Copyright: Viscape 2.0, Copyright Superscape VR plc 1996
Citation: Copyright Superscape VR plc 1996


What is Viscape?

Viscape gives you complete freedom to move around and interact with 3-D worlds (built using Superscape VRT) within Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. You can use linked objects to jump to any URL address specified by the world designer.

You move around a world by changing the position of the current viewpoint using:

the movement bar

the mouse

Alternatively, you can use a proportional device, such as a Magellan (Spacemouse) or joystick, to move around worlds.

Some worlds have preset viewpoints that let you jump to different positions in the world. Click on Other Topics for further details.

Note: When you first enter a world you are positioned at the default viewpoint. If you find yourself disorientated as you move around the world, click on the Reset World button on the movement bar to return to the initial position.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To use the movement bar to move around a world

You can change the viewpoint using the icons in the movement bar. Click on the graphic below to display further information on each icon.

Click and hold the left mouse button on one of the three movement icons (blue icons), and then move the mouse. As you move the mouse the arrows change to red to indicate which direction you are moving, and the viewpoint moves in the corresponding direction. The further you move the cursor from the icon the faster you move. Release the mouse to stop the movement.

You can move in more than one axis at the same time by moving the mouse between two arrows. For example, if the mouse is positioned as in the graphic on the right the viewpoint will move forwards and rotate to the left at the same time.

Click on the two green icons to reset your position so that you are looking straight ahead level with the ground, or you are placed at the position at which you entered the world.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


Moves the viewpoint forwards.


Moves the viewpoint backwards.


Rotates the viewpoint to the left.


Rotates the viewpoint to the right.


Moves the viewpoint up.


Moves the viewpoint down.


Moves the viewpoint to the right.


Moves the viewpoint to the left.


Tilts the viewpoint upwards.


Tilts the viewpoint down.


Sets the viewpoint so that you are looking straight ahead, level with the ground.


Resets the world to the position at which you entered the world.


Displays a pop-up menu that you can use to access Viscape functions. Click on Other Topics for further details.


Takes you to SuperCity, Superscape's 3-D Home Page.


To use the mouse to move around a world

To adjust the Mouse Home position

To adjust the sensitivity of the mouse

To set the way you switch to movement mode

To change the axes for mouse movement


To use the mouse to move around a world

When you start Viscape, the mouse is set to selection mode which lets you select items by clicking on them. Press the spacebar once to switch the mouse to movement mode. A small square (known as the Mouse Home) is displayed at the tip of the mouse pointer indicating that you are in movement mode. Now you can move around the world by moving the mouse. The direction that you move the current viewpoint depends on whether you are moving just the mouse or holding down the left or right mouse button at the same time.

The further you move the mouse pointer from the Mouse Home the faster you move in the world. When the mouse pointer is over the top of the Mouse Home any movement stops.

To switch back to selection mode press the spacebar. The Mouse Home disappears and you can use the mouse to select items again.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


Mouse movement with no buttons pressed.


Mouse movement with the left button pressed.


Mouse movement with the right button pressed.


To adjust the Mouse Home position

You can adjust how the Mouse Home is displayed and the default position.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Devices tab.

3.	Select Proportional: Mouse Movement from the Devices scroll box.

The current device setup is displayed.

4.	Select one of the Mouse Home radio buttons.

Floating - sets the Home Position to the point where the tip of the mouse cursor is when you switch to movement mode.

Centered - sets the Home Position to the center of the screen.

5.	Set the Home Visible check box to visible or invisible.

Checked - the Mouse Home is shown as a small square in the viewing area.

Unchecked - the Mouse Home is not visible.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To adjust the sensitivity of the mouse

You can adjust the speed at which you move around a world by changing the sensitivity of the mouse in movement mode.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Devices tab.

3.	Select Proportional: Mouse Movement from the Devices scroll box.

The current device setup is displayed.

4.	Adjust the Movement Sensitivity slider.

The further the slider is to the right, the more the mouse position is scaled as you move it away from its home position and the faster you move in the world.

5.	Adjust the Rotation Sensitivity slider.

The further the slider is to the right, the more the mouse position is scaled as you move it away from its home position and the faster you rotate in the world.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To set the way that you switch to mouse movement mode
To set the way that you switch to movement mode

You can change the way you switch between movement and selection modes, depending on the type of mouse that you are using.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Devices tab.

3.	Select Proportional: Mouse Movement from the Devices scroll box.

The current device setup is displayed.

4.	Select the transition method from the Mode Change list box that you want to use to switch between selection and movement modes:

Key or center button - Pressing the spacebar, or clicking the center mouse button on a three button mouse.

Keyboard - Pressing the spacebar.

Center button (Hold) - Clicking and holding the center mouse button on a three button mouse. Releasing the button switches back to selection mode.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To set the axes for mouse movement
To change the axes for mouse movement

You can change the direction you move or rotate the viewpoint as you move the mouse in movement mode, by assigning different functions to the six basic axes of movement.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Devices tab.

3.	Select Proportional: Mouse Movement from the Devices scroll box.

The current device setup is displayed.

4.	Click the Functions button.

The Mouse Buttons & Movement dialog box is displayed.

5.	Select the Move or Select radio button for the Left Mouse Button and the Right Mouse Button.

Move - moves or rotates the viewpoint in one of the axes.

Select - the mouse acts as it does in selection mode.

6.	Select a movement option from the six list boxes for each mouse movement. The top row of list boxes set the sideways movement of the mouse and the bottom row set the forward and backward movement.

Move X, Move Y, Move Z - moves the viewpoint in each axis.

Rotate X, Rotate Y, Rotate Z - rotates the viewpoint in each axis.

These options are only effective if you select Move in Step 5.

7.	Select the Relative or Absolute radio button below each movement option.

Relative - the distance of the mouse pointer from the home position determines the speed of rotation of movement.

Absolute - the distance of the mouse from the home position determines the absolute orientation or position of the viewpoint.

For example, holding the mouse stationary in Relative mode might rotate at a constant speed, while in Absolute mode it would keep the viewpoint at a constant orientation.

Note: You can set the buttons to their default setup by selecting Restore in the Mouse Buttons & Movement dialog box.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To use proportional devices to move around a world

Proportional device configurations

To set up devices

To change the control type of a proportional device


To use proportional devices to move around a world

Proportional devices, such as the Magellan (Spacemouse) and joystick, are the main control devices for virtual worlds. Each device has (or emulates in some way) six basic axes of operation, X, Y and Z translational motion and X, Y, Z rotations. In a normal setup the Z+ axis translational movement defines forward movement and the Y- axis rotational movement defines an anti-clockwise spinning in the vertical axis.

Each device has a control type configuration that dictates how the viewpoint moves when you use it. Viscape lets you choose from 10 preset proportional device configurations which should be sufficient to cover most applications. If they are not entirely suitable, however, you can fine tune the configuration to match the requirements of particular viewpoints and object control. You can redefine the number of axes the device can operate in simultaneously, and adjust the sensitivity and deadzone of the device in each axis.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


Proportional device configurations

Viscape is supplied with ten basic device configurations, each with four levels of sensitivity. Each configuration is designed to restrict the axes of operation that are not required and adjust the sensitivity of the required axes.

Car Cntl	Lets you control and 'drive' car type objects.

Fly Cntl	Provides total control over an object.

Fly No Z	Same as Fly Cntl but with no object tilt.

Man Cntl	Lets you control and 'walk' humanoid type objects.

Plane Cntl	Lets you control and 'fly' aeroplane type objects.

View Move	Provides total control over the viewpoint.

View No Z	Same as View Move but with no viewpoint tilt.

View Spin	Moves a viewpoint around an object.

View Stat	Provides control from a stationary viewpoint. It only has movement in the three rotational axes.

View Walk	Where vertical movement or tilt is not required.

Note: You can use the four User Types to define your own control type configuration.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To set up devices

The default installation of Viscape assumes that you have no devices other than the keyboard and mouse connected to your system. If you have an additional device, such as a Magellan (Spacemouse), you must configure the Viscape software before you can use the device.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Devices tab.

3.	Scroll through the Devices scroll box until you find your device, and select it.

The current state of the device is displayed - Enabled or Disabled.

4.	If the device is disabled, select the Enable button to enable it.

The current settings for the device are displayed below the scroll box.

5.	Enter the necessary details, referring to the documentation supplied with the device.

6.	Click Apply to adopt the device setup.

7.	Repeat Steps 3 to 6 for each additional device.

8.	Click OK.

If you want to save any changes that you make to your setup so that devices use the new configuration when you start Viscape again, you must save the Viscape preferences file using Save Settings from the pop-up menu. Click on Other Topics for further details.

Note: To configure devices that are Windows resources, such as your graphics card or sound card, you must use the Windows Control Panel Application, and then restart Windows.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the control type of a proportional device

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Proportional Devices tab.

3.	Select the device that you want to edit from the Current Device list.

4.	Select a control type from the Presets list box, and click Copy to overwrite the current control type with the selected control type.

Note: If there is no control type that fits your requirements, select one of the User Types and set the number of significant axes, sensitivity and deadzone for the device in each axis.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the number of simultaneous axes
To change the number of simultaneous axes for a proportional device

Defines how many axes (1 to 6) the proportional device may operate in simultaneously. When set to 1, only the axis with the greatest force applied passes information to the virtual world at any one time. When this field is set to 6, information from all the axes affects the viewpoint or object.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Proportional Devices tab.

3.	Select one of the Significant Axes radio buttons to set the number of axes.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To adjust the sensitivity of a proportional device

Sets the translation and rotation sensitivity for the device in the X, Y and Z axes in 16 steps. The higher the value, the more sensitive the device is in that axis.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Proportional Devices tab.

3.	Adjust the Sensitivity slider for each of the six basic axis.

Setting the sensitivity to zero switches the device off in that translation or rotation axis.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To adjust the deadzone of a proportional device

Sets the amount of force needed to start an action in the X, Y and Z axes in 64 steps. The higher the value, the greater the input required to start the device operating in that axis.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Proportional Devices tab.

3.	Adjust the Deadzone slider for each of the six basic axis.

Setting the deadzone to zero switches the deadzone off entirely, making the device sensitive to tiny amounts of input.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the drawing options

To lock a viewpoint to an axis

To use Viscape with 3-D glasses and HMDs


To change the drawing options

Viscape lets you adjust the following drawing options which effect the way objects are rendered in a world:

Detail Level - sets globally the distance at which objects are replaced by less or more detailed objects.

Zoom Ratio - sets the ratio of magnification on the screen.

Background - sets the background to an horizon, a solid color or a backdrop (if there is one in the world).

Note: We recommend that you do not change the current settings which have been set by the world designer.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the detail level

The detail level sets globally the distance at which objects are replaced by less or more detailed objects. The default value for the detail level is 0. As you increase the detail level value, the replacement distances are pushed further away from you so that more detail is retained. If you set the detail level to a negative number, the replacement distances are brought closer to you, so that objects are replaced with similar ones nearer to you. Detail level has a range -10 to 10.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Display tab.

3.	Adjust the Detail Level slider.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the zoom ratio

The zoom ratio sets the ratio of magnification of an image on the screen. If you think of the viewpoint as a camera, zoom sets the focal length of the lens from telephoto (small values) to wide angle (large values). Zoom has a range of 256 to 16384 with the default setting of 8192.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Display tab.

3.	Adjust the Zoom Ratio slider.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To change the background

The default horizon lets you orientate yourself in a world. You can, however, change the background to a solid color or a backdrop (if it is included in the VRT world).

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Display tab.

3.	Select a background from the Background list box:

Horizon - displays the ground and sky with a horizon.

Solid - displays a solid color behind the world (this is black by default).

Backdrop - displays a backdrop (if the world contains one) behind the world.

Note: Each background has a No Redraw option. When selected Viscape does not clear the drawing buffer each frame. This may cause image trails to be left on the screen.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To lock a viewpoint to an axis

You can lock a viewpoint to one or more axes so that a rotating object appears to rotate in the axes.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Setup from the pop-up menu.

The Viscape Setup dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the Display tab

3.	Select the Viewpoint Lock check box for the axes that you want to lock.

Note: Normally all locks are off, and a viewpoint attached to a rotating object rotates with it. In this case the object is always seen in the same orientation.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To use Viscape with 3-D glasses and HMDs

Some worlds are designed for use with 3-D glasses (such as Virtual I/O glasses) or other HMDs; they have two views of the same world, one above the other. To see the world you need to set up your screen in interlaced mode, so that your output device can interpret the images.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Interlace Display from the pop-up menu.

The screen is displayed in interlaced mode.

2.	To return to normal mode choose Interlace Display from the pop-up menu again.

Note: This mode is only useful if you are using an output device that can interpret the display. For further information on using HMDs refer to the documentation supplied with the device.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To activate linked objects

To use the pop-up menu

To use the context menu

To display information about a world

To jump to preset viewpoints

To save changes to the Viscape configuration

To load a world from a local drive


To activate linked objects

When the mouse cursor passes over a linked object, it changes to a hand with a pointing finger indicating that the object has been assigned a URL address by the world designer.

Click the left mouse button to go directly to the URL.

Click the right mouse button to display a context menu that lets you:

Open the link in place of the current browser window.

Open the link in a new browser window (Windows 95 and NT only).

Copy the link to the clipboard.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


Opens the link in place of the current browser window.


Opens the link in a new browser window.

This option is only available when you are running Windows 95 or NT.


Copies the link to the clipboard.


This option is currently unsupported.


To use the pop-up menu

Click the Menu icon on the movement bar to display the Viscape pop-up menu.

  Menu icon

This lets you access functions that:

are not currently visible on the movement bar.

go to a preset viewpoint.

change the display options.

configure devices.

display information about the world.

Click on the graphic below for details on each function.

Note: You can also display the pop-up menu by right-clicking on the movement bar.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


Displays the Viscape Setup dialog box which you use to:

configure input and output devices.

change the mouse movement setup.

change display options.

edit proportional device configurations.


Switches the display to interlaced mode for use with 3-D glasses and other HMDs.


Saves the Viscape preferences file so that any configuration changes you have made to your setup are used as the default when you start Viscape again.


Displays information about your version of Viscape.


Lets you go to a preset viewpoint in the world.


Displays information about the world.


Displays this Help file.


To display information about a world

Some worlds have information supplied by the designer. This may include tips on how to interact with the world, copyright details, or any additional information relating to the world that is not supplied in the Web document.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose World Information from the pop-up menu.

The World Information dialog box is displayed.

2.	Use the Previous and Next buttons to go to different pages of information.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To jump to preset viewpoints

Each world can have up to 100 preset viewpoints (set by the designer) that you can jump to using the pop-up menu. These viewpoints can be static, follow predefined paths, or attached to objects to create controlled objects which you can steer around the world.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Select Viewpoint from the pop-up menu.

The Active Viewpoints dialog box is displayed, showing a list of preset viewpoints.

2.	Select a viewpoint. The viewpoint in the world changes to the new position. If it is not the correct viewpoint select another from the viewpoint list.

When you have selected the required viewpoint, click Close.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To save changes to the Viscape configuration

If you change a device configuration and you want to use the new settings when you start Viscape again, you must save the Viscape preferences file before you close your browser.

1.	Click the Menu icon on the movement bar, and choose Save Settings from the pop-up menu.

The Save Preferences File dialog box is displayed, showing the current .CFG file.

2.	Click Save.

An alert box warns you that the file already exists. Saving the new configuration will overwrite the current data.

3.	Click OK.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


To load a world from a local drive

Viscape has no file handling capability. If you want to open a file on a local drive you must use your Web browser. For example you can use File>File Open, or you can drag and drop the .VRT file onto the browser executable.

When you load a world, it is displayed at the default viewpoint.

Movement Bar      Mouse      Proportional Devices      Display Options      Other Topics


The mouse cursor changes to a pointing hand when it passes over an object with a URL.