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Yes, but no WORRIES, the GREAT majority of VRML 2.0 PLUGINS will read your 1.0 CODE. Just don't FORGET to specify in the header which version you used.

Yes, but no worries, the great majority of VRML 2.0 plugins will read your 1.0 code. Just don't forget to specify in the header which version you used.

This happens if the Web SERVER has not been configured to deliver the VRML MIME type. What happens when the MIME type has been SET up is that when ANYONE requests the FILE from the server, the server puts a little message at the beginning saying that the file is VRML, not text.

This happens if the Web server has not been configured to deliver the VRML MIME type. What happens when the MIME type has been set up is that when anyone requests the file from the server, the server puts a little message at the beginning saying that the file is VRML, not text.

It can be a challenge finding great VRML WORLDS -- COMPARE it to the challenge of finding cool HTML PAGES a couple of YEARS AGO.

It can be a challenge finding great VRML worlds -- compare it to the challenge of finding cool HTML pages a couple of years ago.

If you know the VRML language, you can ACTUALLY create VRML in a text editor LIKE NOTEPAD or just like HTML.

If you know the VRML language, you can actually create VRML in a text editor like notepad or just like HTML.

No, you don't need to compile VRML files (just like HTML). When you view the source on worlds that have been COMPRESSED with gzip, you may think that they have been compiled, but they have only been compressed. VRML can be created using any text editor (as long as you know the SYNTAX of the language!).

No, you don't need to compile VRML files (just like HTML). When you view the source on worlds that have been compressed with gzip, you may think that they have been compiled, but they have only been compressed. VRML can be created using any text editor (as long as you know the syntax of the language!).

To view VRML, you NEED a VRML browser, HELPER application or plug-in. The most commonly-used VRML 1.0 browser is Netscape's Live3D, which is available on Windows and PowerMac machines.

Their are several VRML 2.0 browsers available in beta form. They include converters that let you view VRML 1.0 worlds as well. VRML 2.0 browsers include Dimension X's Liquid Reality, Silicon Graphics' Cosmo Player and SONY's Community Place (FORMERLY KNOWN as Cyber Passage).

To view VRML, you need a VRML browser, helper application or plug-in. The most commonly-used VRML 1.0 browser is Netscape's Live3D, which is available on Windows and PowerMac machines.

Their are several VRML 2.0 browsers available in beta form. They include converters that let you view VRML 1.0 worlds as well. VRML 2.0 browsers include Dimension X's Liquid Reality, Silicon Graphics' Cosmo Player and Sony's Community Place (formerly known as Cyber Passage).

In VRML 2.0, you can USE the parameters field of the Anchor node with the VALUE "target=frame_name", where frame_name is the name of the frame to be targeted by the link. NOTE: In VRML 2.0 Draft 2 and earlier, the parameters field was previously called parameter.

NETSCAPE's Live3D VRML 1.0 browser has an extension to VRML 1.0 that LETS you target frames. The VRML navigation bar in VRMLSite uses this extension. You can add an extra field called target and give it an SFString value of the name of the frame. In addition, you will want to use a fields parameter in the WWWAnchor node.

In VRML 2.0, you can use the parameters field of the Anchor node with the value "target=frame_name", where frame_name is the name of the frame to be targeted by the link. Note: In VRML 2.0 Draft 2 and earlier, the parameters field was previously called parameter.

Netscape's Live3D VRML 1.0 browser has an extension to VRML 1.0 that lets you target frames. The VRML navigation bar in VRMLSite uses this extension. You can add an extra field called target and give it an SFString value of the name of the frame. In addition, you will want to use a fields parameter in the WWWAnchor node.

At this point, there are few VRML 2.0 authoring tools AVAILABLE that allow significant BEHAVIORS, so you're pretty much stuck USING text editors. SGI's Cosmo Create includes some capability.

ALSO, Paragraph's VIRTUAL Home Space Builder provides the capability of creating VRML 2.0 compliant animated textures. Look for VRML 2.0 behavior-authoring software soon from Superscape.

At this point, there are few VRML 2.0 authoring tools available that allow significant behaviors, so you're pretty much stuck using text editors. SGI's Cosmo Create includes some capability.

Also, Paragraph's Virtual Home Space Builder provides the capability of creating VRML 2.0 compliant animated textures. Look for VRML 2.0 behavior-authoring software soon from Superscape.

There is ONE simple way to drastically reduce the FILE size of your VRML world. You can reduce the file size by 80-90%!! You just need to compress it using GZIP.

GZIP is available for ALMOST all available UNIX platforms, plus other machines. Do a search at your FAVORITE search engine to find a version for your machine.

In Unix, if you have gzip, you only need to type: gzip filename.wrl, and your file will become compressed and have the new filename filename.wrl.gz.

There is one simple way to drastically reduce the file size of your VRML world. You can reduce the file size by 80-90%!! You just need to compress it using GZIP.

GZIP is available for almost all available Unix platforms, plus other machines. Do a search at your favorite search engine to find a version for your machine.

In Unix, if you have gzip, you only need to type: gzip filename.wrl, and your file will become compressed and have the new filename filename.wrl.gz.

There are three kinds of modes that most browsers have:

FLY, walk and point but each browser uses slightly different names or styles. In fly-like modes, it's like you are piloting a plane through a 3D space, arrow keys or mouse direction adjusts the direction you're headed in, and you also can move forward and (sometimes) backwards. Walk mode lets you move around on an imaginary flat surface, and you have to press special keys to move up and down.

Point mode is the best (maybe only?) excuse to USE a mouse in navigating a VRML ENVIRONMENT. You click on an object you see, and then you move towards it.

Another feature of VRML is that you can have preset viewpoints that a world creator positions to LET you look at special vistas or views in the world. Think of it as a movie director positioning a camera while filming a scene. You can usually switch between these by right-clicking and making a selection from a pop-up menu. In addition, there can be links inside the VRML world that link to other parts of the world -- other viewpoints!

It takes a bit of getting used to, but you'll gradually get the hang of it.

There are three kinds of modes that most browsers have:

fly, walk and point but each browser uses slightly different names or styles. In fly-like modes, it's like you are piloting a plane through a 3D space, arrow keys or mouse direction adjusts the direction you're headed in, and you also can move forward and (sometimes) backwards. Walk mode lets you move around on an imaginary flat surface, and you have to press special keys to move up and down.

Point mode is the best (maybe only?) excuse to use a mouse in navigating a VRML environment. You click on an object you see, and then you move towards it.

Another feature of VRML is that you can have preset viewpoints that a world creator positions to let you look at special vistas or views in the world. Think of it as a movie director positioning a camera while filming a scene. You can usually switch between these by right-clicking and making a selection from a pop-up menu. In addition, there can be links inside the VRML world that link to other parts of the world -- other viewpoints!

It takes a bit of getting used to, but you'll gradually get the hang of it.

There are several ways to COMBINE VRML with Java and JavaScript. Netscape Live3D users can use Netscape's LiveConnect technology with Live3D to affect a VRML world in an HTML page from a JavaScript function or a Java applet. Conceivably, other browser developers could add LiveConnect interfaces.

In addition, VRML 2.0 has APIs for both Java and JavaScript, so that Java and JavaScript can be referenced through SCRIPT nodes. The Java and JavaScript can DRIVE interactivity and other ADVANCED FEATURES in the VRML world via the Script node and ROUTE-ing. Sony's Community Place VRML 2.0 browser supports the VRML 2.0 Java API. SGI's Cosmo Player VRML 2.0 browser supports the VRML 2.0 JavaScript API.

Other browsers may have their own Java APIs. Dimension X's Liquid Reality VRML 2.0 browser has its own Java API.

There are several ways to combine VRML with Java and JavaScript. Netscape Live3D users can use Netscape's LiveConnect technology with Live3D to affect a VRML world in an HTML page from a JavaScript function or a Java applet. Conceivably, other browser developers could add LiveConnect interfaces.

In addition, VRML 2.0 has APIs for both Java and JavaScript, so that Java and JavaScript can be referenced through Script nodes. The Java and JavaScript can drive interactivity and other advanced features in the VRML world via the Script node and ROUTE-ing. Sony's Community Place VRML 2.0 browser supports the VRML 2.0 Java API. SGI's Cosmo Player VRML 2.0 browser supports the VRML 2.0 JavaScript API.

Other browsers may have their own Java APIs. Dimension X's Liquid Reality VRML 2.0 browser has its own Java API.

There are now several browsers available for Macintoshes, and not just for PowerMacs EITHER. Browsers for 68K Macs include ExpressVR, a Netscape plug-in, and Virtus Voyager, a stand-alone VRML viewer or helper application.

Netscape's Live3D for PowerMac is GRADUALLY becoming stable. Other PowerMac software INCLUDES ExpressVR, Voyager, Whurlwind, and Equinox.

All of the PREVIOUS are VRML 1.0 browsers. The new kid on the BLOCK is RealSpace, with yes, a VRML 2.0 browser for PowerMacs.

There are now several browsers available for Macintoshes, and not just for PowerMacs either. Browsers for 68K Macs include ExpressVR, a Netscape plug-in, and Virtus Voyager, a stand-alone VRML viewer or helper application.

Netscape's Live3D for PowerMac is gradually becoming stable. Other PowerMac software includes ExpressVR, Voyager, Whurlwind, and Equinox.

All of the previous are VRML 1.0 browsers. The new kid on the block is RealSpace, with yes, a VRML 2.0 browser for PowerMacs.

You can FTP your VRML file onto a Web server, just as you would with an HTML file. The Web server will serve your file properly only if the MIME type is SET up properly in the server.

The MIME type for VRML is "x-world/x-vrml". If you see a PILE of text appear when you try to access your world from your server, that means the MIME type is not set up properly. E-mail your webmaster and ask them to set up the MIME type "x-world/x-vrml" for filename extension ".wrl".

In addition, to serve VRML files that have been compressed with GZIP properly, ask your webmaster to set up the Content ENCODING type "x-gzip" for filename extension ".gz" (if it's not already set up).

You can FTP your VRML file onto a Web server, just as you would with an HTML file. The Web server will serve your file properly only if the MIME type is set up properly in the server.

The MIME type for VRML is "x-world/x-vrml". If you see a pile of text appear when you try to access your world from your server, that means the MIME type is not set up properly. E-mail your webmaster and ask them to set up the MIME type "x-world/x-vrml" for filename extension ".wrl".

In addition, to serve VRML files that have been compressed with GZIP properly, ask your webmaster to set up the Content Encoding type "x-gzip" for filename extension ".gz" (if it's not already set up).

The three MAIN DIFFERENCES are that VRML 2.0 includes:

★ 3D sound
★ INTERACTIVITY
★ Object-oriented STRUCTURE

Interactivity means that objects can move AROUND and respond to the user's actions.

The three main differences are that VRML 2.0 includes:

★ 3D sound
★ Interactivity
★ Object-oriented structure

Interactivity means that objects can move around and respond to the user's actions.

VRML is useful for a variety of applications, INCLUDING:

★ Data visualization
★ FINANCIAL analysis
★ Entertainment
★ Education
★ Distributed simulation
★ Computer-aided design
★ Product marketing
★ Virtual malls
★ USER INTERFACES to information
★ SCIENTIFIC visualization

VRML is useful for a variety of applications, including:

★ Data visualization
★ Financial analysis
★ Entertainment
★ Education
★ Distributed simulation
★ Computer-aided design
★ Product marketing
★ Virtual malls
★ User interfaces to information
★ Scientific visualization