**CIGAL Reference Manual, Chapter 1 (Topics): commands**
===== Commands -- A brief description of CIGAL internal commands =====
(Note: * indicates command is not yet available)

|     }           |-mark the end of a block of conditional commands|
|     $           |-temporary escape from CIGAL to execute other programs\
|     Alarm       |-set a timer to execute a command string after a delay|
|     *Analogio   |-|
|     Animate     |-display a series of pictures in rapid succession|
|     Argshift    |-shift command line arguments in a CIGAL macro program|
|     Axis        |-draw a coordinate axis for a graph or histogram|
|     Box         |-draw a box|
|     Break       |-break out of a loop of conditional code|
|     Call        |-execute a device-dependent function|
|     Chdir       |-change the current working directory|
|     Circle      |-draw a circle|
|     Close       |-close an open file or data channel|
|     Compile     |-compile a CIGAL macro program to speed up execution|
|     Comwrite    |-write data to a serial communication port|
|     Declare     |-create a new data variable|
|     Default     |-set default values for arguments to a macro command|
|     Define      |-define a word or function to be expanded by the preprocessor|
|     Delete      |-delete a disk file, or remove a loaded menu or macro entry|
|     Digitize    |-digitize an image from the video camera input|
|     Directory   |-display a list of disk files|
|     Dmread      |-read a multi-format data management file|
|     Dmwrite     |-write to a multi-format data management file|
|     Dump        |-dump the contents of a variable in an easy-to-reload format|
|     Edit        |-edit a disk file, data variable, or screen image|
|     Ellipse     |-draw an ellipse|
|     Else        |-start the second block of conditional code in an IF/ELSE test|
|     Erase       |-erase all or part of the display|
|     Execute     |-execute a character string as a CIGAL command line|
|     FFT         |-perform a fast Fourier transform on a variable|
|     Fill        |-fill a larger variable with many copies of a smaller variable|
|     Font        |-load a character font|
|     Freeze      |-make current display parameters permanent|
|     Ftype       |-formatted version of the TYPE command|
|*    Getvec      |-|
|     Goto        |-jump to a specified line label within a CIGAL macro program|
|     Grid        |-draw a grid on the display screen|
|     Help        |-print out information about how to use commands|
|     Histogram   |-draw a histogram (or smooth curve) of a data array|
|     If          |-conditional test within a CIGAL macro program|
|     Initialize  |-select and initialize the input or display devices|
|     Input       |-read graphics image from stored vector file|
|x    Ipalu       |-arithmetically combine two images|
|*    Ipwait      |-wait until the end of the next image processor cycle|
|     Journal     |-display or re-execute previous commands|
|     Label       |-mark the target of a jump from a GOTO statement|
|     Line        |-draw a line|
|     List        |-display a text file or macro|
|     Load        |-transfer values from an array to separate number variables|
|     Macro       |-load a macro program into CIGAL's system macro library|
|     Manual      |-format HELP information in a form suitable for printing|
|     Menu        |-load, activate, or inactivate command menus|
|     Next        |-jump back to the top of a WHILE or REPEAT loop|
|*    Number      |-print a number on the screen|
|     Offset      |-shift a variable along the X, Y, and/or Z axes|
|     Open        |-open a disk file or assign an open file to a data channel|
|     Output      |-write graphics data to a vector file|
|     Paint       |-paint a region of the screen|
|     Picture     |-read a picture (PICT) file|
|     Pin         |-set the stationary point for rotation or scaling|
|     Plot        |-plot one variable against another|
|     Portio      |-read or write to one of the PC's I/O ports|
|     Print       |-send a file or data variable to the printer|
|*    Putvec      |-add a vector to the vector table (VECS)|
|     Quit        |-terminate CIGAL|
|     Read        |-read data from disk file into a CIGAL variable|
|     Realtime    |-execute a program using the real-time processor|
|     Redraw      |-redraw all or part of an image|
|     Release     |-unDECLARE a data variable, releasing any associated memory|
|     Repeat      |-execute a block of commands more than once|
|     Resource    |-read or write data "resources"|
|     Return      |-terminate a CIGAL macro program or subroutine|
|     Roam        |-move the image position in the X-Y plane (pan and scroll)|
|     Rotate      |-rotate a variable around the X, Y, and/or Z axes|
|     Rtclock     |-control a real-time clock counter|
|     Run         |-execute a CIGAL macro program|
|     Scale       |-scale a variable along the X, Y, and/or Z axes|
|     Scanner     |-read data using image scanner|
|x    Set         |-set the value of a variable using screen display|
|     Show        |-display the status of various aspects of CIGAL|
|     Sketch      |-use the cursor to enter graphics data|
|     Sound       |-record or playback sound data|
|     Spline      |-redraw a vector list as a smooth curve between fixed points|
|     Stretch     |-interactively adjust lookup table (e.g. to enhance contrast)|
|x    String      |-display a text string on the screen|
|     Surface     |-construct surfaces from vector contours|
|     Synch       |-set command execution to be synchronized by external events|
|     Sysint      |-execute an operating system interrupt call|
|     Text        |-put text on screen or into an image or graphics variable|
|     Type        |-display messages and/or the values of data variables|
|*    User1       |-|
|*    User2       |-|
|*    User3       |-|
|     View        |-select which memory plane(s) to display|
|     Wait        |-wait for a specified amount of time or until user input|
|     Watch       |-display data variable on the screen with continuous updating|
|     While       |-execute a conditional loop of commands|
|     Window      |-|
|     Write       |-write data from a CIGAL data variable to a disk file|
|     Zscan       |-Convert 2-D data to 3-D data using data value as Z position|


For more information on a particular command type:
        help commandname
where COMMANDNAME is the command of interest.  For more general help type:
        help

**See Also:**\\
[[jvs:cigal|CIGAL Home]], 
[[jvs:cigal:manual|CIGAL Manual]], 
[[jvs:cigal:manual:chapter1|Topics List]], 
[[jvs:cigal:manual:help|Manual Help]]