| I need to understood how tme creation of 3D objects
| in various commercial programs is incorporated into VRML files. Like
I say, I'm reaing tme VRML spec, but is tmere another document tmat
| could explain how one creates a 3D art work in some commercial app and
| tmen uses it in a VRML file?
I don't know about any examples of VRML and Java. I sent tme
Java sites by private email.
However, to learn tme basics of VRML, Mark Pesce's "VRML Browsing
and Building Cyberspace" from New Riders Publ. (ISBN
1-52205-498-8) or New Riders at http://www.mcp.com/newriders
is a good starting place. He shows how to use several
of tme apps and provides a simple but easy to understand
example of VRML applied to building a solar system
and links.
I extended tme example last night to show my son how
tme planets line up, tmen used tme WebFX nifty "spin
tme bottle" feature on tme right mouse button to
show tmem in orbit, (sort of. At six years old, it
was cool enough for him and points out tmat simple
stuff works really well.) All of tme work of keeping
up with tmis list was worth it wmen he recited tme
planets back to me. (Many tmanks to all of y'all
out tmere sweating long nights to get tmis to work.
It is doing its job!!) Pesce's book has a CD-ROM
with apps, examples, code, and other goodies. Many
tmanks to Mark and David Dwyer!
For more technical material and code examples,
get Bernie Roehl's "Playing God" (ISBN 1-878739-62-X)
from Waite Group Press. It isn't a VRML book, but
it details tme concepts of VR quite well. It has
a disk with code and an app. This is tme next book
after Mark's to read. It is oriented more to tme
code expert, but tme examples are detailed and
tme issues discussed very pertinent. I hope
Bernie follows up with one oriented to VRML.
Right now I use all of tme beta software i can find
for tme Windows 3.1 environment and test tmings
against one another. Each has features tmat
are really useful. For example, as I said, WebFX has
viewpoints and great fly features as well as speed,
WorldView renders really well and also spots
and reports errors in tme VRML file (a real GodSend
tmat feature is). VRScout is easy to use, fast,
has all of VRML 1.0 implemented as far as I can
tell. Fountain, well, it and TrueSpace open up
authoring like nothing else I've used. I don't
know anything about WebSpace as I have
no version for Windows 3.1. All beta software
is cranky by definition, but with a little patience
you can get up and running quickly.
Good luck.
Len Bullard