Introduction
— What is WHIP! data?
WHIP! data is the new name given to classic DWF (Design Web Format) files
of version 0.55 and earlier. The DWF 6 format is described in detail in the DWF
Specification document accompanying this distribution. WHIP! data was developed
because widely accepted 2D vector file standards did not address the needs of
Internet aware applications. In addition, commercial formats were too closely tied
to specific proprietary data structures to support the exchange of illustrations
among systems.
WHIP! data is a format for the standardized description of 2D, vector-based
drawings and illustrations, intended for encapsulation within a DWF package file.
WHIP! data files of version 6.0 and greater are not intended to be used as stand-alone
files, but rather a data channel within a DWF package file.
This specification was developed with the following in mind:
Compatibility — WHIP! data provides a common syntax for the exchange of 2D illustrations between applications that generate drawings and viewing applications that read them, for use within the DWF package format.
Simplicity — WHIP! data provides simplicity through the use of a flexible syntax that requires minimal information for simple cases while allowing a graceful escalation of information required for more complex drawing descriptions. The format persuades WHIP! data generating applications to tessellate their geometry into a form that is simple for viewing applications to read.
Stability — The WHIP! data format remains relatively unchanged over time because it is application independent and has extensibility built in. Also, it is less likely to require changes as it addresses the requirements of most existing commercial systems.
Many Supported Features — Fully supported features include lines, polylines, polygons, polytriangles, markers, images, circles, arcs, ellipses, Bézier curves, text, visibility, Gouraud shading, texture mapping, 31-bit data precision, layer control, view control, clip regions, variable transparency, and international character sets.
Plot Utility — The Toolkit provides a new set of opcodes that enable realistic plotting from WHIP! data consumers.
Extensibility — WHIP! data provides extensibility through the use of syntax extension mechanisms built into the specification and through a set of rules for WHIP! data reading programs that allow for unforeseen syntax extensions. For example, new operations can be compatibly added to WHIP! data that will be gracefully ignored by older WHIP! data reading applications.
Compact size — WHIP! data is designed to provide either a compact binary or readable ASCII representation of illustrations. Especially critical for Internet transmission, WHIP! data includes a compression mechanism that minimizes duplication of geometric information.
Embedding mechanism — WHIP! data includes a mechanism for the attachment of any kind of data (with a link or an embed operation) to the format. One possible use for this is to allow users to drag and drop illustrations from a Web browser into any application. Rather than "dropping" WHIP! data, an embedded or linked file format native to the target application is dropped as instructed by the WHIP! data reader.
URL hyperlink support — WHIP! data adds World Wide Web support and features to the drawings it describes. One of these features is the ability to attach Internet URL (universal resource locator) hyperlinks to any object so that by selecting an object in a drawing, a user can jump to a more detailed view of the drawing, to a related drawing, or to any other Internet information (text, sound, video, and so forth).
About
The Guide
This version of the Guide also expands upon the development system
and opcode library that originated with the Whip!
Toolkit. This section tells how to use the guide.
Synopsis
The guide has one primary focus:Technical overview of the WHIP! data specification intended for use as a channel (file resource) within a "Design Web Format" (DWF) — package. WHIP! data contains information facilitating the transmission of 2D vector drawings. A reference of opcode definitions is included.The following sections are included:Overview — Provides a feature overview of WHIP! data and how to use this guide.
WHIP! Data Architecture — A description of the WHIP! data and opcode structure, details and examples.
Standard Opcode Definitions and Reference — An alphabetical reference of the WHIP! data opcodes and operands.
Appendix A: Opcodes Listed by Format — A quick reference of opcodes listed by opcode category: single byte, extended ASCII, and extended binary formats.
Appendix B: License Agreement The End User License Agreement which must be acknowledged, as noted, prior to using the toolkit.
This guide is based on revision 06.00 of the WHIP! data specification. Future versions will specify additional functions that were not included. As such, some content in this revision is marked "To Be Determined" (TBD).Typographical Conventions
In this guide, certain typographical conventions are used to make reading and understanding easier.The Courier font is used for methods, file objects and items expressed in code and fragments of C or C++ language code:
A Times Roman bold font is used for opcodes and function names:
Methods process_next_object() Function names (when in code) establish_configuration Define Compressed Data, or Draw Ellipse.An italic font is used for arguments, values, and also emphasis, names of documents, files, and directory locations supplied with the kit:a four-bit literal data run length value.Underlined Courier font characters indicate binary operand data:1xxxxyyyyxxxx.In code samples or code sequences, the use of a C++ comment identifier followed by ellipses indicates code that has been omitted for clarity:// ....Actions, attributes and references to sections in the guide appear in the text as Times Roman font in double quotes:"process", "Color" and, see the "Notes" section of....
Technical
Support, Information and Revisions
The DWF and WHIP! Toolkits are provided free on an as-is basis. There is no technical
support available. Please post questions, comments and suggestions pertaining
to the toolkit and this guide to the internet news group at news://discussion.autodesk.com/autodesk.internet
or the web version at http://discussion.autodesk.com/WebX?14@@.ee937e6.
It is recommend that you update your WHIP! Data Specification
with each new release of DWF,
as it is continually revised when new information becomes available.