JLink - Flow Charts With Java / News: Recent posts

The JLink website has received a few updates over the last two days. In particular, the site:

* Now utilizes some PHP, and
* features a modest FAQ section (see http://jlink.sourceforge.net/help.php\).

Additional content will be added in the near future, including code examples.

I hope you enjoy the JLink website!
- crunchyfroggie

The second test package has been released and it has some interesting features for developers in it. X20-8021 from IBM (the Flowcharting Worksheet) has been implemented. The graphics measurement API in JLink now can be fed centimetres and inches instead of just pixels when specifying sizes, and it will (according to the users screen resolution) display the right number of pixels to construct things of the input size and units!... read more

For those who may have been disappointed that JLink had no graph model at the core of it, these concerns are no more. With the new API design, a simple yet reasonably powerful graph model has been implemented.

While this is still being tested, and new methods are being added to access the model, it seems to be working. Look in package jlink.examples for how to program the model.

This is still a work in progress.

Previously, everything in JLink library needed to be set in size using pixels. Developers may be interested to look at the JLPage class as they can now specify page size using real world measurements. You want to set the on-screen image to be 23.5cm wide? No problem! Specify the units in the setJLPageSize() function and it will calculate how many pixels are needed to make the page 23.5cm on screen. It even handles rounding of units to the nearest pixel.

Some years ago, IBM released a document which purpose was to create flowcharts in a standard format. These could be used to document things in a company/organisation. This document was X20-8021-2, or simply the "Flowcharting Worksheet". I have managed to implement this worksheet now and integrated it into the new JLink library (based on the new API). Developers may be interested to have a look at it.... read more

The redesigned and updated website has finally been uploaded.

Designer is still awaiting content from developer, so apologies for the dead links. :p
[We can't be too picky, he's busy studying]

Greetings all. I have finally had a chance to sit down and have a real good think about the API in JLink. Well, I have good news. I have come up with an API that I think will suit the library well into the future, one that is simple and self explanatory. There will be a total of 19 packages, covering display and creation of flowcharts and concept maps to saving and transmitting them. There will also be a few select layout algorithms (suitable to concept maps or flowcharts), and a few analytical functions to assess connectivity of the charts created. The library will adhere to the MVC architecture of Swing for the flowchart symbols, and be as extensible as possible (without overly complicating the situation.). JUnit will be used for testing and there will be a debugging build with each release of JLink. The library will try to be as fully encapsulated as possible (all except where external libraries are used for PDF or scripting).... read more

Exams are over, so I'm back on SourceForge. I'm hoping to release Version 2.0 of the test libraries. The API is in the pipeline.

The JLink website has received a makeover, both in design and content. There will be ongoing but gradual changes to the website as more files and documents become available.

-Kathryn

Hello all, before I take my break, the docs are now up for the JLink package test version. These docs are by no means finished, and will be slowly completed with subsequent versions of the JLink API/Lib.

Regards, Jason Barraclough

I will be undertaking exams soon to be finished on June 8th. Work on test version 2 of the JLink API will re-commence on June 9th. Some things worth looking forward to in the second version of the test API are:

-Arrow heads (a gaussian implementation for working out the intersection points is underway)

-Arrow labels

-Improved symbol labels

-Different types of work sheets (in addition to A4, an IBM-style work flow sheet will be added)... read more

Greetings all. As some of you will already have downloaded the JLink source code, and may be well aware that the documentation is somewhat lacking, I have begun documenting the source code. This will be up soon for those who are interested.

Big thanks to web developer crunchyfroggie for her efforts with getting the JLink website up and running. If you have a spare moment, drop by and check it out.

JLink team.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of the JLink web developer, the JLink website is now under construction and is coming along nicely. Many apologies to those who have visited the rather bland default website and found nothing. Keep watching and this will be replaced ASAP

Note to everyone JLink has released its first test package. Suggestions regarding the API are most welcome if posted in the forums.

Thankyou very much
Jason Barraclough

20minutes until first test app of JLink API is loaded. JLink can do basic flow charts in accordance with IBM standards, however the API cannot save these yet. Hang tight!

Just letting people know that within the day I will be posting a preview version of the JLink package on this site. It is still missing much of the promised functionality but hang tight- I need it just as much as anyone who visits! :-)
Regards,
Jason Barraclough