The Relationship between GKS and the Computer Graphics Metafile CGM

Abstract

The Graphical Kernel System (GKS) is establishing itself more and more as a practical standard for the development of graphical software systems. Although GKS makes mention of “Metafiles” for the archiving or storage of graphical information, and includes as an appendix a suggested “GKS-Metafile” (GKSM) containing an “audit trail” of the GKS functions called, no metafile definition is included as part of the ISO standard, nor is it clear that the suggested GKSM could be appropriately used for the function of ‘picture capture’, such as would be needed for outputting selected views or pictures onto a plotter. For this purpose, a new proposal, /ISO 8632/, the Computer Grahics Metafile (CGM) is well underway, and is expected to reach the status of an ISO Draft International Standard (DIS) by the end of 1985.