MODULE NAME : 	SHARE_VIEWS

INPUTS      : 	geometry

PARAMETERS  :   local integer
	        local float
                local string
	        connection list={hostname[1-9],talk_port[1-9],listen_port[1-9]}

OUTPUTS	    :   integer
	        float
	        string
                geometry

DESCRIPTION :

   This module is part of the collaboratory development being done at the
North Carolina Supercomputing Center.  This module allows AVS users, on 
up to 9 heterogeneous workstations, to perform shared visualization.  In
other words, the data can be located on one workstation's file system,
the computation could be done on that user's workstation, and then the
resulting geometry can be broadcast to all of the other users and then
rendered on each user's individual workstation.  Each user can then
take control of the visualization, rotating and translating not only his
view, but that of the other collaborators.  In addition, integers, floats,
and strings can be broadcast around the collaborative loop to allow
for interactive distributed data slicing, contouring, and file switching.

   The first step in using the module is to set up the connection list.
This list tells the module which machines to talk to, and on which ports.
See below.

   If BROADCAST is turned on, then any new geometry on the input port, or any
new float, integers, or string in the type_in will be broadcast on all of the
talk ports.  All of the local parameters can be turned into input ports through
standard AVS.  Any new float, integers, or string are passed onto the module
output, but the geometry is not copied over.

   If LISTEN is turned on, all listen ports are checked continuously for new
parameters.  Anything coming across the network is then outputted through
the module output ports.

   With the broadcast/listen options and separate output ports, each user can 
maintain a local view; while another user control the visualization parameters.

NOTES:
   1.  The GEOMETRY output port must be hooked up to the geometry viewer in order
       to received transformations of selected objects.
   2.  Label and Line Geometries can not be transmitted.
   3.  All geometries are converted into polytriangle objects before being
       transmitted.
   4.  This modules has an iris-explorer counterpart - that only listens.
   5.  If the VERBOSE definition is turned on during compilation, the module
       will provide tremendous feedback on the network communication.

EXAMPLE NETWORK:

	machine 1                           machine 2-9
       ----------- 			   -------------

	read field                         share_views
               |                                    |
share views    |                                    |
   |   |       |                                    |
   |   ----    |                                    |
   |      |    |                                    |
   |    isosurface                         geometry viewer
   |           |
   -------     |
         |     |
        geometry viewer 
	
  With these networks set up, both users can toggle the isosurface threhsold,
  and both users can spin each others objects.	                    		
		
CONNECTION LIST :

   If you click on Show Connection List - a chart of hostnames, and ports will
appear.  If a port is listed as 0 - then no connection to the host exists.  The
minimum port number is 4200- this was arbitrarily chosen to avoid any system 
sockets.  There are nine identical entries in the connection list.  Each and
every entry should be different.

   In each host type_in, you can enter any hostname on the internet ( e.g. 
avs.ncsc.org ).  In the listen and talk entries, neither is required, you
should enter an arbitrary number above 4200 - if the entry is not reset to 
0 then you have established a socket connection to that machine. 

EXAMPLE CONNECTION LIST:

   machine 1 ( doppler )	       	machine 2 ( mach )
  -----------------------              --------------------
   Hostname 1    : mach			Hostname 1    : doppler
   Listen Port 1 : 4600			Listen Port 1 : 4601
   Talk Port 1   : 4601		        Talk Port 1   : 4600	 
    
   Hostname 2    : fermi		Hostname 2    : fermi
   Listen Port 2 : 4800			Listen Port 2 : 4900
   Talk Port 2   : 4801		        Talk Port 2   : 4901	 
    
   machine 3 ( fermi )
  ---------------------
   Hostname 1    : doppler
   Listen Port 1 : 4801
   Talk Port 1   : 4800

   Hostname 2    : mach
   Listen Port 2 : 4901
   Talk Port 2   : 4900

Credits :

  The socket communication is based upon NCSA's DTM library.  This library
can be obtained from ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu 

FUTURE WORK:
   Work on the connection list interface is a dire necessary.

   PLEASE SEND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE WORK !!!!!

Please contact me for any assistance in using the module or any suggestions,
  bugs, etc...
   
   Terry Myerson
   International AVS Center
   North Carolina Supercomputing Center
    
   avs@ncsc.org or tvv@ncsc.org

   (919) 248 - 1186