Pattern Processing

The processing of text-graphic patterns is illustrated by starting with the LISP sexpr

Figure 2 shows the results of various PAM functions on this sexpr.

The first is a simple translation to graphic text objects. Since lispToTextTran performs no spatial layout, the result is a pile (object a. in Figure 2).

Next, the function prettyLayout is called on the pile to spread it out and showTree is used to diagram the tree structure (object b.).

Then LISPToTextGraphicTran is called on the original LISP sexpr, translating any function names on the vizObjAlist into their visual name-shape synonym according to the VennLISP notation system (thus addressing the problem of Program Instrumentation as detailed in Sutherland [1]). prettyLayout has also been called on the resulting object to spread it out (object c.).

And finally (object d.), the function VennLISPlayout (the definition below is simplified) has been used to reformat object c. so that recursion is denoted by containment (this spatial layout function is one approach to Sutherland's Logical Arangement Problem in [1]).

Figure 2