| Re: About ION's Applications [message #45454] |
Fri, 16 September 2005 11:36  |
Rick Towler
Messages: 821
Registered: August 1998
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Senior Member |
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tina wrote:
> I can seach many applications of IDL but few of ION on net.
> I want to know if ION is a popular product in USA?
> If it is popular, can anyone give me some website links of application
> cases on ION.
I would contact RSI directly regarding this. I also would send you a
link to the applications I built using ION script but they are currently
offline and I don't know if or when they will be back.
I can give you a verbal rundown of one to give you an idea of what is
possible with ION script:
The user would launch the application by clicking a link in their
browser. The app presented two windows, one for control and one for
display. In the control window there was a web form which would allow
the user to specify a number of parameters and they could select how
they wanted the results displayed: as an jpg image of the 3d model or
as a VRML model. If they selected VRML model (and they had a VRML
client installed), the application would send the VRML file and their
browser would open the client in the display window and they could then
manipulate the model (rotate, pan, zoom, etc.).
Overall it worked, but we ran into a number of annoying problems with
the VRML models. For instance there were z-order issues with certain
objects and transparency and texturing were hit-or-miss depending on a
myriad of factors like VRML client, 3d drivers, OS...
While it worked, it really was a sub-optimal way to share 3d content.
This isn't a limitation of ION, but of the VRML standard.
> and further can you tell me the difference between VRML and ION ?
> If I want to publish IDL 3D applications, which one is the better?
VRML is an almost dead open format for describing 3d objects/scenes.
VRML has evolved into X3d and while there seems to be more support for
this format, time will tell. There are a lot of limitations with VRML
and IDL only supports output to VRML, not X3d.
ION (and ION script) are packages that allow you to leverage your IDL
code to build online applications. With ION you can create VRML files
(using IDL's IDLgrVRML object).
As to how to publish your 3d "application"? It really depends. If you
want to share it with the world, and you are creating it in IDL, then
VRML is probably your only option. But, if you want to share it within
a smaller community I would build the application and then share it as a
.sav file and encourage your colleagues to download the IDL virtual
machine. You will have much more control over the content and
presentation and will be limited only by IDL, not by the outdated VRML
standard.
-Rick
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| Re: About ION's Applications [message #45592 is a reply to message #45454] |
Tue, 20 September 2005 02:45  |
tina[1]
Messages: 3
Registered: September 2005
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Junior Member |
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Rick,It's so kind of you to help me.
Because I touched IDL and ION in recent two months, I have many puzzles
.
> I would contact RSI directly regarding this.
I will contact RSI about this in China.
> I also would send you a
> link to the applications I built using ION script but they are currently
> offline and I don't know if or when they will be back.
> I can give you a verbal rundown of one to give you an idea of what is
> possible with ION script:
> The user would launch the application by clicking a link in their
> browser. The app presented two windows, one for control and one for
> display. In the control window there was a web form which would allow
> the user to specify a number of parameters and they could select how
> they wanted the results displayed: as an jpg image of the 3d model or
> as a VRML model.
I can understand the presentation by browser ION examples, but I
haven't found some examples displayed VRML model.
> If they selected VRML model (and they had a VRML
> client installed), the application would send the VRML file and their
> browser would open the client in the display window and they could then
> manipulate the model (rotate, pan, zoom, etc.).
In this step, is VRML model created as a changeless file on sever-side?
If the model is change, we have to modify this model?
If the application will send the new model files when the client
inquiry?
> This isn't a limitation of ION, but of the VRML standard.
Can ION creat views or models like in IDE if I don't use VRML model?
Can ION Java creat a 3D manipulative interface on web?
:) PS:
How can I reply the messages passage by passage?
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