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TECFA's X3D Page

1. X3D at TECFA  

• Almost none so far (April 2005)
• Example directory (not much)
• Plans: Interactive visualizations and educational applications (as with SVG)

2. Documentation  

2.1 Standards  

• X3D and Related Specifications (overview page)
• LOCAL copy of the DTD's XSD's (version 3.0 oct 2004). Note: to Tecfa users: this url must remain stable !

2.2 FAQS  

• X3D FAQ at web3D
• Mime types for X3D are (you should teach this to your web server):

    .x3dv  model/x3d+vrml
    .x3d   model/x3d+xml
    .x3db  model/x3d+binary
  	

2.3 Tutorials  

• Extensible 3D: XML Meets VRML xml.com tutorial by Len Bullard, Aug 2003

2.4 Articles  

• Exploiting an Evolutionary Accident in Web3D Communications to Integrate Application Components (online id web-0008) by Chris Thorne, The University of Western Australia.

3. Software  

• web3d's tools section.

3.1 Viewers  

• Octaga Player. Good news from Scandinavia :) This is my favorite last time I tested (end of 2004)
• BS Contact VRML + X3D VRML/X3D. Commercial software, but 60 days of trial.
• Flux from Media Machines (Flux 1.2 in aug 2004 has quite good performance). Free player.
• Alpharis, uses X3D (not tested yet / 3/2005)
• Free WRL an open-source (GPL) X3D and VRML browser for Unix/Linux/OS X. Perl/C based. Not completly feature complete, but getting there.
• Xj3D - Java based X3D Toolkit and X3D Browser. Cross-platform, but not as fast as others.

3.2 Other / related  

• ManyOne is Digital Universe. Features a modified mozilla with a flux plugin for 3D contents.
• Contigra, Based on a PdH thesis. Standardized repertoire of 3D-widgets, metaphors and interaction techniques to build intuitive and attractive 3D user interfaces. Can generate X3D (not for beginners !)
• Carina is an xVRML browser (Beta in April 2005). xVRML is based on VRML97 (see same site for specifications, rationale, XSD etc.)
• Web3DChat

3.3 Editors  

• VizX3D is one of the first (good) X3D Authoring Tools (2004), $300. One of the Company Members is Toni Parisi (one of the two fathers of VRML). VizX3D bundles with Flux 1.2 Player.
• SwirlX3D, 100$ (but only $50 for educators and students), 1 month trial (2004 - not tested) - this is the successor for Spazz3D which I found nice.
• X3D-Edit X3D-Edit is a graphics file editor for Extensible 3D (X3D) that enables simple error-free editing, authoring and validation of X3D or VRML scene-graph files. Context-sensitive tooltips provide concise summaries of each VRML node and attribute. These tooltips simplify authoring and improve understanding for novice and expert users alike. Note: The windows installer writes on C:\ whatever you decide. Also you must edit the c:\ibm\xeena\Xenna.bat file and fix Java Home. The X3D Editor is in c:\www.web3edit.ord\x3d\contents. (April 2005)
• You also can use any xml editor that supports DTD or XSD, e.g. Xemacs

3.4 Generators and Exporters  

• VRML97 to X3D Translation ( Vrml97ToX3dNist) Q. Wang's. Java-based (with sh and bat files). Java-based. TESTED @ Tecfa (works). Edit Sh and Bat files to define an absolute CLASSPATH
• X3D to VRML97 Translation ( VVRM). Based on a XSLT Stylesheet.
• Alternatively you also can use the command-line of Xj3D - Java based X3D Toolkit and X3D Browser to translate forth and back (not tested)
• Blender X3D Exporter. Python script. Blender is a very popular free 3D environment

4. Links  

• web3d.org, the web|3D Consortium (who make the standards)
• Neocosm Neocosm.net is a non-profit community and industry portal dedicated to promoting the creation of quality real-time 3D (virtual reality) content (has a x3d section)

5. Examples  

• The X3D Repository at web3D.org...