mode <RET>'.  On `UNIX' systems, additional keywords will be
generated from all `asy' files in the space-separated list of
directories specified by the environment variable `ASYMPTOTE_SITEDIR'.
Further documentation of `asy-mode' is available within `emacs' by
pressing the sequence keys `C-h f asy-mode <RET>'.

   Fans of `vim' can customize `vim' for `Asymptote' with

`cp /usr/local/share/asymptote/asy.vim ~/.vim/syntax/asy.vim'

and add the following to their `~/.vimrc' file:
augroup filetypedetect
au BufNewFile,BufRead *.asy     setf asy
augroup END
filetype plugin on

   If any of these directories or files don't exist, just create them.
To set `vim' up to run the current asymptote script using `:make' just
add to `~/.vim/ftplugin/asy.vim':
setlocal makeprg=asy\ %
setlocal errorformat=%f:\ %l.%c:\ %m

   Syntax highlighting support for the KDE editor `Kate' can be enabled
by running `asy-kate.sh' in the `/usr/local/share/asymptote' directory
and putting the generated `asymptote.xml' file in
`~/.kde/share/apps/katepart/syntax/'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Subversion,  Next: Uninstall,  Prev: Editing modes,  Up: Installation

2.8 Subversion (SVN)
====================

The following commands are needed to install the latest development
version of `Asymptote' using `Subversion':
svn co http://asymptote.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/asymptote/trunk/asymptote
cd asymptote
./autogen.sh
./configure
make all
make install

To compile without optimization, use the command `make CFLAGS=-g'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Uninstall,  Prev: Subversion,  Up: Installation

2.9 Uninstall
=============

To uninstall an `Linux i386' binary distribution, use the commands
tar -zxvf asymptote-x.xx.i386.tgz | xargs --replace=% rm /%
texhash

To uninstall all `Asymptote' files installed from a source
distribution, use the command
make uninstall


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Tutorial,  Next: Drawing commands,  Prev: Installation,  Up: Top

3 Tutorial
**********

To draw a line from coordinate (0,0) to coordinate (100,100), create a
text file `test.asy' containing

draw((0,0)--(100,100));
 Then execute the command
asy -V test
 Alternatively, `MSDOS' users can drag and drop `test.asy' onto the
Desktop `asy' icon (or make `Asymptote' the default application the
extension `asy').

This method, known as _batch mode_, outputs a `PostScript' file
`test.eps'. The `-V' option opens up a `PostScript' viewer window so
you can immediately view the result:


The `--' connector joins the two points `(0,0)' and `(100,100)' with a
linear segment.

   Another method is _interactive mode_, where `Asymptote' reads
individual commands as they are entered by the user. To try this out,
enter `Asymptote''s interactive mode by clicking on the `Asymptote'
icon or typing the command `asy'.  Then type
draw((0,0)--(100,100));
 followed by `Enter', to obtain the above image.  At this point you can
type further `draw' commands, which will be added to the displayed
figure, `erase' to clear the canvas,
input test;
 to execute all of the commands contained in the file `test.asy', or
`quit' to exit interactive mode.  You can use the arrow keys in
interactive mode to edit previous lines.  The tab key will
automatically complete unambiguous words; otherwise, hitting tab again
will show the possible choices. Further commands specific to
interactive mode are described in *note Interactive mode::.

   One can draw a line with more than two points and create a cyclic
path like this square:

draw((0,0)--(100,0)--(100,100)--(0,100)--cycle);



In `Asymptote' coordinates like (0,0) and (100,100) are called _pairs_.
The pairs in the previous examples are expressed in `PostScript' "big
points" (1 `bp' = 1/72 `inch').  However, it is often inconvenient to
work directly in `PostScript' coordinates. The next example draws a
unit square scaled to width 101 `bp' and height 101 `bp'. The output is
identical to that of the previous example.
size(101,101);
draw((0,0)--(1,0)--(1,1)--(0,1)--cycle);

   For convenience, the path `(0,0)--(1,0)--(1,1)--(0,1)--cycle' may be
replaced with the predefined variable `unitsquare', or equivalently,
`box((0,0),(1,1))'.  One can also specify the size in `pt' (1 `pt' =
1/72.27 `inch'), `cm', `mm', or `inches'.  Two nonzero size arguments
(or a single size argument) restrict the size in both directions,
preserving the aspect ratio.  If 0 is given as a size argument, no
restriction is made in that direction; the overall scaling will be
determined by the other direction (*note size::):

size(3cm,3cm);
draw(unitsquare);



To make the user coordinates represent multiples of exactly `1cm':
unitsize(1cm);
draw(unitsquare);
 Adding labels is easy in `Asymptote'; one specifies the label as a
double-quoted `LaTeX' string, a coordinate, and an optional alignment
direction:

size(0,3cm);
draw(unitsquare);
label("$A$",(0,0),SW);
label("$B$",(1,0),SE);
label("$C$",(1,1),NE);
label("$D$",(0,1),NW);



`Asymptote' uses the standard compass directions `E=(1,0)', `N=(0,1)',
`NE=unit(N+E)', and `ENE=unit(E+NE)', etc., which along with the
directions `up', `down', `right', and `left' are defined as pairs in
the `Asymptote' base module `plain' (a user who has a local variable
named `E' may access the compass direction `E' by prefixing it with the
name of the module where it is defined: `plain.E').

   This example draws a path that approximates a quarter circle,
terminated with an arrowhead:

size(100,0);
draw((1,0){up}..{left}(0,1),Arrow);



In general, a path is specified as a list of pairs (or other paths)
interconnected with `--', which denotes a straight line segment, or
`..', which denotes a cubic spline (*note Bezier curves::).  Specifying
a final node `cycle' creates a cyclic path that connects smoothly back
to the initial node, as in this approximation (accurate to within
0.06%) of a unit circle:
path unitcircle=E..N..W..S..cycle;

An `Asymptote' path, being connected, is equivalent to a `Postscript
subpath'. The `^^' binary operator, which requests that the pen be
moved (without drawing or affecting endpoint curvatures) from the final
point of the left-hand path to the initial point of the right-hand
path, may be used to group several `Asymptote' paths into a `path[]'
array (equivalent to a `PostScript' path):

size(0,100);
path unitcircle=E..N..W..S..cycle;
path g=scale(2)*unitcircle;
filldraw(unitcircle^^g,evenodd+yellow,black);



The `PostScript' even-odd fill rule here specifies that only the region
bounded between the two unit circles is filled (*note fillrule::).  In
this example, the same effect can be achieved by using the default zero
winding number fill rule, if one is careful to alternate the
orientation of the paths:
filldraw(unitcircle^^reverse(g),yellow,black);

   The `^^' operator is used by the `box(triple, triple)' function in
the module `three.asy' to construct the edges of a cube `unitbox'
without retracing steps (*note three::):

import three;
dotgranularity=0; // Render dots as spheres.

currentprojection=orthographic(5,4,2,center=true);

size(5cm);
size3(3cm,5cm,8cm);

draw(unitbox);

dot(unitbox,red);

label("$O$",(0,0,0),NW);
label("(1,0,0)",(1,0,0),S);
label("(0,1,0)",(0,1,0),E);
label("(0,0,1)",(0,0,1),Z);



See section *note graph:: (or the online `Asymptote' gallery and
external links posted at `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net') for
further examples, including two and interactive three-dimensional
scientific graphs. Additional examples have been posted by Philippe
Ivaldi at `http://www.piprime.fr/asymptote/'.  A user-written
`Asymptote' tutorial is available at
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki/index.php/Asymptote:_Basics


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Drawing commands,  Next: Bezier curves,  Prev: Tutorial,  Up: Top

4 Drawing commands
******************

All of `Asymptote''s graphical capabilities are based on four primitive
commands. The three `PostScript' drawing commands `draw', `fill', and
`clip' add objects to a picture in the order in which they are
executed, with the most recently drawn object appearing on top.  The
labeling command `label' can be used to add text labels and external
EPS images, which will appear on top of the `PostScript' objects (since
this is normally what one wants), but again in the relative order in
which they were executed. After drawing objects on a picture, the
picture can be output with the `shipout' function (*note shipout::).

   If you wish to draw `PostScript' objects on top of labels (or
verbatim `tex' commands; *note tex::), the `layer' command may be used
to start a new `PostScript/LaTeX' layer:
void layer(picture pic=currentpicture);

   The `layer' function gives one full control over the order in which
objects are drawn. Layers are drawn sequentially, with the most recent
layer appearing on top. Within each layer, labels, images, and verbatim
`tex' commands are always drawn after the `PostScript' objects in that
layer.

   While some of these drawing commands take many options, they all
have sensible default values (for example, the picture argument
defaults to currentpicture).

* Menu:

* draw::                        Draw a path on a picture or frame
* fill::                        Fill a cyclic path on a picture or frame
* clip::                        Clip a picture or frame to a cyclic path
* label::                       Label a point on a picture


File: asymptote.info,  Node: draw,  Next: fill,  Up: Drawing commands

4.1 draw
========

void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", path g,
          align align=NoAlign, pen p=currentpen,
          arrowbar arrow=None, arrowbar bar=None, margin margin=NoMargin,
          Label legend="", marker marker=nomarker);

Draw the path `g' on the picture `pic' using pen `p' for drawing, with
optional drawing attributes (Label `L', explicit label alignment
`align', arrows and bars `arrow' and `bar', margins `margin', legend,
and markers `marker'). Only one parameter, the path, is required. For
convenience, the arguments `arrow' and `bar' may be specified in either
order. The argument `legend' is a Label to use in constructing an
optional legend entry.

   Bars are useful for indicating dimensions. The possible values of
`bar' are `None', `BeginBar', `EndBar' (or equivalently `Bar'), and
`Bars' (which draws a bar at both ends of the path). Each of these bar
specifiers (except for `None') will accept an optional real argument
that denotes the length of the bar in `PostScript' coordinates. The
default bar length is `barsize(pen)'.

   The possible values of `arrow' are `None', `Blank' (which draws no
arrows or path), `BeginArrow', `MidArrow', `EndArrow' (or equivalently
`Arrow'), and `Arrows' (which draws an arrow at both ends of the path).
All of the arrow specifiers except for `None' and `Blank' may be given
the optional arguments arrowhead `arrowhead' (one of the predefined
arrowhead styles `DefaultHead', `SimpleHead', `HookHead', `TeXHead'),
real `size' (arrowhead size in `PostScript' coordinates), real `angle'
(arrowhead angle in degrees), filltype `filltype' (one of `FillDraw',
`Fill', `NoFill', `UnFill', `Draw') and (except for `MidArrow' and
`Arrows') a real `position' (in the sense of `point(path p, real t)')
along the path where the tip of the arrow should be placed. The default
arrowhead size when drawn with a pen `p' is `arrowsize(p)'. There are
also arrow versions with slightly modified default values of `size' and
`angle' suitable for curved arrows: `BeginArcArrow', `EndArcArrow' (or
equivalently `ArcArrow'), `MidArcArrow', and `ArcArrows'.

   Margins can be used to shrink the visible portion of a path by
`labelmargin(p)' to avoid overlap with other drawn objects.  Typical
values of `margin' are `NoMargin', `BeginMargin', `EndMargin' (or
equivalently `Margin'), and `Margins' (which leaves a margin at both
ends of the path). One may use `Margin(real begin, real end)' to
specify the size of the beginning and ending margin, respectively, in
multiples of the units `labelmargin(p)' used for aligning labels.
Alternatively, `BeginPenMargin', `EndPenMargin' (or equivalently
`PenMargin'), `PenMargins', `PenMargin(real begin, real end)' specify a
margin in units of the pen line width, taking account of the pen line
width when drawing the path or arrow. For example, use `DotMargin', an
abbreviation for `PenMargin(-0.5*dotfactor,0.5*dotfactor)', to draw
from the usual beginning point just up to the boundary of an end dot of
width `dotfactor*linewidth(p)'.  The qualifiers `BeginDotMargin',
`EndDotMargin', and `DotMargins' work similarly. The qualifier
`TrueMargin(real begin, real end)' allows one to specify a margin
directly in `PostScript' units, independent of the pen line width.

   The use of arrows, bars, and margins is illustrated by the examples
`Pythagoras.asy', `sqrtx01.asy', and `triads.asy'.

   The legend for a picture `pic' can be fit and aligned to a frame
with the routine: 
frame legend(picture pic=currentpicture, int perline=1,
             real xmargin=legendmargin, real ymargin=xmargin,
             real linelength=legendlinelength,
             real hskip=legendhskip, real vskip=legendvskip,
             real maxwidth=0, real maxheight=0,
             bool hstretch=false, bool vstretch=false, pen p=currentpen);
 Here `xmargin' and `ymargin' specify the surrounding x and y margins,
`perline' specifies the number of entries per line (default 1; 0 means
choose this number automatically), `linelength' specifies the length of
the path lines, `hskip' and `vskip' specify the line skip (as a
multiple of the legend entry size), `maxwidth' and `maxheight' specify
optional upper limits on the width and height of the resulting legend
(0 means unlimited), `hstretch' and `vstretch' allow the legend to
stretch horizontally or vertically, and `p' specifies the pen used to
draw the bounding box. The legend frame can then be added and aligned
about a point on a picture `dest' using `add' or `attach' (*note add
about::).

   To draw a dot, simply draw a path containing a single point.  The
`dot' command defined in the module `plain' draws a dot having a
diameter equal to an explicit pen line width or the default line width
magnified by `dotfactor' (6 by default), using the specified filltype
(*note filltype::):
void dot(picture pic=currentpicture, pair z, pen p=currentpen,
         filltype filltype=Fill);
void dot(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, pair z, align align=NoAlign,
         string format=defaultformat, pen p=currentpen, filltype filltype=Fill);
void dot(picture pic=currentpicture, Label[] L=new Label[], pair[] z,
         align align=NoAlign, string format=defaultformat, pen p=currentpen,
         filltype filltype=Fill)
void dot(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, pen p=currentpen,
         filltype filltype=Fill);

   If the variable `Label' is given as the `Label' argument to the
second routine, the `format' argument will be used to format a string
based on the dot location (here `defaultformat' is `"$%.4g$"').  The
third routine draws a dot at every point of a pair array `z'.  One can
also draw a dot at every node of a path:
void dot(picture pic=currentpicture, Label[] L=new Label[],
         path g, align align=RightSide, string format=defaultformat,
         pen p=currentpen, filltype filltype=Fill);
 See *note pathmarkers:: and *note markers:: for more general methods
for marking path nodes.

   To draw a fixed-sized object (in `PostScript' coordinates) about the
user coordinate `origin', use the routine 
void draw(pair origin, picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", path g,
          align align=NoAlign, pen p=currentpen, arrowbar arrow=None,
          arrowbar bar=None, margin margin=NoMargin, Label legend="",
          marker marker=nomarker);


File: asymptote.info,  Node: fill,  Next: clip,  Prev: draw,  Up: Drawing commands

4.2 fill
========

void fill(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, pen p=currentpen);

Fill the interior region bounded by the cyclic path `g' on the picture
`pic', using the pen `p'.

   There is also a convenient `filldraw' command, which fills the path
and then draws in the boundary. One can specify separate pens for each
operation:
void filldraw(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, pen fillpen=currentpen,
              pen drawpen=currentpen);

   This fixed-size version of `fill' allows one to fill an object
described in `PostScript' coordinates about the user coordinate
`origin':
void fill(pair origin, picture pic=currentpicture, path g, pen p=currentpen);

This is just a convenient abbreviation for the commands:
picture opic;
fill(opic,g,p);
add(pic,opic,origin);

   The routine 
void filloutside(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, pen p=currentpen);
 fills the region exterior to the path `g', out to the current boundary
of picture `pic'.

   Lattice gradient shading varying smoothly over a two-dimensional
array of pens `p', using fill rule `fillrule', can be produced with
void latticeshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                  pen fillrule=currentpen, pen[][] p)
 If `stroke=true', the region filled is the same as the region that
would be drawn by `draw(pic,g,fillrule+zerowinding)'; in this case the
path `g' need not be cyclic.  The pens in `p' must belong to the same
color space. One can use the functions `rgb(pen)' or `cmyk(pen)' to
promote pens to a higher color space, as illustrated in the example file
`latticeshading.asy'.

   Axial gradient shading varying smoothly from `pena' to `penb' in the
direction of the line segment `a--b' can be achieved with
void axialshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                pen pena, pair a,
                pen penb, pair b);

   Radial gradient shading varying smoothly from `pena' on the circle
with center `a' and radius `ra' to `penb' on the circle with center `b'
and radius `rb' is similar:
void radialshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                 pen pena, pair a, real ra,
                 pen penb, pair b, real rb);
 Illustrations of radial shading are provided in the example files
`shade.asy', `ring.asy', and `shadestroke.asy'.

   Gouraud shading using fill rule `fillrule' and the vertex colors in
the pen array `p' on a triangular lattice defined by the vertices `z'
and edge flags `edges' is implemented with
void gouraudshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                  pen fillrule=currentpen, pen[] p, pair[] z,
                  int[] edges);
void gouraudshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                  pen fillrule=currentpen, pen[] p, int[] edges);
 In the second form, the elements of `z' are taken to be successive
nodes of path `g'. The pens in `p' must belong to the same color space.
Illustrations of Gouraud shading are provided in the example file
`Gouraud.asy' and in the solid geometry module `solids.asy'.  The edge
flags used in Gouraud shading are documented here:

     `http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/sdk/TN5600.SmoothShading.pdf'.

   Tensor product shading using fill rule `fillrule' on patches bounded
by the n cyclic paths of length 4 in path array `b', using the vertex
colors specified in the n \times 4 pen array `p' and internal control
points in the n \times 4 array `z', is implemented with
void tensorshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                 pen fillrule=currentpen, pen[][] p, path[] b=g,
                 pair[][] z=new pair[][]);
 If the array `z' is empty, Coons shading, in which the color control
points are calculated automatically, is used.  The pens in `p' must
belong to the same color space.  A simpler interface for the case of a
single patch (n=1) is also available:
void tensorshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, bool stroke=false,
                 pen fillrule=currentpen, pen[] p, path b=g,
                 pair[] z=new pair[]);
 One can also smoothly shade the regions between consecutive paths of a
sequence using a given array of pens:
void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, path[] g, pen[] p);
 Illustrations of tensor product and Coons shading are provided in the
example files `tensor.asy', `Coons.asy', `BezierSurface.asy', and
`rainbow.asy'.

   More general shading possibilities are available with the `pdflatex',
`context', and `pdftex' TeX engines: the routine
void functionshade(picture pic=currentpicture, path[] g, bool stroke=false,
                   pen fillrule=currentpen, string shader);
 shades on picture `pic' the interior of path `g' according to fill
rule `fillrule' using the `PostScript' calculator routine specified by
the string `shader'; this routine takes 2 arguments, each in [0,1], and
returns `colors(fillrule).length' color components.  Function shading
is illustrated in the example `functionshading.asy'.

   The following routine uses `evenodd' clipping together with the `^^'
operator to unfill a region:

void unfill(picture pic=currentpicture, path g);


File: asymptote.info,  Node: clip,  Next: label,  Prev: fill,  Up: Drawing commands

4.3 clip
========

void clip(picture pic=currentpicture, path g, stroke=false,
          pen fillrule=currentpen);

Clip the current contents of picture `pic' to the region bounded by the
path `g', using fill rule `fillrule' (*note fillrule::).  If
`stroke=true', the clipped portion is the same as the region that would
be drawn with `draw(pic,g,fillrule+zerowinding)'; in this case the path
`g' need not be cyclic. For an illustration of picture clipping, see
the first example in *note LaTeX usage::.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: label,  Prev: clip,  Up: Drawing commands

4.4 label
=========

void label(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, pair position,
           align align=NoAlign, pen p=nullpen, filltype filltype=NoFill)

Draw Label `L' on picture `pic' using pen `p'. If `align' is `NoAlign',
the label will be centered at user coordinate `position'; otherwise it
will be aligned in the direction of `align' and displaced from
`position' by the `PostScript' offset `align*labelmargin(p)'.  The
constant `Align' can be used to align the bottom-left corner of the
label at `position'.  If `p' is `nullpen', the pen specified within the
Label, which defaults to `currentpen', will be used.  The Label `L' can
either be a string or the structure obtained by calling one of the
functions
Label Label(string s="", pair position, align align=NoAlign,
            pen p=nullpen, embed embed=Rotate, filltype filltype=NoFill);
Label Label(string s="", align align=NoAlign,
            pen p=nullpen, embed embed=Rotate, filltype filltype=NoFill);
Label Label(Label L, pair position, align align=NoAlign,
            pen p=nullpen, embed embed=L.embed, filltype filltype=NoFill);
Label Label(Label L, align align=NoAlign,
            pen p=nullpen, embed embed=L.embed, filltype filltype=NoFill);
 The text of a Label can be scaled, slanted, rotated, or shifted by
multiplying it on the left by an affine transform (*note Transforms::).
For example, `rotate(45)*xscale(2)*L' first scales `L' in the x
direction and then rotates it counterclockwise by 45 degrees. The final
position of a Label can also be shifted by a `PostScript' coordinate
translation: `shift(10,0)*L'.  The `embed' argument determines how the
Label should transform with the embedding picture:
`Shift'
     only shift with embedding picture;

`Rotate'
     only shift and rotate with embedding picture (default);

`Rotate(pair z)'
     rotate with (picture-transformed) vector `z'.

`Slant'
     only shift, rotate, slant, and reflect with embedding picture;

`Scale'
     shift, rotate, slant, reflect, and scale with embedding picture.


   To add a label to a path, use
void label(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, path g, align align=NoAlign,
           pen p=nullpen, filltype filltype=NoFill);
 By default the label will be positioned at the midpoint of the path.
An alternative label position (in the sense of `point(path p, real t)')
may be specified as a real value for `position' in constructing the
Label. The position `Relative(real)' specifies a location relative to
the total arclength of the path. These convenient abbreviations are
predefined: 
position BeginPoint=Relative(0);
position MidPoint=Relative(0.5);
position EndPoint=Relative(1);

   Path labels are aligned in the direction `align', which may be
specified as an absolute compass direction (pair) or a direction
`Relative(pair)' measured relative to a north axis in the local
direction of the path. For convenience `LeftSide', `Center', and
`RightSide' are defined as `Relative(W)', `Relative((0,0))', and
`Relative(E)', respectively.  Multiplying `LeftSide', `Center',
`RightSide' on the left by a real scaling factor will move the label
further away from or closer to the path.

   A label with a fixed-size arrow of length `arrowlength' pointing to
`b' from direction `dir' can be produced with the routine 
void arrow(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", pair b, pair dir,
           real length=arrowlength, align align=NoAlign,
           pen p=currentpen, arrowbar arrow=Arrow, margin margin=EndMargin);
 If no alignment is specified (either in the Label or as an explicit
argument), the optional Label will be aligned in the direction `dir',
using margin `margin'.

   The function `string graphic(string name, string options="")'
returns a string that can be used to include an encapsulated
`PostScript' (EPS) file. Here, `name' is the name of the file to
include and `options' is a string containing a comma-separated list of
optional bounding box (`bb=llx lly urx ury'), width (`width=value'),
height (`height=value'), rotation (`angle=value'), scaling
(`scale=factor'), clipping (`clip=bool'), and draft mode (`draft=bool')
parameters. The `layer()' function can be used to force future objects
to be drawn on top of the included image:
label(graphic("file.eps","width=1cm"),(0,0),NE);
layer();

   The `string baseline(string s, string template="\strut")' function
can be used to enlarge the bounding box of labels to match a given
template, so that their baselines will be typeset on a horizontal line.
See `Pythagoras.asy' for an example.

   One can prevent labels from overwriting one another with the
`overwrite' pen attribute (*note overwrite::).

   The structure `object' defined in `plain_Label.asy' allows Labels
and frames to be treated in a uniform manner.  A group of objects may
be packed together into single frame with the routine 
frame pack(pair align=2S ... object inset[]);
 To draw or fill a box (or ellipse or other path) around a Label and
return the bounding object, use one of the routines
object draw(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, envelope e,
            real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
            filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
object draw(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, envelope e, pair position,
            real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
            filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
 Here `envelope' is a boundary-drawing routine such as `box',
`roundbox', or `ellipse' defined in `plain_boxes.asy' (*note
envelope::).

   The function `path[] texpath(Label L)' returns the path array that
TeX would fill to draw the Label `L'.

   The `string minipage(string s, width=100pt)' function can be used to
format string `s' into a paragraph of width `width'.  This example uses
`minipage', `clip', and `graphic' to produce a CD label:


size(11.7cm,11.7cm);
asy(nativeformat(),"logo");
fill(unitcircle^^(scale(2/11.7)*unitcircle),
     evenodd+rgb(124/255,205/255,124/255));
label(scale(1.1)*minipage(
"\centering\scriptsize \textbf{\LARGE {\tt Asymptote}\\
\smallskip
\small The Vector Graphics Language}\\
\smallskip
\textsc{Andy Hammerlindl, John Bowman, and Tom Prince}
http://asymptote.sourceforge.net\\
",8cm),(0,0.6));
label(graphic("logo."+nativeformat(),"height=7cm"),(0,-0.22));
clip(unitcircle^^(scale(2/11.7)*unitcircle),evenodd);


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Bezier curves,  Next: Programming,  Prev: Drawing commands,  Up: Top

5 Bezier curves
***************

Each interior node of a cubic spline may be given a direction prefix or
suffix `{dir}': the direction of the pair `dir' specifies the direction
of the incoming or outgoing tangent, respectively, to the curve at that
node. Exterior nodes may be given direction specifiers only on their
interior side.

   A cubic spline between the node z_0, with postcontrol point c_0, and
the node z_1, with precontrol point c_1, is computed as the Bezier curve



As illustrated in the diagram below, the third-order midpoint (m_5)
constructed from two endpoints z_0 and z_1 and two control points c_0
and c_1, is the point corresponding to t=1/2 on the Bezier curve formed
by the quadruple (z_0, c_0, c_1, z_1). This allows one to recursively
construct the desired curve, by using the newly extracted third-order
midpoint as an endpoint and the respective second- and first-order
midpoints as control points:



Here m_0, m_1 and m_2 are the first-order midpoints, m_3 and m_4 are
the second-order midpoints, and m_5 is the third-order midpoint.  The
curve is then constructed by recursively applying the algorithm to
(z_0, m_0, m_3, m_5) and (m_5, m_4, m_2, z_1).

   In fact, an analogous property holds for points located at any
fraction t in [0,1] of each segment, not just for midpoints (t=1/2).

   The Bezier curve constructed in this manner has the following
properties:
   * It is entirely contained in the convex hull of the given four
     points.

   * It starts heading from the first endpoint to the first control
     point and finishes heading from the second control point to the
     second endpoint.


   The user can specify explicit control points between two nodes like
this:
draw((0,0)..controls (0,100) and (100,100)..(100,0));

   However, it is usually more convenient to just use the `..'
operator, which tells `Asymptote' to choose its own control points
using the algorithms described in Donald Knuth's monograph, The
MetaFontbook, Chapter 14.  The user can still customize the guide (or
path) by specifying direction, tension, and curl values.

   The higher the tension, the straighter the curve is, and the more it
approximates a straight line.  One can change the spline tension from
its default value of 1 to any real value greater than or equal to 0.75
(cf. John D. Hobby, Discrete and Computational Geometry 1, 1986):
draw((100,0)..tension 2 ..(100,100)..(0,100));
draw((100,0)..tension 2 and 1 ..(100,100)..(0,100));
draw((100,0)..tension atleast 1 ..(100,100)..(0,100));

   The curl parameter specifies the curvature at the endpoints of a path
(0 means straight; the default value of 1 means approximately circular):
draw((100,0){curl 0}..(100,100)..{curl 0}(0,100));

   The `MetaPost ...' path connector, which requests, when possible, an
inflection-free curve confined to a triangle defined by the endpoints
and directions, is implemented in `Asymptote' as the convenient
abbreviation `::' for `..tension atleast 1 ..' (the ellipsis `...' is
used in `Asymptote' to indicate a variable number of arguments; *note
Rest arguments::).  For example, compare

draw((0,0){up}..(100,25){right}..(200,0){down});


with

draw((0,0){up}::(100,25){right}::(200,0){down});



The `---' connector is an abbreviation for `..tension atleast
infinity..' and the `&' connector concatenates two paths, after first
stripping off the last node of the first path (which normally should
coincide with the first node of the second path).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Programming,  Next: LaTeX usage,  Prev: Bezier curves,  Up: Top

6 Programming
*************

Here is a short introductory example to the `Asymptote' programming
language that highlights the similarity of its control structures with
those of C, C++, and Java: 
// This is a comment.

// Declaration: Declare x to be a real variable;
real x;

// Assignment: Assign the real variable x the value 1.
x=1.0;

// Conditional: Test if x equals 1 or not.
if(x == 1.0) {
  write("x equals 1.0");
} else {
  write("x is not equal to 1.0");
}

// Loop: iterate 10 times
for(int i=0; i < 10; ++i) {
  write(i);
}

   `Asymptote' supports `while', `do', `break', and `continue'
statements just as in C/C++. It also supports the Java-style shorthand
for iterating over all elements of an array:

// Iterate over an array
int[] array={1,1,2,3,5};
for(int k : array) {
  write(k);
}
 In addition, it supports many features beyond the ones found in those
languages.

* Menu:

* Data types::                  void, bool, int, real, pair, triple, string
* Paths and guides::
* Pens::                        Colors, line types, line widths, font sizes
* Transforms::                  Affine transforms
* Frames and pictures::         Canvases for immediate and deferred drawing
* Files::                       Reading and writing your data
* Variable initializers::       Initialize your variables
* Structures::                  Organize your data
* Operators::                   Arithmetic and logical operators
* Implicit scaling::            Avoiding those ugly *s
* Functions::                   Traditional and high-order functions
* Arrays::                      Dynamic vectors
* Casts::                       Implicit and explicit casts
* Import::                      Importing external `Asymptote' packages
* Static::                      Where to allocate your variable?


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Data types,  Next: Paths and guides,  Up: Programming

6.1 Data types
==============

`Asymptote' supports the following data types (in addition to
user-defined types):

`void'
     The void type is used only by functions that take or return no
     arguments.

`bool'
     a boolean type that can only take on the values `true' or `false'.
     For example: bool b=true;

     defines a boolean variable `b' and initializes it to the value
     `true'. If no initializer is given: bool b;

     the value `false' is assumed.

`bool3'
     an extended boolean type that can take on the values `true',
     `default', or `false'. A bool3 type can be cast to or from a bool.
     The default initializer for bool3 is `default'.

`int'
     an integer type; if no initializer is given, the implicit value `0'
     is assumed. The minimum allowed value of an integer is `intMin'
     and the maximum value is `intMax'.

`real'
     a real number; this should be set to the highest-precision native
     floating-point type on the architecture. The implicit initializer
     for reals is `0.0'. Real numbers have precision `realEpsilon',
     with `realDigits' significant digits.  The smallest positive real
     number is `realMin' and the largest positive real number is
     `realMax'.

`pair'
     complex number, that is, an ordered pair of real components
     `(x,y)'.  The real and imaginary parts of a pair `z' can read as
     `z.x' and `z.y'. We say that `x' and `y' are virtual members of
     the data element pair; they cannot be directly modified, however.
     The implicit initializer for pairs is `(0.0,0.0)'.

     There are a number of ways to take the complex conjugate of a pair:
          pair z=(3,4);
          z=(z.x,-z.y);
          z=z.x-I*z.y;
          z=conj(z);

     Here `I' is the pair `(0,1)'.  A number of built-in functions are
     defined for pairs:

    `pair conj(pair z)'
          returns the conjugate of `z';

    `real length(pair z)'
          returns the complex modulus `|z|' of its argument `z'.  For
          example,
               pair z=(3,4);
               length(z);
          returns the result 5. A synonym for `length(pair)' is
          `abs(pair)';

    `real angle(pair z, bool warn=true)'
          returns the angle of `z' in radians in the interval
          [-`pi',`pi'] or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `z=(0,0)'
          (rather than producing an error);

    `real degrees(pair z, bool warn=true)'
          returns the angle of `z' in degrees in the interval [0,360)
          or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `z=(0,0)' (rather than
          producing an error);

    `pair unit(pair z)'
          returns a unit vector in the direction of the pair `z';

    `pair expi(real angle)'
          returns a unit vector in the direction `angle' measured in
          radians;

    `pair dir(real degrees)'
          returns a unit vector in the direction `degrees' measured in
          degrees;

    `real xpart(pair z)'
          returns `z.x';

    `real ypart(pair z)'
          returns `z.y';

    `pair realmult(pair z, pair w)'
          returns the element-by-element product `(z.x*w.x,z.y*w.y)';

    `real dot(pair z, pair w)'
          returns the dot product `z.x*w.x+z.y*w.y';

    `pair minbound(pair z, pair w)'
          returns `(min(z.x,w.x),min(z.y,w.y))';

    `pair maxbound(pair z, pair w)'
          returns `(max(z.x,w.x),max(z.y,w.y))'.


`triple'
     an ordered triple of real components `(x,y,z)' used for
     three-dimensional drawings. The respective components of a triple
     `v' can read as `v.x', `v.y', and `v.z'.  The implicit initializer
     for triples is `(0.0,0.0,0.0)'.

     Here are the built-in functions for triples:
    `real length(triple v)'
          returns the length `|v|' of the vector `v'.  A synonym for
          `length(triple)' is `abs(triple)';

    `real polar(triple v, bool warn=true)'
          returns the colatitude of `v' measured from the z axis in
          radians or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `v=O' (rather than
          producing an error);

    `real azimuth(triple v, bool warn=true)'
          returns the longitude of `v' measured from the x axis in
          radians or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `v.x=v.y=0' (rather
          than producing an error);

    `real colatitude(triple v, bool warn=true)'
          returns the colatitude of `v' measured from the z axis in
          degrees or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `v=O' (rather than
          producing an error);

    `real latitude(triple v, bool warn=true)'
          returns the latitude of `v' measured from the xy plane in
          degrees or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `v=O' (rather than
          producing an error);

    `real longitude(triple v, bool warn=true)'
          returns the longitude of `v' measured from the x axis in
          degrees or `0' if `warn' is `false' and `v.x=v.y=0' (rather
          than producing an error);

    `triple unit(triple v)'
          returns a unit triple in the direction of the triple `v';

    `triple expi(real polar, real azimuth)'
          returns a unit triple in the direction `(polar,azimuth)'
          measured in radians;

    `triple dir(real colatitude, real longitude)'
          returns a unit triple in the direction
          `(colatitude,longitude)' measured in degrees;

    `real xpart(triple v)'
          returns `v.x';

    `real ypart(triple v)'
          returns `v.y';

    `real zpart(triple v)'
          returns `v.z';

    `real dot(triple u, triple v)'
          returns the dot product `u.x*v.x+u.y*v.y+u.z*v.z';

    `triple cross(triple u, triple v)'
          returns the cross product

          `(u.y*v.z-u.z*v.y,u.z*v.x-u.x*v.z,u.x*v.y-v.x*u.y)';

    `triple minbound(triple u, triple v)'
          returns `(min(u.x,v.x),min(u.y,v.y),min(u.z,v.z))';

    `triple maxbound(triple u, triple v)'
          returns `(max(u.x,v.x),max(u.y,v.y),max(u.z,v.z)').


`string'
     a character string, implemented using the STL `string' class.

     Strings delimited by double quotes (`"') are subject to the
     following mappings to allow the use of double quotes in TeX (e.g.
     for using the `babel' package, *note babel::):

        * \" maps to "

        * \\ maps to \\

     Strings delimited by single quotes (`'') have the same mappings as
     character strings in ANSI `C':

        * \' maps to '

        * \" maps to "

        * \? maps to ?

        * \\ maps to backslash

        * \a maps to alert

        * \b maps to backspace

        * \f maps to form feed

        * \n maps to newline

        * \r maps to carriage return

        * \t maps to tab

        * \v maps to vertical tab

        * \0-\377 map to corresponding octal byte

        * \x0-\xFF map to corresponding hexadecimal byte

     The implicit initializer for strings is the empty string `""'.
     Strings may be concatenated with the `+' operator. In the following
     string functions, position `0' denotes the start of the string:
    `int length(string s)'
          returns the length of the string `s';

    `int find(string s, string t, int pos=0)'
          returns the position of the first occurrence of string `t' in
          string `s' at or after position `pos', or -1 if `t' is not a
          substring of `s';

    `int rfind(string s, string t, int pos=-1)'
          returns the position of the last occurrence of string `t' in
          string `s' at or before position `pos' (if `pos'=-1, at the
          end of the string `s'), or -1 if `t' is not a substring of
          `s';

    `string insert(string s, int pos, string t)'
          returns the string formed by inserting string `t' at position
          `pos' in `s';

    `string erase(string s, int pos, int n)'
          returns the string formed by erasing the string of length `n'
          (if `n'=-1, to the end of the string `s') at position `pos'
          in `s';

    `string substr(string s, int pos, int n=-1)'
          returns the substring of `s' starting at position `pos' and
          of length `n' (if `n'=-1, until the end of the string `s');

    `string reverse(string s)'
          returns the string formed by reversing string `s';

    `string replace(string s, string before, string after)'
          returns a string with all occurrences of the string `before'
          in the string `s' changed to the string `after';

    `string replace(string s, string[][] table)'
          returns a string constructed by translating in string `s' all
          occurrences of the string `before' in an array `table' of
          string pairs {`before',`after'} to the corresponding string
          `after';

    `string[] split(string s, string delimiter=" ")'
          returns an array of strings obtained by splitting `s' into
          substrings delimited by `delimiter';

    `string format(string s, int n)'
          returns a string containing `n' formatted according to the
          C-style format string `s' using the current locale;

    `string format(string s=defaultformat, real x, string locale="")'
          returns a string containing `x' formatted according to the
          C-style format string `s' using locale `locale' (or the
          current locale if an empty string is specified), following
          the behaviour of the C function `fprintf'), except that only
          one data field is allowed, trailing zeros are removed by
          default (unless `#' is specified), and (if the format string
          specifies math mode) TeX is used to typeset scientific
          notation;

    `int hex(string s);'
          casts a hexidecimal string `s' to an integer.

    `string string(real x, int digits=realDigits)'
          casts `x' to a string using precision `digits' and the C
          locale;

    `string locale(string s="")'
          sets the locale to the given string, if nonempty, and returns
          the current locale.

    `string time(string format="%a %b %d %T %Z %Y")'
          returns the current time formatted by the ANSI C routine
          `strftime' according to the string `format' using the current
          locale. Thus time();
          time("%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Z %Y");

          are equivalent ways of returning the current time in the
          default format used by the `UNIX' `date' command;

    `int seconds(string t="", string format="")'
          returns the time measured in seconds after the Epoch (Thu Jan
          01 00:00:00 UTC 1970) as determined by the ANSI C routine
          `strptime' according to the string `format' using the current
          locale, or the current time if `t' is the empty string.  Note
          that the `"%Z"' extension to the POSIX `strptime'
          specification is ignored by the current GNU C Library. If an
          error occurs, the value -1 is returned. Here are some
          examples: seconds("Mar 02 11:12:36 AM PST 2007","%b %d %r PST %Y");
          seconds(time("%b %d %r %z %Y"),"%b %d %r %z %Y");
          seconds(time("%b %d %r %Z %Y"),"%b %d %r "+time("%Z")+" %Y");
          1+(seconds()-seconds("Jan 1","%b %d"))/(24*60*60);
           The last example returns today's ordinal date, measured from
          the beginning of the year.

    `string time(int seconds, string format="%a %b %d %T %Z %Y")'
          returns the time corresponding to `seconds' seconds after the
          Epoch (Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 1970) formatted by the ANSI C
          routine `strftime' according to the string `format' using the
          current locale. For example, to return the date corresponding
          to 24 hours ago: time(seconds()-24*60*60);

    `void abort(string s)'
          aborts execution (with a non-zero return code in batch mode);
          if string `s' is nonempty, a diagnostic message constructed
          from the source file, line number, and `s' is printed;

    `void exit()'
          exits with a zero error return code in batch mode;

    `void sleep(int seconds)'
          pauses for the given number of seconds;

    `void usleep(int microseconds)'
          pauses for the given number of microseconds;

    `void beep()'
          produces a beep on the console;



   As in C/C++, complicated types may be abbreviated with `typedef'
(see the example in *note Functions::).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Paths and guides,  Next: Pens,  Prev: Data types,  Up: Programming

6.2 Paths and guides
====================

`path'
     a cubic spline resolved into a fixed path.  The implicit
     initializer for paths is `nullpath'.

     For example, the routine `circle(pair c, real r)', which returns a
     Bezier curve approximating a circle of radius `r' centered on `c',
     is based on `unitcircle' (*note unitcircle::): path circle(pair c, real r)
     {
       return shift(c)*scale(r)*unitcircle;
     }
      If high accuracy is needed, a true circle may be produced with the
     routine `Circle' defined in the module `graph.asy': import graph;
     path Circle(pair c, real r, int n=nCircle);

     A circular arc consistent with `circle' centered on `c' with
     radius `r' from `angle1' to `angle2' degrees, drawing
     counterclockwise if `angle2 >= angle1', can be constructed with path arc(pair c, real r, real angle1, real angle2);
      One may also specify the direction explicitly: path arc(pair c, real r, real angle1, real angle2, bool direction);
      Here the direction can be specified as CCW (counter-clockwise) or
     CW (clockwise). For convenience, an arc centered at `c' from pair
     `z1' to `z2' (assuming `|z2-c|=|z1-c|') in the may also be
     constructed with path arc(pair c, explicit pair z1, explicit pair z2,
              bool direction=CCW)

     If high accuracy is needed, true arcs may be produced with routines
     in the module `graph.asy' that produce Bezier curves with `n'
     control points: import graph;
     path Arc(pair c, real r, real angle1, real angle2, bool direction,
              int n=nCircle);
     path Arc(pair c, real r, real angle1, real angle2, int n=nCircle);
     path Arc(pair c, explicit pair z1, explicit pair z2,
              bool direction=CCW, int n=nCircle);

     An ellipse can be drawn with the routine path ellipse(pair c, real a, real b)
     {
       return shift(c)*scale(a,b)*unitcircle;
     }

     This example illustrates the use of all five guide connectors
     discussed in *note Tutorial:: and *note Bezier curves::: size(300,0);
     pair[] z=new pair[10];

     z[0]=(0,100); z[1]=(50,0); z[2]=(180,0);

     for(int n=3; n <= 9; ++n)
       z[n]=z[n-3]+(200,0);

     path p=z[0]..z[1]---z[2]::{up}z[3]
     &z[3]..z[4]--z[5]::{up}z[6]
     &z[6]::z[7]---z[8]..{up}z[9];

     draw(p,grey+linewidth(4mm));

     dot(z);



     Here are some useful functions for paths:

    `int length(path p);'
          This is the number of (linear or cubic) segments in path `p'.
          If `p' is cyclic, this is the same as the number of nodes in
          `p'.

    `int size(path p);'
          This is the number of nodes in the path `p'.  If `p' is
          cyclic, this is the same as `length(p)'.

    `bool cyclic(path p);'
          returns `true' iff path `p' is cyclic.

    `bool straight(path p, int i);'
          returns `true' iff the segment of path `p' between node `i'
          and node `i+1' is straight.

    `bool piecewisestraight(path p)'
          returns `true' iff the path `p' is piecewise straight.

    `pair point(path p, int t);'
          If `p' is cyclic, return the coordinates of node `t' mod
          `length(p)'. Otherwise, return the coordinates of node `t',
          unless `t' < 0 (in which case `point(0)' is returned) or `t'
          > `length(p)' (in which case `point(length(p))' is returned).

    `pair point(path p, real t);'
          This returns the coordinates of the point between node
          `floor(t)' and `floor(t)+1' corresponding to the cubic spline
          parameter `t-floor(t)' (*note Bezier curves::). If `t' lies
          outside the range [0,`length(p)'], it is first reduced modulo
          `length(p)' in the case where `p' is cyclic or else converted
          to the corresponding endpoint of `p'.

    `pair dir(path p, int t, int sign=0, bool normalize=true);'
          If `sign < 0', return the direction (as a pair) of the
          incoming tangent to path `p' at node `t'; if `sign > 0',
          return the direction of the outgoing tangent. If `sign=0',
          the mean of these two directions is returned.

    `pair dir(path p, real t, bool normalize=true);'
          returns the direction of the tangent to path `p' at the point
          between node `floor(t)' and `floor(t)+1' corresponding to the
          cubic spline parameter `t-floor(t)' (*note Bezier curves::).

    `pair accel(path p, int t, int sign=0);'
          If `sign < 0', return the acceleration of the incoming path
          `p' at node `t'; if `sign > 0', return the acceleration of
          the outgoing path. If `sign=0', the mean of these two
          accelerations is returned.

    `pair accel(path p, real t);'
          returns the acceleration of the path `p' at the point `t'.

    `real radius(path p, real t);'
          returns the radius of curvature of the path `p' at the point
          `t'.

    `pair precontrol(path p, int t);'
          returns the precontrol point of `p' at node `t'.

    `pair precontrol(path p, real t);'
          returns the effective precontrol point of `p' at parameter
          `t'.

    `pair postcontrol(path p, int t);'
          returns the postcontrol point of `p' at node `t'.

    `pair postcontrol(path p, real t);'
          returns the effective postcontrol point  of `p' at parameter
          `t'.

    `real arclength(path p);'
          returns the length (in user coordinates) of the piecewise
          linear or cubic curve that path `p' represents.

    `real arctime(path p, real L);'
          returns the path "time", a real number between 0 and the
          length of the path in the sense of `point(path p, real t)',
          at which the cumulative arclength (measured from the
          beginning of the path) equals `L'.

    `real dirtime(path p, pair z);'
          returns the first "time", a real number between 0 and the
          length of the path in the sense of `point(path, real)', at
          which the tangent to the path has the direction of pair `z',
          or -1 if this never happens.

    `real reltime(path p, real l);'
          returns the time on path `p' at the relative fraction `l' of
          its arclength.

    `pair relpoint(path p, real l);'
          returns the point on path `p' at the relative fraction `l' of
          its arclength.

    `pair midpoint(path p);'
          returns the point on path `p' at half of its arclength.

    `path reverse(path p);'
          returns a path running backwards along `p'.

    `path subpath(path p, int a, int b);'
          returns the subpath of `p' running from node `a' to node `b'.
          If `a' < `b', the direction of the subpath is reversed.

    `path subpath(path p, real a, real b);'
          returns the subpath  of `p' running from path time `a' to path
          time `b', in the sense of `point(path, real)'. If `a' < `b',
          the direction of the subpath is reversed.

    `real[] intersect(path p, path q, real fuzz=-1);'
          If `p' and `q' have at least one intersection point, return a
          real array of length 2 containing the times representing the
          respective path times along `p' and `q', in the sense of
          `point(path, real)', for one such intersection point (as
          chosen by the algorithm described on page 137 of `The
          MetaFontbook').  The computations are performed to the
          absolute error specified by `fuzz', or if `fuzz < 0', to
          machine precision. If the paths do not intersect, return a
          real array of length 0.

    `real[][] intersections(path p, path q, real fuzz=-1);'
          Return all (unless there are infinitely many) intersection
          times of paths `p' and `q' as a sorted array of real arrays
          of length 2 (*note sort::). The computations are performed to
          the absolute error specified by `fuzz', or if `fuzz < 0', to
          machine precision.

    `real[] intersections(path p, explicit pair a, explicit pair b,'
          real fuzz=-1); Return all (unless there are infinitely many)
          intersection times of path `p' with the (infinite) line
          through points `a' and `b' as a sorted array. The
          intersections returned are guaranteed to be correct to within
          the absolute error specified by `fuzz', or if `fuzz < 0', to
          machine precision.

    `real[] times(path p, real x)'
          returns all intersection times of path `p' with the vertical
          line through `(x,0)'.

    `real[] times(path p, explicit pair z)'
          returns all intersection times of path `p' with the
          horizontal line through `(0,z.y)'.

    `real[] mintimes(path p)'
          returns an array of length 2 containing times at which path
          `p' reaches its minimal horizontal and vertical extents,
          respectively.

    `real[] maxtimes(path p)'
          returns an array of length 2 containing the times at which
          path `p' reaches its maximal horizontal and vertical extents,
          respectively.

    `pair intersectionpoint(path p, path q, real fuzz=-1);'
          returns the intersection point
          `point(p,intersect(p,q,fuzz)[0])'.

    `pair[] intersectionpoints(path p, path q, real fuzz=-1);'
          returns an array containing all intersection points of the
          paths `p' and `q'.

    `pair extension(pair P, pair Q, pair p, pair q);'
          returns the intersection point of the extensions of the line
          segments `P--Q' and `p--q', or if the lines are parallel,
          `(infinity,infinity)'.

    `slice cut(path p, path knife, int n);'
          returns the portions of path `p' before and after the `n'th
          intersection of `p' with path `knife' as a structure `slice'
          (if no intersection exist is found, the entire path is
          considered to be `before' the intersection): struct slice {
            path before,after;
          }
           The argument `n' is treated as modulo the number of
          intersections.

    `slice firstcut(path p, path knife);'
          equivalent to `cut(p,knife,0);' Note that `firstcut.after'
          plays the role of the `MetaPost cutbefore' command.

    `slice lastcut(path p, path knife);'
          equivalent to `cut(p,knife,-1);' Note that `lastcut.before'
          plays the role of the `MetaPost cutafter' command.

    `path buildcycle(... path[] p);'
          This returns the path surrounding a region bounded by a list
          of two or more consecutively intersecting paths, following
          the behaviour of the `MetaPost buildcycle' command.

    `pair min(path p);'
          returns the pair (left,bottom) for the path bounding box of
          path `p'.

    `pair max(path p);'
          returns the pair (right,top) for the path bounding box of
          path `p'.

    `int windingnumber(path p, pair z);'
          returns the winding number of the cyclic path `p' relative to
          the point `z'. The winding number is positive if the path
          encircles `z' in the counterclockwise direction. If `z' lies
          on `p' the constant `undefined' (defined to be the largest
          odd integer) is returned.

    `bool interior(int windingnumber, pen fillrule)'
          returns true if `windingnumber' corresponds to an interior
          point according to `fillrule'.

    `bool inside(path p, pair z, pen fillrule=currentpen);'
          returns `true' iff the point `z' lies inside or on the edge of
          the region bounded by the cyclic path `p' according to the
          fill rule `fillrule' (*note fillrule::).

    `int inside(path p, path q, pen fillrule=currentpen);'
          returns `1' if the cyclic path `p' strictly contains `q'
          according to the fill rule `fillrule' (*note fillrule::), `-1'
          if the cyclic path `q' strictly contains `p', and `0'
          otherwise.

    `pair inside(path p, pen fillrule=currentpen);'
          returns an arbitrary point strictly inside a cyclic path `p'
          according to the fill rule `fillrule' (*note fillrule::).

    `path[] strokepath(path g, pen p=currentpen);'
          returns the path array that `PostScript' would fill in
          drawing path `g' with pen `p'.


`guide'
     an unresolved cubic spline (list of cubic-spline nodes and control
     points).  The implicit initializer for a guide is `nullpath'; this
     is useful for building up a guide within a loop.

     A guide is similar to a path except that the computation of the
     cubic spline is deferred until drawing time (when it is resolved
     into a path); this allows two guides with free endpoint conditions
     to be joined together smoothly.  The solid curve in the following
     example is built up incrementally as a guide, but only resolved at
     drawing time; the dashed curve is incrementally resolved at each
     iteration, before the entire set of nodes (shown in red) is known:

     size(200);

     real mexican(real x) {return (1-8x^2)*exp(-(4x^2));}

     int n=30;
     real a=1.5;
     real width=2a/n;

     guide hat;
     path solved;

     for(int i=0; i < n; ++i) {
       real t=-a+i*width;
       pair z=(t,mexican(t));
       hat=hat..z;
       solved=solved..z;
     }

     draw(hat);
     dot(hat,red);
     draw(solved,dashed);



     We point out an efficiency distinction in the use of guides and
     paths: guide g;
     for(int i=0; i < 10; ++i)
       g=g--(i,i);
     path p=g;

     runs in linear time, whereas path p;
     for(int i=0; i < 10; ++i)
       p=p--(i,i);

     runs in quadratic time, as the entire path up to that point is
     copied at each step of the iteration.

     The following routines can be used to examine the individual
     elements of a guide without actually resolving the guide to a
     fixed path (except for internal cycles, which are resolved):

    `int size(guide g);'
          Analogous to `size(path p)'.

    `int length(guide g);'
          Analogous to `length(path p)'.

    `bool cyclic(path p);'
          Analogous to `cyclic(path p)'.

    `pair point(guide g, int t);'
          Analogous to `point(path p, int t)'.

    `guide reverse(guide g);'
          Analogous to `reverse(path p)'. If `g' is cyclic and also
          contains a secondary cycle, it is first solved to a path,
          then reversed. If `g' is not cyclic but contains an internal
          cycle, only the internal cycle is solved before reversal. If
          there are no internal cycles, the guide is reversed but not
          solved to a path.

    `pair[] dirSpecifier(guide g, int i);'
          This returns a pair array of length 2 containing the outgoing
          (in element 0) and incoming (in element 1) direction
          specifiers (or `(0,0)' if none specified) for the segment of
          guide `g' between nodes `i' and `i+1'.

    `pair[] controlSpecifier(guide g, int i);'
          If the segment of guide `g' between nodes `i' and `i+1' has
          explicit outgoing and incoming control points, they are
          returned as elements 0 and 1, respectively, of a two-element
          array. Otherwise, an empty array is returned.

    `tensionSpecifier tensionSpecifier(guide g, int i);'
          This returns the tension specifier for the segment of guide
          `g' between nodes `i' and `i+1'. The individual components of
          the `tensionSpecifier' type can be accessed as the virtual
          members `in', `out', and `atLeast'.

    `real[] curlSpecifier(guide g);'
          This returns an array containing the initial curl specifier
          (in element 0) and final curl specifier (in element 1) for
          guide `g'.


     As a technical detail we note that a direction specifier given to
     `nullpath' modifies the node on the other side: the guides a..{up}nullpath..b;
     c..nullpath{up}..d;
     e..{up}nullpath{down}..f;
      are respectively equivalent to a..nullpath..{up}b;
     c{up}..nullpath..d;
     e{down}..nullpath..{up}f;



File: asymptote.info,  Node: Pens,  Next: Transforms,  Prev: Paths and guides,  Up: Programming

6.3 Pens
========

In `Asymptote', pens provide a context for the four basic drawing
commands (*note Drawing commands::). They are used to specify the
following drawing attributes: color, line type, line width, line cap,
line join, fill rule, text alignment, font, font size, pattern,
overwrite mode, and calligraphic transforms on the pen nib. The default
pen used by the drawing routines is called `currentpen'. This provides
the same functionality as the `MetaPost' command `pickup'.  The
implicit initializer for pens is `defaultpen'.

   Pens may be added together with the nonassociative binary operator
`+'. This will add the colors of the two pens.  All other non-default
attributes of the rightmost pen will override those of the leftmost
pen. Thus, one can obtain a yellow dashed pen by saying
`dashed+red+green' or `red+green+dashed' or `red+dashed+green'. The
binary operator `*' can be used to scale the color of a pen by a real
number, until it saturates with one or more color components equal to 1.

   * Colors are specified using one of the following colorspaces: 
    `pen gray(real g);'
          This produces a grayscale color, where the intensity `g' lies
          in the interval [0,1], with 0.0 denoting black and 1.0
          denoting white.

    `pen rgb(real r, real g, real b);'
          This produces an RGB color, where each of the red, green, and
          blue intensities `r', `g', `b', lies in the interval [0,1].

    `pen cmyk(real c, real m, real y, real k);'
          This produces a CMYK color, where each of the cyan, magenta,
          yellow, and black intensities `c', `m', `y', `k', lies in the
          interval [0,1].

    `pen invisible;'
          This special pen writes in invisible ink, but adjusts the
          bounding box as if something had been drawn (like the
          `\phantom' command in TeX). The function `bool
          invisible(pen)' can be used to test whether a pen is
          invisible.


     The default color is `black'; this may be changed with the routine
     `defaultpen(pen)'. The function `colorspace(pen p)' returns the
     colorspace of pen `p' as a string (`"gray"', `"rgb"', `"cmyk"', or
     `""').

     The function `real[] colors(pen)' returns the color components of
     a pen.  The functions `pen gray(pen)', `pen rgb(pen)',  and `pen
     cmyk(pen)' return new pens obtained by converting their arguments
     to the respective color spaces.  The function
     `colorless(pen=currentpen)' returns a copy of its argument with
     the color attributes stripped (to avoid color mixing).

     A 6-character RGB hexidecimal string can be converted to a pen with
     the routine pen rgb(string s);

     Various shades and mixtures of the grayscale primary colors
     `black' and `white', RGB primary colors `red', `green', and
     `blue', and RGB secondary colors `cyan', `magenta', and `yellow'
     are defined as named colors, along with the CMYK primary colors
     `Cyan', `Magenta', `Yellow', and `Black', in the module `plain':



     The standard 140 RGB `X11' colors can be imported with the command import x11colors;
      and the standard 68 CMYK TeX colors can be imported with the
     command import texcolors;
      Note that there is some overlap between these two standards and
     the definitions of some colors (e.g. `Green') actually disagree.

     `Asymptote' also comes with a `asycolors.sty' `LaTeX' package that
     defines to `LaTeX' CMYK versions of `Asymptote''s predefined
     colors, so that they can be used directly within `LaTeX' strings.
     Normally, such colors are passed to `LaTeX' via a pen argument;
     however, to change the color of only a portion of a string, say
     for a slide presentation, (*note slide::) it may be desirable to
     specify the color directly to `LaTeX'. This file can be passed to
     `LaTeX' with the `Asymptote' command usepackage("asycolors");

     The structure `hsv' defined in `plain_pens.asy' may be used to
     convert between HSV and RGB spaces, where the hue `h' is an angle
     in [0,360) and the saturation `s' and value `v' lie in `[0,1]': pen p=hsv(180,0.5,0.75);
     write(p);           // ([default], red=0.375, green=0.75, blue=0.75)
     hsv q=p;
     write(q.h,q.s,q.v); // 180     0.5     0.75

   * Line types are specified with the function `pen linetype(string s,
     real offset=0, bool scale=true, bool adjust=true)', where `s' is a
     string of integer or real numbers separated by spaces.  The
     optional parameter `offset' specifies where in the pattern to
     begin. The first number specifies how far (if `scale' is `true',
     in units of the pen line width; otherwise in `PostScript' units)
     to draw with the pen on, the second number specifies how far to
     draw with the pen off, and so on. If `adjust' is `true', these
     spacings are automatically adjusted by `Asymptote' to fit the
     arclength of the path. Here are the predefined line types: pen solid=linetype("");
     pen dotted=linetype("0 4");
     pen dashed=linetype("8 8");
     pen longdashed=linetype("24 8");
     pen dashdotted=linetype("8 8 0 8");
     pen longdashdotted=linetype("24 8 0 8");
     pen Dotted=dotted+1.0;
     pen Dotted(pen p=currentpen) {return dotted+2*linewidth(p);}



     The default line type is `solid'; this may be changed with
     `defaultpen(pen)'.  The line type of a pen can be determined with
     the functions `string linetype(pen p=currentpen)', `real
     offset(pen p)', `bool scale(pen p)', and `bool adjust(pen p)'.

   * The pen line width is specified in `PostScript' units with `pen
     linewidth(real)'. The default line width is 0.5 bp; this value may
     be changed with `defaultpen(pen)'. The line width of a pen is
     returned by `real linewidth(pen p=currentpen)'.  For convenience,
     in the module `plain' we define static void defaultpen(real w) {defaultpen(linewidth(w));}
     static pen operator +(pen p, real w) {return p+linewidth(w);}
     static pen operator +(real w, pen p) {return linewidth(w)+p;}
      so that one may set the line width like this: defaultpen(2);
     pen p=red+0.5;

   * A pen with a specific `PostScript' line cap is returned on calling
     `linecap' with an integer argument: pen squarecap=linecap(0);
     pen roundcap=linecap(1);
     pen extendcap=linecap(2);

     The default line cap, `roundcap', may be changed with
     `defaultpen(pen)'. The line cap of a pen is returned by `int
     linecap(pen p=currentpen)'.

   * A pen with a specific `PostScript' join style is returned on
     calling `linejoin' with an integer argument: pen miterjoin=linejoin(0);
     pen roundjoin=linejoin(1);
     pen beveljoin=linejoin(2);

     The default join style, `roundjoin', may be changed with
     `defaultpen(pen)'.The join style of a pen is returned by `int
     linejoin(pen p=currentpen)'.

   * A pen with a specific `PostScript' miter limit is returned by
     calling `miterlimit(real)'.  The default miterlimit, `10.0', may
     be changed with `defaultpen(pen)'. The miter limit of a pen is
     returned by `real miterlimit(pen p=currentpen)'.

   * A pen with a specific `PostScript' fill rule is returned on
     calling `fillrule' with an integer argument: pen zerowinding=fillrule(0);
     pen evenodd=fillrule(1);

     The fill rule, which identifies the algorithm used to determine the
     insideness of a path or array of paths, only affects the `clip',
     `fill', and `inside' functions. For the `zerowinding' fill rule, a
     point `z' is outside the region bounded by a path if the number of
     upward intersections of the path with the horizontal line
     `z--z+infinity' minus the number of downward intersections is
     zero. For the `evenodd' fill rule, `z' is considered to be outside
     the region if the total number of such intersections is even.  The
     default fill rule, `zerowinding', may be changed with
     `defaultpen(pen)'. The fill rule of a pen is returned by `int
     fillrule(pen p=currentpen)'.

   * A pen with a specific text alignment setting is returned on
     calling `basealign' with an integer argument: pen nobasealign=basealign(0);
     pen basealign=basealign(1);

     The default setting, `nobasealign',which may be changed with
     `defaultpen(pen)', causes the label alignment routines to use the
     full label bounding box for alignment. In contrast, `basealign'
     requests that the TeX baseline be respected.  The base align
     setting of a pen is returned by `int basealigin(pen p=currentpen)'.

   * The font size is specified in TeX points (1 pt = 1/72.27 inches)
     with the function `pen fontsize(real size, real
     lineskip=1.2*size)'.  The default font size, 12pt, may be changed
     with `defaultpen(pen)'.  Nonstandard font sizes may require
     inserting import fontsize;
      at the beginning of the file (this requires the `fix-cm' package
     available from

          `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/fix-cm'
     and included in recent `LaTeX' distributions). The font size and
     line skip of a pen can be examined with the routines `real
     fontsize(pen p=currentpen)' and `real lineskip(pen p=currentpen)',
     respectively.

   * A pen using a specific `LaTeX' `NFSS' font is returned by calling
     the function `pen font(string encoding, string family, string
     series, string shape)'. The default setting,
     `font("OT1","cmr","m","n")', corresponds to 12pt Computer Modern
     Roman; this may be changed with `defaultpen(pen)'.  The font
     setting of a pen is returned by `string font(pen p=currentpen)'.
     Support for standardized international characters is provided by
     the `unicode' package (*note unicode::).

     Alternatively, one may select a fixed-size TeX font (on which
     `fontsize' has no effect) like `"cmr12"' (12pt Computer Modern
     Roman) or `"pcrr"' (Courier) using the function `pen font(string
     name)'. An optional size argument can also be given to scale the
     font to the requested size: `pen font(string name, real size)'.

     A nonstandard font command can be generated with `pen
     fontcommand(string)'.

     A convenient interface to the following standard `PostScript'
     fonts is also provided: pen AvantGarde(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen Bookman(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen Courier(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen Helvetica(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen NewCenturySchoolBook(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen Palatino(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen TimesRoman(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen ZapfChancery(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen Symbol(string series="m", string shape="n");
     pen ZapfDingbats(string series="m", string shape="n");

   * The transparency of a pen can be changed with the command: pen opacity(real opacity=1, string blend="Compatible");
      The opacity can be varied from `0' (fully transparent) to the
     default value of `1' (opaque), and `blend' specifies one of the
     following foreground-background blending operations: "Compatible","Normal","Multiply","Screen","Overlay","SoftLight",
     "HardLight","ColorDodge","ColorBurn","Darken","Lighten","Difference",
     "Exclusion","Hue","Saturation","Color","Luminosity",
      as described in

     `http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/pdf/PDFReference16.pdf'.
     Since `PostScript' does not support transparency, this feature is
     only effective with the `-f pdf' output format option; other
     formats can be produced from the resulting PDF file with the
     `ImageMagick' `convert' program.  Labels are always drawn with an
     `opacity' of 1.  A simple example of transparent filling is
     provided in the example file `transparency.asy'.

   * `PostScript' commands within a `picture' may be used to create a
     tiling pattern, identified by the string `name', for `fill' and
     `draw' operations by adding it to the global `PostScript' frame
     `currentpatterns', with optional left-bottom margin `lb' and
     right-top margin `rt'.  import patterns;
     void add(string name, picture pic, pair lb=0, pair rt=0);

     To `fill' or `draw' using pattern `name', use the pen
     `pattern("name")'. For example, rectangular tilings can be
     constructed using the routines `picture tile(real Hx=5mm, real
     Hy=0, pen p=currentpen, filltype filltype=NoFill)', `picture
     checker(real Hx=5mm, real Hy=0, pen p=currentpen)', and `picture
     brick(real Hx=5mm, real Hy=0, pen p=currentpen)' defined in
     `patterns.asy': size(0,90);
     import patterns;

     add("tile",tile());
     add("filledtilewithmargin",tile(6mm,4mm,red,Fill),(1mm,1mm),(1mm,1mm));
     add("checker",checker());
     add("brick",brick());

     real s=2.5;
     filldraw(unitcircle,pattern("tile"));
     filldraw(shift(s,0)*unitcircle,pattern("filledtilewithmargin"));
     filldraw(shift(2s,0)*unitcircle,pattern("checker"));
     filldraw(shift(3s,0)*unitcircle,pattern("brick"));



     Hatch patterns can be generated with the routines `picture
     hatch(real H=5mm, pair dir=NE, pen p=currentpen)', `picture
     crosshatch(real H=5mm, pen p=currentpen)': size(0,100);
     import patterns;

     add("hatch",hatch());
     add("hatchback",hatch(NW));
     add("crosshatch",crosshatch(3mm));

     real s=1.25;
     filldraw(unitsquare,pattern("hatch"));
     filldraw(shift(s,0)*unitsquare,pattern("hatchback"));
     filldraw(shift(2s,0)*unitsquare,pattern("crosshatch"));



     You may need to turn off aliasing in your `PostScript' viewer for
     patterns to appear correctly. Custom patterns can easily be
     constructed, following the examples in `patterns.asy'. The tiled
     pattern can even incorporate shading (*note gradient shading::),
     as illustrated in this example (not included in the manual because
     not all printers support `PostScript' 3): size(0,100);
     import patterns;

     real d=4mm;
     picture tiling;
     path square=scale(d)*unitsquare;
     axialshade(tiling,square,white,(0,0),black,(d,d));
     fill(tiling,shift(d,d)*square,blue);
     add("shadedtiling",tiling);

     filldraw(unitcircle,pattern("shadedtiling"));

      

   * One can specify a custom pen nib as an arbitrary polygonal path
     with `pen makepen(path)'; this path represents the mark to be
     drawn for paths containing a single point. This pen nib path can be
     recovered from a pen with `path nib(pen)'. Unlike in `MetaPost',
     the path need not be convex:

     size(200);
     pen convex=makepen(scale(10)*polygon(8))+grey;
     draw((1,0.4),convex);
     draw((0,0)---(1,1)..(2,0)--cycle,convex);

     pen nonconvex=scale(10)*
       makepen((0,0)--(0.25,-1)--(0.5,0.25)--(1,0)--(0.5,1.25)--cycle)+red;
     draw((0.5,-1.5),nonconvex);
     draw((0,-1.5)..(1,-0.5)..(2,-1.5),nonconvex);



     The value `nullpath' represents a circular pen nib (the default);
     an elliptical pen can be achieved simply by multiplying the pen by
     a transform: `yscale(2)*currentpen'.

   * One can prevent labels from overwriting one another by using the
     pen attribute `overwrite', which takes a single argument:

    `Allow'
          Allow labels to overwrite one another. This is the default
          behaviour (unless overridden with `defaultpen(pen)'.

    `Suppress'
          Suppress, with a warning, each label that would overwrite
          another label.

    `SuppressQuiet'
          Suppress, without warning, each label that would overwrite
          another label.

    `Move'
          Move a label that would overwrite another out of the way and
          issue a warning.  As this adjustment is during the final
          output phase (in `PostScript' coordinates) it could result in
          a larger figure than requested.

    `MoveQuiet'
          Move a label that would overwrite another out of the way,
          without warning.  As this adjustment is during the final
          output phase (in `PostScript' coordinates) it could result in
          a larger figure than requested.



   The routine `defaultpen()' returns the current default pen
attributes.  Calling the routine `resetdefaultpen()' resets all pen
default attributes to their initial values.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Transforms,  Next: Frames and pictures,  Prev: Pens,  Up: Programming

6.4 Transforms
==============

`Asymptote' makes extensive use of affine transforms. A pair `(x,y)' is
transformed by the transform `t=(t.x,t.y,t.xx,t.xy,t.yx,t.yy)' to
`(x',y')', where
x' = t.x + t.xx * x + t.xy * y
y' = t.y + t.yx * x + t.yy * y
 This is equivalent to the `PostScript' transformation `[t.xx t.yx t.xy
t.yy t.x t.y]'.

   Transforms can be applied to pairs, guides, paths, pens, strings,
transforms, frames, and pictures by multiplication (via the binary
operator `*') on the left (*note circle:: for an example).  Transforms
can be composed with one another and inverted with the function
`transform inverse(transform t)'; they can also be raised to any
integer power with the `^' operator.

   The built-in transforms are:

`transform identity();'
     the identity transform;

`transform shift(pair z);'
     translates by the pair `z';

`transform shift(real x, real y);'
     translates by the pair `(x,y)';

`transform xscale(real x);'
     scales by `x' in the x direction;

`transform yscale(real y);'
     scales by `y' in the y direction;

`transform scale(real s);'
     scale by `s' in both x and y directions;

`transform scale(real x, real y);'
     scale by `x' in the x direction and by `y' in the y direction;

`transform slant(real s);'
     maps `(x,y)' -> `(x+s*y,y)';

`transform rotate(real angle, pair z=(0,0));'
     rotates by `angle' in degrees about `z';

`transform reflect(pair a, pair b);'
     reflects about the line `a--b'.

   The implicit initializer for transforms is `identity()'.  The
routines `shift(transform t)' and `shiftless(transform t)' return the
transforms `(t.x,t.y,0,0,0,0)' and `(0,0,t.xx,t.xy,t.yx,t.yy)'
respectively.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Frames and pictures,  Next: Files,  Prev: Transforms,  Up: Programming

6.5 Frames and pictures
=======================

`frame'
     Frames are canvases for drawing in `PostScript' coordinates. While
     working with frames directly is occasionally necessary for
     constructing deferred drawing routines, pictures are usually more
     convenient to work with.  The implicit initializer for frames is
     `newframe'. The function `bool empty(frame f)' returns `true' only
     if the frame `f' is empty. A frame may be erased with the
     `erase(frame)' routine.  The functions `pair min(frame)' and `pair
     max(frame)' return the (left,bottom) and (right,top) coordinates
     of the frame bounding box, respectively. The contents of frame
     `src' may be appended to frame `dest' with the command void add(frame dest, frame src);
      or prepended with void prepend(frame dest, frame src);
      A frame obtained by aligning frame `f' in the direction `align',
     in a manner analogous to the `align' argument of `label' (*note
     label::), is returned by frame align(frame f, pair align);

     To draw or fill a box or ellipse around a label or frame and
     return the boundary as a path, use one of the predefined
     `envelope' routines path box(frame f, Label L="", real xmargin=0,
              real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
              filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     path roundbox(frame f, Label L="", real xmargin=0,
                   real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
                   filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     path ellipse(frame f, Label L="", real xmargin=0,
                  real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
                  filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);

`picture'
     Pictures are high-level structures (*note Structures::) defined in
     the module `plain' that provide canvases for drawing in user
     coordinates.  The default picture is called `currentpicture'. A
     new picture can be created like this: picture pic;
      Anonymous pictures can be made by the expression `new picture'.

     The `size' routine specifies the dimensions of the desired picture:

     void size(picture pic=currentpicture, real x, real y=x,
               bool keepAspect=Aspect);

     If the `x' and `y' sizes are both 0, user coordinates will be
     interpreted as `PostScript' coordinates. In this case, the
     transform mapping `pic' to the final output frame is `identity()'.

     If exactly one of `x' or `y' is 0, no size restriction is imposed
     in that direction; it will be scaled the same as the other
     direction.

     If `keepAspect' is set to `Aspect' or `true', the picture will be
     scaled with its aspect ratio preserved such that the final width
     is no more than `x' and the final height is no more than `y'.

     If `keepAspect' is set to `IgnoreAspect' or `false', the picture
     will be scaled in both directions so that the final width is `x'
     and the height is `y'.

     To make the user coordinates of picture `pic' represent multiples
     of `x' units in the x direction and `y' units in the y direction,
     use void unitsize(picture pic=currentpicture, real x, real y=x);
      When nonzero, these `x' and `y' values override the corresponding
     size parameters of picture `pic'.

     The routine void size(picture pic=currentpicture, real xsize, real ysize,
               pair min, pair max);
      forces the final picture scaling to map the user coordinates
     `box(min,max)' to a region of width `xsize' and height `ysize'
     (when these parameters are nonzero).

     Alternatively, calling the routine transform fixedscaling(picture pic=currentpicture, pair min,
                            pair max, pen p=nullpen, bool warn=false);
      will cause picture `pic' to use a fixed scaling to map user
     coordinates in `box(min,max)' to the (already specified) picture
     size, taking account of the width of pen `p'. A warning will be
     issued if the final picture exceeds the specified size.

     A picture `pic' can be fit to a frame and output to a file
     `prefix'.`format' using image format `format' by calling the
     `shipout' function: void shipout(string prefix=defaultfilename, picture pic=currentpicture,
                  orientation orientation=orientation,
                  string format="", bool wait=false, bool view=true,
                  string options="", string script="",
                  light light=currentlight, projection P=currentprojection)
      The default output format, `PostScript', may be changed with the
     `-f' or `-tex' command-line options.  The `options', `script', and
     `projection' parameters are only relevant for 3D pictures. If
     `defaultfilename' is an empty string, the prefix `outprefix()'
     will be used.

     A `shipout()' command is added implicitly at file exit if no
     previous `shipout' commands have been executed.  The default page
     orientation is `Portrait'; this may be modified by changing the
     variable `orientation'. To output in landscape mode, simply set
     the variable `orientation=Landscape' or issue the command shipout(Landscape);

     To rotate the page by -90 degrees, use the orientation `Seascape'.  The
     orientation `UpsideDown' rotates the page by 180 degrees.

     A picture `pic' can be explicitly fit to a frame by calling frame pic.fit(real xsize=pic.xsize, real ysize=pic.ysize,
                   bool keepAspect=pic.keepAspect);
      The default size and aspect ratio settings are those given to the
     `size' command (which default to `0', `0', and `true',
     respectively).  The transformation that would currently be used to
     fit a picture `pic' to a frame is returned by the member function
     `pic.calculateTransform()'.

     In certain cases (e.g. 2D graphs) where only an approximate size
     estimate for `pic' is available, the picture fitting routine frame pic.scale(real xsize=this.xsize, real ysize=this.ysize,
                     bool keepAspect=this.keepAspect);
      (which scales the resulting frame, including labels and fixed-size
     objects) will enforce perfect compliance with the requested size
     specification, but should not normally be required.

     To draw a bounding box with margins around a picture, fit the
     picture to a frame using the function frame bbox(picture pic=currentpicture, real xmargin=0,
                real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=currentpen,
                filltype filltype=NoFill);
      Here `filltype' specifies one of the following fill types:
    `FillDraw'
          Fill the interior and draw the boundary.

    `FillDraw(real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin, pen fillpen=nullpen,'
          `pen drawpen=nullpen);' If `fillpen' is `nullpen', fill with
          the drawing pen; otherwise fill with pen `fillpen'.  If
          `drawpen' is `nullpen', draw the boundary with `fillpen';
          otherwise with `drawpen'. An optional margin of `xmargin' and
          `ymargin' can be specified.

    `Fill'
          Fill the interior.

    `Fill(real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=nullpen)'
          If `p' is `nullpen', fill with the drawing pen; otherwise
          fill with pen `p'. An optional margin of `xmargin' and
          `ymargin' can be specified.

    `NoFill'
          Do not fill.

    `Draw'
          Draw only the boundary.

    `Draw(real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin, pen p=nullpen)'
          If `p' is `nullpen', draw the boundary with the drawing pen;
          otherwise draw with pen `p'. An optional margin of `xmargin'
          and `ymargin' can be specified.

    `UnFill'
          Clip the region.

    `UnFill(real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin)'
          Clip the region and surrounding margins `xmargin' and
          `ymargin'.

    `RadialShade(pen penc, pen penr)'
          Fill varying radially from `penc' at the center of the
          bounding box to `penr' at the edge.


     For example, to draw a bounding box around a picture with a 0.25 cm
     margin and output the resulting frame, use the command: shipout(bbox(0.25cm));
      A `picture' may be fit to a frame with the background color pen
     `p', using the function `bbox(p,Fill)'.

     The functions pair min(picture pic, user=false);
     pair max(picture pic, user=false);
     pair size(picture pic, user=false);
      calculate the bounds that picture `pic' would have if it were
     currently fit to a frame using its default size specification.  If
     `user' is `false' the returned value is in `PostScript'
     coordinates, otherwise it is in user coordinates.

     The function pair point(picture pic=currentpicture, pair dir, bool user=true);
      is a convenient way of determining the point on the bounding box
     of `pic' in the direction `dir' relative to its center, ignoring
     the contributions from fixed-size objects (such as labels and
     arrowheads).  If `user' is `true' the returned value is in user
     coordinates, otherwise it is in `PostScript' coordinates.

     The function pair truepoint(picture pic=currentpicture, pair dir, bool user=true);
      is identical to `point', except that it also accounts for
     fixed-size objects, using the scaling transform that picture `pic'
     would have if currently fit to a frame using its default size
     specification. If `user' is `true' the returned value is in user
     coordinates, otherwise it is in `PostScript' coordinates.

     Sometimes it is useful to draw objects on separate pictures and
     add one picture to another using the `add' function: void add(picture src, bool group=true,
              filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     void add(picture dest, picture src, bool group=true,
              filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
      The first example adds `src' to `currentpicture'; the second one
     adds `src' to `dest'.  The `group' option specifies whether or not
     the graphical user interface `xasy' should treat all of the
     elements of `src' as a single entity (*note GUI::), `filltype'
     requests optional background filling or clipping, and `above'
     specifies whether to add `src' above or below existing objects.

     There are also routines to add a picture or frame `src' specified
     in postscript coordinates to another picture `dest' (or
     `currentpicture') about the user coordinate `position': void add(picture src, pair position, bool group=true,
              filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     void add(picture dest, picture src, pair position,
              bool group=true, filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     void add(picture dest=currentpicture, frame src, pair position=0,
              bool group=true, filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     void add(picture dest=currentpicture, frame src, pair position,
              pair align, bool group=true, filltype filltype=NoFill,
              bool above=true);

     The optional `align' argument in the last three forms specifies a
     direction to use for aligning the frame, in a manner analogous to
     the `align' argument of `label' (*note label::). However, one key
     difference is that when `align' is not specified, labels are
     centered, whereas frames and pictures are aligned so that their
     origin is at `position'. Illustrations of frame alignment can be
     found in the examples *note errorbars:: and *note image::. If you
     want to align three or more subpictures, group them two at a time:

     picture pic1;
     real size=50;
     size(pic1,size);
     fill(pic1,(0,0)--(50,100)--(100,0)--cycle,red);

     picture pic2;
     size(pic2,size);
     fill(pic2,unitcircle,green);

     picture pic3;
     size(pic3,size);
     fill(pic3,unitsquare,blue);

     picture pic;
     add(pic,pic1.fit(),(0,0),N);
     add(pic,pic2.fit(),(0,0),10S);

     add(pic.fit(),(0,0),N);
     add(pic3.fit(),(0,0),10S);



     Alternatively, one can use `attach' to automatically increase the
     size of picture `dest' to accommodate adding a frame `src' about
     the user coordinate `position': void attach(picture dest=currentpicture, frame src,
                      pair position=0, bool group=true,
                      filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);
     void attach(picture dest=currentpicture, frame src,
                      pair position, pair align, bool group=true,
                      filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=true);

     To erase the contents of a picture (but not the size
     specification), use the function void erase(picture pic=currentpicture);

     To save a snapshot of `currentpicture', `currentpen', and
     `currentprojection', use the function `save()'.

     To restore a snapshot of `currentpicture', `currentpen', and
     `currentprojection', use the function `restore()'.

     Many further examples of picture and frame operations are provided
     in the base module `plain'.

     It is possible to insert verbatim `PostScript' commands in a
     picture with one of the routines void postscript(picture pic=currentpicture, string s);
     void postscript(picture pic=currentpicture, string s, pair min,
                     pair max)
      Here `min' and `max' can be used to specify explicit bounds
     associated with the resulting `PostScript' code.

     Verbatim TeX commands can be inserted in the intermediate `LaTeX'
     output file with one of the functions void tex(picture pic=currentpicture, string s);
     void tex(picture pic=currentpicture, string s, pair min, pair max)
      Here `min' and `max' can be used to specify explicit bounds
     associated with the resulting TeX code.

     To issue a global TeX command (such as a TeX macro definition) in
     the TeX preamble (valid for the remainder of the top-level module)
     use: void texpreamble(string s);

     The TeX environment can be reset to its initial state, clearing all
     macro definitions, with the function void texreset();

     The routine void usepackage(string s, string options="");
      provides a convenient abbreviation for texpreamble("\usepackage["+options+"]{"+s+"}");
      that can be used for importing `LaTeX' packages.



File: asymptote.info,  Node: Files,  Next: Variable initializers,  Prev: Frames and pictures,  Up: Programming

6.6 Files
=========

`Asymptote' can read and write text files (including comma-separated
value) files and portable XDR (External Data Representation) binary
files.

   An input file must first be opened with `input(string name, bool
check=true, string comment="#")'; reading is then done by assignment: 
file fin=input("test.txt");
real a=fin;

   If the optional boolean argument `check' is `false', no check will
be made that the file exists. If the file does not exist or is not
readable, the function `bool error(file)' will return `true'.  The
first character of the string `comment' specifies a comment character.
If this character is encountered in a data file, the remainder of the
line is ignored. When reading strings, a comment character followed
immediately by another comment character is treated as a single literal
comment character.

   If the `-globalwrite' (or `-nosafe') option is enabled, one can
change the current working directory to the contents of the string `s'
with the function `string cd(string s)', which returns the new working
directory. If `string s' is empty, the path is reset to the value it
had at program startup.

   When reading pairs, the enclosing parenthesis are optional.  Strings
are also read by assignment, by reading characters up to but not
including a newline. In addition, `Asymptote' provides the function
`string getc(file)' to read the next character (treating the comment
character as an ordinary character) and return it as a string.

   A file named `name' can be open for output with
file output(string name, bool update=false);
 If `update=false', any existing data in the file will be erased and
only write operations can be used on the file.  If `update=true', any
existing data will be preserved, the position will be set to the
end-of-file, and both reading and writing operations will be enabled.
For security reasons, writing to files in directories other than the
current directory is allowed only if the `-globalwrite' (or `-nosafe')
command-line option is specified.

   There are two special files: `stdin', which reads from the keyboard,
and `stdout', which writes to the terminal. The implicit initializer
for files is `null'.

   Data of a built-in type `T' can be written to an output file by
calling one of the functions 
write(string s="", T x, suffix suffix=endl ... T[]);
write(file file, string s="", T x, suffix suffix=none ... T[]);
write(file file=stdout, string s="", explicit T[] x ... T[][]);
write(file file=stdout, T[][]);
write(file file=stdout, T[][][]);
write(suffix suffix=endl);
write(file file, suffix suffix=none);
 If `file' is not specified, `stdout' is used and terminated by default
with a newline. If specified, the optional identifying string `s' is
written before the data `x'.  An arbitrary number of data values may be
listed when writing scalars or one-dimensional arrays. The `suffix' may
be one of the following: `none' (do nothing), `flush' (output buffered
data), `endl' (terminate with a newline and flush), `newl' (terminate
with a newline), `tab' (terminate with a tab), or `comma' (terminate
with a comma). Here are some simple examples of data output:
file fout=output("test.txt");
write(fout,1);                  // Writes "1"
write(fout);                    // Writes a new line
write(fout,"List: ",1,2,3);     // Writes "List: 1     2     3"
 A file may also be opened with `xinput' or `xoutput', instead of
`input' or `output', to read or write double precision (64-bit) reals
and single precision (32-bit) integers in Sun Microsystem's XDR
(External Data Representation) portable binary format (available on all
`UNIX' platforms).  Alternatively, a file may also be opened with
`binput' or `boutput' to read or write double precision reals and single
precision integers in the native (nonportable) machine binary format.
The virtual member functions `file singlereal(bool b=false)' and `file
singleint(bool b=true)' be used to change the precision of real and
integer I/O operations, respectively, for an XDR or binary file `f'.
Similarly, the function `file signedint(bool b=true)' can be used to
modify the signedness of integer reads and writes for an XDR or binary
file `f'.

   The virtual members `name', `mode', `singlereal', `singleint', and
`signedint' may be used to query the respective parameters for a given
file.

   One can test a file for end-of-file with the boolean function
`eof(file)', end-of-line with `eol(file)', and for I/O errors with
`error(file)'.  One can flush the output buffers with `flush(file)',
clear a previous I/O error with `clear(file)', and close the file with
`close(file)'. The function `int precision(file file=stdout, int
digits=0)' sets the number of digits of output precision for `file' to
`digits', provided `digits' is nonzero, and returns the previous
precision setting. The function `int tell(file)' returns the current
position in a file relative to the beginning.  The routine `seek(file
file, int pos)' can be used to change this position, where a negative
value for the position `pos' is interpreted as relative to the
end-of-file. For example, one can rewind a file `file' with the command
`seek(file,0)' and position to the final character in the file with
`seek(file,-1)'.  The command `seekeof(file)' sets the position to the
end of the file.

   Assigning `settings.scroll=n' for a positive integer `n' requests a
pause after every `n' output lines to `stdout'.  One may then press
`Enter' to continue to the next `n' output lines, `s' followed by
`Enter' to scroll without further interruption, or `q' followed by
`Enter' to quit the current output operation. If `n' is negative, the
output scrolls a page at a time (i.e. by one less than the current
number of display lines). The default value, `settings.scroll=0',
specifies continuous scrolling.

   The routines 
string getstring(string name="", string default="", string prompt="",
                 bool store=true);
int getint(string name="", int default=0, string prompt="",
           bool store=true);
real getreal(string name="", real default=0, string prompt="",
             bool store=true);
pair getpair(string name="", pair default=0, string prompt="",
             bool store=true);
triple gettriple(string name="", triple default=(0,0,0), string prompt="",
                 bool store=true);
 defined in the module `plain' may be used to prompt for a value from
`stdin' using the GNU `readline' library.  If `store=true', the history
of values for `name' is stored in the file `".asy_history_"+name'
(*note history::). The most recent value in the history will be used to
provide a default value for subsequent runs.  The default value
(initially `default') is displayed after `prompt'. These functions are
based on the internal routines 
string readline(string prompt="", string name="", bool tabcompletion=false);
void saveline(string name, string value, bool store=true);
 Here, `readline' prompts the user with the default value formatted
according to `prompt', while `saveline' is used to save the string
`value' in a local history named `name', optionally storing the local
history in a file `".asy_history_"+name'.

   The routine `history(string name, int n=1)' can be used to look up
the `n' most recent values (or all values up to `historylines' if
`n=0') entered for string `name'.  The routine `history(int n=0)'
returns the interactive history.  For example,
write(output("transcript.asy"),history());
 outputs the interactive history to the file `transcript.asy'.

   The function `int delete(string s)' deletes the file named by the
string `s'. Unless the `-globalwrite' (or `-nosafe') option is enabled,
the file must reside in the current directory.  The function `int
rename(string from, string to)' may be used to rename file `from' to
file `to'.  Unless the `-globalwrite' (or `-nosafe') option is enabled,
this operation is restricted to the current directory.  The functions
int convert(string args="", string file="", string format="");
int animate(string args="", string file="", string format="");
 call the `ImageMagick' commands `convert' and `animate', respectively,
with the arguments `args' and the file name constructed from the
strings `file' and `format'.  If the setting `safe' is false, then the
functions `int system(string s)' and `int system(string[] s)' can be
used to call the arbitrary system command `s'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Variable initializers,  Next: Structures,  Prev: Files,  Up: Programming

6.7 Variable initializers
=========================

A variable can be assigned a value when it is declared, as in `int
x=3;' where the variable `x' is assigned the value `3'.  As well as
literal constants such as `3', arbitary expressions can be used as
initializers, as in `real x=2*sin(pi/2);'.

   A variable is not added to the namespace until after the initializer
is evaluated, so for example, in

int x=2;
int x=5*x;
 the `x' in the initializer on the second line refers to the variable
`x' declared on the first line.  The second line, then, declares a
variable `x' shadowing the original `x' and initializes it to the value
`10'.

   Variables of most types can be declared without an explicit
initializer and they will be initialized by the default initializer of
that type:

   * Variables of the numeric types `int', `real', and `pair' are all
     initialized to zero; variables of type `triple' are initialized to
     `O=(0,0,0)'.

   * `boolean' variables are initialized to `false'.

   * `string' variables are initialized to the empty string.

   * `transform' variables are initialized to the identity
     transformation.

   * `path' and `guide' variables are initialized to `nullpath'.

   * `pen' variables are initialized to the default pen.

   * `frame' and `picture' variables are initialized to empty frames
     and pictures, respectively.

   * `file' variables are initialized to `null'.

   The default initializers for user-defined array, structure, and
function types are explained in their respective sections.  Some types,
such as `code', do not have default initializers.  When a variable of
such a type is introduced, the user must initialize it by explicitly
giving it a value.

   The default initializer for any type `T' can be redeclared by
defining the function `T operator init()'.  For instance, `int'
variables are usually initialized to zero, but in

int operator init() {
  return 3;
}
int y;

the variable `y' is initialized to `3'.  This example was given for
illustrative purposes; redeclaring the initializers of built-in types
is not recommended. Typically, `operator init' is used to define
sensible defaults for user-defined types.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Structures,  Next: Operators,  Prev: Variable initializers,  Up: Programming

6.8 Structures
==============

Users may also define their own data types as structures, along with
user-defined operators, much as in C++. By default, structure members
are `public' (may be read and modified anywhere in the code), but may be
optionally declared `restricted' (readable anywhere but writeable only
inside the structure where they are defined) or `private' (readable and
writable only inside the structure). In a structure definition, the
keyword `this' can be used as an expression to refer to the enclosing
structure. Any code at the top-level scope within the structure is
executed on initialization.

   Variables hold references to structures.  That is, in the example:

struct T {
  int x;
}

T foo=new T;
T bar=foo;
bar.x=5;

   The variable `foo' holds a reference to an instance of the structure
`T'.  When `bar' is assigned the value of `foo', it too now holds a
reference to the same instance as `foo' does.  The assignment `bar.x=5'
changes the value of the field `x' in that instance, so that `foo.x'
will also be equal to `5'.

   The expression `new T' creates a new instance of the structure `T'
and returns a reference to that instance.  In creating the new
instance, any code in the body of the record definition is executed.
For example:

int Tcount=0;
struct T {
  int x;
  ++Tcount;
}

T foo=new T;

   Here, the expression `new T' will produce a new instance of the
class, but will also cause `Tcount' to be incremented, so that it keeps
track of the number of instances produced.

   The expression `null' can be cast to any structure type to yield a
null reference, a reference that does not actually refer to any
instance of the structure.  Trying to use a field of a null reference
will cause an error.

   The function `bool alias(T,T)' checks to see if two structure
references refer to the same instance of the structure (or both to
`null').  For example, in the example code at the start of the section,
`alias(foo,bar)' would return true, but `alias(foo,new T)' would return
false, as `new T' creates a new instance of the structure `T'.  The
boolean operators `==' and `!=' are by default equivalent to `alias' and
`!alias' respectively, but may be overwritten for a particular type
(for example, to do a deep comparison).

   After the definition of a structure `T', a variable of type `T' is
initialized to a new instance (`new T') by default.  During the
definition of the structure, however, variables of type `T' are
initialized to `null' by default. This special behaviour is to avoid
infinite recursion of creating new instances in code such as

struct tree {
  int value;
  tree left;
  tree right;
}

   Here is a simple example that illustrates the use of structures:

struct S {
  real a=1;
  real f(real a) {return a+this.a;}
}

S s;                            // Initializes s with new S;

write(s.f(2));                  // Outputs 3

S operator + (S s1, S s2)
{
  S result;
  result.a=s1.a+s2.a;
  return result;
}

write((s+s).f(0));              // Outputs 2

   It is often convenient to have functions that construct new
instances of a structure.  Say we have a `Person' structure:

struct Person {
  string firstname;
  string lastname;
}

Person joe=new Person;
joe.firstname="Joe";
joe.lastname="Jones";
 Creating a new Person is a chore; it takes three lines to create a new
instance and to initialize its fields (that's still considerably less
effort than creating a new person in real life, though).

   We can reduce the work by defining a constructor function
`Person(string,string)':

struct Person {
  string firstname;
  string lastname;

  static Person Person(string firstname, string lastname) {
    Person p=new Person;
    p.firstname=firstname;
    p.lastname=lastname;
    return p;
  }
}

Person joe=Person.Person("Joe", "Jones");

   While it is now easier than before to create a new instance, we still
have to refer to the constructor by the qualified name `Person.Person'.
If we add the line

from Person unravel Person;
 immediately after the structure definition, then the constructor can
be used without qualification: `Person joe=Person("Joe", "Jones");'.

   The constructor is now easy to use, but it is quite a hassle to
define.  If you write a lot of constructors, you will find that you are
repeating a lot of code in each of them.  Fortunately, your friendly
neighbourhood Asymptote developers have devised a way to automate much
of the process.

   If, in the body of a structure, Asymptote encounters the definition
of a function of the form `void operator init(ARGS)',  it implicitly
defines a constructor function of the arguments `ARGS' that uses the
`void operator init' function to initialize a new instance of the
structure.  That is, it essentially defines the following constructor
(assuming the structure is called `Foo'):

     static Foo Foo(ARGS) {
       Foo instance=new Foo;
       instance.operator init(ARGS);
       return instance;
     }

   This constructor is also implicitly copied to the enclosing scope
after the end of the structure definition, so that it can used
subsequently without qualifying it by the structure name.  Our `Person'
example can thus be implemented as:

struct Person {
  string firstname;
  string lastname;

  void operator init(string firstname, string lastname) {
    this.firstname=firstname;
    this.lastname=lastname;
  }
}

Person joe=Person("Joe", "Jones");

   The use of `operator init' to implicitly define constructors should
not be confused with its use to define default values for variables
(*note Variable initializers::).  Indeed, in the first case, the return
type of the `operator init' must be `void' while in the second, it must
be the (non-`void') type of the variable.

   The function `cputime()' returns a structure `cputime' with
cumulative CPU times broken down into the fields `parent.user',
`parent.system', `child.user', and `child.system'. For convenience, the
incremental fields `change.user' and `change.system' indicate the
change in the corresponding total parent and child CPU times since the
last call to `cputime()'. The function
void write(file file=stdout, string s="", cputime c,
           string format=cputimeformat, suffix suffix=none);
 displays the incremental user cputime followed by "u", the incremental
system cputime followed by "s", the total user cputime followed by "U",
and the total system cputime followed by "S".

   Much like in C++, casting (*note Casts::) provides for an elegant
implementation of structure inheritance, including virtual functions:
struct parent {
  real x;
  void operator init(int x) {this.x=x;}
  void virtual(int) {write(0);}
  void f() {virtual(1);}
}

void write(parent p) {write(p.x);}

struct child {
  parent parent;
  real y=3;
  void operator init(int x) {parent.operator init(x);}
  void virtual(int x) {write(x);}
  parent.virtual=virtual;
  void f()=parent.f;
}

parent operator cast(child child) {return child.parent;}

parent p=parent(1);
child c=child(2);

write(c);                       // Outputs 2;

p.f();                          // Outputs 0;
c.f();                          // Outputs 1;

write(c.parent.x);              // Outputs 2;
write(c.y);                     // Outputs 3;

   For further examples of structures, see `Legend' and `picture' in
the `Asymptote' base module `plain'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Operators,  Next: Implicit scaling,  Prev: Structures,  Up: Programming

6.9 Operators
=============

* Menu:

* Arithmetic & logical::        Basic mathematical operators
* Self & prefix operators::     Increment and decrement
* User-defined operators::      Overloading operators


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Arithmetic & logical,  Next: Self & prefix operators,  Up: Operators

6.9.1 Arithmetic & logical operators
------------------------------------

`Asymptote' uses the standard binary arithmetic operators.  However,
when one integer is divided by another, both arguments are converted to
real values before dividing and a real quotient is returned (since this
is usually what is intended). The function `int quotient(int x, int y)'
returns the greatest integer less than or equal to `x/y'. In all other
cases both operands are promoted to the same type, which will also be
the type of the result:
`+'
     addition 

`-'
     subtraction 

`*'
     multiplication 

`/'
     division 

`%'
     modulo; the result always has the same sign as the divisor.  In
     particular, this makes `q*quotient(p,q)+p%q == p' for all integers
     `p' and nonzero integers `q'.  

`^'
     power; if the exponent (second argument) is an int, recursive
     multiplication is used; otherwise, logarithms and exponentials are
     used (`**' is a synonym for `^').


   The usual boolean operators are also defined:
`=='
     equals 

`!='
     not equals 

`<'
     less than 

`<='
     less than or equals 

`>='
     greater than or equals 

`>'
     greater than 

`&&'
     and (with conditional evaluation of right-hand argument) 

`&'
     and 

`||'
     or (with conditional evaluation of right-hand argument) 

`|'
     or 

`^'
     xor 

`!'
     not

   `Asymptote' also supports the C-like conditional syntax: 
bool positive=(pi >= 0) ? true : false;

   The function `T interp(T a, T b, real t)' returns `(1-t)*a+t*b' for
nonintegral built-in arithmetic types `T'. If `a' and `b' are pens,
they are first promoted to the same color space.

   `Asymptote' also defines bitwise functions `int AND(int,int)', `int
OR(int,int)', `int XOR(int,int)', and `int NOT(int)'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Self & prefix operators,  Next: User-defined operators,  Prev: Arithmetic & logical,  Up: Operators

6.9.2 Self & prefix operators
-----------------------------

As in C, each of the arithmetic operators `+', `-', `*', `/', `%', and
`^' can be used as a self operator.  The prefix operators `++'
(increment by one) and `--' (decrement by one) are also defined.  For
example,
int i=1;
i += 2;
int j=++i;

is equivalent to the code
int i=1;
i=i+2;
int j=i=i+1;

   However, postfix operators like `i++' and `i--' are not defined
(because of the inherent ambiguities that would arise with the `--'
path-joining operator). In the rare instances where `i++' and `i--' are
really needed, one can substitute the expressions `(++i-1)' and
`(--i+1)', respectively.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: User-defined operators,  Prev: Self & prefix operators,  Up: Operators

6.9.3 User-defined operators
----------------------------

The following symbols may be used with `operator' to define or redefine
operators on structures and built-in types:
- + * / % ^ ! < > == != <= >= & | ^^ .. :: -- --- ++
<< >> $ $$ @ @@
 The operators on the second line have precedence one higher than the
boolean operators `<', `>', `<=', and `>='.

   Guide operators like `..' may be overloaded, say, to write a user
function that produces a new guide from a given guide:
guide dots(... guide[] g)=operator ..;

guide operator ..(... guide[] g) {
  guide G;
  if(g.length > 0) {
    write(g[0]);
    G=g[0];
  }
  for(int i=1; i < g.length; ++i) {
    write(g[i]);
    write();
    G=dots(G,g[i]);
  }
  return G;
}

guide g=(0,0){up}..{SW}(100,100){NE}..{curl 3}(50,50)..(10,10);
write("g=",g);


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Implicit scaling,  Next: Functions,  Prev: Operators,  Up: Programming

6.10 Implicit scaling
=====================

If a numeric literal is in front of certain types of expressions, then
the two are multiplied:
int x=2;
real y=2.0;
real cm=72/2.540005;

write(3x);
write(2.5x);
write(3y);
write(-1.602e-19 y);
write(0.5(x,y));
write(2x^2);
write(3x+2y);
write(3(x+2y));
write(3sin(x));
write(3(sin(x))^2);
write(10cm);

   This produces the output
6
5
6
-3.204e-19
(1,1)
8
10
18
2.72789228047704
2.48046543129542
283.464008929116


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Functions,  Next: Arrays,  Prev: Implicit scaling,  Up: Programming

6.11 Functions
==============

`Asymptote' functions are treated as variables with a signature
(non-function variables have null signatures). Variables with the same
name are allowed, so long as they have distinct signatures.

   Functions arguments are passed by value. To pass an argument by
reference, simply enclose it in a structure (*note Structures::).

   Here are some significant features of `Asymptote' functions:

  1. Variables with signatures (functions) and without signatures
     (nonfunction variables) are distinct: int x, x();
     x=5;
     x=new int() {return 17;};
     x=x();              // calls x() and puts the result, 17, in the scalar x

  2. Traditional function definitions are allowed: int sqr(int x)
     {
       return x*x;
     }
     sqr=null;           // but the function is still just a variable.

  3. Casting can be used to resolve ambiguities: int a, a(), b, b(); // Valid: creates four variables.
     a=b;                // Invalid: assignment is ambiguous.
     a=(int) b;          // Valid: resolves ambiguity.
     (int) (a=b);        // Valid: resolves ambiguity.
     (int) a=b;          // Invalid: cast expressions cannot be L-values.

     int c();
     c=a;                // Valid: only one possible assignment.

  4. Anonymous (so-called "high-order") functions are also allowed: typedef int intop(int);
     intop adder(int m)
     {
       return new int(int n) {return m+n;};
     }
     intop addby7=adder(7);
     write(addby7(1));   // Writes 8.

  5. One may redefine a function `f', even for calls to `f' in
     previously declared functions, by assigning another (anonymous or
     named) function to it. However, if `f' is overloaded by a new
     function definition, previous calls will still access the original
     version of `f', as illustrated in this example: void f() {
       write("hi");
     }

     void g() {
       f();
     }

     g(); // writes "hi"

     f=new void() {write("bye");};

     g(); // writes "bye"

     void f() {write("overloaded");};

     f(); // writes "overloaded"
     g(); // writes "bye"

  6. Anonymous functions can be used to redefine a function variable
     that has been declared (and implicitly initialized to the null
     function) but not yet explicitly defined: void f(bool b);

     void g(bool b) {
       if(b) f(b);
       else write(b);
     }

     f=new void(bool b) {
       write(b);
       g(false);
     };

     g(true); // Writes true, then writes false.


   `Asymptote' is the only language we know of that treats functions as
variables, but allows overloading by distinguishing variables based on
their signatures.

   Functions are allowed to call themselves recursively. As in C++,
infinite nested recursion will generate a stack overflow (reported as a
segmentation fault, unless a fully working version of the GNU library
`libsigsegv' (e.g. 2.4 or later) is installed at configuration time).

* Menu:

* Default arguments::           Default values can appear anywhere
* Named arguments::             Assigning function arguments by keyword
* Rest arguments::              Functions with a variable number of arguments
* Mathematical functions::      Standard libm functions


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Default arguments,  Next: Named arguments,  Up: Functions

6.11.1 Default arguments
------------------------

`Asymptote' supports a more flexible mechanism for default function
arguments than C++: they may appear anywhere in the function prototype.
Because certain data types are implicitly cast to more sophisticated
types (*note Casts::) one can often avoid ambiguities by ordering
function arguments from the simplest to the most complicated.  For
example, given
real f(int a=1, real b=0) {return a+b;}
 then `f(1)' returns 1.0, but `f(1.0)' returns 2.0.

   The value of a default argument is determined by evaluating the
given `Asymptote' expression in the scope where the called function is
defined.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Named arguments,  Next: Rest arguments,  Prev: Default arguments,  Up: Functions

6.11.2 Named arguments
----------------------

It is sometimes difficult to remember the order in which arguments
appear in a function declaration. Named (keyword) arguments make calling
functions with multiple arguments easier. Unlike in the C and C++
languages, an assignment in a function argument is interpreted as an
assignment to a parameter of the same name in the function signature,
_not within the local scope_. The command-line option `-d' may be used
to check `Asymptote' code for cases where a named argument may be
mistaken for a local assignment.

   When matching arguments to signatures, first all of the keywords are
matched, then the arguments without names are matched against the
unmatched formals as usual. For example,
int f(int x, int y) {
  return 10x+y;
}
write(f(4,x=3));
 outputs 34, as `x' is already matched when we try to match the unnamed
argument `4', so it gets matched to the next item, `y'.

   For the rare occasions where it is desirable to assign a value to
local variable within a function argument (generally _not_ a good
programming practice), simply enclose the assignment in parentheses.
For example, given the definition of `f' in the previous example,
int x;
write(f(4,(x=3)));
 is equivalent to the statements
int x;
x=3;
write(f(4,3));
 and outputs 43.

   As a technical detail, we point out that, since variables of the same
name but different signatures are allowed in the same scope, the code
int f(int x, int x()) {
  return x+x();
}
int seven() {return 7;}
 is legal in `Asymptote', with `f(2,seven)' returning 9.  A named
argument matches the first unmatched formal of the same name, so
`f(x=2,x=seven)' is an equivalent call, but `f(x=seven,2)' is not, as
the first argument is matched to the first formal, and `int ()' cannot
be implicitly cast to `int'.  Default arguments do not affect which
formal a named argument is matched to, so if `f' were defined as
int f(int x=3, int x()) {
  return x+x();
}
 then `f(x=seven)' would be illegal, even though `f(seven)' obviously
would be allowed.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Rest arguments,  Next: Mathematical functions,  Prev: Named arguments,  Up: Functions

6.11.3 Rest arguments
---------------------

Rest arguments allow one to write functions that take a variable number
of arguments:
// This function sums its arguments.
int sum(... int[] nums) {
  int total=0;
  for(int i=0; i < nums.length; ++i)
    total += nums[i];
  return total;
}

sum(1,2,3,4);                       // returns 10
sum();                              // returns 0

// This function subtracts subsequent arguments from the first.
int subtract(int start ... int[] subs) {
  for(int i=0; i < subs.length; ++i)
    start -= subs[i];
  return start;
}

subtract(10,1,2);                   // returns 7
subtract(10);                       // returns 10
subtract();                         // illegal

   Putting an argument into a rest array is called _packing_.  One can
give an explicit list of arguments for the rest argument, so `subtract'
could alternatively be implemented as
int subtract(int start ... int[] subs) {
  return start - sum(... subs);
}

   One can even combine normal arguments with rest arguments:
sum(1,2,3 ... new int[] {4,5,6});   // returns 21
 This builds a new six-element array that is passed to `sum' as `nums'.
The opposite operation, _unpacking_, is not allowed:
subtract(... new int[] {10, 1, 2});
 is illegal, as the start formal is not matched.

   If no arguments are packed, then a zero-length array (as opposed to
`null') is bound to the rest parameter. Note that default arguments are
ignored for rest formals and the rest argument is not bound to a
keyword.

   The overloading resolution in `Asymptote' is similar to the function
matching rules used in C++. Every argument match is given a score.
Exact matches score better than matches with casting, and matches with
formals (regardless of casting) score better than packing an argument
into the rest array.  A candidate is maximal if all of the arguments
score as well in it as with any other candidate.  If there is one
unique maximal candidate, it is chosen; otherwise, there is an
ambiguity error.

int f(path g);
int f(guide g);
f((0,0)--(100,100)); // matches the second; the argument is a guide

int g(int x, real y);
int g(real x, int x);

g(3,4); // ambiguous; the first candidate is better for the first argument,
        // but the second candidate is better for the second argument

int h(... int[] rest);
int h(real x ... int[] rest);

h(1,2); // the second definition matches, even though there is a cast,
        // because casting is preferred over packing

int i(int x ... int[] rest);
int i(real x, real y ... int[] rest);

i(3,4); // ambiguous; the first candidate is better for the first argument,
        // but the second candidate is better for the second one


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Mathematical functions,  Prev: Rest arguments,  Up: Functions

6.11.4 Mathematical functions
-----------------------------

`Asymptote' has built-in versions of the standard `libm' mathematical
real(real) functions `sin', `cos', `tan', `asin', `acos', `atan',
`exp', `log', `pow10', `log10', `sinh', `cosh', `tanh', `asinh',
`acosh', `atanh', `sqrt', `cbrt', `fabs', `expm1', `log1p', as well as
the identity function `identity'.  `Asymptote' also defines the order
`n' Bessel functions of the first kind `J(int n, real)' and second kind
`Y(int n, real)', as well as the gamma function `gamma', the error
function `erf', and the complementary error function `erfc'. The
standard real(real, real) functions `atan2', `hypot', `fmod',
`remainder' are also included.

   The functions `degrees(real radians)' and `radians(real degrees)'
can be used to convert between radians and degrees. The function
`Degrees(real radians)' returns the angle in degrees in the interval
[0,360).  For convenience, `Asymptote' defines variants `Sin', `Cos',
`Tan', `aSin', `aCos', and `aTan' of the standard trigonometric
functions that use degrees rather than radians.  We also define complex
versions of the `sqrt', `sin', `cos', `exp', `log', and `gamma'
functions.

   The functions `floor', `ceil', and `round' differ from their usual
definitions in that they all return an int value rather than a real
(since that is normally what one wants).  The functions `Floor',
`Ceil', and `Round' are respectively similar, except that if the result
cannot be converted to a valid int, they return `intMax' for positive
arguments and `intMin' for negative arguments, rather than generating
an integer overflow.  We also define a function `sgn', which returns
the sign of its real argument as an integer (-1, 0, or 1).

   There is an `abs(int)' function, as well as an `abs(real)' function
(equivalent to `fabs(real)'), an `abs(pair)' function (equivalent to
`length(pair)').

   Random numbers can be seeded with `srand(int)' and generated with
the `int rand()' function, which returns a random integer between 0 and
the integer `randMax'. The `unitrand()' function returns a random
number uniformly distributed in the interval [0,1].  A Gaussian random
number generator `Gaussrand' and a collection of statistics routines,
including `histogram', are provided in the base file `stats.asy'.  The
functions `factorial(int n)', which returns n!, and `choose(int n, int
k)', which returns n!/(k!(n-k)!), are also defined.

   When configured with the GNU Scientific Library (GSL), available from
`http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/', `Asymptote' contains an internal
module `gsl' that defines the airy functions `Ai(real)', `Bi(real)',
`Ai_deriv(real)', `Bi_deriv(real)', `zero_Ai(int)', `zero_Bi(int)',
`zero_Ai_deriv(int)', `zero_Bi_deriv(int)', the Bessel functions
`I(int, real)', `K(int, real)', `j(int, real)', `y(int, real)',
`i_scaled(int, real)', `k_scaled(int, real)', `J(real, real)', `Y(real,
real)', `I(real, real)', `K(real, real)', `zero_J(real, int)', the
elliptic functions `F(real, real)', `E(real, real)', and `P(real,
real)', the exponential/trigonometric integrals `Ei', `Si', and `Ci',
the Legendre polynomials `Pl(int, real)', and the Riemann zeta function
`zeta(real)'. For example, to compute the sine integral `Si' of 1.0:
import gsl;
write(Si(1.0));

   `Asymptote' also provides a few general purpose numerical routines:

``real newton(int iterations=100, real f(real), real fprime(real), real x, bool verbose=false);''
     Use Newton-Raphson iteration to solve for a root of a real-valued
     differentiable function `f', given its derivative `fprime' and an
     initial guess `x'. Diagnostics for each iteration are printed if
     `verbose=true'.  If the iteration fails after the maximum allowed
     number of loops (`iterations'), `realMax' is returned.

``real newton(int iterations=100, real f(real), real fprime(real), real x1, real x2, bool verbose=false);''
     Use bracketed Newton-Raphson bisection to solve for a root of a
     real-valued differentiable function `f' within an interval
     [`x1',`x2'] (on which the endpoint values of `f' have opposite
     signs), given its derivative `fprime'. Diagnostics for each
     iteration are printed if `verbose=true'.  If the iteration fails
     after the maximum allowed number of loops (`iterations'),
     `realMax' is returned.

``real simpson(real f(real), real a, real b, real acc=realEpsilon, real dxmax=b-a)''
     returns the integral of `f' from `a' to `b' using adaptive Simpson
     integration.



File: asymptote.info,  Node: Arrays,  Next: Casts,  Prev: Functions,  Up: Programming

6.12 Arrays
===========

* Menu:

* Slices::                      Python-style array slices

   Appending `[]' to a built-in or user-defined type yields an array.
The array element `i' of an array `A' can be accessed as `A[i]'.  By
default, attempts to access or assign to an array element using a
negative index generates an error. Reading an array element with an
index beyond the length of the array also generates an error; however,
assignment to an element beyond the length of the array causes the
array to be resized to accommodate the new element.  One can also index
an array `A' with an integer array `B': the array `A[B]' is formed by
indexing array `A' with successive elements of array `B'.  A convenient
Java-style shorthand exists for iterating over all elements of an
array; see *note array iteration::.

   The declaration
real[] A;

initializes `A' to be an empty (zero-length) array. Empty arrays should
be distinguished from null arrays. If we say
real[] A=null;

then `A' cannot be dereferenced at all (null arrays have no length and
cannot be read from or assigned to).

   Arrays can be explicitly initialized like this:
real[] A={0,1,2};

   Array assignment in `Asymptote' does a shallow copy: only the
pointer is copied (if one copy if modified, the other will be too).
The `copy' function listed below provides a deep copy of an array.

   Every array `A' of type `T[]' has the virtual members
   * `int length',

   * `int cyclic',

   * `int[] keys',

   * `T push(T x)',

   * `void append(T[] a)',

   * `T pop()',

   * `void insert(int i ... T[] x)',

   * `void delete(int i, int j=i)',

   * `void delete()', and

   * `bool initialized(int n)'.

   The member `A.length' evaluates to the length of the array.  Setting
`A.cyclic=true' signifies that array indices should be reduced modulo
the current array length. Reading from or writing to a nonempty cyclic
array never leads to out-of-bounds errors or array resizing.

   The member `A.keys' evaluates to an array of integers containing the
indices of initialized entries in the array in ascending order.  Hence,
for an array of length `n' with all entries initialized, `A.keys'
evaluates to the array of integers from `0' to `n-1' inclusive.  A new
keys array is produced each time `A.keys' is evaluated.

   The functions `A.push' and `A.append' append their arguments onto
the end of the array, while `A.insert(int i ... T[] x)' inserts `x'
into the array at index `i'.  For convenience `A.push' returns the
pushed item.  The function `A.pop()' pops and returns the last element,
while `A.delete(int i, int j=i)' deletes elements with indices in the
range [`i',`j'], shifting the position of all higher-indexed elements
down. If no arguments are given, `A.delete()' provides a convenient way
of deleting all elements of `A'. The routine `A.initialized(int n)' can
be used to examine whether the element at index `n' is initialized.
Like all `Asymptote' functions, `push', `append', `pop', `insert',
`delete', and `initialized' can be "pulled off" of the array and used
on their own. For example,
int[] A={1};
A.push(2);         // A now contains {1,2}.
A.append(A);       // A now contains {1,2,1,2}.
int f(int)=A.push;
f(3);              // A now contains {1,2,1,2,3}.
int g()=A.pop;
write(g());        // Outputs 3.
A.delete(0);       // A now contains {2,1,2}.
A.delete(0,1);       // A now contains {2}.
A.insert(1,3);     // A now contains {2,3}.
A.insert(1 ... A); // A now contains {2,2,3,3}
A.insert(2,4,5);   // A now contains {2,2,4,5,3,3}.

   The `[]' suffix can also appear after the variable name; this is
sometimes convenient for declaring a list of variables and arrays of
the same type:
real a,A[];
 This declares `a' to be `real' and implicitly declares `A' to be of
type `real[]'.

   In the following list of built-in array functions, `T' represents a
generic type. Note that the internal functions `alias', `array',
`copy', `concat', `sequence', `map', and `transpose', which depend on
type `T[]', are defined only after the first declaration of a variable
of type `T[]'.

`new T[]'
     returns a new empty array of type `T[]';

`new T[] {list}'
     returns a new array of type `T[]' initialized with `list' (a comma
     delimited list of elements).

`new T[n]'
     returns a new array of `n' elements of type `T[]'.  These `n'
     array elements are not initialized unless they are arrays
     themselves (in which case they are each initialized to empty
     arrays).

`T[] array(int n, T value, int depth=intMax)'
     returns an array consisting of `n' copies of value.  By default, if
     `value' is itself an array, a deep copy of that array is made for
     each entry in the new array.  If `depth' is specified, this deep
     copying only recurses to the number of levels specified.

`int[] sequence(int n)'
     if `n >= 1' returns the array `{0,1,...,n-1}' (otherwise returns a
     null array);

`int[] sequence(int n, int m)'
     if `m >= n' returns an array `{n,n+1,...,m}' (otherwise returns a
     null array);

`T[] sequence(T f(int), int n)'
     if `n >= 1' returns the sequence `{f_i :i=0,1,...n-1}' given a
     function `T f(int)' and integer `int n' (otherwise returns a null
     array);

`T[] map(T f(T), T[] a)'
     returns the array obtained by applying the function `f' to each
     element of the array `a'. This is equivalent to `sequence(new
     T(int i) {return f(a[i]);},a.length)'.

`int[] reverse(int n)'
     if `n >= 1' returns the array `{n-1,n-2,...,0}' (otherwise returns
     a null array);

`int[] complement(int[] a, int n)'
     returns the complement of the integer array `a' in
     `{0,1,2,...,n-1}', so that `b[complement(a,b.length)]' yields the
     complement of `b[a]'.

`real[] uniform(real a, real b, int n)'
     if `n >= 1' returns a uniform partition of `[a,b]' into `n'
     subintervals (otherwise returns a null array);

`int find(bool[], int n=1)'
     returns the index of the `n'th `true' value or -1 if not found.
     If `n' is negative, search backwards from the end of the array for
     the `-n'th value;

`int search(T[] a, T key)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', searches a sorted ordered array
     `a' of `n' elements to find an interval containing `key',
     returning `-1' if `key' is less than the first element, `n-1' if
     `key' is greater than or equal to the last element, and otherwise
     the index corresponding to the left-hand (smaller) endpoint.

`T[] copy(T[] a)'
     returns a deep copy of the array `a';

`T[][] copy(T[][] a)'
     returns a deep copy of the array `a';

`T[][][] copy(T[][][] a)'
     returns a deep copy of the array `a';

`T[] concat(... T[][] a)'
     returns a new array formed by concatenating the arrays given as
     arguments;

`bool alias(T[] a, T[] b)'
     returns `true' if the arrays `a' and `b' are identical;

`T[] sort(T[] a)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', returns a copy of `a' sorted in
     ascending order;

`T[][] sort(T[][] a)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', returns a copy of `a' with the rows
     sorted by the first column, breaking ties with successively higher
     columns. For example: string[][] a={{"bob","9"},{"alice","5"},{"pete","7"},
                   {"alice","4"}};
     // Row sort (by column 0, using column 1 to break ties):
     write(sort(a));

     produces alice   4
     alice   5
     bob     9
     pete    7

`T[] sort(T[] a, bool compare(T i, T j))'
     returns a copy of `a' stably sorted in ascending order such that
     element `i' precedes element `j' if `compare(i,j)' is true.

`T[][] transpose(T[][] a)'
     returns the transpose of `a'.

`T[][][] transpose(T[][][] a, int[] perm)'
     returns the 3D transpose of `a' obtained by applying the
     permutation `perm' of `new int[]{0,1,2}' to the indices of each
     entry.

`T sum(T[] a)'
     For arithmetic types `T', returns the sum of `a'.  In the case
     where `T' is `bool', the number of true elements in `a' is
     returned.

`T min(T[] a)'

`T min(T[][] a)'

`T min(T[][][] a)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', returns the minimum element of `a'.

`T max(T[] a)'

`T max(T[][] a)'

`T max(T[][][] a)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', returns the maximum element of `a'.

`T[] min(T[] a, T[] b)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', and arrays `a' and `b' of the same
     length, returns an array composed of the minimum of the
     corresponding elements of `a' and `b'.

`T[] max(T[] a, T[] b)'
     For built-in ordered types `T', and arrays `a' and `b' of the same
     length, returns an array composed of the maximum of the
     corresponding elements of `a' and `b'.

`pair[] pairs(real[] x, real[] y);'
     For arrays `x' and `y' of the same length, returns the pair array
     `sequence(new pair(int i) {return (x[i],y[i]);},x.length)'.

`pair[] fft(pair[] a, int sign=1)'
     returns the Fast Fourier Transform of `a' (if the optional `FFTW'
     package is installed), using the given `sign'. Here is a simple
     example: int n=4;
     pair[] f=sequence(n);
     write(f);
     pair[] g=fft(f,-1);
     write();
     write(g);
     f=fft(g,1);
     write();
     write(f/n);

`real dot(real[] a, real[] b)'
     returns the dot product of the vectors `a' and `b'.

`real[] tridiagonal(real[] a, real[] b, real[] c, real[] f);'
     Solve the periodic tridiagonal problem L`x'=`f' and return the
     solution `x', where `f' is an n vector and L is the n \times n
     matrix [ b[0] c[0]           a[0]   ]
     [ a[1] b[1] c[1]             ]
     [      a[2] b[2] c[2]        ]
     [                ...         ]
     [ c[n-1]       a[n-1] b[n-1] ]
      For Dirichlet boundary conditions (denoted here by `u[-1]' and
     `u[n]'), replace `f[0]' by `f[0]-a[0]u[-1]' and
     `f[n-1]-c[n-1]u[n]'; then set `a[0]=c[n-1]=0'.

`real[] solve(real[][] a, real[] b, bool warn=true)'
     Solve the linear equation `a'x=`b' by LU decomposition and return
     the solution x, where `a' is an n \times n matrix and `b' is an
     array of length n.  For example: import math;
     real[][] a={{1,-2,3,0},{4,-5,6,2},{-7,-8,10,5},{1,50,1,-2}};
     real[] b={7,19,33,3};
     real[] x=solve(a,b);
     write(a); write();
     write(b); write();
     write(x); write();
     write(a*x);
      If `a' is a singular matrix and `warn' is `false', return an
     empty array.  If the matrix `a' is tridiagonal, the routine
     `tridiagonal' provides a more efficient algorithm (*note
     tridiagonal::).

`real[][] solve(real[][] a, real[][] b, bool warn=true)'
     Solve the linear equation `a'x=`b' and return the solution x,
     where `a' is an n \times n matrix and `b' is an n \times m matrix.
     If `a' is a singular matrix and `warn' is `false', return an empty
     matrix.

`real[][] identity(int n);'
     returns the n \times n identity matrix.

`real[][] diagonal(... real[] a)'
     returns the diagonal matrix with diagonal entries given by a.

`real[][] inverse(real[][] a)'
     returns the inverse of a square matrix `a'.

``real[] quadraticroots(real a, real b, real c);''
     This numerically robust solver returns the real roots of the
     quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0, in ascending order. Multiple roots
     are listed separately.

``pair[] quadraticroots(explicit pair a, explicit pair b, explicit pair c);''
     This numerically robust solver returns the two complex roots of the
     quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0.

``real[] cubicroots(real a, real b, real c, real d);''
     This numerically robust solver returns the real roots of the cubic
     equation ax^3+bx^2+cx+d=0. Multiple roots are listed separately.


   `Asymptote' includes a full set of vectorized array instructions for
arithmetic (including self) and logical operations. These
element-by-element instructions are implemented in C++ code for speed.
Given
real[] a={1,2};
real[] b={3,2};
 then `a == b' and `a >= 2' both evaluate to the vector `{false, true}'.  To
test whether all components of `a' and `b' agree, use the boolean
function `all(a == b)'. One can also use conditionals like `(a >= 2) ?
a : b', which returns the array `{3,2}', or `write((a >= 2) ? a :
null', which returns the array `{2}'.

   All of the standard built-in `libm' functions of signature
`real(real)' also take a real array as an argument, effectively like an
implicit call to `map'.

   As with other built-in types, arrays of the basic data types can be
read in by assignment. In this example, the code
file fin=input("test.txt");
real[] A=fin;

reads real values into `A' until the end-of-file is reached (or an I/O
error occurs).

   The virtual members `dimension', `line', `csv', `word', and `read'
of a file are useful for reading arrays.  For example, if line mode is
set with `file line(bool b=true)', then reading will stop once the end
of the line is reached instead
file fin=input("test.txt");
real[] A=fin.line();

   Since string reads by default read up to the end of line anyway,
line mode normally has no effect on string array reads.  However, there
is a white-space delimiter mode for reading strings, `file word(bool
b=true)', which causes string reads to respect white-space delimiters,
instead of the default end-of-line delimiter:
file fin=input("test.txt").line().word();
real[] A=fin;

   Another useful mode is comma-separated-value mode, `file csv(bool
b=true)', which causes reads to respect comma delimiters:
file fin=csv(input("test.txt"));
real[] A=fin;

   To restrict the number of values read, use the `file dimension(int)'
function:
file fin=input("test.txt");
real[] A=dimension(fin,10);

   This reads 10 values into A, unless end-of-file (or end-of-line in
line mode) occurs first. Attempting to read beyond the end of the file
will produce a runtime error message. Specifying a value of 0 for the
integer limit is equivalent to the previous example of reading until
end-of-file (or end-of-line in line mode) is encountered.

   Two- and three-dimensional arrays of the basic data types can be read
in like this:
file fin=input("test.txt");
real[][] A=fin.dimension(2,3);
real[][][] B=fin.dimension(2,3,4);
 Again, an integer limit of zero means no restriction.

   Sometimes the array dimensions are stored with the data as integer
fields at the beginning of an array. Such 1, 2, or 3 dimensional arrays
can be read in with the virtual member functions `read(1)', `read(2)',
or `read(3)', respectively:
file fin=input("test.txt");
real[] A=fin.read(1);
real[][] B=fin.read(2);
real[][][] C=fin.read(3);

   One, two, and three-dimensional arrays of the basic data types can be
output with the functions `write(file,T[])', `write(file,T[][])',
`write(file,T[][][])', respectively.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Slices,  Up: Arrays

6.12.1 Slices
-------------

Asymptote allows a section of an array to be addressed as a slice using
a Python-like syntax.  If `A' is an array, the expression `A[m:n]'
returns a new array consisting of the elements of `A' with indices from
`m' up to but not including `n'. For example,

int[] x={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
int[] y=x[2:6];  // y={2,3,4,5};
int[] z=x[5:10]; // z={5,6,7,8,9};

   If the left index is omitted, it is taken be `0'.  If the right
index is omitted it is taken to be the length of the array.  If both
are omitted, the slice then goes from the start of the array to the
end, producing a non-cyclic deep copy of the array.  For example:

int[] x={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
int[] y=x[:4];  // y={0,1,2,3}
int[] z=x[5:];  // z={5,6,7,8,9}
int[] w=x[:];   // w={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}, distinct from array x.

   If A is a non-cyclic array, it is illegal to use negative values for
either of the indices.  If the indices exceed the length of the array,
however, they are politely truncated to that length.

   For cyclic arrays, the slice `A[m:n]' still consists of the cells
with indices in the set [`m',`n'), but now negative values and values
beyond the length of the array are allowed.  The indices simply wrap
around.  For example:

int[] x={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
x.cyclic=true;
int[] y=x[8:15];  // y={8,9,0,1,2,3,4}.
int[] z=x[-5:5];  // z={5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2,3,4}
int[] w=x[-3:17]; // w={7,8,9,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2,3,4,5,6}

   Notice that with cyclic arrays, it is possible to include the same
element of the original array multiple times within a slice.
Regardless of the original array, arrays produced by slices are always
non-cyclic.

   If the left and right indices of a slice are the same, the result is
an empty array.  If the array being sliced is empty, the result is an
empty array.  Any slice with a left index greater than its right index
will yield an error.

   Slices can also be assigned to, changing the value of the original
array.  If the array being assigned to the slice has a different length
than the slice itself, elements will be inserted or removed from the
array to accommodate it. For instance:

string[] toppings={"mayo", "salt", "ham", "lettuce"};
toppings[0:2]=new string[] {"mustard", "pepper"};
    // Now toppings={"mustard", "pepper", "ham", "lettuce"}
toppings[2:3]=new string[] {"turkey", "bacon" };
    // Now toppings={"mustard", "pepper", "turkey", "bacon", "lettuce"}
toppings[0:3]=new string[] {"tomato"};
    // Now toppings={"tomato", "bacon", "lettuce"}

   If an array is assigned to a slice of itself, a copy of the original
array is assigned to the slice.  That is, code such as `x[m:n]=x' is
equivalent to `x[m:n]=copy(x)'.  One can use the shorthand `x[m:m]=y'
to insert the contents of the array `y' into the array `x' starting at
the location just before `x[m]'.

   For a cyclic array, a slice is bridging if it addresses cells up to
the end of the array and then continues on to address cells at the
start of the array.  For instance, if `A' is a cyclic array of length
10, `A[8:12]', `A[-3:1]', and `A[5:25]' are bridging slices whereas
`A[3:7]', `A[7:10]', `A[-3:0]' and `A[103:107]' are not.  Bridging
slices can only be assigned to if the number of elements in the slice
is exactly equal to the number of elements we are assigning to it.
Otherwise, there is no clear way to decide which of the new entries
should be `A[0]' and an error is reported.  Non-bridging slices may be
assigned an array of any length.

   For a cyclic array `A' an expression of the form
`A[A.length:A.length]' is equivalent to the expression `A[0:0]' and so
assigning to this slice will insert values at the start of the array.
`A.append()' can be used to insert values at the end of the array.

   It is illegal to assign to a slice of a cyclic array that repeats
any of the cells.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Casts,  Next: Import,  Prev: Arrays,  Up: Programming

6.13 Casts
==========

`Asymptote' implicitly casts `int' to `real', `int' to `pair', `real'
to `pair', `pair' to `path', `pair' to `guide', `path' to `guide',
`guide' to `path', `real' to `pen', `pair[]' to `guide[]', `pair[]' to
`path[]', `path' to `path[]', and `guide' to `path[]', along with
various three-dimensional casts defined in `three.asy'.  Implicit casts
are automatically attempted on assignment and when trying to match
function calls with possible function signatures. Implicit casting can
be inhibited by declaring individual arguments `explicit' in the
function signature, say to avoid an ambiguous function call in the
following example, which outputs 0:

int f(pair a) {return 0;}
int f(explicit real x) {return 1;}

write(f(0));

   Other conversions, say `real' to `int' or `real' to `string',
require an explicit cast:
int i=(int) 2.5;
string s=(string) 2.5;

real[] a={2.5,-3.5};
int[] b=(int []) a;
write(stdout,b);     // Outputs 2,-3

   Casting to user-defined types is also possible using `operator cast':
struct rpair {
  real radius;
  real angle;
}

pair operator cast(rpair x) {
  return (x.radius*cos(x.angle),x.radius*sin(x.angle));
}

rpair x;
x.radius=1;
x.angle=pi/6;

write(x);            // Outputs (0.866025403784439,0.5)

   One must use care when defining new cast operators. Suppose that in
some code one wants all integers to represent multiples of 100. To
convert them to reals, one would first want to multiply them by 100.
However, the straightforward implementation
real operator cast(int x) {return x*100;}
 is equivalent to an infinite recursion, since the result `x*100' needs
itself to be cast from an integer to a real. Instead, we want to use
the standard conversion of int to real:
real convert(int x) {return x*100;}
real operator cast(int x)=convert;

   Explicit casts are implemented similarly, with `operator ecast'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Import,  Next: Static,  Prev: Casts,  Up: Programming

6.14 Import
===========

While `Asymptote' provides many features by default, some applications
require specialized features contained in external `Asymptote' modules.
For instance, the lines
access graph;
graph.axes();
 draw x and y axes on a two-dimensional graph.  Here, the command looks
up the module under the name `graph' in a global dictionary of modules
and puts it in a new variable named `graph'.  The module is a
structure, and we can refer to its fields as we usually would with a
structure.

   Often, one wants to use module functions without having to specify
the module name.  The code
from graph access axes;
 adds the `axes' field of `graph' into the local name space, so that
subsequently, one can just write `axes()'.  If the given name is
overloaded, all types and variables of that name are added.  To add
more than one name, just use a comma-separated list:

from graph access axes, xaxis, yaxis;
 Wild card notation can be used to add all non-private fields and types
of a module to the local name space:

from graph access *;

   Similarly, one can add the non-private fields and types of a
structure to the local environment with the `unravel' keyword:

struct matrix {
  real a,b,c,d;
}

real det(matrix m) {
  unravel m;
  return a*d-b*c;
}
 Alternatively, one can unravel selective fields:
real det(matrix m) {
  from m unravel a,b,c as C,d;
  return a*d-b*C;
}

   The command
import graph;
 is a convenient abbreviation for the commands
access graph;
unravel graph;
 That is, `import graph' first loads a module into a structure called
`graph' and then adds its non-private fields and types to the local
environment. This way, if a member variable (or function) is
overwritten with a local variable (or function of the same signature),
the original one can still be accessed by qualifying it with the module
name.

   Wild card importing will work fine in most cases, but one does not
usually know all of the internal types and variables of a module, which
can also change as the module writer adds or changes features of the
module.  As such, it is prudent to add `import' commands at the start
of an `Asymptote' file, so that imported names won't shadow locally
defined functions.  Still, imported names may shadow other imported
names, depending on the order in which they were imported, and imported
functions may cause overloading resolution problems if they have the
same name as local functions defined later.

   To rename modules or fields when adding them to the local
environment, use `as':

access graph as graph2d;
from graph access xaxis as xline, yaxis as yline;

   The command
import graph as graph2d;
 is a convenient abbreviation for the commands
access graph as graph2d;
unravel graph2d;

   Except for a few built-in modules, such as `settings', all modules
are implemented as `Asymptote' files.  When looking up a module that
has not yet been loaded, `Asymptote' searches the standard search paths
(*note Search paths::) for the matching file.  The file corresponding
to that name is read and the code within it is interpreted as the body
of a structure defining the module.

   If the file name contains nonalphanumeric characters, enclose it
with quotation marks:

`access "/usr/local/share/asymptote/graph.asy" as graph;'

`from "/usr/local/share/asymptote/graph.asy" access axes;'

`import "/usr/local/share/asymptote/graph.asy" as graph;'

   It is an error if modules import themselves (or each other in a
cycle).  The module name to be imported must be known at compile time.

   However, you can import an `Asymptote' module determined by the
string `s' at runtime like this:
eval("import "+s,true);

   To conditionally execute an array of asy files, use
void asy(string format, bool overwrite ... string[] s);
 The file will only be processed, using output format `format', if
overwrite is `true' or the output file is missing.

   One can evaluate an `Asymptote' expression (without any return
value, however) contained in the string `s' with: 
void eval(string s, bool embedded=false);
 It is not necessary to terminate the string `s' with a semicolon.  If
`embedded' is `true', the string will be evaluated at the top level of
the current environment.  If `embedded' is `false' (the default), the
string will be evaluated in an independent environment, sharing the same
`settings' module (*note settings::).

   One can evaluate arbitrary `Asymptote' code (which may contain
unescaped quotation marks) with the command
void eval(code s, bool embedded=false);
 Here `code' is a special type used with `quote {}' to enclose
`Asymptote code' like this:
real a=1;
code s=quote {
  write(a);
};
eval(s,true);        // Outputs 1

   To include the contents of a file `graph' verbatim (as if the
contents of the file were inserted at that point), use one of the forms:
include graph;

`include "/usr/local/share/asymptote/graph.asy";'

   To list all global functions and variables defined in a module named
by the contents of the string `s', use the function
void list(string s, bool imports=false);
 Imported global functions and variables are also listed if `imports'
is `true'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Static,  Prev: Import,  Up: Programming

6.15 Static
===========

Static qualifiers allocate the memory address of a variable in a higher
enclosing level.

   For a function body, the variable is allocated in the block where the
function is defined; so in the code
struct s {
  int count() {
    static int c=0;
    ++c;
    return c;
  }
}

there is one instance of the variable `c' for each object `s' (as
opposed to each call of `count').

   Similarly, in
int factorial(int n) {
  int helper(int k) {
    static int x=1;
    x *= k;
    return k == 1 ? x : helper(k-1);
  }
  return helper(n);
}

there is one instance of `x' for every call to `factorial' (and not for
every call to `helper'), so this is a correct, but ugly, implementation
of factorial.

   Similarly, a static variable declared within a structure is
allocated in the block where the structure is defined. Thus,
struct A {
  struct B {
    static pair z;
  }
}

creates one object `z' for each object of type `A' created.

   In this example,
int pow(int n, int k) {
  struct A {
    static int x=1;
    void helper() {
      x *= n;
    }
  }
  for(int i=0; i < k; ++i) {
    A a;
    a.helper();
  }
  return A.x;
}

there is one instance of `x' for each call to `pow', so this is an ugly
implementation of exponentiation.

   Loop constructs allocate a new frame in every iteration.  This is so
that higher-order functions can refer to variables of a specific
iteration of a loop:

void f();
for(int i=0; i < 10; ++i) {
  int x=i;
  if(x==5) {
    f=new void () { write(x); }
  }
}
f();

   Here, every iteration of the loop has its own variable `x', so `f()'
will write `5'.  If a variable in a loop is declared static, it will be
allocated where the enclosing function or structure was defined (just
as if it were declared static outside of the loop).  For instance, in:

void f() {
  static int x;
  for(int i=0; i < 10; ++i) {
    static int y;
  }
}
 both `x' and `y' will be allocated in the same place, which is also
where `f' is also allocated.

   Statements may also be declared static, in which case they are run
at the place where the enclosing function or structure is defined.
Declarations or statements not enclosed in a function or structure
definition are already at the top level, so static modifiers are
meaningless.  A warning is given in such a case.

   Since structures can have static fields, it is not always clear for
a qualified name whether the qualifier is a variable or a type.  For
instance, in:

struct A {
  static int x;
}
pair A;

int y=A.x;
 does the `A' in `A.x' refer to the structure or to the pair variable.
It is the convention in Asymptote that, if there is a non-function
variable with the same name as the qualifier, the qualifier refers to
that variable, and not to the type.  This is regardless of what fields
the variable actually possesses.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: LaTeX usage,  Next: Base modules,  Prev: Programming,  Up: Top

7 `LaTeX' usage
***************

`Asymptote' comes with a convenient `LaTeX' style file `asymptote.sty'
that makes `LaTeX' `Asymptote'-aware. Entering `Asymptote' code
directly into the `LaTeX' source file, at the point where it is needed,
keeps figures organized and avoids the need to invent new file names
for each figure. Simply add the line `\usepackage{asymptote}' at the
beginning of your file and enclose your `Asymptote' code within a
`\begin{asy}...\end{asy}' environment. As with the `LaTeX' `comment'
environment, the `\end{asy}' command must appear on a line by itself,
with no leading spaces or trailing commands/comments.

   The sample `LaTeX' file below, named `latexusage.tex', can be run as
follows:
latex latexusage
asy latexusage
latex latexusage

or

pdflatex latexusage
asy latexusage
pdflatex latexusage

   To switch between using `latex' and `pdflatex' you may first need to
remove the files `latexusage-*', `latexusage_.pre', and
`latexusage.aux'.

   One can specify `width', `height', `viewportwidth',
`viewportheight', and `attach' `keyval'-style options to the `asy'
environment.  The current version (1.10) of `asymptote.sty' supports the
embedding of 3D PRC files, either inline or, using the `attach' option
with the `attachfile2' (or older `attachfile') `LaTeX' package, as
annotated (but printable) attachments. For many applications, the
annotated attachment method tends to be more convenient.  The default
value of `viewportwidth' is `\the\linewidth' for inline 3D figures and
`0' for attachments.

   If the `inline' option is given to the `asymptote.sty' package,
inline `LaTeX' code is generated instead of EPS or PDF files. This
makes 2D LaTeX symbols visible to the `\begin{asy}...\end{asy}'
environment.  In this mode, Asymptote correctly aligns 2D LaTeX symbols
defined outside of `\begin{asy}...\end{asy}', but treats their size as
zero; an optional second string can be given to `Label' to provide an
estimate of the unknown label size.

   Note that if `latex' is used with the `inline' option, the labels
might not show up in DVI viewers that cannot handle raw `PostScript'
code. One can use `dvips'/`dvipdf' to produce `PostScript'/PDF output
(we recommend using the modified version of `dvipdf' in the `Asymptote'
patches directory, which accepts the `dvips -z' hyperdvi option).

   An excellent tutorial by Dario Teixeira on integrating `Asymptote'
and `LaTeX' is available at `http://dario.dse.nl/projects/asylatex/'.

   Here now is `latexusage.tex':

\documentclass[12pt]{article}

% Use this form to include EPS (latex) or PDF (pdflatex) files:
\usepackage{asymptote}

% Use this form with latex or pdflatex to include inline LaTeX code:
%\usepackage[inline]{asymptote}

% Enable this line to support PDF hyperlinks:
%\usepackage[setpagesize=false]{hyperref}

% Enable this line for PDF attachments with asy environment option attach=true:
%\usepackage[dvips]{attachfile2}

\begin{document}

\begin{asydef}
// Global Asymptote definitions can be put here.
usepackage("bm");
texpreamble("\def\V#1{\bm{#1}}");
// One can globally override the default toolbar settings here:
// settings.toolbar=true;
\end{asydef}

Here is a venn diagram produced with Asymptote, drawn to width 4cm:

\def\A{A}
\def\B{\V{B}}

%\begin{figure}
\begin{center}
\begin{asy}
size(4cm,0);
pen colour1=red;
pen colour2=green;

pair z0=(0,0);
pair z1=(-1,0);
pair z2=(1,0);
real r=1.5;
path c1=circle(z1,r);
path c2=circle(z2,r);
fill(c1,colour1);
fill(c2,colour2);

picture intersection=new picture;
fill(intersection,c1,colour1+colour2);
clip(intersection,c2);

add(intersection);

draw(c1);
draw(c2);

//draw("$\A$",box,z1);              // Requires [inline] package option.
//draw(Label("$\B$","$B$"),box,z2); // Requires [inline] package option.
draw("$A$",box,z1);
draw("$\V{B}$",box,z2);

pair z=(0,-2);
real m=3;
margin BigMargin=Margin(0,m*dot(unit(z1-z),unit(z0-z)));

draw(Label("$A\cap B$",0),conj(z)--z0,Arrow,BigMargin);
draw(Label("$A\cup B$",0),z--z0,Arrow,BigMargin);
draw(z--z1,Arrow,Margin(0,m));
draw(z--z2,Arrow,Margin(0,m));

shipout(bbox(0.25cm));
\end{asy}
%\caption{Venn diagram}\label{venn}
\end{center}
%\end{figure}

Each graph is drawn in its own environment. One can specify the width
and height to \LaTeX\ explicitly. This 3D example can be viewed
interactively either with Adobe Reader or Asymptote's fast OpenGL-based
renderer. It is often desirable to embed such files as annotated attachments;
this requires the optional \verb+\usepackage{attachfile2}+ package and
the \verb+{attach=true}+ option:
\begin{center}
\begin{asy}[height=4cm,attach=false]
import three;
currentprojection=orthographic(5,4,2);
draw(unitcube,blue);
label("$V-E+F=2$",(0,1,0.5),3Y,blue+fontsize(17pt));
\end{asy}
\end{center}

One can also scale the figure to the full line width:
\begin{center}
\begin{asy}[width=\the\linewidth]
pair z0=(0,0);
pair z1=(2,0);
pair z2=(5,0);
pair zf=z1+0.75*(z2-z1);

draw(z1--z2);
dot(z1,red+0.15cm);
dot(z2,darkgreen+0.3cm);
label("$m$",z1,1.2N,red);
label("$M$",z2,1.5N,darkgreen);
label("$\hat{\ }$",zf,0.2*S,fontsize(24pt)+blue);

pair s=-0.2*I;
draw("$x$",z0+s--z1+s,N,red,Arrows,Bars,PenMargins);
s=-0.5*I;
draw("$\bar{x}$",z0+s--zf+s,blue,Arrows,Bars,PenMargins);
s=-0.95*I;
draw("$X$",z0+s--z2+s,darkgreen,Arrows,Bars,PenMargins);
\end{asy}
\end{center}
\end{document}


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Base modules,  Next: Options,  Prev: LaTeX usage,  Up: Top

8 Base modules
**************

`Asymptote' currently ships with the following base modules:

* Menu:

* plain::                       Default `Asymptote' base file
* simplex::                     Linear programming: simplex method
* math::                        Extend `Asymptote''s math capabilities
* interpolate::                 Interpolation routines
* geometry::                    Geometry routines
* trembling::                   Wavy lines
* stats::                       Statistics routines and histograms
* patterns::                    Custom fill and draw patterns
* markers::                     Custom path marker routines
* tree::                        Dynamic binary search tree
* binarytree::                  Binary tree drawing module
* drawtree::                    Tree drawing module
* syzygy::                      Syzygy and braid drawing module
* feynman::                     Feynman diagrams
* roundedpath::                 Round the sharp corners of paths
* animation::                   Embedded PDF and MPEG movies
* embed::                       Embedding movies, sounds, and 3D objects
* slide::                       Making presentations with `Asymptote'
* MetaPost::                    `MetaPost' compatibility routines
* unicode::                     Accept `unicode' (UTF-8) characters
* latin1::                      Accept `ISO 8859-1' characters
* babel::                       Interface to `LaTeX' `babel' package
* labelpath::                   Drawing curved labels
* labelpath3::                  Drawing curved labels in 3D
* annotate::                    Annotate your PDF files
* CAD::                         2D CAD pen and measurement functions (DIN 15)
* graph::                       2D linear & logarithmic graphs
* palette::                     Color density images and palettes
* three::                       3D vector graphics
* obj::                         3D obj files
* graph3::                      3D linear & logarithmic graphs
* grid3::                       3D grids
* solids::                      3D solid geometry
* tube::                        3D rotation minimizing tubes
* flowchart::                   Flowchart drawing routines
* contour::                     Contour lines
* contour3::                    Contour surfaces
* slopefield::                  Slope fields
* ode::                         Ordinary differential equations


File: asymptote.info,  Node: plain,  Next: simplex,  Up: Base modules

8.1 `plain'
===========

This is the default `Asymptote' base file, which defines key parts of
the drawing language (such as the `picture' structure).

   By default, an implicit `private import plain;' occurs before
translating a file and before the first command given in interactive
mode.  This also applies when translating files for module definitions
(except when translating `plain', of course).  This means that the
types and functions defined in `plain' are accessible in almost all
`Asymptote' code. Use the `-noautoplain' command-line option to disable
this feature.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: simplex,  Next: math,  Prev: plain,  Up: Base modules

8.2 `simplex'
=============

This package solves the two-variable linear programming problem using
the simplex method. It is used by the module `plain' for automatic
sizing of pictures.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: math,  Next: interpolate,  Prev: simplex,  Up: Base modules

8.3 `math'
==========

This package extends `Asymptote''s mathematical capabilities with
matrix arithmetic and intersection algorithms:

`void drawline(picture pic=currentpicture, pair P, pair Q, pen p=currentpen);'
     draw the visible portion of the (infinite) line going through `P'
     and `Q', without altering the size of picture `pic', using pen `p'.

`real intersect(triple P, triple Q, triple n, triple Z);'
     returns the intersection time of the extension of the line segment
     `PQ' with the plane perpendicular to `n' and passing through `Z'.

`triple intersectionpoint(triple n0, triple P0, triple n1, triple P1);'
     Return any point on the intersection of the two planes with normals
     `n0' and `n1' passing through points `P0' and `P1', respectively.
     If the planes are parallel, return `(infinity,infinity,infinity)'.

``pair[] quarticroots(real a, real b, real c, real d, real e);''
     returns the four complex roots of the quartic equation
     ax^4+bx^3+cx^2+dx+e=0.



File: asymptote.info,  Node: interpolate,  Next: geometry,  Prev: math,  Up: Base modules

8.4 `interpolate'
=================

This module implements Lagrange, Hermite, and standard cubic spline
interpolation in `Asymptote', as illustrated in the example
`interpolate1.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: geometry,  Next: trembling,  Prev: interpolate,  Up: Base modules

8.5 `geometry'
==============

This module, written by Philippe Ivaldi, provides an extensive set of
geometry routines, including `perpendicular' symbols and a `triangle'
structure. Link to the documentation for the `geometry' module are
posted here: `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/links.html', including
an extensive set of examples,
`http://www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/geometry/', and an index:

     `http://www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/geometry/modules/geometry.asy.index.type.html'


File: asymptote.info,  Node: trembling,  Next: stats,  Prev: geometry,  Up: Base modules

8.6 `trembling'
===============

This module, written by Philippe Ivaldi and illustrated in the example
`floatingdisk.asy', allows one to draw wavy lines, as if drawn by hand.
Further examples are posted at
`http://www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/trembling/'


File: asymptote.info,  Node: stats,  Next: patterns,  Prev: trembling,  Up: Base modules

8.7 `stats'
===========

This package implements a Gaussian random number generator and a
collection of statistics routines, including `histogram' and
`leastsquares'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: patterns,  Next: markers,  Prev: stats,  Up: Base modules

8.8 `patterns'
==============

This package implements `Postscript' tiling patterns and includes
several convenient pattern generation routines.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: markers,  Next: tree,  Prev: patterns,  Up: Base modules

8.9 `markers'
=============

This package implements specialized routines for marking paths and
angles.  The principal mark routine provided by this package is
markroutine markinterval(int n=1, frame f, bool rotated=false);
 which centers `n' copies of frame `f' within uniformly space intervals
in arclength along the path, optionally rotated by the angle of the
local tangent.

   The `marker' (*note marker::) routine can be used to construct new
markers from these predefined frames:

frame stickframe(int n=1, real size=0, pair space=0, real angle=0,
                 pair offset=0, pen p=currentpen);
 
frame circlebarframe(int n=1, real barsize=0,
                     real radius=0,real angle=0,
                     pair offset=0, pen p=currentpen,
                     filltype filltype=NoFill, bool above=false);
 
frame crossframe(int n=3, real size=0, pair space=0,
                 real angle=0, pair offset=0, pen p=currentpen);
 
frame tildeframe(int n=1, real size=0, pair space=0,
                 real angle=0, pair offset=0, pen p=currentpen);

   For convenience, this module also constructs the markers
`StickIntervalMarker',  `CrossIntervalMarker',
`CircleBarIntervalMarker', and `TildeIntervalMarker' from the above
frames. The example `markers1.asy' illustrates the use of these markers:




This package also provides a routine for marking an angle AOB: 
void markangle(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="",
               int n=1, real radius=0, real space=0,
               pair A, pair O, pair B, arrowbar arrow=None,
               pen p=currentpen, margin margin=NoMargin,
               marker marker=nomarker);
 as illustrated in the example `markers2.asy'.





File: asymptote.info,  Node: tree,  Next: binarytree,  Prev: markers,  Up: Base modules

8.10 `tree'
===========

This package implements an example of a dynamic binary search tree.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: binarytree,  Next: drawtree,  Prev: tree,  Up: Base modules

8.11 `binarytree'
=================

This module can be used to draw an arbitrary binary tree and includes an
input routine for the special case of a binary search tree, as
illustrated in the example `binarytreetest.asy':

import binarytree;

picture pic,pic2;

binarytree bt=binarytree(1,2,4,nil,5,nil,nil,0,nil,nil,3,6,nil,nil,7);
draw(pic,bt);

binarytree st=searchtree(10,5,2,1,3,4,7,6,8,9,15,13,12,11,14,17,16,18,19);
draw(pic2,st,blue);

add(pic.fit(),(0,0),10N);
add(pic2.fit(),(0,0),10S);




File: asymptote.info,  Node: drawtree,  Next: syzygy,  Prev: binarytree,  Up: Base modules

8.12 `drawtree'
===============

This is a simple tree drawing module used by the example `treetest.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: syzygy,  Next: feynman,  Prev: drawtree,  Up: Base modules

8.13 `syzygy'
=============

This module automates the drawing of braids, relations, and syzygies,
along with the corresponding equations, as illustrated in the example
`knots.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: feynman,  Next: roundedpath,  Prev: syzygy,  Up: Base modules

8.14 `feynman'
==============

This package, contributed by Martin Wiebusch, is useful for drawing
Feynman diagrams, as illustrated by the examples `eetomumu.asy' and
`fermi.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: roundedpath,  Next: animation,  Prev: feynman,  Up: Base modules

8.15 `roundedpath'
==================

This package, contributed by Stefan Knorr, is useful for rounding the
sharp corners of paths, as illustrated in the example file
`roundpath.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: animation,  Next: embed,  Prev: roundedpath,  Up: Base modules

8.16 `animation'
================

This module allows one to generate animations, as illustrated by the
files `wheel.asy', `wavelet.asy', and `cube.asy' in the `animations'
subdirectory of the examples directory. These animations use the
`ImageMagick' `convert' program to merge multiple images into a GIF or
MPEG movie.

   The related `animate' module, derived from the `animation' module,
generates higher-quality portable clickable PDF movies, with optional
controls. This requires installing the package

     `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/animate/animate.sty'
   (version 2007/11/30 or later) in a new directory `animate' in the
local `LaTeX' directory (for example, in
`/usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex/animate'). On `UNIX' systems, one
must then execute the command `texhash'.

   The example `pdfmovie.asy' in the `animations' directory, along with
the slide presentations `slidemovies.asy' and `intro.asy', illustrate
the use of embedded PDF movies.  The examples `inlinemovie.tex' and
`inlinemovie3.tex' show how to generate and embed PDF movies directly
within a `LaTeX' file (*note LaTeX usage::).  The member function
string pdf(fit fit=NoBox, real delay=animationdelay, string options="",
           bool keep=settings.keep, bool multipage=true);
 of the `animate' structure accepts any of the `animate.sty' options,
as described here:

     `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/animate/doc/animate.pdf'


File: asymptote.info,  Node: embed,  Next: slide,  Prev: animation,  Up: Base modules

8.17 `embed'
============

This module provides an interface to the `LaTeX' package (included with
`MikTeX')

     `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/movie15'
   for embedding movies, sounds, and 3D objects into a PDF document.  However,
`XeLaTeX' users need to rename the modified version
`movie15_dvipdfmx.sty' from

     `http://asymptote.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/asymptote/trunk/asymptote/patches/'
   to `movie15.sty' and place it in their `LaTeX' path.

   The latest version of the `movie15' package requires both `pdflatex'
version 1.20 or later and the file

     `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/oberdiek/ifdraft.dtx'
   which can be installed by placing it in a directory `ifdraft' in the
local `LaTeX' directory (e.g.
`/usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex/ifdraft') and executing in that
directory the commands:
tex ifdraft.dtx
texhash

   An example of embedding `U3D' code is provided in the file
`embeddedu3d.asy'.  As of version 7.0.8, `Adobe Reader' supports the
`U3D' format under Linux.

   Unfortunately, Adobe has not yet made available an embedded movie
plugin for the Linux version of `Adobe Reader'.  A portable method for
embedding movie files, which should work on any platform and does not
require the `movie15' or `ifdraft' packages, is provided by using the
`external' module instead of `embed'. An example of these interfaces is
provided in the file `embeddedmovie.asy' and `externalmovie.asy' in the
`animations' subdirectory of the examples directory. For a higher
quality movie generated directly by `Asymptote', use the `animate'
module along with the `animate.sty' package to embed a portable PDF
animation (*note animate::).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: slide,  Next: MetaPost,  Prev: embed,  Up: Base modules

8.18 `slide'
============

This package provides a simple yet high-quality facility for making
presentation slides, including portable embedded PDF animations (see
the file `slidemovies.asy'). A simple example is provided in the file
`slidedemo.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: MetaPost,  Next: unicode,  Prev: slide,  Up: Base modules

8.19 `MetaPost'
===============

This package provides some useful routines to help `MetaPost' users
migrate old `MetaPost' code to `Asymptote'. Further contributions here
are welcome.

   Unlike `MetaPost', `Asymptote' does not implicitly solve linear
equations and therefore does not have the notion of a `whatever'
unknown. The routine `extension' (*note extension::) provides a useful
replacement for a common use of `whatever': finding the intersection
point of the lines through `P', `Q' and `p', `q'. For less common
occurrences of `whatever', one can use the built-in explicit linear
equation solver `solve' instead.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: unicode,  Next: latin1,  Prev: MetaPost,  Up: Base modules

8.20 `unicode'
==============

Import this package at the beginning of the file to instruct `LaTeX' to
accept `unicode' (UTF-8) standardized international characters.  To use
Cyrillic fonts, you will need to change the font encoding:
import unicode;
texpreamble("\usepackage{mathtext}\usepackage[russian]{babel}");
defaultpen(font("T2A","cmr","m","n"));
 Support for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fonts is provided by the CJK
package:

     `http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/languages/chinese/CJK/'
   The following commands enable the CJK song family (within a label,
you can also temporarily switch to another family, say kai, by
prepending `"\CJKfamily{kai}"' to the label string):
texpreamble("\usepackage{CJK}
\AtBeginDocument{\begin{CJK*}{GBK}{song}}
\AtEndDocument{\clearpage\end{CJK*}}");


File: asymptote.info,  Node: latin1,  Next: babel,  Prev: unicode,  Up: Base modules

8.21 `latin1'
=============

If you don't have `LaTeX' support for `unicode' installed, you can
enable support for Western European languages (ISO 8859-1) by importing
the module `latin1'. This module can be used as a template for
providing support for other ISO 8859 alphabets.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: babel,  Next: labelpath,  Prev: latin1,  Up: Base modules

8.22 `babel'
============

This module implements the `LaTeX' `babel' package in `Asymptote'. For
example:
import babel;
babel("german");


File: asymptote.info,  Node: labelpath,  Next: labelpath3,  Prev: babel,  Up: Base modules

8.23 `labelpath'
================

This module uses the `PSTricks' `pstextpath' macro to fit labels along
a path (properly kerned, as illustrated in the example file
`curvedlabel.asy'), using the command
void labelpath(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L, path g,
               string justify=Centered, pen p=currentpen);
 Here `justify' is one of `LeftJustified', `Centered', or
`RightJustified'. The x component of a shift transform applied to the
Label is interpreted as a shift along the curve, whereas the y
component is interpreted as a shift away from the curve.  All other
Label transforms are ignored. This package requires the `latex' tex
engine and inherits the limitations of the `PSTricks' `\pstextpath'
macro.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: labelpath3,  Next: annotate,  Prev: labelpath,  Up: Base modules

8.24 `labelpath3'
=================

This module, contributed by Jens Schwaiger, implements a 3D version of
`labelpath' that does not require the `PSTricks' package.  An example
is provided in `curvedlabel3.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: annotate,  Next: CAD,  Prev: labelpath3,  Up: Base modules

8.25 `annotate'
===============

This module supports PDF annotations for viewing with `Adobe Reader',
via the function
void annotate(picture pic=currentpicture, string title, string text,
              pair position);
 Annotations are illustrated in the example file `annotation.asy'.
Currently, annotations are only implemented for the `latex' (default)
and `tex' TeX engines.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: CAD,  Next: graph,  Prev: annotate,  Up: Base modules

8.26 `CAD'
==========

This package, contributed by Mark Henning, provides basic pen
definitions and measurement functions for simple 2D CAD drawings
according to DIN 15. It is documented separately, in the file `CAD.pdf'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: graph,  Next: palette,  Prev: CAD,  Up: Base modules

8.27 `graph'
============

This package implements two-dimensional linear and logarithmic graphs,
including automatic scale and tick selection (with the ability to
override manually). A graph is a `guide' (that can be drawn with the
draw command, with an optional legend) constructed with one of the
following routines:

   * guide graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real f(real), real a, real b,
                 int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity,
                 interpolate join=operator --);
     guide[] graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real f(real), real a, real b,
                  int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity, bool3 cond(real),
                  interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a graph using the scaling information for picture `pic'
     (*note automatic scaling::) of the function `f' on the interval
     [`T'(`a'),`T'(`b')], sampling at `n' points evenly spaced in
     [`a',`b'], optionally restricted by the bool3 function `cond' on
     [`a',`b']. If `cond' is:
        * `true', the point is added to the existing guide;

        * `default', the point is added to a new guide;

        * `false', the point is omitted and a new guide is begun.
     The points are connected using the interpolation specified by
     `join':
        * `operator --' (linear interpolation; the abbreviation
          `Straight' is also accepted);

        * `operator ..' (piecewise Bezier cubic spline interpolation;
          the abbreviation `Spline' is also accepted);

        * `Hermite' (standard cubic spline interpolation using boundary
          condition `notaknot', `natural',  `periodic', `clamped(real
          slopea, real slopeb)'), or `monotonic'.  The abbreviation
          `Hermite' is equivalent to `Hermite(notaknot)' for
          nonperiodic data and `Hermite(periodic)' for periodic data).


   * guide graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real x(real), real y(real),
                 real a, real b, int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity,
                 interpolate join=operator --);
     guide[] graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real x(real), real y(real),
                   real a, real b, int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity,
                   bool3 cond(real), interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a graph using the scaling information for picture `pic' of
     the parametrized function (`x'(t),`y'(t)) for t in the interval
     [`T'(`a'),`T'(`b')], sampling at `n' points evenly spaced in
     [`a',`b'], optionally restricted by the bool3 function `cond' on
     [`a',`b'], using the given interpolation type.

   * guide graph(picture pic=currentpicture, pair z(real), real a, real b,
                 int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity,
                 interpolate join=operator --);
     guide[] graph(picture pic=currentpicture, pair z(real), real a, real b,
                   int n=ngraph, real T(real)=identity, bool3 cond(real),
                   interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a graph using the scaling information for picture `pic' of
     the parametrized function `z'(t) for t in the interval
     [`T'(`a'),`T'(`b')], sampling at `n' points evenly spaced in
     [`a',`b'], optionally restricted by the bool3 function `cond' on
     [`a',`b'], using the given interpolation type.

   * guide graph(picture pic=currentpicture, pair[] z,
                 interpolate join=operator --);
     guide[] graph(picture pic=currentpicture, pair[] z, bool3[] cond,
                   interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a graph using the scaling information for picture `pic' of
     the elements of the array `z', optionally restricted to those
     indices for which the elements of the boolean array `cond' are
     `true', using the given interpolation type.

   * guide graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real[] x, real[] y,
                 interpolate join=operator --);
     guide[] graph(picture pic=currentpicture, real[] x, real[] y,
                   bool3[] cond, interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a graph using the scaling information for picture `pic' of
     the elements of the arrays (`x',`y'), optionally restricted to
     those indices for which the elements of the boolean array `cond'
     are `true', using the given interpolation type.

   * guide polargraph(picture pic=currentpicture, real f(real), real a,
                      real b, int n=ngraph, interpolate join=operator --);

     Returns a polar-coordinate graph using the scaling information for
     picture `pic' of the function `f' on the interval [`a',`b'],
     sampling at `n' evenly spaced points, with the given interpolation
     type.




   An axis can be drawn on a picture with one of the following commands:

   * void xaxis(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", axis axis=YZero,
                real xmin=-infinity, real xmax=infinity, pen p=currentpen,
                ticks ticks=NoTicks, arrowbar arrow=None, bool above=false);

     Draw an x axis on picture `pic' from x=`xmin' to x=`xmax' using
     pen `p', optionally labelling it with Label `L'. The relative
     label location along the axis (a real number from [0,1]) defaults
     to 1 (*note Label::), so that the label is drawn at the end of the
     axis. An infinite value of `xmin' or `xmax' specifies that the
     corresponding axis limit will be automatically determined from the
     picture limits.  The optional `arrow' argument takes the same
     values as in the `draw' command (*note arrows::). The axis is
     drawn before any existing objects in `pic' unless `above=true'.
     The axis placement is determined by one of the following `axis'
     types:

    `YZero(bool extend=true)'
          Request an x axis at y=0 (or y=1 on a logarithmic axis)
          extending to the full dimensions of the picture, unless
          `extend'=false.

    `YEquals(real Y, bool extend=true)'
          Request an x axis at y=`Y' extending to the full dimensions
          of the picture, unless `extend'=false.

    `Bottom(bool extend=false)'
          Request a bottom axis.

    `Top(bool extend=false)'
          Request a top axis.

    `BottomTop(bool extend=false)'
          Request a bottom and top axis.


     Custom axis types can be created by following the examples in
     `graph.asy'.  One can easily override the default values for the
     standard axis types: import graph;

     YZero=new axis(bool extend=true) {
       return new void(picture pic, axisT axis) {
         real y=pic.scale.x.scale.logarithmic ? 1 : 0;
         axis.value=I*pic.scale.y.T(y);
         axis.position=1;
         axis.side=right;
         axis.align=2.5E;
         axis.value2=Infinity;
         axis.extend=extend;
       };
     };
     YZero=YZero();

     The default tick option is `NoTicks'.  The options `LeftTicks',
     `RightTicks', or `Ticks' can be used to draw ticks on the left,
     right, or both sides of the path, relative to the direction in
     which the path is drawn.  These tick routines accept a number of
     optional arguments: ticks LeftTicks(Label format="", ticklabel ticklabel=null,
                     bool beginlabel=true, bool endlabel=true,
                     int N=0, int n=0, real Step=0, real step=0,
                     bool begin=true, bool end=true, tickmodifier modify=None,
                     real Size=0, real size=0, bool extend=false,
                     pen pTick=nullpen, pen ptick=nullpen);

     If any of these parameters are omitted, reasonable defaults will
     be chosen:
    `Label format'
          override the default tick label format (`defaultformat',
          initially "$%.4g$"), rotation, pen, and alignment (for
          example, `LeftSide', `Center', or `RightSide') relative to
          the axis. To enable `LaTeX' math mode fonts, the format
          string should begin and end with `$' *note format::. If the
          format string is `trailingzero', trailing zeros will be added
          to the tick labels; if the format string is `"%"', the tick
          label will be suppressed;

    `ticklabel'
          is a function `string(real x)' returning the label (by
          default, format(format.s,x)) for each major tick value `x';

    `bool beginlabel'
          include the first label;

    `bool endlabel'
          include the last label;

    `int N'
          when automatic scaling is enabled (the default; *note
          automatic scaling::), divide a linear axis evenly into this
          many intervals, separated by major ticks; for a logarithmic
          axis, this is the number of decades between labelled ticks;

    `int n'
          divide each interval into this many subintervals, separated
          by minor ticks;

    `real Step'
          the tick value spacing between major ticks (if `N'=`0');

    `real step'
          the tick value spacing between minor ticks (if `n'=`0');

    `bool begin'
          include the first major tick;

    `bool end'
          include the last major tick;

    `tickmodifier modify;'
          an optional function that takes and returns a `tickvalue'
          structure having real[] members `major' and `minor'
          consisting of the tick values (to allow modification of the
          automatically generated tick values);

    `real Size'
          the size of the major ticks (in `PostScript' coordinates);

    `real size'
          the size of the minor ticks (in `PostScript' coordinates);

    `bool extend;'
          extend the ticks between two axes (useful for drawing a grid
          on the graph);

    `pen pTick'
          an optional pen used to draw the major ticks;

    `pen ptick'
          an optional pen used to draw the minor ticks.


     For convenience, the predefined tickmodifier `OmitTick(... real[]
     x)' tickmodifier can be used to remove specific auto-generated
     ticks and their labels. The `OmitFormat(string s=defaultformat ...
     real[] x)' ticklabel can be used to remove specific tick labels
     but not the corresponding ticks. The tickmodifier `NoZero' is an
     abbreviation for `OmitTick(0)' and the ticklabel `NoZeroFormat' is
     an abbrevation for `OmitFormat(0)'.

     It is also possible to specify custom tick locations with
     `LeftTicks', `RightTicks', and `Ticks' by passing explicit real
     arrays `Ticks' and (optionally) `ticks' containing the locations
     of the major and minor ticks, respectively: ticks LeftTicks(Label format="", ticklabel ticklabel=null,
                     bool beginlabel=true, bool endlabel=true,
                     real[] Ticks, real[] ticks=new real[],
                     real Size=0, real size=0, bool extend=false,
                     pen pTick=nullpen, pen ptick=nullpen)

   * void yaxis(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", axis axis=XZero,
                real ymin=-infinity, real ymax=infinity, pen p=currentpen,
                ticks ticks=NoTicks, arrowbar arrow=None, bool above=false);

     Draw a y axis on picture `pic' from y=`ymin' to y=`ymax' using pen
     `p', optionally labelling it with Label `L'. The relative location
     of the label (a real number from [0,1]) defaults to 1 (*note
     Label::). An infinite value of `ymin' or `ymax' specifies that the
     corresponding axis limit will be automatically determined from the
     picture limits.  The optional `arrow' argument takes the same
     values as in the `draw' command (*note arrows::). The axis is
     drawn before any existing objects in `pic' unless `above=true'.
     The tick type is specified by `ticks' and the axis placement is
     determined by one of the following `axis' types:

    `XZero(bool extend=true)'
          Request a y axis at x=0 (or x=1 on a logarithmic axis)
          extending to the full dimensions of the picture, unless
          `extend'=false.

    `XEquals(real X, bool extend=true)'
          Request a y axis at x=`X' extending to the full dimensions of
          the picture, unless `extend'=false.

    `Left(bool extend=false)'
          Request a left axis.

    `Right(bool extend=false)'
          Request a right axis.

    `LeftRight(bool extend=false)'
          Request a left and right axis.


   * For convenience, the functions void xequals(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real x,
                  bool extend=false, real ymin=-infinity, real ymax=infinity,
                  pen p=currentpen, ticks ticks=NoTicks, bool above=true,
                  arrowbar arrow=None);
      and void yequals(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real y,
                  bool extend=false, real xmin=-infinity, real xmax=infinity,
                  pen p=currentpen, ticks ticks=NoTicks, bool above=true,
                  arrowbar arrow=None);
      can be respectively used to call `yaxis' and `xaxis' with the
     appropriate axis types `XEquals(x,extend)' and
     `YEquals(y,extend)'. This is the recommended way of drawing
     vertical or horizontal lines and axes at arbitrary locations.

   * void axes(picture pic=currentpicture, Label xlabel="", Label ylabel="",
               pair min=(-infinity,-infinity), pair max=(infinity,infinity),
               pen p=currentpen, arrowbar arrow=None, bool above=false);
      This convenience routine draws both x and y axes on picture `pic'
     from `min' to `max', with optional labels `xlabel' and `ylabel'
     and any arrows specified by `arrow'. The axes are drawn on top of
     existing objects in `pic' only if `above=true'.

   * void axis(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", path g,
               pen p=currentpen, ticks ticks, ticklocate locate,
               arrowbar arrow=None, int[] divisor=new int[],
               bool above=false, bool opposite=false);

     This routine can be used to draw on picture `pic' a general axis
     based on an arbitrary path `g', using pen `p'.  One can optionally
     label the axis with Label `L' and add an arrow `arrow'. The tick
     type is given by `ticks'.  The optional integer array `divisor'
     specifies what tick divisors to try in the attempt to produce
     uncrowded tick labels. A `true' value for the flag `opposite'
     identifies an unlabelled secondary axis (typically drawn opposite
     a primary axis). The axis is drawn before any existing objects in
     `pic' unless `above=true'.  The tick locator `ticklocate' is
     constructed by the routine ticklocate ticklocate(real a, real b, autoscaleT S=defaultS,
                           real tickmin=-infinity, real tickmax=infinity,
                           real time(real)=null, pair dir(real)=zero);
      where `a' and `b' specify the respective tick values at
     `point(g,0)' and `point(g,length(g))', `S' specifies the
     autoscaling transformation, the function `real time(real v)'
     returns the time corresponding to the value `v', and `pair
     dir(real t)' returns the absolute tick direction as a function of
     `t' (zero means draw the tick perpendicular to the axis).

   * These routines are useful for manually putting ticks and labels on
     axes (if the variable `Label' is given as the `Label' argument,
     the `format' argument will be used to format a string based on the
     tick location): void xtick(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", explicit pair z,
                pair dir=N, string format="",
                real size=Ticksize, pen p=currentpen);
     void xtick(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real x,
                pair dir=N, string format="",
                real size=Ticksize, pen p=currentpen);
     void ytick(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", explicit pair z,
                pair dir=E, string format="",
                real size=Ticksize, pen p=currentpen);
     void ytick(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real y,
                pair dir=E, string format="",
                real size=Ticksize, pen p=currentpen);
     void tick(picture pic=currentpicture, pair z,
               pair dir, real size=Ticksize, pen p=currentpen);
     void labelx(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", explicit pair z,
                 align align=S, string format="", pen p=nullpen);
     void labelx(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real x,
                 align align=S, string format="", pen p=nullpen);
     void labelx(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L,
                 string format="", explicit pen p=currentpen);
     void labely(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", explicit pair z,
                 align align=W, string format="", pen p=nullpen);
     void labely(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", real y,
                 align align=W, string format="", pen p=nullpen);
     void labely(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L,
                 string format="", explicit pen p=nullpen);

   Here are some simple examples of two-dimensional graphs:

  1. This example draws a textbook-style graph of y= exp(x), with the y
     axis starting at y=0: import graph;
     size(150,0);

     real f(real x) {return exp(x);}
     pair F(real x) {return (x,f(x));}

     xaxis("$x$");
     yaxis("$y$",0);

     draw(graph(f,-4,2,operator ..),red);

     labely(1,E);
     label("$e^x$",F(1),SE);



  2. The next example draws a scientific-style graph with a legend.
     The position of the legend can be adjusted either explicitly or by
     using the graphical user interface `xasy' (*note GUI::). If an
     `UnFill(real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin)' or `Fill(pen)'
     option is specified to `add', the legend will obscure any
     underlying objects. Here we illustrate how to clip the portion of
     the picture covered by a label:

     import graph;

     size(400,200,IgnoreAspect);

     real Sin(real t) {return sin(2pi*t);}
     real Cos(real t) {return cos(2pi*t);}

     draw(graph(Sin,0,1),red,"$\sin(2\pi x)$");
     draw(graph(Cos,0,1),blue,"$\cos(2\pi x)$");

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));

     label("LABEL",point(0),UnFill(1mm));

     add(legend(),point(E),20E,UnFill);



     To specify a fixed size for the graph proper, use `attach': import graph;

     size(250,200,IgnoreAspect);

     real Sin(real t) {return sin(2pi*t);}
     real Cos(real t) {return cos(2pi*t);}

     draw(graph(Sin,0,1),red,"$\sin(2\pi x)$");
     draw(graph(Cos,0,1),blue,"$\cos(2\pi x)$");

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));

     label("LABEL",point(0),UnFill(1mm));

     attach(legend(),truepoint(E),20E,UnFill);
      A legend can have multiple entries per line: import graph;
     size(8cm,6cm,IgnoreAspect);

     typedef real realfcn(real);
     realfcn F(real p) {
       return new real(real x) {return sin(p*x);};
     };

     for(int i=1; i < 5; ++i)
       draw(graph(F(i*pi),0,1),Pen(i),
            "$\sin("+(i == 1 ? "" : (string) i)+"\pi x)$");
     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));

     attach(legend(2),(point(S).x,truepoint(S).y),10S,UnFill);



  3. This example draws a graph of one array versus another (both of
     the same size) using custom tick locations and a smaller font size
     for the tick labels on the y axis.  import graph;

     size(200,150,IgnoreAspect);

     real[] x={0,1,2,3};
     real[] y=x^2;

     draw(graph(x,y),red);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,
           RightTicks(Label(fontsize(8pt)),new real[]{0,4,9}));



  4. This example shows how to graph columns of data read from a file.  import graph;

     size(200,150,IgnoreAspect);

     file in=input("filegraph.dat").line();
     real[][] a=in.dimension(0,0);
     a=transpose(a);

     real[] x=a[0];
     real[] y=a[1];

     draw(graph(x,y),red);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks);



  5. The next example draws two graphs of an array of coordinate pairs,
     using frame alignment and data markers. In the left-hand graph, the
     markers, constructed with marker marker(path g, markroutine markroutine=marknodes,
                   pen p=currentpen, filltype filltype=NoFill,
                   bool above=true);
      using the path `unitcircle' (*note filltype::), are drawn below
     each node. Any frame can be converted to a marker, using marker marker(frame f, markroutine markroutine=marknodes,
                   bool above=true);
      In the right-hand graph, the unit n-sided regular polygon
     `polygon(int n)' and the unit n-point cyclic cross `cross(int n,
     bool round=true, real r=0)' (where `r' is an optional "inner"
     radius) are used to build a custom marker frame.  Here
     `markuniform(bool centered=false, int n, bool rotated=false)' adds
     this frame at `n' uniformly spaced points along the arclength of
     the path, optionally rotated by the angle of the local tangent to
     the path (if centered is true, the frames will be centered within
     `n' evenly spaced arclength intervals). Alternatively, one can use
     markroutine `marknodes' to request that the marks be placed at each
     Bezier node of the path, or markroutine `markuniform(pair z(real
     t), real a, real b, int n)' to place marks at points `z(t)' for n
     evenly spaced values of `t' in `[a,b]'.

     These markers are predefined: marker[] Mark={
       marker(scale(circlescale)*unitcircle),
       marker(polygon(3)),marker(polygon(4)),
       marker(polygon(5)),marker(invert*polygon(3)),
       marker(cross(4)),marker(cross(6))
     };

     marker[] MarkFill={
       marker(scale(circlescale)*unitcircle,Fill),marker(polygon(3),Fill),
       marker(polygon(4),Fill),marker(polygon(5),Fill),
       marker(invert*polygon(3),Fill)
     };

     The example also illustrates the `errorbar' routines:

     void errorbars(picture pic=currentpicture, pair[] z, pair[] dp,
                    pair[] dm={}, bool[] cond={}, pen p=currentpen,
                    real size=0);

     void errorbars(picture pic=currentpicture, real[] x, real[] y,
                    real[] dpx, real[] dpy, real[] dmx={}, real[] dmy={},
                    bool[] cond={}, pen p=currentpen, real size=0);

     Here, the positive and negative extents of the error are given by
     the absolute values of the elements of the pair array `dp' and the
     optional pair array `dm'. If `dm' is not specified, the positive
     and negative extents of the error are assumed to be equal.  import graph;

     picture pic;
     real xsize=200, ysize=140;
     size(pic,xsize,ysize,IgnoreAspect);

     pair[] f={(5,5),(50,20),(90,90)};
     pair[] df={(0,0),(5,7),(0,5)};

     errorbars(pic,f,df,red);
     draw(pic,graph(pic,f),"legend",
          marker(scale(0.8mm)*unitcircle,red,FillDraw(blue),above=false));

     scale(pic,true);

     xaxis(pic,"$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis(pic,"$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks);
     add(pic,legend(pic),point(pic,NW),20SE,UnFill);

     picture pic2;
     size(pic2,xsize,ysize,IgnoreAspect);

     frame mark;
     filldraw(mark,scale(0.8mm)*polygon(6),green,green);
     draw(mark,scale(0.8mm)*cross(6),blue);

     draw(pic2,graph(pic2,f),marker(mark,markuniform(5)));

     scale(pic2,true);

     xaxis(pic2,"$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis(pic2,"$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks);

     yequals(pic2,55.0,red+Dotted);
     xequals(pic2,70.0,red+Dotted);

     // Fit pic to W of origin:
     add(pic.fit(),(0,0),W);

     // Fit pic2 to E of (5mm,0):
     add(pic2.fit(),(5mm,0),E);



  6. A custom mark routine can be also be specified: import graph;

     size(200,100,IgnoreAspect);

     markroutine marks() {
       return new void(picture pic=currentpicture, frame f, path g) {
         path p=scale(1mm)*unitcircle;
         for(int i=0; i <= length(g); ++i) {
           pair z=point(g,i);
           frame f;
           if(i % 4 == 0) {
             fill(f,p);
             add(pic,f,z);
           } else {
             if(z.y > 50) {
               pic.add(new void(frame F, transform t) {
                   path q=shift(t*z)*p;
                   unfill(F,q);
                   draw(F,q);
                 });
             } else {
               draw(f,p);
               add(pic,f,z);
             }
           }
         }
       };
     }

     pair[] f={(5,5),(40,20),(55,51),(90,30)};

     draw(graph(f),marker(marks()));

     scale(true);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks);



  7. This example shows how to label an axis with arbitrary strings.  import graph;

     size(400,150,IgnoreAspect);

     real[] x=sequence(12);
     real[] y=sin(2pi*x/12);

     scale(false);

     string[] month={"Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun",
                     "Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"};

     draw(graph(x,y),red,MarkFill[0]);

     xaxis(BottomTop,LeftTicks(new string(real x) {
           return month[round(x % 12)];}));
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(4));



  8. The next example draws a graph of a parametrized curve.  The calls
     to xlimits(picture pic=currentpicture, real min=-infinity,
             real max=infinity, bool crop=NoCrop);
      and the analogous function `ylimits' can be uncommented to set
     the respective axes limits for picture `pic' to the specified
     `min' and `max' values. Alternatively, the function void limits(picture pic=currentpicture, pair min, pair max, bool crop=NoCrop);
      can be used to limit the axes to the box having opposite vertices
     at the given pairs). Existing objects in picture `pic' will be
     cropped to lie within the given limits if `crop'=`Crop'. The
     function `crop(picture pic)' can be used to crop a graph to the
     current graph limits.  import graph;

     size(0,200);

     real x(real t) {return cos(2pi*t);}
     real y(real t) {return sin(2pi*t);}

     draw(graph(x,y,0,1));

     //xlimits(0,1,Crop);
     //ylimits(-1,0,Crop);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));



     The next example illustrates how one can extract a common axis
     scaling factor.  import graph;

     axiscoverage=0.9;
     size(200,IgnoreAspect);

     real[] x={-1e-11,1e-11};
     real[] y={0,1e6};

     real xscale=round(log10(max(x)));
     real yscale=round(log10(max(y)))-1;

     draw(graph(x*10^(-xscale),y*10^(-yscale)),red);

     xaxis("$x/10^{"+(string) xscale+"}$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y/10^{"+(string) yscale+"}$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));



     Axis scaling can be requested and/or automatic selection of the
     axis limits can be inhibited with one of these `scale' routines: void scale(picture pic=currentpicture, scaleT x, scaleT y);

     void scale(picture pic=currentpicture, bool xautoscale=true,
                bool yautoscale=xautoscale, bool zautoscale=yautoscale);

     This sets the scalings for picture `pic'. The `graph' routines
     accept an optional `picture' argument for determining the
     appropriate scalings to use; if none is given, it uses those set
     for `currentpicture'.

     Two frequently used scaling routines `Linear' and `Log' are
     predefined in `graph'.

     All picture coordinates (including those in paths and those given
     to the `label' and `limits' functions) are always treated as linear
     (post-scaled) coordinates. Use pair Scale(picture pic=currentpicture, pair z);
      to convert a graph coordinate into a scaled picture coordinate.

     The x and y components can be individually scaled using the
     analogous routines real ScaleX(picture pic=currentpicture, real x);
     real ScaleY(picture pic=currentpicture, real y);

     The predefined scaling routines can be given two optional boolean
     arguments: `automin=false' and `automax=automin'. These default to
     `false' but can be respectively set to `true' to enable automatic
     selection of "nice" axis minimum and maximum values. The `Linear'
     scaling can also take as optional final arguments a multiplicative
     scaling factor and intercept (e.g. for a depth axis, `Linear(-1)'
     requests axis reversal).

     For example, to draw a log/log graph of a function, use
     `scale(Log,Log)': import graph;

     size(200,200,IgnoreAspect);

     real f(real t) {return 1/t;}

     scale(Log,Log);

     draw(graph(f,0.1,10));

     //xlimits(1,10,Crop);
     //ylimits(0.1,1,Crop);

     dot(Label("(3,5)",align=S),Scale((3,5)));

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks);



     By extending the ticks, one can easily produce a logarithmic grid: import graph;
     size(200,200,IgnoreAspect);

     real f(real t) {return 1/t;}

     scale(Log,Log);
     draw(graph(f,0.1,10),red);
     pen thin=linewidth(0.5*linewidth());
     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks(begin=false,end=false,extend=true,
                                     ptick=thin));
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(begin=false,end=false,extend=true,
                                      ptick=thin));



     One can also specify custom tick locations and formats for
     logarithmic axes: import graph;

     size(300,175,IgnoreAspect);
     scale(Log,Log);
     draw(graph(identity,5,20));
     xlimits(5,20);
     ylimits(1,100);
     xaxis("$M/M_\odot$",BottomTop,LeftTicks(DefaultFormat,
                                             new real[] {6,10,12,14,16,18}));
     yaxis("$\nu_{\rm upp}$ [Hz]",LeftRight,RightTicks(DefaultFormat));



     It is easy to draw logarithmic graphs with respect to other bases: import graph;
     size(200,IgnoreAspect);

     // Base-2 logarithmic scale on y-axis:

     real log2(real x) {static real log2=log(2); return log(x)/log2;}
     real pow2(real x) {return 2^x;}

     scaleT yscale=scaleT(log2,pow2,logarithmic=true);
     scale(Linear,yscale);

     real f(real x) {return 1+x^2;}

     draw(graph(f,-4,4));

     yaxis("$y$",ymin=1,ymax=f(5),RightTicks(Label(Fill(white))),EndArrow);
     xaxis("$x$",xmin=-5,xmax=5,LeftTicks,EndArrow);



     Here is an example of "broken" linear x and logarithmic y axes
     that omit the segments [3,8] and [100,1000], respectively.  In the
     case of a logarithmic axis, the break endpoints are automatically
     rounded to the nearest integral power of the base.  import graph;

     size(200,150,IgnoreAspect);

     // Break the x axis at 3; restart at 8:
     real a=3, b=8;

     // Break the y axis at 100; restart at 1000:
     real c=100, d=1000;

     scale(Broken(a,b),BrokenLog(c,d));

     real[] x={1,2,4,6,10};
     real[] y=x^4;

     draw(graph(x,y),red,MarkFill[0]);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks(Break(a,b)));
     yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks(Break(c,d)));

     label(rotate(90)*Break,(a,point(S).y));
     label(rotate(90)*Break,(a,point(N).y));
     label(Break,(point(W).x,ScaleY(c)));
     label(Break,(point(E).x,ScaleY(c)));



  9. `Asymptote' can draw secondary axes with the routines picture secondaryX(picture primary=currentpicture, void f(picture));
     picture secondaryY(picture primary=currentpicture, void f(picture));

     In this example, `secondaryY' is used to draw a secondary linear y
     axis against a primary logarithmic y axis: import graph;
     texpreamble("\def\Arg{\mathop {\rm Arg}\nolimits}");

     size(10cm,5cm,IgnoreAspect);

     real ampl(real x) {return 2.5/(1+x^2);}
     real phas(real x) {return -atan(x)/pi;}

     scale(Log,Log);
     draw(graph(ampl,0.01,10));
     ylimits(0.001,100);

     xaxis("$\omega\tau_0$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$|G(\omega\tau_0)|$",Left,RightTicks);

     picture q=secondaryY(new void(picture pic) {
         scale(pic,Log,Linear);
         draw(pic,graph(pic,phas,0.01,10),red);
         ylimits(pic,-1.0,1.5);
         yaxis(pic,"$\Arg G/\pi$",Right,red,
               LeftTicks("$% #.1f$",
                         begin=false,end=false));
         yequals(pic,1,Dotted);
       });
     label(q,"(1,0)",Scale(q,(1,0)),red);
     add(q);



     A secondary logarithmic y axis can be drawn like this: import graph;

     size(9cm,6cm,IgnoreAspect);
     string data="secondaryaxis.csv";

     file in=input(data).line().csv();

     string[] titlelabel=in;
     string[] columnlabel=in;

     real[][] a=in.dimension(0,0);
     a=transpose(a);
     real[] t=a[0], susceptible=a[1], infectious=a[2], dead=a[3], larvae=a[4];
     real[] susceptibleM=a[5], exposed=a[6],infectiousM=a[7];

     scale(true);

     draw(graph(t,susceptible,t >= 10 & t <= 15));
     draw(graph(t,dead,t >= 10 & t <= 15),dashed);

     xaxis("Time ($\tau$)",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis(Left,RightTicks);

     picture secondary=secondaryY(new void(picture pic) {
         scale(pic,Linear(true),Log(true));
         draw(pic,graph(pic,t,infectious,t >= 10 & t <= 15),red);
         yaxis(pic,Right,red,LeftTicks(begin=false,end=false));
       });

     add(secondary);
     label(shift(5mm*N)*"Proportion of crows",point(NW),E);



 10. Here is a histogram example, which uses the `stats' module.  import graph;
     import stats;

     size(400,200,IgnoreAspect);

     int n=10000;
     real[] a=new real[n];
     for(int i=0; i < n; ++i) a[i]=Gaussrand();

     draw(graph(Gaussian,min(a),max(a)),blue);

     // Optionally calculate "optimal" number of bins a la Shimazaki and Shinomoto.
     int N=bins(a);

     histogram(a,min(a),max(a),N,normalize=true,low=0,lightred,black,bars=false);

     xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$dP/dx$",LeftRight,RightTicks(trailingzero));



 11. Here is an example of reading column data in from a file and a
     least-squares fit, using the `stats' module.  size(400,200,IgnoreAspect);

     import graph;
     import stats;

     file fin=input("leastsquares.dat").line();

     real[][] a=fin.dimension(0,0);
     a=transpose(a);

     real[] t=a[0], rho=a[1];

     // Read in parameters from the keyboard:
     //real first=getreal("first");
     //real step=getreal("step");
     //real last=getreal("last");

     real first=100;
     real step=50;
     real last=700;

     // Remove negative or zero values of rho:
     t=rho > 0 ? t : null;
     rho=rho > 0 ? rho : null;

     scale(Log(true),Linear(true));

     int n=step > 0 ? ceil((last-first)/step) : 0;

     real[] T,xi,dxi;

     for(int i=0; i <= n; ++i) {
       real first=first+i*step;
       real[] logrho=(t >= first & t <= last) ? log(rho) : null;
       real[] logt=(t >= first & t <= last) ? -log(t) : null;

       if(logt.length < 2) break;

       // Fit to the line logt=L.m*logrho+L.b:
       linefit L=leastsquares(logt,logrho);

       T.push(first);
       xi.push(L.m);
       dxi.push(L.dm);
     }

     draw(graph(T,xi),blue);
     errorbars(T,xi,dxi,red);

     crop();

     ylimits(0);

     xaxis("$T$",BottomTop,LeftTicks);
     yaxis("$\xi$",LeftRight,RightTicks);



 12. Here is an example that illustrates the general `axis' routine.  import graph;
     size(0,100);

     path g=ellipse((0,0),1,2);

     scale(true);

     axis(Label("C",align=10W),g,LeftTicks(endlabel=false,8,end=false),
          ticklocate(0,360,new real(real v) {
              path h=(0,0)--max(abs(max(g)),abs(min(g)))*dir(v);
              return intersect(g,h)[0];}));



 13. To draw a vector field of `n' arrows evenly spaced along the
     arclength of a path, use the routine picture vectorfield(path vector(real), path g, int n, bool truesize=false,
                         pen p=currentpen, arrowbar arrow=Arrow);
      as illustrated in this simple example of a flow field: import graph;
     defaultpen(1.0);

     size(0,150,IgnoreAspect);

     real arrowsize=4mm;
     real arrowlength=2arrowsize;

     typedef path vector(real);

     // Return a vector interpolated linearly between a and b.
     vector vector(pair a, pair b) {
       return new path(real x) {
         return (0,0)--arrowlength*interp(a,b,x);
       };
     }

     real f(real x) {return 1/x;}

     real epsilon=0.5;
     path g=graph(f,epsilon,1/epsilon);

     int n=3;
     draw(g);
     xaxis("$x$");
     yaxis("$y$");

     add(vectorfield(vector(W,W),g,n,true));
     add(vectorfield(vector(NE,NW),(0,0)--(point(E).x,0),n,true));
     add(vectorfield(vector(NE,NE),(0,0)--(0,point(N).y),n,true));



 14. To draw a vector field of `nx'\times`ny' arrows in `box(a,b)', use
     the routine picture vectorfield(path vector(pair), pair a, pair b,
                         int nx=nmesh, int ny=nx, bool truesize=false,
                         real maxlength=truesize ? 0 : maxlength(a,b,nx,ny),
                         bool cond(pair z)=null, pen p=currentpen,
                         arrowbar arrow=Arrow, margin margin=PenMargin)
      as illustrated in this example: import graph;
     size(100);

     pair a=(0,0);
     pair b=(2pi,2pi);

     path vector(pair z) {return (0,0)--(sin(z.x),cos(z.y));}

     add(vectorfield(vector,a,b));



 15. The following scientific graphs, which illustrate many features of
     `Asymptote''s graphics routines, were generated from the examples
     `diatom.asy' and `westnile.asy', using the comma-separated data in
     `diatom.csv' and `westnile.csv'.



File: asymptote.info,  Node: palette,  Next: three,  Prev: graph,  Up: Base modules

8.28 `palette'
==============

`Asymptote' can also generate color density images and palettes. The
following palettes are predefined in `palette.asy':

`pen[] Grayscale(int NColors=256)'
     a grayscale palette;

`pen[] Rainbow(int NColors=32766)'
     a rainbow spectrum;

`pen[] BWRainbow(int NColors=32761)'
     a rainbow spectrum tapering off to black/white at the ends;

`pen[] BWRainbow2(int NColors=32761)'
     a double rainbow palette tapering off to black/white at the ends,
     with a linearly scaled intensity.

`pen[] Wheel(int NColors=32766)'
     a full color wheel palette;

`pen[] Gradient(int NColors=256 ... pen[] p)'
     a palette varying linearly over the specified array of pens, using
     NColors in each interpolation interval;


   The function `cmyk(pen[] Palette)' may be used to convert any of
these palettes to the CMYK colorspace.

   A color density plot using palette `palette' can be generated from a
function `f'(x,y) and added to a picture `pic': 
bounds image(picture pic=currentpicture, real f(real,real),
             range range=Full, pair initial, pair final,
             int nx=ngraph, int ny=nx, pen[] palette, bool antialias=false)
 The function `f' will be sampled at `nx' and `ny' evenly spaced points
over a rectangle defined by the points `initial' and `final',
respecting the current graphical scaling of `pic'. The color space is
scaled according to the z axis scaling (*note automatic scaling::). A
bounds structure for the function values is returned:
struct bounds {
  real min;
  real max;
  // Possible tick intervals:
  int[] divisor;
}
 This information can be used for generating an optional palette bar.
The palette color space corresponds to a range of values specified by
the argument `range', which can be `Full', `Automatic', or an explicit
range `Range(real min, real max)'.  Here `Full' specifies a range
varying from the minimum to maximum values of the function over the
sampling interval, while `Automatic' selects "nice" limits.  The
example `imagecontour.asy' illustrates how level sets (contour lines)
can be drawn on a color density plot (*note contour::).

   A color density plot can also be generated from an explicit real[][]
array `data': 
bounds image(picture pic=currentpicture, real[][] f, range range=Full,
             pair initial, pair final, pen[] palette,
             bool transpose=(initial.x < final.x && initial.y < final.y),
             bool copy=true, bool antialias=false);
 If the initial point is to the left and below the final point, by
default the array indices are interpreted according to the Cartesian
convention (first index: x, second index: y) rather than the usual
matrix convention (first index: -y, second index: x).

   To construct an image from an array of irregularly spaced points and
an array of values `f' at these points, use one of the routines
bounds image(picture pic=currentpicture, pair[] z, real[] f,
             range range=Full, pen[] palette)
bounds image(picture pic=currentpicture, real[] x, real[] y, real[] f,
             range range=Full, pen[] palette)

   An optionally labelled palette bar may be generated with the routine
void palette(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", bounds bounds,
             pair initial, pair final, axis axis=Right, pen[] palette,
             pen p=currentpen, paletteticks ticks=PaletteTicks,
             bool copy=true, bool antialias=false);
 The color space of `palette' is taken to be over bounds `bounds' with
scaling given by the z scaling of `pic'.  The palette orientation is
specified by `axis', which may be one of `Right', `Left', `Top', or
`Bottom'.  The bar is drawn over the rectangle from `initial' to
`final'.  The argument `paletteticks' is a special tick type (*note
ticks::) that takes the following arguments:
paletteticks PaletteTicks(Label format="", ticklabel ticklabel=null,
                          bool beginlabel=true, bool endlabel=true,
                          int N=0, int n=0, real Step=0, real step=0,
                          pen pTick=nullpen, pen ptick=nullpen);

   The image and palette bar can be fit to a frame and added and
optionally aligned to a picture at the desired location:

size(12cm,12cm);

import graph;
import palette;

int n=256;
real ninv=2pi/n;
real[][] v=new real[n][n];

for(int i=0; i < n; ++i)
  for(int j=0; j < n; ++j)
    v[i][j]=sin(i*ninv)*cos(j*ninv);

pen[] Palette=BWRainbow();

picture bar;

bounds range=image(v,(0,0),(1,1),Palette);
palette(bar,"$A$",range,(0,0),(0.5cm,8cm),Right,Palette,
        PaletteTicks("$%+#.1f$"));
add(bar.fit(),point(E),30E);



Here is an example that uses logarithmic scaling of the function values:

import graph;
import palette;

size(10cm,10cm,IgnoreAspect);

real f(real x, real y) {
  return 0.9*pow10(2*sin(x/5+2*y^0.25)) + 0.1*(1+cos(10*log(y)));
}

scale(Linear,Log,Log);

pen[] Palette=BWRainbow();

bounds range=image(f,Automatic,(0,1),(100,100),nx=200,Palette);

xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks,above=true);
yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks,above=true);

palette("$f(x,y)$",range,(0,200),(100,250),Top,Palette,
        PaletteTicks(ptick=linewidth(0.5*linewidth())));



One can also draw an image directly from a two-dimensional pen array:
void image(picture pic=currentpicture, pen[][] data,
           pair initial, pair final,
           bool transpose=(initial.x < final.x && initial.y < final.y),
           bool copy=true, bool antialias=false);
 as illustrated in the following example:

size(200);

import palette;

int n=256;
real ninv=2pi/n;
pen[][] v=new pen[n][n];

for(int i=0; i < n; ++i)
  for(int j=0; j < n; ++j)
    v[i][j]=rgb(0.5*(1+sin(i*ninv)),0.5*(1+cos(j*ninv)),0);

image(v,(0,0),(1,1));



For convenience, the module `palette' also defines functions that may
be used to construct a pen array from a given function and palette:
pen[] palette(real[] f, pen[] palette);
pen[][] palette(real[][] f, pen[] palette);


File: asymptote.info,  Node: three,  Next: obj,  Prev: palette,  Up: Base modules

8.29 `three'
============

This module fully extends the notion of guides and paths in `Asymptote'
to three dimensions. It introduces the new types guide3, path3, and
surface.  Guides in three dimensions are specified with the same syntax
as in two dimensions except that triples `(x,y,z)' are used in place of
pairs `(x,y)' for the nodes and direction specifiers.  This
generalization of John Hobby's spline algorithm is shape-invariant under
three-dimensional rotation, scaling, and shifting, and reduces in the
planar case to the two-dimensional algorithm used in `Asymptote',
`MetaPost', and `MetaFont' [cf. J. C. Bowman, Proceedings in Applied
Mathematics and Mechanics, 7:1, 2010021-2010022 (2007)].

   For example, a unit circle in the XY plane may be filled and drawn
like this:

import three;

size(100);

path3 g=(1,0,0)..(0,1,0)..(-1,0,0)..(0,-1,0)..cycle;
draw(g);
draw(O--Z,red+dashed,Arrow3);
draw(((-1,-1,0)--(1,-1,0)--(1,1,0)--(-1,1,0)--cycle));
dot(g,red);


and then distorted into a saddle:

import three;

size(100,0);
path3 g=(1,0,0)..(0,1,1)..(-1,0,0)..(0,-1,1)..cycle;
draw(g);
draw(((-1,-1,0)--(1,-1,0)--(1,1,0)--(-1,1,0)--cycle));
dot(g,red);


Module `three' provides constructors for converting two-dimensional
paths to three-dimensional ones, and vice-versa: 
path3 path3(path p, triple plane(pair)=XYplane);
path path(path3 p, pair P(triple)=xypart);

   A Bezier surface, the natural two-dimensional generalization of
Bezier curves, is defined in `three_surface.asy' as a structure
containing an array of Bezier patches. Surfaces may drawn with one of
the routines
void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, surface s, int nu=1, int nv=1,
          material surfacepen=currentpen, pen meshpen=nullpen,
          light light=currentlight, light meshlight=light, string name="");
void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, surface s, int nu=1, int nv=1,
          material[] surfacepen, pen meshpen,
          light light=currentlight, light meshlight=light, string name="");
void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, surface s, int nu=1, int nv=1,
          material[] surfacepen, pen[] meshpen=nullpens,
          light light=currentlight, light meshlight=light, string name="");
 The parameters `nu' and `nv' specify the number of subdivisions for
drawing optional mesh lines for each Bezier patch. The optional `name'
parameter is used as a prefix for naming the surface patches in the PRC
model tree.  Here material is a structure defined in `three_light.asy':
struct material {
  pen[] p; // diffusepen,ambientpen,emissivepen,specularpen
  real opacity;
  real shininess;
  real granularity;
...
}
 These material properties are used to implement `OpenGL'-style
lighting, based on the Phong-Blinn specular model. Sample Bezier
surfaces are contained in the example files `BezierSurface.asy',
`teapot.asy', and `parametricsurface.asy'.

   The examples `elevation.asy' and `sphericalharmonic.asy' illustrate
how to draw a surface with patch-dependent colors.  The examples
`vertexshading' and `smoothelevation' illustrate vertex-dependent
colors, which is supported for both `Asymptote''s native `OpenGL'
renderer and two-dimensional projections. Since the PRC output format
does not currently support vertex shading of Bezier surfaces, PRC
patches are shaded with the mean of the four vertex colors.

   A surface can be constructed from a cyclic `path3' with the
constructor
surface surface(path3 external, triple[] internal=new triple[],
                triple[] normals=new triple[], pen[] colors=new pen[],
                bool3 planar=default);
 and then filled:
draw(surface(path3(polygon(5))),red,nolight);
draw(surface(unitcircle3),red,nolight);
draw(surface(unitcircle3,new pen[] {red,green,blue,black}),nolight);
 The last example constructs a patch with vertex-specific colors.  A
three-dimensional planar surface in the plane `plane' can be
constructed from a two-dimensional cyclic path `g' with the constructor 
surface surface(path p, triple plane(pair)=XYplane);
 and then filled:
draw(surface((0,0)--E+2N--2E--E+N..0.2E..cycle),red);
 Planar Bezier surfaces patches are constructed using Orest Shardt's
`bezulate' routine, which decomposes (possibly nonsimply connected)
regions bounded by nonselfintersecting cyclic paths (according to the
`zerowinding' fill rule) into subregions bounded by cyclic paths of
length `4' or less.

   Arbitrary thick three-dimensional curves and line caps (which the
`OpenGL' standard does not require implementations to provide) are
constructed with
tube tube(path3 p, real width, real granularity=tubegranularity);
 this returns a tube structure representing a tube of diameter `width'
centered approximately on `g'. The tube structure consists of a surface
`s' and the actual tube center, path3 `center'.  Drawing thick lines as
tubes can be slow to render, especially with the `Adobe Reader'
renderer. The setting `thick=false' can be used to disable this feature
and force all lines to be drawn with `linewidth(0)' (one pixel wide,
regardless of the resolution). By default, mesh and contour lines in
three-dimensions are always drawn thin, unless an explicit line width
is given in the pen parameter or the setting `thin' is set to `false'.
The pens `thin()' and `thick()' defined in plain_pens.asy can also be
used to override these defaults for specific draw commands.

There are four choices for viewing 3D `Asymptote' output:
  1. Use the native `Asymptote' adaptive `OpenGL'-based renderer (with
     the command-line option `-V' and the default settings
     `outformat=""' and `render=-1'). If you encounter warnings from
     your graphics card driver, try specifying `-glOptions=-indirect'
     on the command line. On `UNIX' systems with graphics support for
     multisampling, we recommend installing the latest SVN (antialiased)
     version of the `freeglut' library (*note multisampling::); the
     sample width can be controlled with the setting `multisample'. An
     initial screen position can be specified with the pair setting
     `position', where negative values are interpreted as relative to
     the corresponding maximum screen dimension. The default settings import settings;
     leftbutton=new string[] {"rotate","zoom","shift","pan"};
     middlebutton=new string[] {"menu"};
     rightbutton=new string[] {"zoom/menu","rotateX","rotateY","rotateZ"};
     wheelup=new string[] {"zoomin"};
     wheeldown=new string[] {"zoomout"};
      bind the mouse buttons as follows:
        * Left: rotate

        * Shift Left: zoom

        * Ctrl Left: shift viewport

        * Alt Left: pan

        * Middle: menu (must be unmodified; ignores Shift, Ctrl, and
          Alt)

        * Wheel Up: zoom in

        * Wheel Down: zoom out

        * Right: zoom/menu (must be unmodified)

        * Right double click: menu

        * Shift Right: rotate about the X axis

        * Ctrl Right: rotate about the Y axis

        * Alt Right: rotate about the Z axis

     The keyboard shortcuts are: 
        * h: home

        * f: toggle fitscreen

        * x: spin about the X axis

        * y: spin about the Y axis

        * z: spin about the Z axis

        * s: stop spinning

        * m: rendering mode (solid/mesh/patch)

        * e: export

        * c: show camera parameters

        * p: play animation

        * r: reverse animation

        * : step animation

        * +: expand

        * =: expand

        * >: expand

        * -: shrink

        * _: shrink

        * <: shrink

        * q: exit

        * Ctrl-q: exit

  2. Render the scene to a specified rasterized format `outformat' at
     the resolution of `n' pixels per `bp', as specified by the setting
     `render=n'. A negative value of `n' is interpreted as `|2n|' for
     EPS and PDF formats and `|n|' for other formats. The default value
     of `render' is -1.  By default, the scene is internally rendered
     at twice the specified resolution; this can be disabled by setting
     `antialias=1'.  High resolution rendering is done by tiling the
     image. If your graphics card allows it, the rendering can be made
     more efficient by increasing the maximum tile size `maxtile'
     beyond the screen dimensions (indicated by `maxtile=(0,0)'. The
     tile size is also limited by the setting `maxviewport', which
     restricts the maximum width and height of the viewport. On `UNIX'
     systems some graphics drivers support batch mode (`-noV')
     rendering in an iconified window; this can be enabled with the
     setting `iconify=true'.  Some (broken) `UNIX' graphics drivers may
     require the command line setting `-glOptions=-indirect', which
     requests (slower) indirect rendering.

  3. Embed the 3D PRC format in a PDF file and view the resulting PDF
     file with version `8.0' or later of `Adobe Reader'.  In addition
     to the default `settings.prc=true', this requires
     `settings.outformat="pdf"', which can be specified by the command
     line option `-f pdf', put in the `Asymptote' configuration file
     (*note configuration file::), or specified in the script before
     `three.asy' (or `graph3.asy') is imported.  Version 2008/10/08 or
     later of the `movie15' package is also required (*note embed::).
     The example `pdb.asy' illustrates how one can generate a list of
     predefined views (see `100d.views').  A stationary preview image
     with a resolution of `n' pixels per `bp' can be embedded with the
     setting `render=n'; this allows the file to be viewed with other
     `PDF' viewers. Alternatively, the file `externalprc.tex'
     illustrates how the resulting PRC and rendered image files can be
     extracted and processed in a separate `LaTeX' file. However, see
     *note LaTeX usage:: for an easier way to embed three-dimensional
     `Asymptote' pictures within `LaTeX'.  The open-source PRC
     specification is available from
     `http://livedocs.adobe.com/acrobat_sdk/9/Acrobat9_HTMLHelp/API_References/PRCReference/PRC_Format_Specification/'.

  4. Project the scene to a two-dimensional vector (EPS or PDF) format
     with `render=0'. Only limited hidden surface removal facilities
     are currently available with this approach (*note PostScript3D::).


   Automatic picture sizing in three dimensions is accomplished with
double deferred drawing. The maximal desired dimensions of the scene in
each of the three dimensions can optionally be specified with the
routine 
void size3(picture pic=currentpicture, real x, real y=x, real z=y,
          bool keepAspect=pic.keepAspect);
 The resulting simplex linear programming problem is then solved to
produce a 3D version of a frame (actually implemented as a 3D picture).
The result is then fit with another application of deferred drawing to
the viewport dimensions corresponding to the usual two-dimensional
picture `size' parameters. The global pair `viewportmargin' may be used
to add horizontal and vertical margins to the viewport dimensions.
Alternatively, a minimum `viewportsize' may be specified.

   For convenience, the `three' module defines `O=(0,0,0)',
`X=(1,0,0)', `Y=(0,1,0)', and `Z=(0,0,1)', along with a unitcircle in
the XY plane:
path3 unitcircle3=X..Y..-X..-Y..cycle;

   A general (approximate) circle can be drawn perpendicular to the
direction `normal' with the routine
path3 circle(triple c, real r, triple normal=Z);

   A circular arc centered at `c' with radius `r' from
`c+r*dir(theta1,phi1)' to `c+r*dir(theta2,phi2)', drawing
counterclockwise relative to the normal vector
`cross(dir(theta1,phi1),dir(theta2,phi2))' if `theta2 > theta1' or if
`theta2 == theta1' and `phi2 >= phi1', can be constructed with
path3 arc(triple c, real r, real theta1, real phi1, real theta2, real phi2,
          triple normal=O);
 The normal must be explicitly specified if `c' and the endpoints are
colinear. If `r' < 0, the complementary arc of radius `|r|' is
constructed.  For convenience, an arc centered at `c' from triple `v1'
to `v2' (assuming `|v2-c|=|v1-c|') in the direction CCW
(counter-clockwise) or CW (clockwise) may also be constructed with
path3 arc(triple c, triple v1, triple v2, triple normal=O,
          bool direction=CCW);
 When high accuracy is needed, the routines `Circle' and `Arc' defined
in `graph3' may be used instead.  See *note GaussianSurface:: for an
example of a three-dimensional circular arc.

   The representation `O--O+u--O+u+v--O+v--cycle' of the plane passing
through point `O' with normal `cross(u,v)' is returned by
path3 plane(triple u, triple v, triple O=O);
 A three-dimensional box with opposite vertices at triples `v1' and
`v2' may be drawn with the function 
path3[] box(triple v1, triple v2);
 For example, a unit box is predefined as 
path3[] unitbox=box(O,(1,1,1));
 `Asymptote' also provides optimized definitions for the
three-dimensional paths `unitsquare3' and `unitcircle3', along with the
surfaces `unitdisk', `unitplane', `unitcube', `unitcylinder',
`unitcone', `unitsolidcone', `unitfrustum(real t1, real t2)',
`unitsphere', and `unithemisphere'.

These projections to two dimensions are predefined:
`oblique'

`oblique(real angle)'
     The point `(x,y,z)' is projected to `(x-0.5z,y-0.5z)'.  If an
     optional real argument is given, the negative z axis is drawn at
     this angle in degrees.  The projection `obliqueZ' is a synonym for
     `oblique'.

`obliqueX'

`obliqueX(real angle)'
     The point `(x,y,z)' is projected to `(y-0.5x,z-0.5x)'.  If an
     optional real argument is given, the negative x axis is drawn at
     this angle in degrees.

`obliqueY'

`obliqueY(real angle)'
     The point `(x,y,z)' is projected to `(x+0.5y,z+0.5y)'.  If an
     optional real argument is given, the positive y axis is drawn at
     this angle in degrees.

`orthographic(triple camera, triple up=Z, triple target=O,
     real zoom=1, pair viewportshift=0, bool showtarget=true,
     bool center=false)'
     This projects from three to two dimensions using the view as seen
     at a point infinitely far away in the direction `unit(camera)',
     orienting the camera so that, if possible, the vector `up' points
     upwards. Parallel lines are projected to parallel lines. The
     bounding volume is expanded to include `target' if
     `showtarget=true'.  If `center=true', the target will be adjusted
     to the center of the bounding volume.

`orthographic(real x, real y, real z, triple up=Z, triple target=O,
     real zoom=1, pair viewportshift=0, bool showtarget=true,
     bool center=false)'
     This is equivalent to orthographic((x,y,z),up,target,zoom,viewportshift,showtarget,center)

`perspective(triple camera, triple up=Z, triple target=O,
     real zoom=1, real angle=0, pair viewportshift=0,
     bool showtarget=true, bool autoadjust=true,
     bool center=autoadjust)'
     This projects from three to two dimensions, taking account of
     perspective, as seen from the location `camera' looking at
     `target', orienting the camera so that, if possible, the vector
     `up' points upwards.  If `render=0', projection of
     three-dimensional cubic Bezier splines is implemented by
     approximating a two-dimensional nonuniform rational B-spline
     (NURBS) with a two-dimensional Bezier curve containing additional
     nodes and control points. If `autoadjust=true', the camera will
     automatically be adjusted to lie outside the bounding volume for
     all possible interactive rotations about `target'.  If
     `center=true', the target will be adjusted to the center of the
     bounding volume.

`perspective(real x, real y, real z, triple up=Z, triple target=O,
     real zoom=1, real angle=0, pair viewportshift=0,
     bool showtarget=true, bool autoadjust=true,
     bool center=autoadjust)'
     This is equivalent to perspective((x,y,z),up,target,zoom,angle,viewportshift,showtarget,
                 autoadjust,center)

The default projection, `currentprojection', is initially set to
`perspective(5,4,2)'.

   We also define standard orthographic views used in technical drawing:
projection LeftView=orthographic(-X,showtarget=true);
projection RightView=orthographic(X,showtarget=true);
projection FrontView=orthographic(-Y,showtarget=true);
projection BackView=orthographic(Y,showtarget=true);
projection BottomView=orthographic(-Z,showtarget=true);
projection TopView=orthographic(Z,showtarget=true);
 The function
void addViews(picture dest=currentpicture, picture src, bool group=true,
              filltype filltype=NoFill);
 adds picture `pic' as seen with `FrontView' aligned above the
projection `TopView' and to the right of the projection `RightView'.
Alternatively, the function
void addAllViews(picture dest=currentpicture, picture src,
                 real xmargin=0, real ymargin=xmargin,
                 bool group=true, filltype filltype=NoFill);
 may be used to exhibit all six standard views, with FrontView,
TopView, RightView in the upper row and BackView, BottomView, LeftView
in the lower row.

   A triple or path3 can be projected to a pair or path, with
`project(triple, projection P=currentprojection)' or `project(path3,
projection P=currentprojection)'.

   It is occasionally useful to be able to invert a projection, sending
a pair `z' onto the plane perpendicular to `normal' and passing through
`point': 
triple invert(pair z, triple normal, triple point,
              projection P=currentprojection);
 A pair `z' on the projection plane can be inverted to a triple with
the routine
triple invert(pair z, projection P=currentprojection);
 A pair direction `dir' on the projection plane can be inverted to a
triple direction relative to a point `v' with the routine
triple invert(pair dir, triple v, projection P=currentprojection).

   Three-dimensional objects may be transformed with one of the
following built-in transform3 types:

`shift(triple v)'
     translates by the triple `v';

`xscale3(real x)'
     scales by `x' in the x direction;

`yscale3(real y)'
     scales by `y' in the y direction;

`zscale3(real z)'
     scales by `z' in the z direction;

`scale3(real s)'
     scales by `s' in the x, y, and z directions;

`scale(real x, real y, real z)'
     scales by `x' in the x direction, by `y' in the y direction, and
     by `z' in the z direction;

`rotate(real angle, triple v)'
     rotates by `angle' in degrees about an axis `v' through the origin;

`rotate(real angle, triple u, triple v)'
     rotates by `angle' in degrees about the axis `u--v';

`reflect(triple u, triple v, triple w)'
     reflects about the plane through `u', `v', and `w'.

   Three-dimensional TeX Labels, which are by default drawn as Bezier
surfaces directly on the projection plane, can be transformed from the
`XY' plane by any of the above transforms or mapped to a specified
two-dimensional plane with the transform3 types `XY', `YZ', `ZX', `YX',
`ZY', `ZX'. There are also modified versions of these transforms that
take an optional argument `projection P=currentprojection' that rotate
and/or flip the label so that it is more readable from the initial
viewpoint.

   A transform3 that projects in the direction `dir' onto the plane
with normal `n' through point `O' is returned by
transform3 planeproject(triple n, triple O=O, triple dir=n);
 One can use 
triple normal(path3 p);
 to find the unit normal vector to a planar three-dimensional path `p'.
As illustrated in the example `planeproject.asy', a transform3 that
projects in the direction `dir' onto the plane defined by a planar path
`p' is returned by
transform3 planeproject(path3 p, triple dir=normal(p));

   The functions 
surface extrude(path p, triple axis=Z);
surface extrude(Label L, triple axis=Z);
 return the surface obtained by extruding path `p' or Label `L' along
`axis'.

   Three-dimensional versions of the path functions `length', `size',
`point', `dir', `accel', `radius', `precontrol', `postcontrol',
`arclength', `arctime', `reverse', `subpath', `intersect',
`intersections', `intersectionpoint', `intersectionpoints', `min',
`max', `cyclic', and `straight' are also defined.

   The routine 
real[][] intersections(path3 p, surface s, real fuzz=-1);
 returns the intersection times of a path `p' with a surface `s' as a
sorted array of real arrays of length 2, and 
triple[] intersectionpoints(path3 p, surface s, real fuzz=-1);
 returns the corresponding intersection points.  Here, the computations
are performed to the absolute error specified by `fuzz', or if `fuzz <
0', to machine precision.

   Here is an example showing all five guide3 connectors:

import graph3;

size(200);

currentprojection=orthographic(500,-500,500);

triple[] z=new triple[10];

z[0]=(0,100,0); z[1]=(50,0,0); z[2]=(180,0,0);

for(int n=3; n <= 9; ++n)
  z[n]=z[n-3]+(200,0,0);

path3 p=z[0]..z[1]---z[2]::{Y}z[3]
&z[3]..z[4]--z[5]::{Y}z[6]
&z[6]::z[7]---z[8]..{Y}z[9];

draw(p,grey+linewidth(4mm)+opacity(0.5));

xaxis3(Label(XY()*"$x$",align=-3Y),red,above=true);
yaxis3(Label(XY()*"$y$",align=-3X),red,above=true);

dot(z);



Three-dimensional versions of bars or arrows can be drawn with one of
the specifiers `None', `Blank', `BeginBar3', `EndBar3' (or equivalently
`Bar3'), `Bars3', `BeginArrow3', `MidArrow3', `EndArrow3' (or
equivalently `Arrow3'), `Arrows3', `BeginArcArrow3', `EndArcArrow3' (or
equivalently `ArcArrow3'), `MidArcArrow3', and `ArcArrows3'.
Three-dimensional bars accept the optional arguments `(real size=0,
triple dir=O)'. If `size=O', the default bar length is used; if
`dir=O', the bar is drawn perpendicular to the path and the initial
viewing direction. The predefined three-dimensional arrowhead styles
are `DefaultHead3', `HookHead3', `TeXHead3'.  Versions of the
two-dimensional arrowheads lifted to three-dimensional space and
aligned according to the initial viewpoint (or an optionally specified
`normal' vector) are also defined: `DefaultHead2(triple normal=O)',
`HookHead2(triple normal=O)', `TeXHead2(triple normal=O)'. These are
illustrated in the example `arrows3.asy'.

   Module `three' also defines the three-dimensional margins
`NoMargin3', `BeginMargin3', `EndMargin3', `Margin3', `Margins3',
`BeginPenMargin2', `EndPenMargin2', `PenMargin2', `PenMargins2',
`BeginPenMargin3', `EndPenMargin3', `PenMargin3', `PenMargins3',
`BeginDotMargin3', `EndDotMargin3', `DotMargin3', `DotMargins3',
`Margin3', and `TrueMargin3'.

   Further three-dimensional examples are provided in the files
`near_earth.asy', `conicurv.asy', and (in the `animations'
subdirectory) `cube.asy'.

   Limited support for projected vector graphics (effectively
three-dimensional nonrendered `PostScript') is available with the
setting `render=0'. This currently only works for piecewise planar
surfaces, such as those produced by the parametric `surface' routines
in the `graph3' module. Surfaces produced by the `solids' package will
also be properly rendered if the parameter `nslices' is sufficiently
large.

   In the module `bsp', hidden surface removal of planar pictures is
implemented using a binary space partition and picture clipping.  A
planar path is first converted to a structure `face' derived from
`picture'. A `face' may be given to a two-dimensional drawing routine
in place of any `picture' argument.  An array of such faces may then be
drawn, removing hidden surfaces:
void add(picture pic=currentpicture, face[] faces,
         projection P=currentprojection);
 Labels may be projected to two dimensions, using projection `P', onto
the plane passing through point `O' with normal `cross(u,v)' by
multiplying it on the left by the transform
transform transform(triple u, triple v, triple O=O,
                    projection P=currentprojection);

   Here is an example that shows how a binary space partition may be
used to draw a two-dimensional vector graphics projection of three
orthogonal intersecting planes:

size(6cm,0);
import bsp;

real u=2.5;
real v=1;

currentprojection=oblique;

path3 y=plane((2u,0,0),(0,2v,0),(-u,-v,0));
path3 l=rotate(90,Z)*rotate(90,Y)*y;
path3 g=rotate(90,X)*rotate(90,Y)*y;

face[] faces;
filldraw(faces.push(y),project(y),yellow);
filldraw(faces.push(l),project(l),lightgrey);
filldraw(faces.push(g),project(g),green);

add(faces);




File: asymptote.info,  Node: obj,  Next: graph3,  Prev: three,  Up: Base modules

8.30 `obj'
==========

This module allows one to construct surfaces from simple obj files, as
illustrated in the example files `galleon.asy' and `triceratops.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: graph3,  Next: grid3,  Prev: obj,  Up: Base modules

8.31 `graph3'
=============

This module implements three-dimensional versions of the functions in
`graph.asy'.  To draw an x axis in three dimensions, use the routine
void xaxis3(picture pic=currentpicture, Label L="", axis axis=YZZero,
            real xmin=-infinity, real xmax=infinity, pen p=currentpen,
            ticks3 ticks=NoTicks3, arrowbar3 arrow=None, bool above=false);
 Analogous routines `yaxis' and `zaxis' can be used to draw y and z
axes in three dimensions.  There is also a routine for drawing all
three axis:
void axes3(picture pic=currentpicture,
           Label xlabel="", Label ylabel="", Label zlabel="",
           triple min=(-infinity,-infinity,-infinity),
           triple max=(infinity,infinity,infinity),
           pen p=currentpen, arrowbar3 arrow=None);

The predefined three-dimensional axis types are
axis YZEquals(real y, real z, triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis XZEquals(real x, real z, triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis XYEquals(real x, real y, triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis YZZero(triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis XZZero(triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis XYZero(triple align=O, bool extend=false);
axis Bounds(int type=Both, int type2=Both, triple align=O, bool extend=false);
 The optional `align' parameter to these routines can be used to
specify the default axis and tick label alignments. The `Bounds' axis
accepts two type parameters, each of which must be one of `Min', `Max',
or `Both'. These parameters specify which of the four possible
three-dimensional bounding box edges should be drawn.

   The three-dimensional tick options are `NoTicks3', `InTicks',
`OutTicks', and `InOutTicks'. These specify the tick directions for the
`Bounds' axis type; other axis types inherit the direction that would
be used for the `Bounds(Min,Min)' axis.

   Here is an example of a helix and bounding box axes with ticks and
axis labels, using orthographic projection:

import graph3;

size(0,200);
size3(200,IgnoreAspect);

currentprojection=orthographic(4,6,3);

real x(real t) {return cos(2pi*t);}
real y(real t) {return sin(2pi*t);}
real z(real t) {return t;}

path3 p=graph(x,y,z,0,2.7,operator ..);

draw(p,Arrow3);

scale(true);

xaxis3(XZ()*"$x$",Bounds,red,InTicks(Label,2,2));
yaxis3(YZ()*"$y$",Bounds,red,InTicks(beginlabel=false,Label,2,2));
zaxis3(XZ()*"$z$",Bounds,red,InTicks);



The next example illustrates three-dimensional x, y, and z axes,
without autoscaling of the axis limits: 

import graph3;

size(0,200);
size3(200,IgnoreAspect);

currentprojection=perspective(5,2,2);

scale(Linear,Linear,Log);

xaxis3("$x$",0,1,red,OutTicks(2,2));
yaxis3("$y$",0,1,red,OutTicks(2,2));
zaxis3("$z$",1,30,red,OutTicks(beginlabel=false));



One can also place ticks along a general three-dimensional axis: 

import graph3;

size(0,100);

path3 g=yscale3(2)*unitcircle3;
currentprojection=perspective(10,10,10);

axis(Label("C",position=0,align=15X),g,InTicks(endlabel=false,8,end=false),
     ticklocate(0,360,new real(real v) {
         path3 h=O--max(abs(max(g)),abs(min(g)))*dir(90,v);
         return intersect(g,h)[0];},
       new triple(real t) {return cross(dir(g,t),Z);}));



Surface plots of matrices and functions over the region `box(a,b)' in
the XY plane are also implemented:
surface surface(real[][] f, pair a, pair b, bool[][] cond={});
surface surface(real[][] f, pair a, pair b, splinetype xsplinetype,
                splinetype ysplinetype=xsplinetype, bool[][] cond={});
surface surface(real[][] f, real[] x, real[] y,
                splinetype xsplinetype=null, splinetype ysplinetype=xsplinetype,
                bool[][] cond={})
surface surface(triple[][] f, bool[][] cond={});
surface surface(real f(pair z), pair a, pair b, int nx=nmesh, int ny=nx,
                bool cond(pair z)=null);
surface surface(real f(pair z), pair a, pair b, int nx=nmesh, int ny=nx,
                splinetype xsplinetype, splinetype ysplinetype=xsplinetype,
                bool cond(pair z)=null);
surface surface(triple f(pair z), real[] u, real[] v,
                splinetype[] usplinetype, splinetype[] vsplinetype=Spline,
                bool cond(pair z)=null);
surface surface(triple f(pair z), pair a, pair b, int nu=nmesh, int nv=nu,
                bool cond(pair z)=null);
surface surface(triple f(pair z), pair a, pair b, int nu=nmesh, int nv=nu,
                splinetype[] usplinetype, splinetype[] vsplinetype=Spline,
                bool cond(pair z)=null);
 The final two versions draw parametric surfaces for a function f(u,v)
over the parameter space `box(a,b)', as illustrated in the example
`parametricsurface.asy'.  An optional splinetype `Spline' may be
specified.  The boolean array or function `cond' can be used to control
which surface mesh cells are actually drawn (by default all mesh cells
over `box(a,b)' are drawn).  Surface lighting is illustrated in the
example files `parametricsurface.asy' and `sinc.asy'.  Lighting can be
disabled by setting `light=nolight', as in this example of a Gaussian
surface:

import graph3;

size(200,0);

currentprojection=perspective(10,8,4);

real f(pair z) {return 0.5+exp(-abs(z)^2);}

draw((-1,-1,0)--(1,-1,0)--(1,1,0)--(-1,1,0)--cycle);

draw(arc(0.12Z,0.2,90,60,90,25),ArcArrow3);

surface s=surface(f,(-1,-1),(1,1),nx=5,Spline);

xaxis3(Label("$x$"),red,Arrow3);
yaxis3(Label("$y$"),red,Arrow3);
zaxis3(XYZero(extend=true),red,Arrow3);

draw(s,lightgray,meshpen=black+thick(),nolight);

label("$O$",O,-Z+Y,red);


A mesh can be drawn without surface filling by specifying `nullpen' for
the surfacepen.

   A vector field of `nu'\times`nv' arrows on a parametric surface `f'
over `box(a,b)' can be drawn with the routine 
picture vectorfield(path3 vector(pair v), triple f(pair z), pair a, pair b,
                    int nu=nmesh, int nv=nu, bool truesize=false,
                    real maxlength=truesize ? 0 : maxlength(f,a,b,nu,nv),
                    bool cond(pair z)=null, pen p=currentpen,
                    arrowbar3 arrow=Arrow3, margin3 margin=PenMargin3)
 as illustrated in the examples `vectorfield3.asy' and
`vectorfieldsphere.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: grid3,  Next: solids,  Prev: graph3,  Up: Base modules

8.32 `grid3'
============

This module, contributed by Philippe Ivaldi, can be used for drawing 3D
grids. Here is an example (further examples can be found in `grid3.asy'
and at `http://www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/grid3/'):

import grid3;

size(8cm,0,IgnoreAspect);
currentprojection=orthographic(0.5,1,0.5);

scale(Linear, Linear, Log);

limits((-2,-2,1),(0,2,100));

grid3(XYZgrid);

xaxis3(Label("$x$",position=EndPoint,align=S),Bounds(Min,Min),
       OutTicks());
yaxis3(Label("$y$",position=EndPoint,align=S),Bounds(Min,Min),OutTicks());
zaxis3(Label("$z$",position=EndPoint,align=(-1,0.5)),Bounds(Min,Min),
       OutTicks(beginlabel=false));




File: asymptote.info,  Node: solids,  Next: tube,  Prev: grid3,  Up: Base modules

8.33 `solids'
=============

This solid geometry package defines a structure `revolution' that can
be used to fill and draw surfaces of revolution. The following example
uses it to display the outline of a circular cylinder of radius 1 with
axis `O--1.5unit(Y+Z)' with perspective projection:

import solids;

size(0,100);

revolution r=cylinder(O,1,1.5,Y+Z);
draw(r,heavygreen);



Further illustrations are provided in the example files `cylinder.asy',
`cones.asy', `hyperboloid.asy', and `torus.asy'.

   The structure `skeleton' contains the three-dimensional wireframe
used to visualize a volume of revolution:
struct skeleton {
  struct curve {
    path3[] front;
    path3[] back;
  }
  // transverse skeleton (perpendicular to axis of revolution)
  curve transverse;
  // longitudinal skeleton (parallel to axis of revolution)
  curve longitudinal;
}


File: asymptote.info,  Node: tube,  Next: flowchart,  Prev: solids,  Up: Base modules

8.34 `tube'
===========

This package extends the `tube' surfaces constructed in
`three_arrows.asy' to arbitrary cross sections, colors, and spine
transformations. The routine
surface tube(path3 g, coloredpath section,
             transform T(real)=new transform(real t) {return identity();},
             real corner=1, real relstep=0);
 draws a tube along `g' with cross section `section', after applying
the transformation `T(t)' at `relpoint(g,t)'.  The parameter `corner'
controls the number of elementary tubes at the angular points of `g'. A
nonzero value of `relstep' specifies a fixed relative time step (in the
sense of `relpoint(g,t)') to use in constructing elementary tubes along
`g'.  The type `coloredpath' is a generalization of `path' to which a
`path' can be cast: 
struct coloredpath
{
  path p;
  pen[] pens(real);
  int colortype=coloredSegments;
}
 Here `p' defines the cross section and the method `pens(real t)'
returns an array of pens (interpreted as a cyclic array) used for
shading the tube patches at `relpoint(g,t)'. If
`colortype=coloredSegments', the tube patches are filled as if each
segment of the section was colored with the pen returned by `pens(t)',
whereas if `colortype=coloredNodes', the tube components are vertex
shaded as if the nodes of the section were colored.

   A `coloredpath' can be constructed with one of the routines:
coloredpath coloredpath(path p, pen[] pens(real),
                        int colortype=coloredSegments);
coloredpath coloredpath(path p, pen[] pens=new pen[] {currentpen},
                        int colortype=coloredSegments);
coloredpath coloredpath(path p, pen pen(real));
 In the second case, the pens are independent of the relative time.  In
the third case, the array of pens contains only one pen, which depends
of the relative time.

   The casting of `path' to `coloredpath' allows the use of a `path'
instead of a `coloredpath'; in this case the shading behaviour is the
default shading behavior for a surface.

   An example of `tube' is provided in the file `trefoilknot.asy'.
Further examples can be found at
`http://www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/tube/'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: flowchart,  Next: contour,  Prev: tube,  Up: Base modules

8.35 `flowchart'
================

This package provides routines for drawing flowcharts. The primary
structure is a `block', which represents a single block on the
flowchart. The following eight functions return a position on the
appropriate edge of the block, given picture transform `t':

pair block.top(transform t=identity());
pair block.left(transform t=identity());
pair block.right(transform t=identity());
pair block.bottom(transform t=identity());
pair block.topleft(transform t=identity());
pair block.topright(transform t=identity());
pair block.bottomleft(transform t=identity());
pair block.bottomright(transform t=identity());
 

To obtain an arbitrary position along the boundary of the block in user
coordinates, use:
pair block.position(real x, transform t=identity());
 

The center of the block in user coordinates is stored in `block.center'
and the block size in `PostScript' coordinates is given by `block.size'.

A frame containing the block is returned by
frame block.draw(pen p=currentpen);
 

   The following block generation routines accept a Label, string, or
frame for their object argument:

"rectangular block with an optional header (and padding `dx' around header and body):"
     block rectangle(object header, object body, pair center=(0,0),
                     pen headerpen=mediumgray, pen bodypen=invisible,
                     pen drawpen=currentpen,
                     real dx=3, real minheaderwidth=minblockwidth,
                     real minheaderheight=minblockwidth,
                     real minbodywidth=minblockheight,
                     real minbodyheight=minblockheight);
     block rectangle(object body, pair center=(0,0),
                     pen fillpen=invisible, pen drawpen=currentpen,
                     real dx=3, real minwidth=minblockwidth,
                     real minheight=minblockheight);

"diamond-shaped flowchart block:"
     block diamond(object body, pair center=(0,0),
                   pen fillpen=invisible, pen drawpen=currentpen,
                   real ds=5, real dw=1,
                   real height=20, real minwidth=minblockwidth,
                   real minheight=minblockheight);

"circular flowchart block:"
     block circle(object body, pair center=(0,0), pen fillpen=invisible,
                  pen drawpen=currentpen, real dr=3,
                  real mindiameter=mincirclediameter);

"rectangular flowchart block with rounded corners:"
     block roundrectangle(object body, pair center=(0,0),
                          pen fillpen=invisible, pen drawpen=currentpen,
                          real ds=5, real dw=0, real minwidth=minblockwidth,
                          real minheight=minblockheight);

"rectangular flowchart block with beveled edges:"
     block bevel(object body, pair center=(0,0), pen fillpen=invisible,
                 pen drawpen=currentpen, real dh=5, real dw=5,
                 real minwidth=minblockwidth, real minheight=minblockheight);


   To draw paths joining the pairs in `point' with right-angled lines,
use the routine: 
path path(pair point[] ... flowdir dir[]);
 The entries in `dir' identify whether successive segments between the
pairs specified by `point' should be drawn in the `Horizontal' or
`Vertical' direction.

   Here is a simple flowchart example:

size(0,300);

import flowchart;

block block1=rectangle(Label("Example",magenta),
		       pack(Label("Start:",heavygreen),"",Label("$A:=0$",blue),
			    "$B:=1$"),(-0.5,3),palegreen,paleblue,red);
block block2=diamond(Label("Choice?",blue),(0,2),palegreen,red);
block block3=roundrectangle("Do something",(-1,1));
block block4=bevel("Don't do something",(1,1));
block block5=circle("End",(0,0));

draw(block1);
draw(block2);
draw(block3);
draw(block4);
draw(block5);

add(new void(picture pic, transform t) {
    draw(pic,path(new pair[]{block1.right(t),block2.top(t)},Horizontal),
         Arrow,PenMargin);
    draw(pic,Label("Yes",0.5,NW),path(new pair[]{block2.left(t),block3.top(t)},
                                   Horizontal),Arrow,PenMargin);
    draw(pic,Label("No",0.5,NE),path(new pair[]{block2.right(t),block4.top(t)},
                                    Horizontal),Arrow,PenMargin);
    draw(pic,path(new pair[]{block3.bottom(t),block5.left(t)},Vertical),
         Arrow,PenMargin);
    draw(pic,path(new pair[]{block4.bottom(t),block5.right(t)},Vertical),
         Arrow,PenMargin);
  });




File: asymptote.info,  Node: contour,  Next: contour3,  Prev: flowchart,  Up: Base modules

8.36 `contour'
==============

This package draws contour lines.  To construct contours corresponding
to the values in an array `c' for a function `f' on `box(a,b)', use
guide[][] contour(real f(real, real), pair a, pair b,
                  real[] c, int nx=ngraph, int ny=nx,
                  interpolate join=operator --);
 The integers `nx' and `ny' define the resolution.  The default
resolution, `ngraph x ngraph' (here `ngraph' defaults to `100'), can be
increased for greater accuracy. The default interpolation operator is
`operator --' (linear). Spline interpolation (`operator ..') may
produce smoother contours but it can also lead to overshooting.

   To construct contours for an array of data values on a uniform
two-dimensional lattice on `box(a,b)', use
guide[][] contour(real[][] f, real[][] midpoint=new real[][],
                  pair a, pair b, real[] c,
                  interpolate join=operator --);

   To construct contours for an array of data values on a nonoverlapping
regular mesh specified by the two-dimensional array `z', optionally
specifying the values of `f' at the mesh midpoints, use
guide[][] contour(pair[][] z, real[][] f,
                  real[][] midpoint=new real[][], real[] c,
                  interpolate join=operator --);

 To construct contours for an array of values `f' specified at
irregularly positioned points `z', use the routine
guide[][] contour(pair[] z, real[] f, real[] c,
                  interpolate join=operator --);
 The contours themselves can be drawn with one of the routines
void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, Label[] L=new Label[],
          guide[][] g, pen p=currentpen)

void draw(picture pic=currentpicture, Label[] L=new Label[],
          guide[][] g, pen[] p)

   The following simple example draws the contour at value `1' for the
function z=x^2+y^2, which is a unit circle:

import contour;
size(75);

real f(real a, real b) {return a^2+b^2;}
draw(contour(f,(-1,-1),(1,1),new real[] {1}));



The next example draws and labels multiple contours for the function
z=x^2-y^2 with the resolution `100 x 100', using a dashed pen for
negative contours and a solid pen for positive (and zero) contours:

import contour;

size(200);

real f(real x, real y) {return x^2-y^2;}
int n=10;
real[] c=new real[n];
for(int i=0; i < n; ++i) c[i]=(i-n/2)/n;

pen[] p=sequence(new pen(int i) {
    return (c[i] >= 0 ? solid : dashed)+fontsize(6pt);
  },c.length);

Label[] Labels=sequence(new Label(int i) {
    return Label(c[i] != 0 ? (string) c[i] : "",Relative(unitrand()),(0,0),
                 UnFill(1bp));
  },c.length);

draw(Labels,contour(f,(-1,-1),(1,1),c),p);



The next example illustrates how contour lines can be drawn on color
density images:

import graph;
import palette;
import contour;

size(10cm,10cm,IgnoreAspect);

pair a=(0,0);
pair b=(2pi,2pi);

real f(real x, real y) {return cos(x)*sin(y);}

int N=200;
int Divs=10;
int divs=2;

defaultpen(1bp);
pen Tickpen=black;
pen tickpen=gray+0.5*linewidth(currentpen);
pen[] Palette=BWRainbow();

scale(false);

bounds range=image(f,Automatic,a,b,N,Palette);

// Major contours

real[] Cvals=uniform(range.min,range.max,Divs);
draw(contour(f,a,b,Cvals,N,operator --),Tickpen);

// Minor contours
real[] cvals;
for(int i=0; i < Cvals.length-1; ++i)
  cvals.append(uniform(Cvals[i],Cvals[i+1],divs)[1:divs]);
draw(contour(f,a,b,cvals,N,operator --),tickpen);

xaxis("$x$",BottomTop,LeftTicks,above=true);
yaxis("$y$",LeftRight,RightTicks,above=true);

palette("$f(x,y)$",range,point(NW)+(0,0.5),point(NE)+(0,1),Top,Palette,
        PaletteTicks(N=Divs,n=divs,Tickpen,tickpen));



Finally, here is an example that illustrates the construction of
contours from irregularly spaced data:

import contour;

size(200);

int n=100;

pair[] points=new pair[n];
real[] values=new real[n];

real f(real a, real b) {return a^2+b^2;}

real r() {return 1.1*(rand()/randMax*2-1);}

for(int i=0; i < n; ++i) {
  points[i]=(r(),r());
  values[i]=f(points[i].x,points[i].y);
}

draw(contour(points,values,new real[]{0.25,0.5,1},operator ..),blue);



In the above example, the contours of irregularly spaced data are
constructed by first creating a triangular mesh from an array `z' of
pairs:

int[][] triangulate(pair[] z);

size(200);
int np=100;
pair[] points;

real r() {return 1.2*(rand()/randMax*2-1);}

for(int i=0; i < np; ++i)
  points.push((r(),r()));

int[][] trn=triangulate(points);

for(int i=0; i < trn.length; ++i) {
  draw(points[trn[i][0]]--points[trn[i][1]]);
  draw(points[trn[i][1]]--points[trn[i][2]]);
  draw(points[trn[i][2]]--points[trn[i][0]]);
}

for(int i=0; i < np; ++i)
  dot(points[i],red);



The example `Gouraudcontour' illustrates how to produce color density
images over such irregular triangular meshes.  `Asymptote' uses a
robust version of Paul Bourke's Delaunay triangulation algorithm based
on the public-domain exact arithmetic predicates written by Jonathan
Shewchuk.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: contour3,  Next: slopefield,  Prev: contour,  Up: Base modules

8.37 `contour3'
===============

This package draws surfaces described as the null space of real-valued
functions of (x,y,z) or real[][][] matrices.  Its usage is illustrated
in the example file `magnetic.asy'.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: slopefield,  Next: ode,  Prev: contour3,  Up: Base modules

8.38 `slopefield'
=================

To draw a slope field for the differential equation dy/dx=f(x,y) (or
dy/dx=f(x)), use:
picture slopefield(real f(real,real), pair a, pair b,
                   int nx=nmesh, int ny=nx,
                   real tickfactor=0.5, pen p=currentpen,
                   arrowbar arrow=None);
 Here, the points `a' and `b' are the lower left and upper right
corners of the rectangle in which the slope field is to be drawn, `nx'
and `ny' are the respective number of ticks in the x and y directions,
`tickfactor' is the fraction of the minimum cell dimension to use for
drawing ticks, and `p' is the pen to use for drawing the slope fields.
The return value is a picture that can be added to `currentpicture' via
the `add(picture)' command.

   The function 
path curve(pair c, real f(real,real), pair a, pair b);
 takes a point (`c') and a slope field-defining function `f' and
returns, as a path, the curve passing through that point. The points
`a' and `b' represent the rectangular boundaries over which the curve
is interpolated.

   Both `slopefield' and `curve' alternatively accept a function `real
f(real)' that depends on x only, as seen in this example:

import slopefield;

size(200);

real func(real x) {return 2x;}
add(slopefield(func,(-3,-3),(3,3),20,Arrow));
draw(curve((0,0),func,(-3,-3),(3,3)),red);




File: asymptote.info,  Node: ode,  Prev: slopefield,  Up: Base modules

8.39 `ode'
==========

The `ode' module, illustrated in the example `odetest.asy', implements
a number of explicit numerical integration schemes for ordinary
differential equations.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Options,  Next: Interactive mode,  Prev: Base modules,  Up: Top

9 Command-line options
**********************

Type `asy -h' to see the full list of command-line options supported by
`Asymptote':

Usage: ../asy [options] [file ...]

Options (negate by replacing - with -no):

-V,-View              View output; command-line only
-a,-align C|B|T|Z     Center, Bottom, Top, or Zero page alignment [C]
-antialias n          Antialiasing width for rasterized output [2]
-arcballradius pixels Arcball radius [750]
-auto3D               Automatically activate 3D scene [true]
-autoimport string    Module to automatically import
-autoplain            Enable automatic importing of plain [true]
-autoplay             Autoplay 3D animations [false]
-autorotate           Enable automatic PDF page rotation [false]
-batchMask            Mask fpu exceptions in batch mode [false]
-batchView            View output in batch mode [false]
-billboard            Force unnamed labels to always face viewer [false]
-bw                   Convert all colors to black and white [false]
-cd directory         Set current directory; command-line only
-cmyk                 Convert rgb colors to cmyk [false]
-c,-command string    Command to autoexecute
-compact              Conserve memory at the expense of speed [false]
-d,-debug             Enable debugging messages [false]
-divisor n            Garbage collect using purge(divisor=n) [2]
-doubleclick ms       Emulated double-click timeout [200]
-embed                Embed rendered preview image [true]
-exitonEOF            Exit interactive mode on EOF [true]
-fitscreen            Fit rendered image to screen [true]
-framerate frames/sec Animation speed [30]
-globalwrite          Allow write to other directory [false]
-gray                 Convert all colors to grayscale [false]
-h,-help              Show summary of options; command-line only
-historylines n       Retain n lines of history [1000]
-hyperrefOptions str  LaTeX hyperref package options [setpagesize=false,unicode]
-iconify              Iconify rendering window [false]
-inlineimage          Generate inline embedded image [false]
-inlinetex            Generate inline TeX code [false]
-interactiveMask      Mask fpu exceptions in interactive mode [true]
-interactiveView      View output in interactive mode [true]
-interactiveWrite     Write expressions entered at the prompt to stdout [true]
-k,-keep              Keep intermediate files [false]
-keepaux              Keep intermediate LaTeX .aux files [false]
-level n              Postscript level [3]
-l,-listvariables     List available global functions and variables [false]
-localhistory         Use a local interactive history file [false]
-loop                 Loop 3D animations [false]
-m,-mask              Mask fpu exceptions; command-line only
-maxtile pair         Maximum rendering tile size [(0,0)]
-maxviewport pair     Maximum viewport size [(2048,2048)]
-multiline            Input code over multiple lines at the prompt [false]
-multipleView         View output from multiple batch-mode files [false]
-multisample n        Multisampling width for screen images [4]
-O,-offset pair       PostScript offset [(0,0)]
-f,-outformat format  Convert each output file to specified format
-o,-outname name      Alternative output directory/filename
-p,-parseonly         Parse file [false]
-pdfreload            Automatically reload document in pdfviewer [false]
-pdfreloaddelay usec  Delay before attempting initial pdf reload [750000]
-position pair        Initial 3D rendering screen position [(0,0)]
-prc                  Embed 3D PRC graphics in PDF output [true]
-prompt string        Prompt [> ]
-prompt2 string       Continuation prompt for multiline input  [..]
-q,-quiet             Suppress welcome message [false]
-render n             Render 3D graphics using n pixels per bp (-1=auto) [-1]
-resizestep step      Resize step [1.2]
-reverse              reverse 3D animations [false]
-rgb                  Convert cmyk colors to rgb [false]
-safe                 Disable system call [true]
-scroll n             Scroll standard output n lines at a time [0]
-spinstep deg/sec     Spin speed [60]
-tabcompletion        Interactive prompt auto-completion [true]
-tex engine           latex|pdflatex|xelatex|tex|pdftex|context|none [latex]
-thick                Render thick 3D lines [true]
-thin                 Render thin 3D lines [true]
-threads              Use POSIX threads for 3D rendering [true]
-toolbar              Show 3D toolbar in PDF output [true]
-s,-translate         Show translated virtual machine code [false]
-twice                Run LaTeX twice (to resolve references) [false]
-twosided             Use two-sided 3D lighting model for rendering [true]
-u,-user string       General purpose user string
-v,-verbose           Increase verbosity level (can specify multiple times) [0]
-version              Show version; command-line only
-wait                 Wait for child processes to finish before exiting [false]
-warn string          Enable warning; command-line only
-where                Show where listed variables are declared [false]
-zoomfactor factor    Zoom step factor [1.05]
-zoomstep step        Mouse motion zoom step [0.1]

 All boolean options can be negated by prepending `no' to the option
name.

   If no arguments are given, `Asymptote' runs in interactive mode
(*note Interactive mode::). In this case, the default output file is
`out.eps'.

   If `-' is given as the file argument, `Asymptote' reads from
standard input.

   If multiple files are specified, they are treated as separate
`Asymptote' runs.

   If the string `autoimport' is nonempty, a module with this name is
automatically imported for each run as the final step in loading module
`plain'.

   Default option values may be entered as `Asymptote' code in a
configuration file named `config.asy' (or the file specified by the
environment variable `ASYMPTOTE_CONFIG' or `-config' option).
`Asymptote' will look for this file in its usual search path (*note
Search paths::). Typically the configuration file is placed in the
`.asy' directory in the user's home directory (`%USERPROFILE%\.asy'
under `MSDOS').  Configuration variables are accessed using the long
form of the option names:
import settings;
outformat="pdf";
batchView=false;
interactiveView=true;
batchMask=false;
interactiveMask=true;
 Command-line options override these defaults. Most configuration
variables may also be changed at runtime.  The advanced configuration
variables `dvipsOptions', `convertOptions', `gsOptions',
`psviewerOptions', `pdfviewerOptions', and `glOptions' allow
specialized options to be passed as a string to the respective
applications or libraries.

   If you insert
import plain;
settings.autoplain=true;
 at the beginning of the configuration file, it can contain arbitrary
`Asymptote' code.

   The default output format is EPS for the (default) `latex' and `tex'
tex engine and PDF for the `pdflatex', `xelatex', and `context' tex
engines.  Alternative output formats may be produced using the `-f'
option (or `outformat' setting). The optional setting `-render n'
requests an output resolution of `n' pixels per `bp'. Antialiasing is
controlled by the parameter `antialias', which by default specifies a
sampling width of 2 pixels.  `Asymptote' can produce any output format
supported by the `ImageMagick' `convert' program (version 6.3.5 or
later recommended; an `Invalid Parameter' error message indicates that
the `MSDOS' utility `convert' is being used instead of the one that
comes with `ImageMagick').  To give specific options to `convert', use
the `convertOptions' setting or call convert manually. This example
emulates how `Asymptote' produces antialiased `tiff' output at one
pixel per `bp':
asy -o - venn | convert -alpha Off -density 144x144 -geometry 50%x eps:- venn.tiff

   If the option `-nosafe' is given, `Asymptote' runs in unsafe mode.
This enables the `int system(string s)' and `int system(string[] s)'
calls, allowing one to execute arbitrary shell commands. The default
mode, `-safe', disables this call.

   A `PostScript' offset may be specified as a pair (in `bp' units)
with the `-O' option:
asy -O 0,0 file
 The default offset is zero. The default value of the page alignment
setting `align' is `Center'.

   The `-c' (`command') option may be used to execute arbitrary
`Asymptote' code on the command line as a string. It is not necessary
to terminate the string with a semicolon. Multiple `-c' options are
executed in the order they are given. For example
asy -c 2+2 -c "sin(1)" -c "size(100); draw(unitsquare)"
 produces the output
4
0.841470984807897
 and draws a unitsquare of size `100'.

   The `-u' (`user') option may be used to specify arbitrary
`Asymptote' settings on the command line as a string. It is not
necessary to terminate the string with a semicolon. Multiple `-u'
options are executed in the order they are given. Command-line code like
`-u x=sqrt(2)' can be executed within a module like this:
real x;
usersetting();
write(x);

   When the `-l' (`listvariables') option is used with file arguments,
only global functions and variables defined in the specified file(s)
are listed.

   Additional debugging output is produced with each additional `-v'
option:
`-v'
     Display top-level module and final output file names.

`-vv'
     Also display imported and included module names and final `LaTeX'
     and `dvips' processing information.

`-vvv'
     Also output `LaTeX' bidirectional pipe diagnostics.

`-vvvv'
     Also output knot guide solver diagnostics.

`-vvvvv'
     Also output `Asymptote' traceback diagnostics.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Interactive mode,  Next: GUI,  Prev: Options,  Up: Top

10 Interactive mode
*******************

Interactive mode is entered by executing the command `asy' with no file
arguments. When the `-multiline' option is disabled (the default), each
line must be a complete `Asymptote' statement (unless explicitly
continued by a final backslash character `\'); it is not necessary to
terminate input lines with a semicolon.  If one assigns
`settings.multiline=true', interactive code can be entered over
multiple lines; in this mode, the automatic termination of interactive
input lines by a semicolon is inhibited. Multiline mode is useful for
cutting and pasting `Asymptote' code directly into the interactive
input buffer.

   Interactive mode can be conveniently used as a calculator:
expressions entered at the interactive prompt (for which a
corresponding `write' function exists) are automatically evaluated and
written to `stdout'.

   The following special commands are supported only in interactive mode
and must be entered immediately after the prompt:

`help'
     view the manual;

`erase'
     erase `currentpicture'; 

`reset'
     reset the `Asymptote' environment to its initial state, except for
     changes to the settings module (*note settings::), the current
     directory (*note cd::), and breakpoints (*note Debugger::); 

`input FILE'
     does an interactive reset, followed by the command `include FILE'.
     If the file name `FILE' contains nonalphanumeric characters,
     enclose it with quotation marks.  A trailing semi-colon followed
     by optional `Asymptote' commands may be entered on the same line.  

`quit'
     exit interactive mode (`exit' is a synonym; the abbreviation `q'
     is also accepted unless there exists a top-level variable named
     `q').  A history of the most recent 1000 (this number can be
     changed with the `historylines' configuration variable) previous
     commands will be retained in the file `.asy/history' in the user's
     home directory (unless the command-line option `-localhistory' was
     specified, in which case the history will be stored in the file
     `.asy_history' in the current directory).


   Typing `ctrl-C' interrupts the execution of `Asymptote' code and
returns control to the interactive prompt.

   Interactive mode is implemented with the GNU `readline' library,
with command history and auto-completion. To customize the key
bindings, see:
`http://cnswww.cns.cwru.edu/php/chet/readline/readline.html'

   The file `asymptote.py' in the `Asymptote' system directory provides
an alternative way of entering `Asymptote' commands interactively,
coupled with the full power of `Python'. Copy this file to your `Python
path' and then execute from within `Python' the commands
from asymptote import *
g=asy()
g.size(200)
g.draw("unitcircle")
g.send("draw(unitsquare)")
g.fill("unitsquare, blue")
g.clip("unitcircle")
g.label("\"$O$\", (0,0), SW")


File: asymptote.info,  Node: GUI,  Next: PostScript to Asymptote,  Prev: Interactive mode,  Up: Top

11 Graphical User Interface
***************************

In the event that adjustments to the final figure are required, the
preliminary Graphical User Interface (GUI) `xasy' included with
`Asymptote' allows you to move graphical objects and draw new ones.
The modified figure can then be saved as a normal `Asymptote' file.

* Menu:

* GUI installation::            Installing `xasy'
* GUI usage::


File: asymptote.info,  Node: GUI installation,  Next: GUI usage,  Up: GUI

11.1 GUI installation
=====================

As `xasy' is written in the interactive scripting language `Python/TK',
it requires `Python' (`http://www.python.org'), the `Python Imaging
Library' (`http://www.pythonware.com/products/pil/'), and the `tkinter'
package (included with `Python' under `Microsoft Windows') be
installed. `Fedora Linux' users can either install `tkinter' with the
commands
yum install tkinter
yum install tk-devel
 or manually install the `tkinter', `tix', `tk', and `tk-devel'
packages.

   Pictures are deconstructed into the PNG image format, which supports
full alpha channel transparency. Under `Microsoft Windows', this
requires `Python 2.6.2' and the `Python Imaging Library':

     `http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.6.2/python-2.6.2.msi'

     `http://effbot.org/downloads/PIL-1.1.7b1.win32-py2.6.exe'.
   On `UNIX' systems, place
`http://effbot.org/downloads/Imaging-1.1.7b1.tar.gz' in the `Asymptote'
source directory, and type (as the root user):
tar -zxf Imaging-1.1.7b1.tar.gz
cd Imaging-1.1.7b1
python setup.py install


File: asymptote.info,  Node: GUI usage,  Prev: GUI installation,  Up: GUI

11.2 GUI usage
==============

A wheel mouse is convenient for raising and lowering objects within
`xasy', to expose the object to be moved. If a wheel mouse is not
available, mouse `Button-2' can be used to repeatedly lower an object
instead. When run from the command line, `xasy' accepts a command line
option `-x n', which sets the initial magnification to `n'.

   Deconstruction of compound objects (such as arrows) can be prevented
by enclosing them within the commands
void begingroup(picture pic=currentpicture);
void endgroup(picture pic=currentpicture);
 By default, the elements of a picture or frame will be grouped
together on adding them to a picture. However, the elements of a frame
added to another frame are not grouped together by default: their
elements will be individually deconstructed (*note add::).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: PostScript to Asymptote,  Next: Help,  Prev: GUI,  Up: Top

12 `PostScript' to `Asymptote'
******************************

The excellent `PostScript' editor `pstoedit' (version 3.50 or later;
available from `http://sourceforge.net/projects/pstoedit/') includes an
`Asymptote' backend. Unlike virtually all other `pstoedit' backends,
this driver includes native clipping, even-odd fill rule, `PostScript'
subpath, and full image support. Here is an example: `asy -V
/usr/local/share/doc/asymptote/examples/venn.asy'
pstoedit -f asy venn.eps test.asy
asy -V test

If the line widths aren't quite correct, try giving `pstoedit' the
`-dis' option.  If the fonts aren't typeset correctly, try giving
`pstoedit' the `-dt' option.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Help,  Next: Debugger,  Prev: PostScript to Asymptote,  Up: Top

13 Help
*******

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) is maintained at

     `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/FAQ'
   Questions on installing and using `Asymptote' that are not addressed
in the FAQ should be sent to the `Asymptote' forum:

     `http://sourceforge.net/projects/asymptote/forums/forum/409349'
   Including an example that illustrates what you are trying to do will
help you get useful feedback.  `LaTeX' problems can often be diagnosed
with the `-vv' or `-vvv' command-line options.  Contributions in the
form of patches or `Asymptote' modules can be posted here:

     `http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?atid=685685&group_id=120000'
   To receive announcements of upcoming releases, please subscribe to
`Asymptote' at

     `http://freshmeat.net/projects/asy'
   If you find a bug in `Asymptote', please check (if possible) whether
the bug is still present in the latest `Subversion' developmental code
(*note Subversion::) before submitting a bug report. New bugs can be
submitted using the Bug Tracking System at

     `http://sourceforge.net/projects/asymptote'
   To see if the bug has already been fixed, check bugs with Status
`Closed' and recent lines in

     `http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/ChangeLog'
   `Asymptote' can be configured with the optional GNU library
`libsigsegv', available from `http://libsigsegv.sourceforge.net', which
allows one to distinguish user-generated `Asymptote' stack overflows
(*note stack overflow::) from true segmentation faults (due to internal
C++ programming errors; please submit the `Asymptote' code that
generates such segmentation faults along with your bug report).


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Debugger,  Next: Credits,  Prev: Help,  Up: Top

14 Debugger
***********

Asymptote now includes a line-based (as opposed to code-based) debugger
that can assist the user in following flow control. To set a break
point in file `file' at line `line', use the command

void stop(string file, int line, code s=quote{});
 The optional argument `s' may be used to conditionally set the variable
`ignore' in `plain_debugger.asy' to `true'. For example, the first 10
instances of this breakpoint will be ignored (the variable `int
count=0' is defined in `plain_debugger.asy'):
stop("test",2,quote{ignore=(++count <= 10);});

   To set a break point in file `file' at the first line containing the
string `text', use

void stop(string file, string text, code s=quote{});
 To list all breakpoints, use: 
void breakpoints();
 To clear a breakpoint, use: 
void clear(string file, int line);
 To clear all breakpoints, use:
void clear();

   The following commands may be entered at the debugging prompt:

``h''
     help; 

``c''
     continue execution;

``i''
     step to the next instruction;

``s''
     step to the next executable line;

``n''
     step to the next executable line in the current file;

``f''
     step to the next file;

``r''
     return to the file associated with the most recent breakpoint;

``t''
     toggle tracing (`-vvvvv') mode;

``q''
     quit debugging and end execution;

``x''
     exit the debugger and run to completion.

   Arbitrary `Asymptote' code may also be entered at the debugging
prompt; however, since the debugger is implemented with `eval',
currently only top-level (global) variables can be displayed or
modified.

   The debugging prompt may be entered manually with the call
void breakpoint(code s=quote{});


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Credits,  Next: Index,  Prev: Debugger,  Up: Top

15 Acknowledgments
******************

Financial support for the development of `Asymptote' was generously
provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada, the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and the
University of Alberta Faculty of Science.

   We also would like to acknowledge the previous work of John D. Hobby,
author of the program `MetaPost' that inspired the development of
`Asymptote', and Donald E. Knuth, author of TeX and `MetaFont' (on
which `MetaPost' is based).

   The authors of `Asymptote' are Andy Hammerlindl, John Bowman, and
Tom Prince. Sean Healy designed the `Asymptote' logo. Other
contributors include Radoslav Marinov, Orest Shardt, Chris Savage,
Philippe Ivaldi, Olivier Guibe', Jacques Pienaar, Mark Henning, Steve
Melenchuk, Martin Wiebusch, and Stefan Knorr.


File: asymptote.info,  Node: Index,  Prev: Credits,  Up: Top

Index
*****