Changes in IDL 6.1

Features Added in IDL 6.1

The following API features (functions, procedures, object classes or methods, etc.) were introduced in this release of IDL.

Table I-48: Features Introduced in IDL 6.1
Feature	Description
APP_USER_DIR	Introduced
APP_USER_DIR_QUERY	Introduced
BESELI, BESELJ, BESELK, and BESELY	BESSEL* functions can now handle negative inputs and return complex results.
BILINEAR	Added the following keywords: MISSING.
CLUSTER_TREE	Introduced
COND	Now supports complex data.
CPU	Added the following keywords: RESET, RESTORE
CREATE_CURSOR	Introduced
CREATE_STRUCT	Added the following keywords: NAME
CW_ANIMATE	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_ARCBALL	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_BGROUP	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_CLR_INDEX	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_COLORSEL	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_DEFROI	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_FIELD	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_FILESEL	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_FORM	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_FSLIDER	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_LIGHT_EDITOR	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_ORIENT	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_PALETTE_EDITOR	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_PDMENU	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_RGBSLIDER	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_TMPL	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
CW_ZOOM	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
DENDRO_PLOT	Introduced
DENDROGRAM	Introduced
DEVICE	Added the following keywords: CMYK
DISTANCE_MEASURE	Introduced
EXECUTE	Added the following argument: QuietExecution
FILE_SEARCH	Added the following keywords: WINDOWS_SHORT_NAMES
GETENV	The ENVIRONMENT keyword is now available on all platforms
HELP	Added the following keywords: LEVEL
ICONTOUR	Added the following keywords: BACKGROUND_COLOR, GRID_UNITS, MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
IDL_Savefile	Introduced
IDLffDicomEx	Introduced
IDLffJPEG2000	Introduced
IDLffLangCat	Introduced
IDLffXMLDOM Classes	Introduced
IDLgrAxis	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrBuffer::Select	Added the following keywords: SUB_SELECTION
IDLgrClipboard::Draw	Added the following keywords: CMYK, VECT_SHADING, VECT_SORTING, VECT_TEXT_RENDER_METHOD
IDLgrContour	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrContour	C_COLOR property enhanced to support RGBA color definitions
IDLgrPlot	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrPlot	VERT_COLORS property enhanced to support RGBA color definitions
IDLgrPolygon	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL, AMBIENT, DIFFUSE, EMISSION, SHININESS, SPECULAR
IDLgrPolygon	VERT_COLORS property enhanced to support RGBA color definitions
IDLgrPolyline	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrPolyline	VERT_COLORS property enhanced to support RGBA color definitions
IDLgrPrinter::Draw	Added the following keywords: VECT_SORTING, VECT_TEXT_RENDER_METHOD
IDLgrROI	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrSurface	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL, AMBIENT, DIFFUSE, EMISSION, SHININESS, SPECULAR
IDLgrSurface	VERT_COLORS property enhanced to support RGBA color definitions
IDLgrSymbol	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrVolume	Added the following properties: ALPHA_CHANNEL
IDLgrWindow	Added the following properties: MINIMUM_VIRTUAL_DIMENSIONS, ZOOM_BASE, ZOOM_NSTEP
IDLgrWindow::GetDimensions	Introduced
IDLgrWindow::Select	Added the following keywords: SUB_SELECTION
IDLgrWindow::SetCurrentZoom	Introduced
IDLgrWindow::ZoomIn	Introduced
IDLgrWindow::ZoomOut	Introduced
IDLitComponent	Added the following properties: COMPONENT_VERSION
IDLitComponent::Restore	Introduced
IDLitComponent::UpdateComponentVersion	Introduced
IDLitContainer::FindIdentifiers	Introduced
IDLitDataContainer::Add	Introduced
IDLitIMessaging::ProgressBar	Added the following keywords: CANCEL
IDLitIMessaging::StatusMessage	Added the following keywords: SEGMENT_IDENTIFIER
IDLitManipulator::RegisterCursor	Introduced
IDLitManipulatorManager::GetDefaultManipulator	Introduced
IDLitParameter::GetParameterAttribute	Introduced
IDLitParameter::QueryParameter	Introduced
IDLitParameter::SetParameterAttribute	Introduced
IDLITSYS_CREATETOOL	Added the following keywords: MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
IDLitTool::ActivateManipulator	Introduced
IDLitTool::DisableUpdates	Added the following keywords: PREVIOUSLY_DISABLED
IDLitTool::FindIdentifiers	Introduced
IDLitTool::Register	Added the following keywords: DEFAULT
IDLitTool::RegisterCustomization	Introduced
IDLitTool::RegisterFileReader	Added the following keywords: DEFAULT
IDLitTool::RegisterFileWriter	Added the following keywords: DEFAULT
IDLitTool::RegisterOperation	Added the following keywords: ACCELERATOR, DISABLE, DROPLIST_EDIT, DROPLIST_INDEX, DROPLIST_ITEMS, SEPARATOR
IDLitTool::RegisterStatusBarSegment	Introduced
IDLitTool::UnRegisterCustomization	Introduced
IDLitTool::UnRegisterStatusBarSegment	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::BeginManipulation	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::EndManipulation	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::GetRequestedAxesStyle	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::Move	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::On2DRotate	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::OnAxesRequestChange	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::OnAxesStyleRequestChange	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::OnDimensionChange	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::OnWorldDimensionChange	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::Remove	Added the following keywords: NO_UPDATE
IDLitVisualization::RequestsAxes	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::Restore	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::Rotate	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::SetAxesRequest	Introduced
IDLitVisualization::SetAxesStyleRequest	Introduced
IDLitWindow::DoHitTest	Added the following keywords: ORDER
IDLitWindow::GetSelectedItems	Added the following keywords: ALL
IDLitWindow::OnKeyboard	Added and updated the following arguments: X,Y, Press, Release, and Modifiers added IsAlphaNumeric is now named IsASCII.
IIMAGE	Added the following keywords: BACKGROUND_COLOR, GRID_UNITS, MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
IMAP	Introduced
IPLOT	Added the following keywords: BACKGROUND_COLOR, MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
ISURFACE	Added the following keywords: BACKGROUND_COLOR, MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
ITGETCURRENT	Added the following keywords: TOOL Note: Routine was renamed IGETCURRENT in IDL 7.1
ITREGISTER	Added the following keywords: ANNOTATION, DEFAULT, FILE_READER, FILE_WRITER, USER_INTERFACE Note: Routine was renamed IREGISTER in IDL 7.1
ITRESOLVE	Introduced Note: Routine was renamed IRESOLVE in IDL 7.1
IVOLUME	Added the following keywords: BACKGROUND_COLOR, EXTENTS_TRANSPARENCY, MACRO_NAMES, STYLE_NAME
LSODE	Added the following keywords: QUIET
MAP_CONTINENTS	Added the following keywords: MAP_STRUCTURE
MAP_GRID	Added the following keywords: MAP_STRUCTURE
MAP_IMAGE	Added the following keywords: MAP_STRUCTURE, MASK
MAP_PROJ_FORWARD	Added the following keywords: FILL
MAP_PROJ_IMAGE	Introduced
MAX	Added the following keywords: ABSOLUTE
MEDIAN	Added the following keywords: DOUBLE
MIN	Added the following keywords: ABSOLUTE
NORM	Now supports complex data.
ONLINE_HELP	Added the following keywords:: SUPPRESS_PLUGIN_ERRORS
PRODUCT	Added the following keywords: INTEGER, PRESERVE_TYPE
QUERY_JPEG2000	Introduced
QUERY_TIFF	Added the following Info structure fields: DESCRIPTION, DOCUMENT_NAME, DATE_TIME, POSITION Added the following keywords: GEOTIFF
READ_JPEG2000	Introduced
READ_TIFF	Added the following keywords: DOT_RANGE, ICC_PROFILE, PHOTOSHOP
REGION_GROW	Added the following keywords: NAN
RESTORE	Added the following keywords: DESCRIPTION
SAVE	Added the following keywords: DESCRIPTION
SCOPE_LEVEL	Introduced
SCOPE_VARFETCH	Introduced
SCOPE_VARNAME	Introduced
SIZE	Added the following keywords: FILE_OFFSET, SNAME
SPLINE	Added the following keywords: DOUBLE
SPLINE_P	Added the following keywords: DOUBLE The Xr and Yr arguments now provide support for double-precision arithmetic
TOTAL	Added the following keywords: INTEGER, PRESERVE_TYPE
UNSHARP_MASK	Introduced
WATERSHED	Added the following keywords: LONG, NREGIONS
WIDGET_BASE	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WIDGET_BUTTON	Added the following keywords: ACCELERATOR, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_COMBOBOX	Added the following keywords: IGNORE_ACCELERATORS, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_CONTROL	Added the following keywords: EDITABLE, PROPERTYSHEET_SETSELECTED, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_DRAW	Added the following keywords: IGNORE_ACCELERATORS
WIDGET_DROPLIST	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WIDGET_INFO	Added the following keywords: PROPERTYSHEET_NSELECTED, PROPERTYSHEET_SELECTED, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_LIST	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WIDGET_PROPERTYSHEET	Added the following keywords: EDITABLE, FRAME, IGNORE_ACCELERATORS, MULTIPLE_PROPERTIES, SUNKEN_FRAME The WIDGET_PROPSHEET_SELECT event structure includes new NSELECTED field and a modified IDENTIFIER field.
WIDGET_SLIDER	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WIDGET_TAB	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WIDGET_TABLE	Added the following keywords: CONTEXT_EVENTS, IGNORE_ACCELERATORS, NO_COLUMN_HEADER, NO_ROW_HEADER, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_TEXT	Added the following keywords: IGNORE_ACCELERATORS, TAB_MODE
WIDGET_TREE	Added the following keywords: TAB_MODE
WRITE_JPEG2000	Introduced
WRITE_TIFF	Added the following keywords: CMYK, DESCRIPTION, DOCUMENT_NAME, DOT_RANGE, ICC_PROFILE, PHOTOSHOP, XPOSITION, YPOSITION
WV_DWT	Added the following keywords: N_LEVELS

Features Obsoleted in IDL 6.1

The following features were present in IDL Version 6.0 but became obsolete in IDL Version 6.1.

Table I-49: Routines Obsoleted in IDL 6.1
Routine	Replaced by	.pro File?
FINDFILE	FILE_SEARCH
MSG_CAT_CLOSE	IDLffLangCat
MSG_CAT_COMPILE	IDLffLangCat
MSG_CAT_OPEN	IDLffLangCat
IDLffLanguageCat	IDLffLangCat

The following arguments and keywords are obsolete and should not be used in new IDL code.

Table I-50: Arguments and Keywords Obsoleted in IDL 6.1
Routine	Argument or Keyword	Description
IDLITSYS_CREATETOOL	PANEL_LOCATION keyword	This keyword is no longer honored. Panel location is handled via standard widget layout mechanisms.
IDLitVisualization::Add	GROUP keyword	This keyword was unintentionally and needlessly exposed.
IDLitVisualization::GetCenterRotation	DATA keyword	This keyword is not implemented.
IDLitVisualization::GetProperty	GROUP_PARENT keyword	This keyword was unintentionally and needlessly exposed.
IVOLUME	CUTTING_PLANES keyword	This keyword has been replaced by CLIP_PLANES.