[x3d-public] X3D DOCTYPE problem

[Don Brutzman]

We noticed an emergent problem with X3D Validator about a week ago and, with difficulty, have been trying to sleuth what the root cause might be.

After multiple diagnostic efforts, we now think that the problem is on the web3d.org server, there is some issue within the DTD files themselves.  Unfortunately there is also a problem with my account which currently prevents troubleshooting further and (hopefully) fixing it.

This problem has blocked proper DTD validation, which might in turn block validation of numerous tools loading/validating X3D models.  Have confirmed that some tools work (probably due to prior caching) and other tools fail. Example failure output:

> check well-formedness
> http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-3.3.dtd:1:3: The markup declarations contained or pointed to by the document type declaration must be well-formed.
> Could not validate document C:\x3d-code\www.web3d.org\x3d\content\examples\X3dForWebAuthors\HelloWorld.x3d: org.xml.sax.SAXParseExceptionpublicId: ISO//Web3D//DTD X3D 3.3//EN; systemId: http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-3.3.dtd; lineNumber: 1; columnNumber: 3; The markup declarations contained or pointed to by the document type declaration must be well-formed.
> C:\x3d-code\www.web3d.org\x3d\content\examples\X3dForWebAuthors\HelloWorld.x3d is not a valid XML document

Meanwhile XML Spy can validate the same model successfully.  It is both exceptionally strict and also added native X3D support a few months back.  So this approach confirms that X3D models we are testing remain unchanged and correct.

Web3D Communications Team and webmaster have been notified about the access problem preventing further troubleshooting.

The DOCTYPE problem does not appear to prevent successful X_ITE and X3DOM display of X3D models.

* https://x3dgraphics.com/examples//X3dForWebAuthors/Chapter02GeometryPrimitives/BoxExampleX_ITE.html
* https://x3dgraphics.com/examples//X3dForWebAuthors/Chapter02GeometryPrimitives/BoxExampleX3dom.xhtml

Once this is also sorted out, will post regarding resumption of capability.  Apologies for any difficulties this problem causes tool developers and scene modelers.

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