Corte Madera, California, May 2008 - A new version of the VG.net vector graphics system is released. Version 5.1 makes it easier to simulate the industrial world and visualize real-time data.

Changes include:

• A new Serialization API provides compact, fast binary serialization of objects, including custom data types.
• The Theme class: a single repository for common Styles and ImageData objects.
• A completely reworked TranslucentForm class: a window providing a complete vector graphics UI with per-pixel alpha transparency.
• Fast scrolling: hardware-accelerated scrolling for the Canvas, VG.net’s UserControl.
• Source code samples, including a strip chart library, a SCADA simulation, a particle system, a Theme demonstration, a basic button library, and bitmap effects.
• Detection of multi-threading problems in user code.

A list of all changes is in the Readme, in the section titled Changes – Versions 3.1, 4.1, 5.1.

New Serialization API

The new serialization API saves and restores objects to and from files or streams. It is useful for custom editors, storing objects in a database, or transferring objects across a network. Unlike the serialization support built into the .NET framework, the VG.net API:

• Minimizes file size
• Maximizes speed
• Does not use reflection (reflection is slow and restricted by security settings)
• Avoids boxing of value types (boxing adds CPU overhead)
• Provides infinite upward compatibility for serialized files

Theme Class

At the top of this announcement is an image of a robot arm sample. Click the image to run the application. The buttons at the top change the overall color of the application. This color change uses a new feature in VG.net called Themes.

A Theme is similar to a style sheet in html. A Theme collects common Style and ImageData objects in a single place, for reuse across multiple Pictures, or to swap a set of Styles as a batch. The robot arm sample contains three Themes that are dynamically swapped to change several Styles at the same time. When used across multiple Pictures, a Theme eliminates time wasted duplicating and synchronizing Styles. Developers can edit and preview Styles in a Theme using a Visual Studio based designer.

Strip Chart Sample

A new strip chart component is provided in the strip chart sample, in the Extras package. Click on the image above to run the sample. The strip chart minimizes CPU usage, so developers can use several on the same screen. When scrolling is paused, users can scroll the chart to any data sample. The chart supports zooming in integer increments.

Particle System Sample

Click the image above or below to run the new particle system sample provided in the Extras package. The particle system creates and animates 10,000 particles. Originally written to illustrate the operation of an egg smashing machine, developers may use the particle system component to illustrate a mixing or painting operation.

About VG.net

More than 250 client companies and hundreds of users around the world are a testimony to the broad capabilities of VG.net. Simulations, monitoring, and process control applications use VG.net in a multitude of industries, including:

• Avionics
• Aeronautics
• Energy
• Pipeline simulation
• Transportation
• Medical
• Network infrastructure
• Robotics
• Financial
• Food industry
• Retail point of service

About Prodige Software Corporation: Founded in 2000, Prodige Software Corporation provides high performance vector graphics solutions in a variety of industries.