Changes in IDL 7.0

Features Added in IDL 7.0

Note
The IDL Workbench graphical interface to IDL replaced the IDL Development Environment in version 7.0.

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

Table I-38: Features Introduced in IDL 7.0
Feature	Description
GET_LOGIN_INFO	Introduced
IDLgrBuffer::QueryRequiredTiles IDLgrClipboard::QueryRequiredTiles IDLgrPrinter::QueryRequiredTiles IDLgrWindow::QueryRequiredTiles	Added the following keywords: PATH
MAKE_RT	Introduced
PROFILER	Added the following keywords: FILENAME
ROUTINE_FILEPATH	Introduced

Features Obsoleted in IDL 7.0

In the transition from the pre-version 7.0 development environments to the IDL Workbench, we have tried to replicate or enhance the features you've come to expect from IDL. In some cases, however, we have altered or deprecated existing functionality. Specifically:

IDLDE Macros

The IDL Development Environment macro capability is no longer available. In some limited cases, IDL Workbench code templates may provide a substitute.

GUI Builder

The IDL GUI Builder is no longer included. The GUI Builder was a Windows-only feature that did not interoperate with the IDL Workbench.

Projects

The pre-version 7.0 IDL Projects mechanism has been replaced by a new IDL Workbench project mechanism based on Eclipse features. See the Working with Projects tutorial for additional information.

Runtime Distribution Export

The ability to export an IDL runtime distribution using the project mechanism is no longer available. While we hope to add the ability to create an IDL runtime distribution to the IDL Workbench in a future release, we have added a utility routine, MAKE_RT, to allow you to create runtime distributions from the IDL command line.

X Window System Resources

Previous versions of IDL used the values of numerous X Window System resources to modify the appearance and behavior of the Motif IDL Development Environment. The relevant resources were prefaced with the identifier Idl*idlde; they were defined in a system-wide resource file

<IDL_DIR>/resource/X11/lib/app-defaults/Idl

and in individual users' ~/.idlde files.

With the switch to the Eclipse-based IDL Workbench, all of the Motif IDLDE X resources are obsolete, and have been removed from the Idl resource file. Individual users' ~/.idlde files will no longer be read when IDL starts up. Flags specifying the values of X resources are no longer accepted at the UNIX command line when launching IDL.

X resources that apply to IDL widgets and graphics windows are still used. These resources are prefaced with the identifier Idl* (no idlde). The system-wide Idl resource file is still present, and individual users can modify the ~/.Xdefaults file to contain resource definitions for the Idl* resources.

Preferences and Preference Migration

Beginning with IDL 7.0, PREF_MIGRATE is no longer called automatically the first time IDL is run. You can still use PREF_MIGRATE to manually migrate IDL system preferences. IDL Workbench preferences an managed separately, by the workbench itself. For more on the difference between system and workbench preferences, see About IDL System Preferences.

The following IDL system preferences are no longer supported. Most of the obsolete preferences are replaced by IDL Workbench preferences. As a result, these values can be set within the IDL Workbench interface via the Preferences dialog, but not from within IDL using the IDL system preferences mechanism.

All of the obsolete IDE preferences have the prefix IDL_MDE (Motif Development Environment) or IDL_WDE (Windows Development Environment). The table below lists all of the obsolete IDE preferences along with the IDL Workbench equivalents, if any. Note that although an IDE preference may have only been available for one of the two Development Environments, the IDL Workbench equivalents are valid on all IDL platforms.

Table I-39: IDLDE Preferences Obsoleted in IDL 7.0.
Obsolete IDE Preference	IDL Workbench Equivalent
IDL_MDE_EDIT_BACKUP IDL_WDE_EDIT_BACKUP	The local history of a file is maintained when you create or modify a file. Each time you edit and save a file, a copy of it is saved. This allows you to replace the file with a previous state.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_[B\|F]COLOR_*	The background and foreground colors for various categories of text are set in the Preferences dialog, in the IDL > Syntax Coloring section.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_CHROMACODE	None.
IDL_MDE_EDIT_COMPILE_OPTION IDL_WDE_EDIT_COMPILE_OPTION	1. In the Preferences dialog, select IDL > Editor. 2. Select Enable Compile on Save to automatically compile files when you save them.
IDL_MDE_EDIT_CWD IDL_WDE_EDIT_CWD	To change the IDL process' current working directory to the directory containing the file just opened: 1. In the Preferences dialog, select IDL > Editor. 2. Select Change directory on file open. 3. Click OK.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_FONT	The general editor font is set in the Colors and Fonts section of the Preferences dialog. To set the general editor font: 1. In the Preferences dialog, select General > Appearance > Colors and Fonts. 2. Open the Basic folder and select Text Font. 3. Click Change. 4. On the Font dialog, choose the font options. 5. Click OK on both dialogs.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_OPEN_ON_DEBUG	None. Note - When execution halts due to an error, the file and line number at which the error occurred are shown in the Console view as a hyperlink. Clicking the link opens the file automatically.
IDL_MDE_EDIT_READONLY IDL_WDE_EDIT_READONLY	1. In the Project Explorer view, right-click a file and select Properties. 2. On the Properties dialog, select Read only. 3. Click OK.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_TAB_ENABLE	To determine whether a tab character or spaces are inserted when pressing the Tab key in the IDL editor: 1. In the Preferences dialog, select IDL > Editor. 2. If you don't want to use tab characters, select Use spaces instead of tabs. 3. Click OK.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_TAB_SP_ON_SAVE	None.
IDL_WDE_EDIT_TAB_WIDTH	To set the number of spaces used to display a tab character: 1. In the Preferences dialog, select IDL > Editor. 2. Change the Displayed tab width value. 3. Click OK.
IDL_MDE_EXIT_CONFIRM IDL_WDE_EXIT_CONFIRM	To exit the Workbench, select File > Exit from the menu bar or close the workbench with the window close button (x). When the latter option is used a prompt will ask if you really wish to exit the Workbench. To enable or disable the exit prompt: 1. Select Window > Preferences. 2. On the Preferences dialog, select General > Startup and Shutdown. 3. Select Confirm exit when closing last window. 4. Click OK.
IDL_WDE_INPUT_FONT	To set the command line font: 1. Select Window > Preferences. 2. On the Preferences dialog, select General > Appearance > Colors and Fonts. 3. Open the IDL folder and select Command Line font. 4. Click Change. 5. On the Font dialog, choose the font options. 6. Click OK on both dialogs.
IDL_WDE_LOG_FONT	To set the Console view font: 1. Select Window > Preferences. 2. On the Preferences dialog, select General > Appearance > Colors and Fonts. 3. Open the Debug folder and select Console font. 4. Click Change. 5. On the Font dialog, choose the font options. 6. Click OK on both dialogs.
IDL_MDE_LOG_LINES IDL_WDE_LOG_LINES	You cannot control the number of lines written to the Console view, but you can set the maximum number of characters written: 1. Select Window > Preferences. 2. On the Preferences dialog, select Run/Debug > Console. 3. Select Limit console output. 4. Enter a Console buffer size (in characters). 5. Click OK.
IDL_MDE_LOG_TRIM IDL_WDE_LOG_TRIM	None.
IDL_MDE_SPLASHSCREEN IDL_WDE_SPLASHSCREEN	None.
IDL_MDE_START_DIR IDL_WDE_START_DIR	These preferences are replaced by the IDL_START_DIR preference. To set the IDL_START_DIR preference, either use the PREF_SET routine or the IDL Workbench Prererences dialog: 1. In the Preferences dialog, select IDL. 2. Type a directory in the Initial working directory box, or browse for a directory. 3. Click OK.

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

Table I-40: Arguments and Keywords Obsoleted in IDL 7.0
Routine	Argument or Keyword	Description
PREF_MIGRATE	MACRO and STARTUP keywords	These keywords are not used by the IDL Workbench