Peer Review

WinFIG

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Reviewed:: Jan 18, 2021 by Mathematics

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: WinFIG is a vector graphics editor application. It has become quite popular among academic users for it’s ability to use LaTeX syntax for texts as well as exporting to PSTricks, embedding PostScript or PDF into LaTeX or producing pure LaTeX output. There are many options to fit WinFIG into a LaTeX environment. One can download and use WinFIG for free but with limited number of graphed objects or purchase a $35 license for unlimited use.
Type of Material:: Development Tool.
Recommended Uses:: The purpose of this tool is to create computer aided drawing of simple figures to be included into LaTeX manuscripts.
Technical Requirements:: WinFig can be downloaded and installed on various operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS running computers.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Drawing pictures using LaTeX picture environments.
Target Student Population:: Anyone using LaTeX who wants to include figures in a manuscript or presentation.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: LaTeX language and environment.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

WinFIG is a self-contained downloadable graphing editor that takes advantage of Windows features like clipboard, printer preview, multiple documents etc. It includes many features such as:

Composing drawings using ellipses, circles, polygons, splines, arcs, arrows, images, text objects;
Drawing solid, dashed or dotted lines with miter, round or beveled joins;
Using colors and patterns;
Manipulation of drawings by moving, stretching, flipping, aligning;
Creation of compound objects;
Arranging objects in different layers to control the order in which they overlap;
Using grid and magnet and constraints for geometry in order to create LaTeX compatible lines only;
Scripting interface for JavaScript;
Exporting to box, CGM, DXF, EMF, epic, ge, GIF, IBMGL, dxf, JPEG, LaTeX, map, MetaFont, MetaPost, PCX, PDF, pic, pictex, PNG, (Encapsulated)PostScript, ppm, pstex, PSTricks, shape, sld, SVG, tk, TikZ and others;
Smart links to support diagram techniques for creating connections between nodes.

Concerns:

WinFIG does not have a built-in printing feature. The user need to export his drawing to some printable format.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Anybody who has prepared a LaTeX based mathematical manuscript, a paper, or a presentation faces a problem of including graphics into a mathematical text. WinFIG offers a convenient way to create a picture or a drawing in a separate application and then embed it (several options are available) into the text. In particular, WinFIG interfaces with MiKTeX to allow preview of the actual LaTeX picture for a very efficient edit-view-edit cycle.
Concerns:: There is no well-developed user manual that explains all the features of WinFIG.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: WinFIG is an executable that can be installed and run through Windows, MacOS, or Linux. It has a well developed graphic user interface that includes all the necessary buttons and features to create a simple drawing.
Concerns:: In order to run the export features properly, WinFIG requires the latest version of MikTeX and PostScript to be installed. Fine tuning of the export interface is quite elaborate.

Other Issues and Comments:: None
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