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industrial-strength data visualization 569involved:1. Store the data in a file using a standard format.2. Use the Data Prompter to describe the data’s organization and to place thatdescription in a .general file.3. Import the data into DX.4. Chose a visualization method appropriate for the data type.5. Create a visual program with the Visual Program Editor by networkingmodules via drawn lines.6. Create and manipulate an image.C.1 Getting DX and Unix Running (for Windows)If you do not have DX running on your computer, you can download it free fromthe DX home page [DX1]. Once running, just issue the dx or DX command and thesystem starts up. DX uses the Unix X-Windows system. If you are running underMS Windows, then you will first need to start an X-server program and then startDX at the resulting X-Windows prompt. We discussed this in Chapter 3, where werecommended the free Unix shell emulator Cygwin [CYG].In order to run DX with Cygwin, you must start your X server prior to launchingDX. You may also have to tell the X server where to place the graphical display:> startxwin.sh Starts X server under Cygwin> set environment DISPLAY localhost:0 Sets X11 display> dx Starts DX; or start menuHere we issued the dx command from an X11 window. This works if your PATHvariable includes the location of DX. We have had problems getting the dx commandto work on some of our Cygwin installations, and in those cases we followedthe alternative approach of loading DX as a regular MS Windows application. Todo that, we first start the X11 server from a Cygwin bash shell with the commandstartxwin.sh and then start DX from the Start menu. While both approaches workfine, DX run from a Unix shell looks for your files within the Unix file system at/home/userid, while DX run under Windows looks within the MS Windows filesystem at C:\Documents and Settings\userid\My Documents\. Another approach,which is easier but costs money, is to install a commercial X11 server such as X-Win 32 [XWIN32] coupled with your DX. Opening DX through MS Windows thenautomatically opens the X11 server with no effort on your part.C.2 Test Drive of DX Visual ProgrammingHere we lead you through a test drive that creates a color surface plot with DX.This is deliberately cookbook-style in order to get you on the road and running. Wethen go on to provide a more systematic discussion and exploration of DX features,but without all the details.−101COPYRIGHT 2008, PRINCET O N UNIVE R S I T Y P R E S SEVALUATION COPY ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN COURSES.ALLpup_06.04 — 2008/2/15 — Page 569