I agree that this sounds basically more like a directX project. You don't really gain anything from platform independance or java working inside the virtual machine (in fact these both play somewhat against you) if you are working only to replicate windows functionality so J3d is probably not the best environment for this kind of project.
-ben -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for Java 3D API [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Nicholas Pappas Sent: 30 October 2003 17:54 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [JAVA3D] developing a 3d desktop > Im planning to develop a 3D desktop onto an existing windows desktop.Its > is not replacing windows but it works seamlessly with the current > windows desktop. I'm uncertain as to what you are envisioning when you say it will "work seamlessly with the current windows desktop," and how you are wanting to then translate that into a 3D environment. Are you wanting to replicate the Windows desktop in a 3D environment? Something is going to need to take precedence -- your 3D desktop, or the Windows desktop. I see great difficultly ahead if you are wanting to use both at the same time. Replication seems to be a viable option however. > My questions are, would JAVA3D be able to do all of the functions that i > want and would it be able to interact with windows without any > difficulties? My first thoughts are creating a full screen application that goes over the current Windows desktop. You could replicate all icons on the real desktop (all that information is available) and add whatever else you want. I do not see how you could use the existing desktop and a Java3D "desktop" at the same time. One, or the other in my opinion. Though, maybe I'm missing something. The other thing I see a problem with is really replacing the Windows desktop. It could be possible to minimize your Java3D desktop and then interact with the real desktop. This might be more of a good thing then a bad thing -- you'd just need to make sure you handle such a situation and update the Java3D desktop when you re-enter it. > Does it have to interact with the windows shell or is there > any possible way to do this without messing around with the windows > shell programs? Depends on how advanced you want your desktop to be. Just launching applications is as simple as collision detection (between the mouse and an object/icon) and telling Windows to lauch the file in the apllication it is associated with. If you are wanting to replicate the Windows desktop in full, with the Trash Bin, right click capabilities, control panels, etc.... Then, yes -- you will need to start digging much deeper in the Windows shell. > How do i go about doing all of this?Where do i start and > is there any tutorials that i can use? If this is just something you want to do for the heck of it, start out slow and simple. Don't expect it to work, and it certainly will not be easy to totally replicate the desktop environment. If you are doing this for a class (or job) and have a choice, then DirectX will probably be a better choice. It is meant to speak with the Windows shell, Java3D is not meant to go as deap (as easily). Places to look for tutorials/books are the Java3D homepage where you can find Sun's official tutorial, which is a very nice start. I personally like Sun's "Java 3D API Jump Start" book and "Java3D Programming" (check your local Amazon.com for more details). If I were to attempt this, I would: 1) create the 3D environment with a few random objects. 2) get the 3D navigation working. 3) get double clicking working on the objects. 4) retrieve the real desktop environment. 5) replicate desktop icons into the 3D environment. 6) drink lots of beer. 7) worry about the harder stuff... My thoughts. > > Thank you > > > > *The New Yahoo! Search > <http://sg.rd.yahoo.com/mail/tagline/?http://sg.search.yahoo.com>* > - Now with image search > <http://sg.rd.yahoo.com/mail/tagline/?http://sg.search.yahoo.com/images>! > =========================================================================== > To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the > body of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send > email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message > "help". > =========================================================================== To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help". =========================================================================== To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
