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VRML Editing Tools
There is more than one way to create a virtual world described with the VRML code. For example, you can use a text editor to write VRML code directly, or you can use a VRML editor to create a virtual world without having to know anything about the VRML language. However, you need to understand the structure of a VRML tree to connect your virtual world to Simulink blocks and signals.
This section includes the following topics:
Editors for Virtual Worlds
A VRML file uses a standard text format that you can read with any text editor. Reading the text is useful for debugging, automated processing, and directly changing VRML code. Also, if you use the correct VRML syntax, you can use any common text editor to create virtual scenes similar to the way you create HTML pages.
Many people prefer to create simple virtual worlds using their favorite text editor. However, the primary way for you to create a virtual world is with a 3-D editing tool. These tools allow you to create complex virtual scenes without a deep understanding of the VRML language.
These 3-D editing tools offer the power and versatility necessary for creating many types of practical and technical models. For example, you can import 3-D objects from some CAD packages to make the authoring process easier and more efficient. For VRML authoring, there are basically two types of 3-D editing tools:
General 3-D Editors -- General 3-D editors do not use VRML as their native format. They export their formats to VRML. There are many commercial packages, such as 3D Studio, that can do this. These tools have many features and are very easy to use. General 3-D editing tools target specific types of work. For example, they can target visual art, animation, games, or technical applications. They offer different working environments depending on the application area for which they are designed. Some of these general 3-D editing tools can be very powerful, expensive, and complex to learn, but others are relatively inexpensive and might satisfy your specific needs.
It is interesting to note that the graphical user interfaces for many of the general commercial 3-D editors use features typical of the native VRML editing tools. For example, in addition to displaying 3-D scenes in various graphical ways, they also offer hierarchical tree-style views that provide a good overview of the model structure and a convenient shortcut to 3-D element definitions.
Native VRML Editors -- Native VRML editors use VRML as their native format. This guarantees that all the features in the editor are compatible with VRML. Also, native VRML editors can use features that are unique for the VRML format, like interpolators and sensors.
Unfortunately, there are currently few advanced VRML editors of commercial quality. Most native VRML editors are in the development stage and are harder to use than a general 3-D editor. V-Realm Builder by Ligos Corporation is one of the exceptions. It is one of the most advanced VRML editing tools currently available for personal computers. V-Realm Builder is available only for Windows operating systems.
For PC, the Virtual Reality Toolbox includes V-Realm Builder as a native 3-D editor. For more information, see V-Realm Builder and Deformation of a Sphere Example.
| | Virtual Worlds | V-Realm Builder | |