Re: coordinate systems

Nathan J. Strange ([email protected])
Wed, 24 May 95 18:08:07 EST


[snip, snip]
>
> This brings up a question: Is there any persistent, general way to refer
> to an object in a .wrl space after we are through rendering the space? In
> other words, after the browser loads the space, it has internal references
> to each of the objects. If you change your point of view (or move
> something) the browser (editor) uses the internal reference to change the
> location of the affected objects, and renders the new view. I assume it is
> not referring to the objects by name. My question then, restated, is: Can
> an external server say "Move 'tea-party.wrl/teacup-03' to these
> coordinates ..." to my browser?
>
[snip, snip]
>
> We need named objects. These are the hooks that a movement language would
> have to use to 'enact' a .wrl file.
>

you should be able to use DEF to give an object a name

DEF objectname objectype { fields children}

and the keyword USE to use that object again

and so you could define an object and then use USE and
transform to move that object... but there is no way
to specify that you have to move it at exactly time x
like you'd want to with a scientific visualization

and with the discussion of common libraries how about
a viariation of USE that says use this object if you
know what it is, else you can get it at this URL
something like:

Transform { translation 0 2 0}
USE {WWInline {name "teapot.wrl"} }
teapot

which says move the teapot 2 (up?) if you don't know what teapot is
load teapot.wrl

apologies If I've misread the spec and gotten Transform wrong....

-Nathan