The CONTENTS project is an EU sponsored activity to explore the integration of distributed visualisation and analysis component-tools into traditional applications and text documents using ActiveX and CORBA technology.
Using examples from CONTENTS this presentation will describe the process of developing an OpenVizTM visualisation application from a beginner_s perspective. Turning this application into a set of components that could be used within a document or other COM compliant environment (and then turning it back again). The value of component-isation lies in the reuse of the core components in many scenarios, as such it requires a clear understanding of the granularity of a particular problem. Some of the trade-offs apparent with this approach will be discussed (such as the increase in overhead taken on for a one-off exercise) together with some examples.