Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

750.0. "Urgent Help Decwindows &Phigs" by GUIDUK::SOMER () Tue May 09 1989 16:52

   *** This is also posted in Phigs notes, sorry if redundant ***

    Systems Control is a Palo Alto based OEM specializing
    in Energy Management Systems (EMS). They compete against
    CDC/Silicon Graphics, Harris etc... with VAX & Vaxstations.
    
    In this particular instance a $3M sale is pending upon
    our getting Phigs V2.0 working in a Decwindows environment.
    Here is a description of the most important problem:
    
    Vaxstation 3520, VMS 5.1, Phigs 2.0 
    
    When we use Phigs in a Widget, W/S type 223, there is no way
    to open a second W/S. Precisely, we create widget, create a
    Phigs W/S inside the widget, and things seem all right. When
    we attempt to repeat the same operation, to have several displays
    on the screen, the widget disappears just before Phigs creates the
    W/S.
    
    There are absolutely no error messages, if we check the status
    symbol we get : STATUS ="%X133FDDDC"
    
    Little more detail here:
    
    If we create a W/S type 213 first, then create a 223, we can have
    two Phigs windows inside a widget, but anything we try subsequently
    fails in the same manner whether they be type 213 or 223.
    
    In the case we create 213's first the failure is accompanied with
    an error message that says something like: CANNOT ALLOCATE COLOR
    Map ENTRIES.
    
    Since 213 types do not do any double buffering, the demos look
    dismal, regardless of the fact that we need more than 2 windows
    on the screen.
    
    Could this be a memory problem ?
    
    N.B.: CDC is front ending their application with Silicon Graphics.
          Even though their demos have nothing to do with EMS, they look
          very slick. Since this is going to be a very high level sale
          we cannot really discuss the technical merits of their solution
    	  we have got to look as good.