All this playing with the VRML export is making me think. First we had the POV-ray export, but that's basically a sophisticated image, right?
Then we have VRML, which I am extending with not much difficulty, thanks to Bob's implementation of new bits of code. I've also prepared X3D export. This is a superset of VRML (which dates back to 1997), and its claimed successor in every webpage I find. It is very similar, but apart from some additions which we shouldn't need for Jmol, it has the advantage (I am assuming it is) to be XML. I can have it ready in parallel to whatever we do with VRML, or we can leave it hidden in a drawer until someone requests it. However, it seems that 3DPDF won't take it, so we must stick to VRML. And then we have U3D, which would be the best choice for going after 3DPDF. This latter is something we definitely want! I'm starting to collect ideas and links for all these in the Wiki http://wiki.jmol.org:81/index.php/3D_Formats >From what I am reading, there is even the chance that Jmol could produce the >PDF with interactive model embedded! Or at least will ease the construction of the PDF in another software, by providing the U3D file. So, my concern is: the current design of the exporters is to match the generators, in order to produce (with both) images or snapshots, i.e. 2D depictions -- that Jmol updates constantly while you rotate, if I am getting it ok. Therefore, all coordinates are converted to 2D for the exporters. But now we have these formats that define 3D objects, so we are having to fetch those 2D coordinates and convert them back to 3D. Wouldn't it make more sense to receive 3D coordinates directly? That is, maybe we need a set of 2D renderers/exporters and a set of 3D exporters, which are designed different. Of course, I haven't got the grasp of the inner design of the java modules, so this is just a naive view. Please, enlighten me :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.net email is sponsored by: SourcForge Community SourceForge wants to tell your story. http://p.sf.net/sfu/sf-spreadtheword _______________________________________________ Jmol-developers mailing list Jmol-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/jmol-developers
