FurDesigner run with Softimage 3.7 and 3.7 SP1, on SGI workstations.
 

Before you begin

• Before you install FurDesigner you should check processor version your Softimage is compiled for.

Type the command:
    file $SI_LOCATION/3D/bin/soft <Enter>

The output from this command tells you the processor version:

1. .../3D/bin/soft: ELF 32-bit MSB dynamic lib MIPS - version 1

this is a mips1 version
2. .../3D/bin/soft: ELF 32-bit MSB mips-2 dynamic lib MIPS - version 1

this is a mips2 version
3. .../3D/bin/soft: ELF N32 MSB mips-3 dynamic lib MIPS - version 1

this is a mips3 version
4. .../3D/bin/soft: ELF N32 MSB mips-4 dynamic lib MIPS - version 1

this is a mips4 version
• Find the hardware id of your machine, this is used to get a password to run FurDesigner

 

    sysinfo -s <Enter>
 

The output from this command is a decimal number like:
    12389795239
 

• To register and get the software go to the 4DVision homepage

Installing FurDesigner

• First you have to decide where you want FurDesigner to be installed. Consider these possibilities:
• You are the only user on a stand alone machine or you just want to try out the DEMO software:

 

Run the installation the user you normally use when you run Softimage, and install FurDesigner in your home directory or  in an other directory where you are sure to have read and write access
 

• You are one of more users on a machine with Softimage installed locally:

 

Run the installation the user you normally use when you run Softimage, and install FurDesigner in your home directory or  in an other directory where you are sure to have read and write access
 

• You are in a network environment with Softimage installed on a server:

 

The network administrator should run the installation, se below
 
 

• After you have decided on the install directory and the user that should run the install do the following:
• Go to the directory where the downloaded FurDesigner Program file is an type:

 

    tar -xvf Fur.mips* <Enter>

• This will extract to new files:

 

    Fur -> a compressed archive file containing the program
    fur_inst -> the installation script for the program

• Run the fur_inst script:

 

    sh fur_inst <Enter>

• When prompted for the install directory enter the full path to the directory or just type enter to use the Softimage installation path.
• Now add the command printed by the install script to your .softimage script, using the jot editor:

 

    jot ~/.softimage <Enter>
 

• In a network installation it might be to much work to edit the .softimage files of all users. Instead copy the following files:
• The FurDesigner program

 
cp fur/bin/Fur.so $SI_LOCATION/3D/dso <Enter>
 
• The FurDesigner .cus file

 
cp fur/custom/FurDesigner.cus $SI_LOCATION/3D/custom/matter <Enter>
 
• The FurDesigner standalone execution script

 
cp fur/bin/Fur /usr/bin <Enter>
 

Installing the FurDesigner Tutorials

• Change to the directory where you want to install the tutorial database, and unpack the downloaded file:

 
    tar -xvf path_to_the_downloaded_file/FurTutorials.tar <Enter>
 
• Unpack the HTML pages

 
    tar -xvf path_to_the_downloaded_file/FurHTML.tar <Enter>
 
• Next time you start Softimage use the DBmanager to find the tutorial database: FurTutorial
• Use your internet browser to read the Tutorial text.

 Running FurDesigner

• Before running FurDesigner for the first time logout and login again, to set the proper environment.
• Running FurDesigner from inside Softimage
• Start Softimage and get a new patch or NURBS primitive.
• Go to the Matter Module <F4> and find FurDesigner under the MatOper Menu.
• Running FurDesigner as standalone
• Type the Fur command from the shell prompt, followed by the full path to the Softimage database and the scene name:

 
    Fur database_name scene_name <Enter>
    Ex:  Fur /usr/local/testdb scene1 <Enter>
         Fur ~/FurTutorial tut-3_start <Enter>
 
• Running Offscreen renderFurDesigner

The offscreen render  is supported only on RealityEngine, RealityEngine2, and VTX systems, on InfiniteReality systems, on High Impact and Maximum Impact systems, and on O2 systems.
 
• Type the Fur command from the shell prompt, followed by the full path to the Softimage database and the scene name:
 
    Fur database_name scene_name <Enter>
    Ex:  Fur /usr/local/testdb scene1 -b -o test <Enter>
         Fur ~/FurTutorial tut-3_start -b -n 1 10 1 -S 2000 1500 -o tut3 <Enter>
 
• The following options is available:
• -b: run offscreen render
• -S xres yres: specify the size of the rendered image
• -A aspect: new aspect ratio
• -n start end step:  render a sequence of images. Start and end must be within the limits specifyed in Softimage
• -j level: antialiazing level 0 = none 1 - 7 = 2 - 66 samples
• -a : render alpha channel
• -P: call render plugin
• -o filename: output image filename

Trouble shooting

• If the program crashes with a message like:

    unable to resolve reference: glEnable,
it is probably becouse it dosen't have the OpenGL support.
To fix this you must force FurDesigner to run IrisGL. Use the command
    setenv FUR_USE_IRIS_GL 1 <Enter>
before starting Softimage or FurDesigner standalone.
Alternatively add the command to the .softimage file in your home directory or $FUR_LOCATION/fur/bin/FurSetup file, and logout and login again.
• If you are using a resolution bigger than 1280x1024 you may experience problems, moving and deleting keys in the KeyMap area. The mouse movements get limited.

To fix set the environment variable:
     setenv FUR_DONT_MOVE_MOUSE 1 <Enter>
Add the command to the files as above
• If you get an error message similar to:

SI_ERROR: SI_dynalinkLoad(): 17052:/usr/softimage/3D/bin/soft: rld: Fatal Error: cannot successfully map soname '/usr/local/fur/bin/Fur.so' under any of the filenames /usr/local/fur/bin/Fur.so or other dynamic objects (in)directly referenced.

1. You probably don't have paths set in the .softimage file. Check if the steps in Installing FurDesigner.
2. Or you may have installed the wrong MIPS version. Check Before you begin on how to determin the MIPS version of Softimage.