DynamicEditor 1.0
Category / Domain : C3D3 Plugin
SCOL Voy@ger Compatibility : V 3.5 or above
Update : 2000/11

Function

The Dynamic Editor plugin allows to modify dynamically a 3D scene in an on-line SCOL site.
He must be used jointly with the HTTPsrvRess module.

Concretely, when a SCOL site is on-line, this plugin allows (by a right-click in the 3D scene) :

By associating it with the Link plugin, it is possible to manage links towards others modules.

These modifications are echoed on all the clients. Saving option allows to keep these changes even after the restart of the server. To be more precise, the .dms file of the site is modified and saved. That is why, it is important to be careful before using this plugin because changes may be irreversible, notably by restricting access to these commands (Password or LoginP3/4 module). This plugin can slow down access to the 3D cell to the client on which it is activated.
Indeed, it is recommended to know the C3D3 working before using this plugin. Some functions are only available in the DynEditor plugin.

Configuration


Figure 1 : DynEditor plugin interface

(1) : Autosave site on disk => Used to save the site every defined time : fill the field "Autosave delay" with a number of seconds. Customizable minimum delay is 30 seconds.
If this option is not ticked, the site must be manually saved using the option "Sauvegarder le site sur le disque" of the context sensitive menu.

On-line use

The dynamic edition is only available if the DynEditor plugin is activated before the client accesses to the cell to be modified.
Once started, right-clicking in the 3D scene displays a context sensitive menu :

MATERIAL Submenu allowing to customize the appearance of the selected material.

Among the various possibilities it possible :

  • to change the material in flat color
  • to change the texture of the material
  • to define the flat color
  • to apply a filter to the texture
  • to define a degree of transparency
  • to take into account light effects on the materials
  • ...

Switch flat/textured mode Allows to display a material in "flat" mode (not textured uniform color ; grey by default) or conversely a flat material in textured. The context sensitive menu changes according to the nature of the clicked material.
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Flat color

Allows to affect a color in flat : it will be used when the object is displayed without texture, notably when connecting to the site for the first time.
Use the following window to choose the color :

(1) : Click on the wished hue in the central zone .

(2) : Right-click the wished saturation or (3) enter the HSV or RGB values of the wished color.

(4) : The chosen color is displayed in this zone.

- Click the button "OK" to confirm
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Transparency

Allows to set up the degree transparency of the selected material :

- Slide the green cursor to adjust the transparency/opacity
- Tick the box "set transparent" to activate transparency option
- Click on the OK button to confirm.

The transparency of a BMP texture (color of the first pixel at the top left part) is obtained by ticking "set transparent" and leaving the cursor on 0.
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Lighting sensitive Allows to choose if the selected material has to be enlightened or not.
Ticking "Sensitive to lighting" means the material is enlightened.
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Texture

Allows to affect a texture to the selected material

Choose the texture in the available graphic libraries, then click on Appliquer
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Filter

Allows to set up several parameters of the selected material :

Color Filter : allows to color the selected texture
- Color : choice of the wished color
- Rate : color brightness (value)

Rotation Filter : allows to choose a hue to tint the texture
- Angular : defines the value of the hue

Saturation Filter : allows to choose the saturation of colors composing the selected texture, ie how pure are the hues with respect to a white reference.
- Value : select the hue
- Rate : defines the saturation

Attraction Filter : allows to define a color which will seem transparent (to use jointly with "Transparency")
- Color : color to be processed
- Distance : degree of intensity (0-255)

Apply by clicking on OK
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Gouraud Smoothing technique similar to "flat" mode, but realism is improved by using color interpolation between two facets
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Environment mapping Rendering technique to create a reflexion effect of the surrounding space on the surface of a 3D model and to create a mirror effect by saving ray-tracing treatment.
   
OBJECT

Allows to manage objects :

Add an object

Opens a .m3d file selection interface to insert a new object into the 3D scene :

Creates a father object (« invisible »), child of the scene's main shell, then adds all the 3D objects defined in the .m3d file as child of this father object (in their respective coordinates as defined in the .m3d file).

Two cases are possible :
- either father object is added to the scene's center, with x=0 , y=0 , z=0 and a=0 , b=0 , c=0
- or father object is added in front of the current camera (coordinates and orientation).
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  Add a child object Opens a .m3d file selection interface to insert a child object in the object selected in the scene : see above. The father object is a child of the selected object in the 3D scene.
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  Remove a selected object Deletes the father of the selected object in the scene (and so all the objects associated to the .m3d file)

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  Position object to original position Repositions the object to coordinates (with regard to his father) which are indicated in the .m3d file. It is useful when an object has been moved and needs to be put back to its original place.

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  Position the object's father to the center of the 3D scene If the father's object was not added to the center of the scene, this feature allows to center it.


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  Collision Activates or deactivates the collision box of the selected object
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Open the 3D modeler

Displays a floating toolbar (A) allowing to move, to resize and to revolve objects in the scene, and a 3D modeler in the 3D scene's window : click on "MinMax view" to show the 4 visualisation windows or only one.

NB : display in multi-view mode can cause problems with some graphics cards.

A - Floating toolbar (SCOL)

    Min/Max view toggle Switching between one-view and 4-views wireframe mode (top view, left view, back view and avatar view) : select one of the four windows, then click on "MinMax view" to enlarge it.

It is possible to switch between global coordinates references (relative to the scene's centre) and local coordinates references (relative to the father's object)
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    Center the view Resets the view to the coordinates of the father element selected : allows to center the view on the last clicked object / material in the 3D scene
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    System coordinates Switching between global coordinates references (Center) and local coordinates references(father's object)
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    Hide the axis Displays the view without allowing modifications

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    Move the object Displays the arrows of the 3 dimensions (x, y and z) in the 3D editor window

Allows moreover to finely adjust movements by manually indicating the values of axes (x, y and z) in the field "Positions"
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    Rotate the object Displays the arrows of the 3 dimensions (x, y and z) in the 3D editor window

Also allows to finely adjust rotation by indicating manually the values of axes (a, b and c) in the field "Angles"
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    Resize the object Resizes the object

Only the scale arrow is usable. Nevertheless, manual scaling of the objects is possible by entering a value lower than 100 in the field "Scale" to reduce the object either superior to 100 to enlarge it.

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    Apply modifications Allows to save the site to take into account made modifications.


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B – (SCOL) - 3D scene
This editor allows to move objects, to revolve, to enlarge and to reduce them. It is possible to move inside the scene even when X, Y and Z movments axes are visible (to do this, click outside axes and move the mouse).
To switch beetween 4-views window and the 1-view window, click on the "MinMax view" button of the floating menu.
    Displacement of objects - When the object is selected (global casing box visible), click on the button "move object"
- Move the mouse over the wished movement axis, which becomes yellow
- Click on the yellow axis with the left button of the mouse
- Move the object
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    Object's resizing - Move the mouse over the unique vertical resizing axis, which becomes yellow
- Click on the yellow axis with the left button of the mouse
- Move the mouse towards the point of the arrow to enlarge or downwards the arrow to reduce the object.
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    Object's rotation - Move the mouse over the wished axis of rotation, which becomes yellow
- Click on the yellow axis with the left button of the mouse
- Move the mouse to the wished rotation.
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A right- click in the 3D scene allows to display a context sensitive menu similar to the context sensitive menu which is displayed when a right-click is made in the 3D scene of the on-line site. A single option is different : "Close the object editor" which closes the floating toolbar and shows the 3D scene in one unique window.

How to move in the 3D view ?

- Right/left rotation : left-click + mouse movement towards right/left side

- Uplifting/descent : CTRL + left clik+ mouse movement towards high/low

- Reversal front/back : SHIFT + left clik+ mouse movement towards low/high

SCENE Background color

Allows to choose a background color over which are applied objects and textures. By default, this color is black .

(1) : Click on the wished hue in the central zone.

(2) : Right-click on the wished hue or (3) indicate the values HSV or RGB of the wished nuance.

(4) : The chosen color is displayed in the zone.

- Click on the "OK" button to confirm
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  Light

Allows to adjust the principal luminous intensity of the scene :

- Move the green cursor according to the wished brightness
- Tick "Ambient light" to activate or to deactivate ambient light
Click on "OK" button to save modifications and to close the window
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  Gravity

When ticked, all avatars and objects in the scene are subjected to gravitationnal attraction and hence are downwards attracted .


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EDIT THE EFFECTS
The displayed effects
depend on your project.
Allows to access to each plugin interface which works jointly with the C3d3 module and the Dynamic Editor plugin on the selected object and material.
This list contains the effects which are on-line customizable and which were added in the Plugins rubric of the C3d3 editor.
When activated, an effect is ticked.

Example of an effect editor :

Framed part corresponds to specific data about the chosen effect.
Other parameters are generic.

- Effect type (3 types are present) :
1- global effect : neither associated with a 3D object nor with a material, a logo for example.
2- effect on a 3D object : effect on a 3D object, Rotate for example.
3- effect on material : effect on a specific material of one object, Shift for example.

- Other informations :
1- no indication : standard effect
2- EXCLUSIF effect : this effect can not interacts with another one of the same type, Rotate for example.
3- NON EXCLUSIF effect : can be activated with another one (including an exclusive effect).

These parameters are effective when clicking on the Appliquer l’effet button.
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OPEN EFFECTS LIST Interface summarizing all the existing effects of the 3D scene, allowing to edit or delete a selected effect.
POSITIONS  

Allows to manage positions in the 3D scene

To create a new position in the 3D scene, click on Add position , give a name to it and then to click on "OK". This new one is displayed in the positions list. The saved position is the current position of the avatar.

To update a selected position coordinates, move the avatar to the wished position, then click on Update position

To delete an existing position, select it in the list then to click on the Delete position. button.

Attention : at least one position is necessary.
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COLLISION BOX  

Click on Change collision box allows to replace the existing collision box with a new one saved on local directories or on the server

ATTENTION !
A collision box is always centred on the centre of the 3D scene and can not be moved or resized.

When "Local collision and gravity activated" option is unticked, moving through collision boxe of this object is possible and there is no gravity.


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QUIT DYNAMIC EDITION   Closes the dynamic edition of the 3D scene.
     

Application


Action Function
module.event à C3D3.instance.edit Allows to use the edit function (context sensitive menu) when right-clicking in the 3D scene
HTTPsrvRess.registered à C3D3.instance.init Must be connected with the registered event in the HTTPsrvRess module

Event Function
C3D3.instance.register à HTTPsrvRess.register Must be connected with the actionregister of the HTTPsrvRess module
C3D3.instance.unregister à HTTPsrvRess.unregister Must be connected with the action unregister of the HTTPsrvRess module
C3D3.instance.initOK à module.action Loading the plugin generates an event

Zone Function Interface Assignment
None