GSoC 2008 UniConvertor and GraphicsMagick integration: Difference between revisions

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<pre>
=Rationale=
Rationale
---------
Scribus is a reputable DTP application and therefore has to deal with many
Scribus is a reputable DTP application and therefore has to deal with many
different file formats. While it already supports quite a few formats, some
different file formats. While it already supports quite a few formats, some
Line 9: Line 7:
same for raster formats[2].
same for raster formats[2].


Motivation
=Motivation=
----------
My motivation for doing this project is that I think it will be a huge benefit
My motivation for doing this project is that I think it will be a huge benefit
for Scribus and I like this kind of work (gluing two programs together). I did
for Scribus and I like this kind of work (gluing two programs together). I did
Line 17: Line 14:
good or even better than last time.
good or even better than last time.


Overview
=Overview=
--------
I'll write an import/export filter that uses UniConverter and GraphicsMagick to
I'll write an import/export filter that uses UniConverter and GraphicsMagick to
read and write most of the formats supported by these programs.
read and write most of the formats supported by these programs.


Details
=Details=
-------


** UniConverter **
==UniConverter==


* Previous experience
===Previous experience===
I've not worked with UniConverter before, so this information is based on
I've not worked with UniConverter before, so this information is based on
a short research only and the implementation details are likely to change.
a short research only and the implementation details are likely to change.


* Implementation
===Implementation===
The import plug-in will either call UniConverter directly and get "raw" commands
The import plug-in will either call UniConverter directly and get "raw" commands
to create the vector objects or it will use UniConverter to convert to an
to create the vector objects or it will use UniConverter to convert to an
Line 39: Line 34:
so the user gets a warning.
so the user gets a warning.


* Existing work
===Existing work===
The SVG plugin can serve as a base for the new import plug-in.
The SVG plugin can serve as a base for the new import plug-in.


* User interface
===User interface===
The list in File->Import gets pretty long, so it might be good to merge these
The list in File->Import gets pretty long, so it might be good to merge these
entries to a better interface, perhaps with auto-detection of the file format and manual override.
entries to a better interface, perhaps with auto-detection of the file format and manual override.




** GraphicsMagick **
==GraphicsMagick==


* Previous experience
===Previous experience===
I have used ImageMagick, the base of GraphicsMagick, a lot. I customized the
I have used ImageMagick, the base of GraphicsMagick, a lot. I customized the
bash script based dvd-menu-tool dvdwizard[3] at a time when it was less powerful
bash script based dvd-menu-tool dvdwizard[3] at a time when it was less powerful
Line 57: Line 52:
this part of the Scribus code when I was working on my LaTeX frames project.
this part of the Scribus code when I was working on my LaTeX frames project.


* Implementation
===Implementation===
As GraphicsMagick deals with raster graphics, an import filter for image frames
As GraphicsMagick deals with raster graphics, an import filter for image frames
is required here. With libgraphicsmagic++, a C++ library for the GraphicsMagick  
is required here. With libgraphicsmagic++, a C++ library for the GraphicsMagick  
functions, the integration should be pretty easy.
functions, the integration should be pretty easy.


* Existing work
===Existing work===
The QT image file loaders can serve as a base.
The QT image file loaders can serve as a base.


* User interface
===User interface===
No new user interface is required, but a way to show previews for the new
No new user interface is required, but a way to show previews for the new
file types has to be found.
file types has to be found.


** Other changes **
==Other changes==


* Build system
===Build system===
The build system has to be updated to look for UniConverter and GraphicsMagick.
The build system has to be updated to look for UniConverter and GraphicsMagick.


Benefits to Scribus
=Benefits to Scribus=
-------------------
By using these libraries it is no longer necessary to write a new filter for
By using these libraries it is no longer necessary to write a new filter for
each new file format, but we can benefit from the formats added to shared
each new file format, but we can benefit from the formats added to shared
Line 81: Line 75:
0.46 [5]. As a result, new file formats added to the external libraries should be usable in Scribus faster.
0.46 [5]. As a result, new file formats added to the external libraries should be usable in Scribus faster.


Use cases
=Use cases=
---------
Importing all kinds of vector and raster formats.
Importing all kinds of vector and raster formats.


Deliverables
=Deliverables=
------------
* Import plug-in for UniConverter
- Import plug-in for UniConverter
* Export plug-in for UniConverter
- Export plug-in for UniConverter
* Import only plug-in for GraphicsMagick (or integrated into the main code)
- Import only plug-in for GraphicsMagick (or integrated into the main code)
* Better structured "File->Import" menu if found to be required
- Better structured "File->Import" menu if found to be required
* Documentation
- Documentation


Timeline
=Timeline=
--------


* April 14: Accepted student proposals announced on the Google Summer of Code  
* April 14: Accepted student proposals announced on the Google Summer of Code home page. Community Bonding Period: Students get to know mentors, read documentation, get up to speed to begin working on their projects.
  home page. Community Bonding Period: Students get to know mentors,  
  read documentation, get up to speed to begin working on their projects.


I can start coding at this point, as I am already familiar with the Scribus
''I can start coding at this point, as I am already familiar with the Scribus development process.''
development process.


* May 26: Students begin coding for their GSoC projects;
* May 26: Students begin coding for their GSoC projects;


At this point I should have read the required documentation and probably the  
''At this point I should have read the required documentation and probably the basic functionality for UniConverter ready.''
basic functionality for UniConverter ready.


* July 7: Mentors and students can begin submitting mid-term evaluations.
* July 7: Mentors and students can begin submitting mid-term evaluations.


UniConverter should be fully working now and work on GraphicsMagick is started
''UniConverter should be fully working now and work on GraphicsMagick is started or about to be started.''
or about to be started.


* July 20: End of semester
* July 20: End of semester


Around this time there will be some exams at university, so expect me to be
''Around this time there will be some exams at university, so expect me to be learning a bit more and coding a bit less. No exact dates are available yet.''
learning a bit more and coding a bit less. No exact dates are available yet.


* August 11: Suggested 'pencils down' date. Take a week to scrub code, write
* August 11: Suggested 'pencils down' date. Take a week to scrub code, write tests, improve documentation, etc.
  tests, improve documentation, etc.
    
    
  Now the GraphicsMagick part should be completed too. The time lost with the
''Now the GraphicsMagick part should be completed too. The time lost with the exams should be no problem, as this part of the work should take much less time and I'll also use the "Community Bonding Period" for coding.''
  exams should be no problem, as this part of the work should take much less
  time and I'll also use the "Community Bonding Period" for coding.
    
    
* August 18: Firm 'pencils down' date. Mentors, students and organization  
* August 18: Firm 'pencils down' date. Mentors, students and organization administrators can being submitting final evaluations to Google.
administrators can being submitting final evaluations to Google.




Links
=Links=
-----
* [1] http://sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor
[1] http://sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor
* [2] http://www.graphicsmagick.org/
[2] http://www.graphicsmagick.org/
* [3] http://dvdwizard.wershofen.net/
[3] http://dvdwizard.wershofen.net/
* [4] http://www.inkscape.org
[4] http://www.inkscape.org
* [5] http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/ReleaseNotes046
[5] http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/ReleaseNotes046
</pre>

Revision as of 23:43, 28 March 2008

Rationale

Scribus is a reputable DTP application and therefore has to deal with many different file formats. While it already supports quite a few formats, some others are still not or incompletely supported. UniConverter, which is "a universal vector graphics translator"[1] can help for vector formats and GraphicsMagick, which is a branch of the well-known ImageMagick does the same for raster formats[2].

Motivation

My motivation for doing this project is that I think it will be a huge benefit for Scribus and I like this kind of work (gluing two programs together). I did this last year with LaTeX and from the feedback I received, it was a great success. So I want to do something similar this year and hope it will be as good or even better than last time.

Overview

I'll write an import/export filter that uses UniConverter and GraphicsMagick to read and write most of the formats supported by these programs.

Details

UniConverter

Previous experience

I've not worked with UniConverter before, so this information is based on a short research only and the implementation details are likely to change.

Implementation

The import plug-in will either call UniConverter directly and get "raw" commands to create the vector objects or it will use UniConverter to convert to an intermediate format such as SVG and then read this format. The same applies to the export filter, but here it might be possible that some of the feature supported by Scribus are not supported by the output format, so the user gets a warning.

Existing work

The SVG plugin can serve as a base for the new import plug-in.

User interface

The list in File->Import gets pretty long, so it might be good to merge these entries to a better interface, perhaps with auto-detection of the file format and manual override.


GraphicsMagick

Previous experience

I have used ImageMagick, the base of GraphicsMagick, a lot. I customized the bash script based dvd-menu-tool dvdwizard[3] at a time when it was less powerful than today. I had to rewrite a lot of the graphics code which relies on ImageMagick. I also have a bit of experience with image frame loaders, because I came across this part of the Scribus code when I was working on my LaTeX frames project.

Implementation

As GraphicsMagick deals with raster graphics, an import filter for image frames is required here. With libgraphicsmagic++, a C++ library for the GraphicsMagick functions, the integration should be pretty easy.

Existing work

The QT image file loaders can serve as a base.

User interface

No new user interface is required, but a way to show previews for the new file types has to be found.

Other changes

Build system

The build system has to be updated to look for UniConverter and GraphicsMagick.

Benefits to Scribus

By using these libraries it is no longer necessary to write a new filter for each new file format, but we can benefit from the formats added to shared libraries. For example Inkscape[4] also uses UniConverter since version 0.46 [5]. As a result, new file formats added to the external libraries should be usable in Scribus faster.

Use cases

Importing all kinds of vector and raster formats.

Deliverables

  • Import plug-in for UniConverter
  • Export plug-in for UniConverter
  • Import only plug-in for GraphicsMagick (or integrated into the main code)
  • Better structured "File->Import" menu if found to be required
  • Documentation

Timeline

  • April 14: Accepted student proposals announced on the Google Summer of Code home page. Community Bonding Period: Students get to know mentors, read documentation, get up to speed to begin working on their projects.

I can start coding at this point, as I am already familiar with the Scribus development process.

  • May 26: Students begin coding for their GSoC projects;

At this point I should have read the required documentation and probably the basic functionality for UniConverter ready.

  • July 7: Mentors and students can begin submitting mid-term evaluations.

UniConverter should be fully working now and work on GraphicsMagick is started or about to be started.

  • July 20: End of semester

Around this time there will be some exams at university, so expect me to be learning a bit more and coding a bit less. No exact dates are available yet.

  • August 11: Suggested 'pencils down' date. Take a week to scrub code, write tests, improve documentation, etc.

Now the GraphicsMagick part should be completed too. The time lost with the exams should be no problem, as this part of the work should take much less time and I'll also use the "Community Bonding Period" for coding.

  • August 18: Firm 'pencils down' date. Mentors, students and organization administrators can being submitting final evaluations to Google.


Links