FAQ

This page is divided into two sections.The first section addresses general questions about Microsoft VRML 2.0 Viewer. The second section addresses questions regarding navigation and image quality.

General Questions

• Does MS VRML 2.0 Viewer run on Windows NT?
• Will MS VRML 2.0 Viewer run on Windows 3.11 using WIN32s?
• When will there be a Macintosh version of MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
• Is there a Unix version of MS VRML 2.0 Viewer available?
• Which 3D accelerator card works best with MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
• Can I use MS VRML 2.0 Viewer as an ActiveX Control in my own applications?
• I compiled my Java code using classes provided by another VRML browser. Will it work with MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?

General Answers

• Does MS VRML 2.0 Viewer run on Windows NT?
  Yes, BUT you must have Service Pack 3 installed for NT 4.0.

• Will MS VRML 2.0 Viewer run on Windows 3.11 using WIN32s?
  No. MS VRML 2.0 Viewer is designed to run only on 32-bit operating systems such as Windows 95. There are no plans to support Windows 3.1.
  
• When will there be a Macintosh version?
  At this time, there are no plans to support the Macintosh.
• Is there a UNIX version available?
  At this time, there are no plans to support Unix.
  
• Which 3D accelerator card works best with MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
  Any card that accelerates Microsoft's Direct3D will accelerate MS VRML 2.0 Viewer.
  
• Can I use MS VRML 2.0 Viewer as an ActiveX control in my own applications?
  It is not possible to use this version of MS VRML 2.0 Viewer within any application other than Internet Explorer. For information on a standalone ActiveX control, please send mail to MSVRML@Microsoft.com.
  
• I compiled my Java code using classes provided by another VRML browser. Will it work with MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
  It might. The Java portion of the VRML 2.0 specification and the Java EAI proposed specification have undergone several changes in recent months; all browsers might not be up-to-date. However, Java code compiled with the Microsoft classes should still run under other browsers, even though the reverse is not necessarily true.

Navigation and Image Quality Questions

• How does MS VRML 2.0 Viewer work with HTML browsers?
• I hear VRML 2.0 is out now. What's so great about it?
• What effect does changing the image quality have on the speed of loading and navigating a scene?
• What's the difference in the three levels of image quality?
• What effect does loading textures have?
• Is there a way I can prevent objects from obstructing my movement in MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
• What does it mean when the cursor changes to a hand when passed over a certain object?
• Can I hide or show the Navigation Tool Bar?
• Can I navigate in MS VRML 2.0 Viewer using the keyboard?

Navigation and Image Quality Answers

• How does MS VRML 2.0 Viewer work with HTML browsers?
  This version of MS VRML 2.0 Viewer works inside your Internet Explorer window. When you browse a URL for a VRML world (usually ending with the .wrl extension), the Viewer will start automatically.
  
  
• I hear VRML 2.0 is out now. What's so great about it?
  VRML 1.0 allowed the creation of static 3-D worlds that could be hyperlinked to other VRML worlds or HTML documents. VRML 2.0 has several additions that make it interactive, including the ability to animate objects and control their behavior through scripting. Multimedia capabilities such as sound and movies have also been added. To learn more about VRML 2.0, its history, and its capabilities, check out Intervista's 'VRML Information' page. MS VRML 2.0 Viewer supports both VRML 1.0 and VRML 2.0.
  
  
• What effect does changing the image quality have on the speed of loading and navigating a scene?
  A lot. In particular, turning on Full color and Dithering (both located uner Graphics on the right button pop-up menu) will give you the best possible image quality, but will have a significant effect on loading and navigation speed. Navigation will be faster if you turn off Full color and Dithering, and faster still if you choose Flat or Wireframe image quality rather than Smooth.
  
  
• What's the difference in the three levels of image quality?
  Smooth shading means that the objects appear solid in shape, with smooth edges. Flat shading means that the objects appear to be faceted, and much rougher-looking than with smooth shading. Wireframe means that you just see the basic structure of the objects, white wires (or lines) without filled-in shading.
  
  
• What effect does loading textures have?
  Like increasing the image quality, loading textures slows down the speed of the scene loading, as well as your speed when moving through a world. However, when authors use textures in worlds, they typically expect them to be viewed with the textures loaded. Viewing worlds without textures detracts from their intended appearance and can make them difficult to use.
  
  To turn off texture loading, select Options... from the right-mouse pop-up menu. When the dialog appears, turn off the Load Textures checkbox.
  
  
• Is there a way I can prevent objects from obstructing my movement in MS VRML 2.0 Viewer?
  Yes. Look under Movement on the right-button pop-up menu. If there is a check mark next to Prevent Collisions, you won't be able to move through solid objects in your path. Select this item to remove the checkmark. You will then be able to pass through objects. Note that passing through large objects will put you completely inside them temporarily and obstruct your view of the rest of the scene. You can also specify the default setting of Prevent Collions in the Options dialog, which appears when you by select Options.... from the right-button pop-up menu.
  
  
• What does it mean when the cursor changes to a hand when passed over a certain object?
  It means the object is hyperlinked to an HTML location, another VRML file, or another viewpoint (or camera location) in the current VRML file. Click the mouse to follow the hyperlink.
  
  
• Can I hide or show the Navigational Toolbar?
  Yes. Select or deselect the Show Navigation Bar from the right-mouse pop-up menu. VRML authors can also control whether or not this toolbar is displayed when you view a world, so you may see it appear or disappear regardless of the setting you've chosen.
  
  
• Can I navigate in MS VRML 2.0 Viewer using the keyboard?
  Keyboard navigation is supported as follows:

  Arrow keys navigate (for example, during WALK mode; up=forward, down=backwards, left & right=themselves).
  PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN keys toggle you through defined viewpoints.
  To change navigation modes, press CTRL+SHIFT and one of the following keys:

  • W = WALK mode
  • P = PAN mode
  • T = TURN mode
  • R = ROLL mode
  • G = GOTO mode
  • S = STUDY mode
  • U = STRAIGHTEN UP scene
  • Z = ZOOM OUT from scene