[X3D-Public] Vendor agnostic/neutral icon(s)?

[doug sanden]

>>
>>
>>> Don,
>>> OK thanks - I'll study.
>>> -Doug
>>> more..
>>> Ideally
>>> 1. family: .wrl .x3d and newer related would have a
>>> similar/familiy/theme icon look, so they look like they belong
>>> together, but slightly different. to hint they aren't the same and
>>> different apps may handle them.
>
> Ahh, please study MIME and words associated with any mime type. When
> we requested officlal ecognition, we did not include a request for a
> family of icons,
>
> Hints are no much use without documentation that is available and
> follows some common practices or some spec. Will this be in your user
> manual? "When we install, we assign one of these icons (different for
> each X3D and X3D file extension, please see table. We proudly change
> file types we do not handle but are in our beloved family of
> 'standard' X3D or VRML file type icons to this (grayed out example)."
>
>>> 2. grayable if not handled.
>
> Big trespass to mess with file types you do not handle.
>
> Don't talk to the gallery on this, work directly with other browser
> and tool makers to define an industry best practice.
>
> Besides, if I install your app and it will be used by default to open
> the file, then for heck's sake, put your own icon on there so I know
> because there is no neutral vendor when the user clicks on the thing.
> Most systems will try to help find an uncliamed file type. But I don't
> know, is the file extension even shown to the common user?

You can set your FileExplorer preferences to show the file extension. 
And perhaps that's my confusion. I'm thinking of the icon like a file extension. But it seems to mean "vendor app" to FileExplorer.
Another approach is to have a 'standard web3d handler tool' installed, and it delegates to web3d tools installed, and you can set your default tool in the handler. So you wouldn't be trespassing, you'd be handling.  
-Doug


>
> All Best,
> Joe
>
>>> 3. Small icons are needed for the shell 16x16 I think? Can't get
>>> much in there.
>>> 4. and -as usual- differentiation from other common app icons
>>>
>>> From below, just the old (sphere,box,cone) might work, if it can be
>>> differentiated slightly (yet show family/heritage/lineage) for
>>> x3d,vs vrml (future json). and grayable:
>>> ttp://dug9.userssourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_16.gif
>>> ttp://dug9.userssourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_gray_16.gif
>>> ttp://dug9.userssourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_32.gif
>>
>> link correction:
>>
>> http://dug9.users.sourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_16.gif
>> http://dug9.users.sourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_gray_16.gif
>> http://dug9.users.sourceforge.net/web3d/icons/vrml3_32.gif
>>
>>> Benefit: already familiar, small, grayable, doesn't constrain to
>>> just x3d or vrml or json, but needs something to differentiate X3D
>>> from VRML (and future versions), perhaps re-arranged colors or
>>> shapes.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> We have long needed to provide better support and documentation
>>>> for this issue. It would be great to sort it all out.
>>>>
>>>> Historically we have had problems with vendors "stepping on each
>>>> others toes" in this area. It would be helpful to define a
>>>> baseline practice and suggested ways to vary compatibly.
>>>>
>>>> You can find some candidate images in
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Basic/images/
>>>>
>>>> including
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Basic/images/x3d2-s.gif
>>>>
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/icons/
>>>>
>>>> including
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/icons/X3D.ico
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/icons/X3DtextIcon16.png
>>>>
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/icons/X3DtextIcon.tif
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/19/2013 9:47 AM, doug sanden wrote:
>>>>> Q. are there free/open license icons for web3d files that are
>>>>> vendor neutral, that I can use when installing a web3d
>>>>> application, to set so called shell file associations in the file
>>>>> explorer/shell, so as to indicate web3d files regardless of which
>>>>> application(s) can open them?
>>>>>
>>>>> -Doug
>>>>>
>>>>> more...
>>>>>
>>>>> In MS windows, icons can be associated with file extensions (ie
>>>>> .x3d) as seen by a so-called shell or file explorer:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://dug9.users.sourceforge.net/web3d/ShellScreenshot.jpg
>>>>> - here .x3z and .x3db are 'unclaimed'
>>>>> - .wrl, .x3d and .x3dv are claimed by flux
>>>>> - .wrz is identified as file to be opened by a web browser (vs
>>>>> app)
>>>>> - Xj3D's icon and freewrl's icon are shown for comparison
>>>>>
>>>>> Public / contentious extensions - like all our web3d extensions
>>>>> .wrl, .wrz .x3d, .x3dv, .x3db - can cause a 'fight' when
>>>>> different applications install and attempt to claim the
>>>>> extensions for themselves, including imposing their
>>>>> vendor-specific icon on the shell. The last one installed wins.
>>>>> When installing freewrl, rather than imposing freewrl's icon, I'd
>>>>> like to put a vendor neutral icon, if there is one.
>>>>>
>>>>> even more...
>>>>> I noticed windows Vista and beyond has something called
>>>>> 'PerceivedType' for the shell ie .png is an 'image'. Probably
>>>>> scene files could be put as 'model'.
>>>>> It might be nice to show which filetypes are handled by at least
>>>>> one app, vs unhandled web3d files. IDEA: same icon except gray if
>>>>> not handled.
>>>>>
>>>>> more...
>>>>> I'm working over on freewrl.sourceforge.net
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> X3D-Public mailing list
>>>>> X3D-Public at web3d.org
>>>>> http://web3d.org/mailman/listinfo/x3d-public_web3d.org
>>>>
>>>> all the best, Don
>>>> --
>>>> Don Brutzman Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br
>>>> brutzman at nps.edu
>>>> Watkins 270, MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA
>>>> +1.831.656.2149
>>>> X3D graphics, virtual worlds, navy robotics
>>>> http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman
>>>
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>>
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