NAME

fa − summary of fast alpha library routines

DISCUSSION

The fast alpha library, /usr/lib/libfa.a, provides high-performance alpha (textual) capabilities with graphics windows and bitmapped displays.  Fast alpha assumes uniform width fonts and provides a row and column interface.  Fast alpha also implements the concepts of a cursor and display enhancements. 

All fast alpha library calls require a gopen(3G) file descriptor that may be for a bitmapped display device or for a graphics window. 

Programs that call fast alpha routines must link in the fast alpha library (−lfa).  In addition, programs that call fast alpha library routines must also link in the font manager (−lfontm) and Starbase (−lsb1 −lsb2) libraries. 

The header file /usr/include/fa.h contains structure and constant definitions used by fast alpha library routines.  Programs should attempt to use these definitions when calling fast alpha library routines. 

Fast alpha library routines are summarized below.  For more information on each routine, consult its reference page. 

faclear(3w) Clear a window area specified by a fa_rectangle structure, defined in fa.h. 

facolors(3w) Set the font foreground and background colors for the currently activated fast alpha font. 

facursor(3w) Position and enable/disable the fast alpha cursor. 

fafontactivate(3w) Activate a fast alpha font. 

fafontload(3w) Load a font file into the font cache and activate it. 

fafontremove(3w) Remove a font from the font cache. 

fagetinfo(3w) Get information about the current fast alpha environment.  Return this information in an fainfo structure, defined in fa.h. 

fainit(3w) Prepare a fast alpha window for output; set the window’s fast alpha environment to default values. 

farectwrite(3w) Fill an area of a window, defined by an fa_rectangle structure from fa.h, with a character. 

faroll(3w) Roll (scroll) a portion of a window.  The area to roll is defined by an fa_rectangle structure from fa.h. 

fasetinfo(3w) Set information about the fast alpha environment.  Information is set from an fainfo structure, defined in fa.h. 

faterminate(3w) Terminate the current fast alpha environment, which was initialized via fainit(3w).

fawrite(3w) Write characters in the active font. 

EXAMPLES

The following example compiles a program, named fawinprog.c, that calls fast alpha routines to display text in graphics windows. The program will run on a Series 300 high-resolution display using retained graphics windows (thus the −ldd300h and −lddbyte options).

cc fawinprog.c −lfa −lfontm −ldd300h −lddbyte −lwindow −lsb1 −lsb2

SEE ALSO

windows(1),fontm(3w),gopen(3G),window(3w). 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 9.0: August 1992