User Interface

Introduced in Geant4 4.x

• tcsh (G4UIsession* session = new G4UIterminal(new G4UItcsh); )
• flow control

Future Plans

• XML-based interfaces.
• Integration of GUI with AIDA 2.2.

Visualisation

Preamble

The Geant4 Visualisation System is minimal system capable of driving multiple simultaneous graphics systems and pseudo systems for the standalone user. It plugs into the G4VGraphicsScene and G4VVisManager abstract interfaces and drives various graphics systems through a common interface. It is unlikely to satisfy the needs of the large experiments.

Introduced in Geant4 4.x

• new structure (scene, scene handler and viewer) and associated commands now well established. Old commands removed.
• Ascii/GAGTree, DAWNFILE, HepRepFile, RayTracer, VRML1/2File built by default (no external libraries needed) (browsers required for files, e.g., dawn, WIRED, VRML).
• Other systems:
• OpenGL (X, Xm, but not yet Windows).
• OpenInventor (X), OPACS (X, Xm).
• DAWN, VRML1/2 (pipe and/or sockets (IP) communication).

New in Geant4 5.0

• /vis/scene/add/trajectories [<drawing-mode>] Passes drawing-mode to DrawTrajectory().
• G4AttDef/Value to provide generalised pickable information. Implemented for G4VTrajectory/Point, may be implemented by user for hits, may be added to G4VisAttributes.
  
• As a result of augmentation of G4VTrajectory/Point and G4VHit and provision in G4VGraphicsScene abstract interface:
• smooth trajectories, i.e., showing "auxiliary points" in field.
• pickable attributes for trajectories and hits.
• Picking of generalised pickable information implemented only in HepRepFile with WIRED so far.

Future Plans

• Picking of generalised pickable information to other systems.
• Generic sections (DCUT in GEANT3) (currently only dawn and OpenGL).
• Generic cutaways (BOX in HIGZ) (currently only dawn).
• IP communication HepRep - WIRED.
• Windows capability for OpenGL.
• Text capability for OpenGL.