Introduction to the Graphical User Interface

MENUS and MOUSE Clicking

PLATON (UNIX-version) attempts by default to open an X-Window Menu when invoked with valid data (e.g. platon squeeze.res). When it doesn't succeed to do so, it automatically switches to interactive input from the keyboard and TEK4010 graphics (useful when PLATON is run using a Tektronix emulator over a modem line; the author uses PCPLOT for this). Possible reasons for not bringing up the opening window can be either invalid or absent data or the connection to the X-Window server) Keyboard input as default is choosen when PLATON is invoked with the '-o' option.

The PLATON opening window looks like Fig. 1

The X-Window area is devided in four subwindows.

1. The main graphics area (canvas) in the upper-left corner (also used for the main PLATON (opening)menu from which various (sub)programs can be started by mouse clicks).

2. The upper-right vertical rectangular shaped window carries various submenus with clickable options.
   Currently active options are displayed in RED. Entries in this menu with vertical bars indicate click-position sensitive options or magnitudes.
   The yellow top-field may be clicked to refresh the window contents. Refresh is also possible with a carriage return.

3. The Lower-Left horizontal rectangular shaped window is used for short messages and the entry and display of optional keyboard input.

4. The small lower-right window informs about the current input status (i.e. MenuActive when PLATON wait for input and Working when no input is possible).
   It also provides a convenient 'Exit' path by clicking on it.

Left-button clicks with the mouse on menu items invoke calculations or parameter settings.
Right-button clicks on menu items generate a help/info page on the associated items and a manual for the yellow menu headers (e.g. a manual on the available techniques for correction for absorption). Netscape is started when not already open. The PLATON main manue caries a toggle to switch off the start-up of Netscape.

More extensive output is produced on the window from which the program was started and on the listing file (.lis).

In the MENU mode, input can be given either from the keyboard (useful for the more complex instructions as detailed in the PLATON MANUAL or PLUTON MANUAL) or via mouse clicks.

Introductory Tour through some of the Menu options

A left-button click on the ORTEP/ADP button will bring up an ORTEP presentation with associated ORTEP menu as shown in Fig. 2

A corresponding PLUTON style plot ( Fig. 3 ) can be generated by clicking on 'PLUTON-ELD' in the ORTEP-menu.

Fig. 4 is generated after clicking OFF the 'decoration' & 'labelling' fillowed by clicking on 'CPK'. A Postscript copy is generated by clicking on the 'EPS' button.

Clicking on 'END' results in a return to the PLATON main window. An additional click on END terminates to tour.

21-9-98