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

[doug sanden]

>>> 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.
> I ask myself would X3D Edit do that when installed?
>

I'll give X3D Edit a try. Thanks Joe.
-Doug

>>>
>>>> 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.
>
> Yes. Lots of times I want to open with a text editor, other times a
> player.
>
>>> 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.
>
> Well, I think it supposed to indicate that the file will be passed to
> the registered application. Notice that several encodings of images
> use the term 'image' to describe the general category of mime type for
> png, gif, etc.
>
> Maybe the closest other family would be video,
>
>>> 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.
>
> All Best,
> Joe
>
>>> -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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