X3D Resources

Applications | Authoring Software | Authoring Support | Books | Conversions | Examples | Export | License | Mobile | PowerPoint | References | Training | Contact

Applications, Players and Plugins for X3D / VRML Viewing

Your web browser must be capable of viewing X3D/VRML scenes in order to browse these X3D examples. Please load one of these player plugins if necessary.

Example test scene: HelloWorld (.x3d .x3dv .x3db .wrl .html .png)

X3D players from Web3D Consortium members:

• BitManagement's BS Contact X3D/VRML97 plugin for Internet Explorer (Windows MacOSX Linux).
• Octaga X3D/VRML browser with high performance and community support forum (Windows MacOSX Linux).
• InstantReality is a high-performance Mixed Reality (MR) system (Windows MacOSX Linux).
• CRC's FreeWRL X3D/VRML browser (open-source C). Also available via Apple website (MacOSX Linux, not Windows).
• Xj3D Open Source for X3D/VRML97. Version 2.0 release using Java OpenGL (JOGL) rendering. (Windows MacOSX Linux Solaris, or Java standalone, or browser-launchable Java WebStart).
• Vivaty (formerly Flux) Player X3D/VRML97 plugin for Internet Explorer (Windows).
• SwirlX3D Free Player by Pine Coast Software (Windows).
• Heilan X3D Browser open-source C++ browser for audio research (Windows Linux).
• NuGraf 3D Rendering, Translation, Viewing & Data Optimization System by Okino (Windows and authoring-tool plugins).
• GeoVrml Run-Time is needed for VRML97 GeoVrml examples.

Other X3D players, not (yet?) Web3D Consortium members:

• Parallel Graphics Cortona3D VRML97 plugin for Netscape or Internet Explorer.
• blaxxun Contact VRML97 plugin for Netscape or Internet Explorer.
• Cosmo Player VRML Plugin Installer by NIST.
• Karmanaut mirror site: CosmoPlayer 2.1.1 VRML97 plugin for Netscape or Internet Explorer.
• libx3d open-source C++ libraries for X3D.
• OpenVRML is a free cross-platform runtime for VRML and X3D.

Authoring Software

• X3D-Edit is the primary authoring tool used at NPS to create the X3D, Sourcebook and SAVAGE examples. Available free.
  • New. X3D-Edit 3.2 Beta is now available for Windows, MacOSX, Linux, Solaris and Netbeans users.
  • X3D-Edit 3.1 is available online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/README.X3D-Edit.html
  • X3D-Edit 3.1 Auto Installer is available online for various operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris and other Unix).
  • X3D-Edit Authoring Tool for Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics provides a six-page summary of X3D-Edit 3.1 features and usage.
• Vivaty Studio is the newer authoring tool from Vivaty.
• FluxStudio (formerly VizX3D) is an easy-to-use, inexpensive, general-purpose, visually oriented, 3D modeling and animating application from Vivaty.
• SwirlX3D is an X3D/VRML authoring environment from Pinecoast Software.
• Wings3D is a free open-source X3D/VRML authoring environment.
• Blender is an open-source 3D authoring tool that includes support for X3D export. Some external plugins are also available.
  • Blender Model Export To X3D using X3D-Edit
  • BitManagement X3D exporter
  • BitBucket X3D exporter
• Project RawKee: X3D Exporter Plug-in for Maya by Aaron Bergstrom
• Rez provides an open-source framework and tools for translating planetary terrain data and images to different formats including multiresolution versions optimised for web browsing.
• Octaga Exporter directly exports visual effects created using Autodesk 3D Studio Max (3ds max) into VRML and X3D.
• AC3D is a small, simple, easy-to-learn 3D authoring tool that includes support for X3D export.
• Altova XMLSpy is an XML development environment for modeling, editing, debugging and transforming XML technologies. The X3D-Edit distribution enables XMLSpy support for X3D editing and validation, using either X3D DTD or schema.
  • X3D-XmlSpyProject.spp is an overview project for X3D specification-development work
  • ContentCatalog.spp project files are provided with each example archive
• VIM (Vi IMproved) Editor does syntax highlighting and folding (collapsing of blocks) for both XML and VRML97. Nothing specific for X3D yet.

Authoring Support

• X3D Specifications page includes downloads and related links. (Publicly available X3D and VRML97 specifications are bundled in X3D-Edit.)
• X3D Scene Authoring Hints provides author guidance and examples for contributing scenes to the X3D examples, VRML97 Sourcebook, Conformance and SAVAGE archives.
• X3D DTDs and Schemas are available online.
  • X3D v3.0 Doctype Documentation and X3D v3.0 Schema Documentation (.html) (.zip)
  • X3D v3.1 Doctype Documentation and X3D v3.1 Schema Documentation (.html) (.zip)
  • X3D v3.2 Doctype Documentation and X3D v3.2 Schema Documentation (.html) (.zip)
  • X3D schema documentation is generated using XML Spy.
• HTML Object Tag for X3D shows how to place X3D objects within an HTML page, and newHtmlPageWithX3dObject.html is an example HTML scene with X3D object tag to copy, edit and reuse.
Additional authoring templates: newScene.x3d, newHtmlPageWithX3dObject.html, newECMAscript.js and NewX3dScript.java
• X3D Tooltips provide hints for each node and field in X3D. Available in
  English (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltips.html),
  Chinese (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsChinese.html),
  French (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsFrench.html),
  German (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsGerman.html),
  Italian (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsItalian.html),
  Portuguese (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsPortuguese.html) and
  Spanish (online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltipsSpanish.html)
  X3D Tooltip profiles are now under version control for long-term development (online at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/tooltips)
  All X3D Tooltip files are available at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltips.zip)
• Vapour Technology: VRML Authoring Tools for computing orientations (Dizzy, Peek, SpinDoctor and Twister)
• Pellucid is a Java applet that simulates the VRML/X3D illumination model given a default view of a sphere, a default directional light with direction [ -1 -1 -1 ], and a default material
• NIST Plugin and Browser Detector for server-side determination of VRML or X3D browser in use
• ParaView parallel visualization application to visualize large data sets.
• Tools often need to support offline validation of content that includes authoritative online urls for the XML DOCTYPE and Schema. An OASIS specification defines how to map authoritative urls to local copies. OasisXmlCatalogX3D.xml is one example how an application can accomplish that.

Books

Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics

• X3D for Web Authors by Don Brutzman and Len Daly, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Elsevier, April 2007. Online at http://x3dGraphics.com (with a 20% publisher discount and free shipping).
• Visualizing Information Using SVG and X3D by Vladimir Geroimenko, and Chaomei Chen, editors, Springer, 2005.
• Computer Graphics: From a Small Formula to Cyberworlds, by Alexei Sourin, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, Singapore, ISBN 9810677030, 385 pages, 2006. Chapter 14 discusses X3D and VRML.

Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97

• Annotated VRML 2.0 Reference Manual by Rikk Carey and Gavin Bell, Addison Wesley, Boston Massachusetts, 1997.
• Late Night VRML 2.0 with Java by Bernie Roehl, Justin Couch, Cindy Reed-Ballreich, Tim Rohaly and Geoff Brown, Ziff-Davis Press (Macmillan Publishers), 1997.
• VRML 2.0 Sourcebook by Andrea L. Ames, David R. Nadeau, and John L. Moreland, John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

Conversion and Translation Tools

• Xj3D Open Source for X3D/VRML97 includes a command-line X3D translator between XML encoding (.x3d), Classic VRML encoding (.x3dv) and VRML97 encoding (.wrl). These capabilities are also embedded under Import and Export menus in X3D-Edit.
• InstantReality Transcoder is an online translator between XML encoding (.x3d) and VRML97 encoding (.wrl).
• XSLT stylesheets convert .x3d scenes into alternate formats and encodings. These stylesheets (and corresponding batch files) are bundled in X3D-Edit.
  • Conversion to ClassicVRML (.x3dv encoding): X3dToX3dvClassicVrmlEncoding.xslt, X3dToVrml97.xslt -fileEncoding=ClassicVRML and X3dToX3dvClassicVrmlEncoding.bat
  • Backwards compatibility with VRML 97 (.wrl encoding): X3dToVrml97.xslt and X3dToVrml97.bat
  • Tagset pretty-printing in XHTML (.html encoding), includes cross linking of DEF/USE/ROUTE/etc.: X3dToXhtml.xslt and X3dToXhtml.bat
  • The X3D stylesheets are checked into version control at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/stylesheets
• BS Converter for 3ds max and BS Converter for Blender.
• Okino Polytrans can convert many different file formats to/from VRML97
• NIST VRML to X3D Translator is written by Qiming Wang and is a bundled source/jar in X3D-Edit. The X3D-Edit 3.1 distribution includes an updated version of the Translator (also .zip and Javadoc).
• Blender Model Export To X3D using X3D-Edit
• Chisel VRML Optimisation Tool with new version autoinstaller and documentation provided by Halden Virtual Reality Centre. Originally built by Trapezium and maintained by NIST.
• The SwirlX3D Translator is an enhanced version of the Viewer that permits Collada and 3DS files to be imported into VRML or X3D..
• Vivaty has excellent utilities and converters for Google Earth KML/Sketchup, Autodesk 3DS Max, Autodesk Maya, and Unreal.
• Accutrans 3D by MicroMouse Productions provides accurate translation of 3D geometry between the file formats used by many popular modeling programs.
• Project Rawkee: Open-Source X3D Plugin for Maya by the \Archaeology Technologies Laboratory (ATL) of North Dakota State University (NDSU).
• Unreal Realm of Concepts: Unreal to X3D Exporter by Dave Arendash
• VRML1 to VRML97 Converter by Octaga
• X3D Security Examples show conversions for XML Encryption and XML Signature (digital authentication) using X3D-Edit 3.2.

Examples

The X3D Examples archives demonstrate how X3D nodes and scenes work. Over 2600 .x3d example scenes are provided, available individually online or collected together as fully complete, downloadable, installable .zip archives. These examples are all protected under an open source license and provided free for any use.

Currently each example is provided in multiple file encodings: XML (.x3d), ClassicVRML (.x3dv), VRML97 (.wrl) and pretty-print XHTML (.html) form. Compressed Binary Encoding (.x3db) and X3D Canonicalization (C14N) formats were added summer 2006.

Example archives start with the directory structure www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples in order to match the online addresses for most examples, and also to keep local archives side-by-side for easier retrieval.

• Example test scene: HelloWorld (.x3d .x3dv .wrl .html .x3db and C14N)
• Basic X3D Examples
  • The Basic Examples archive provide provides numerous scenes illustrating a broad variety of X3D capabilities. Bug reports are tracked online.
  • Online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Basic
  • Compressed version (~132 MB) at X3dExamplesBasic.zip
  • Subversion master source at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Basic, with changes reported via the x3d-commits mailing list.
• ConformanceNIST Test Suite X3D Examples
  • The ConformanceNIST Test Suite Examples were authored by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide complete test set for the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML97). They were automatically converted into X3D and provide approximate coverage for the X3D Immersive Profile. Bug reports are tracked online.
  • Online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/ConformanceNist
  • Compressed version (~150 MB) at X3dExamplesConformanceNist.zip
  • Subversion master source at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/ConformanceNist, with changes reported via the x3d-commits mailing list.
• VRML 2.0 Sourcebook X3D Examples
  • The VRML 2.0 Sourcebook is an outstanding textbook covering the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97. These were the first examples converted into X3D. Bug reports are tracked online.
  • Online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Vrml2.0Sourcebook
  • Compressed version (~41 MB) at X3dExamplesVrml2.0Sourcebook.zip
  • Subversion master source at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Vrml2.0Sourcebook, with changes reported via the x3d-commits mailing list.
• Savage X3D Examples
  • NPS Scenario Authoring and Visualization for Advanced Graphical Environments (SAVAGE) library is an open-source set of models used for defense simulation. Bug reports are tracked online.
  • Online at https://savage.nps.edu/Savage
  • Compressed version (~1.2 GB) at X3dExamplesSavage.zip
  • A Savage paper describes our overall modeling approach. The Savage Modeling Analysis Language (SMAL) thesis, schema and examples describe the corresponding simulation-entity metadata approach.
  • Subversion master source at https://savage.nps.edu/svn/nps/Savage, with changes reported via the savage-svn mailing list.
• SavageDefense X3D Examples (restricted access)
  • NPS SavageDefense library is an open-source set of models used for defense simulation. Access is restricted to NPS partners working on government-sponsored projects. Bug reports are tracked privately.
  • Online at https://savagedefense.nps.navy.mil/SavageDefense
  • Compressed version (~450 MB) at X3dExamplesSavageDefense.zip
  • Subversion master source at https://savagedefense.nps.navy.mil/svn/nps/SavageDefense
• X3D for Web Authors Examples
  • A wide variety of basic examples are provided for the corresponding textbook that show how to design and build X3D scenes. Bug reports are tracked online.
  • Online at http://x3dGraphics.com/examples/X3dForWebAuthors
  • Compressed version (~40 MB) at X3dExamplesX3dForWebAuthors.zip
  • Subversion master source at http://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dForWebAuthors, with changes reported via the x3d-commits mailing list.

• Version-control source:
  1. Use Netbeans to check out the version-control source and project information. Collabnet must first be installed on the local system.
  2. Alternatively, get another good subversion client like TortoiseSVN.
  3. Decide whether to use a sourceforge account or anonymous access.
  4. Check out https://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/X3dEdit3.2 usually to a local directory such as C:\www.web3d.org\x3d\tools (Netbeans screenshot 1, screenshot 2).
  5. Further links and information available via the x3d sourceforge project.

The Web3D Art archive displays many excellent X3D and VRML examples.

The following known limitation applies to some .x3d scenes in the Web3D example archives:

• Scripts written in Java still follow VRML 97 scripting model, not X3D Scene Authoring Interface (SAI). Meanwhile, scripts written in EcmaScript work fine and are all updated to X3D 3.0.

Export

The following applications have X3D output capabilities. Also see Conversions.

• Mathematica is the ultimate computational tool for numerics of any precision, symbolics, or visualization. Mathematica can export X3D and VRML.
• UCSF Chimera is a highly extensible program for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular structures and related data. Chimera exports X3D v3.2 and VRML97.

License

• An open-source license is applied to X3D models and source code produced by NPS (and others) for the various Web3D and Savage model archives. Typically one of the following meta tags is included in archived X3D scenes:

  <meta name="license" content="../../license.html">
                  

  <meta name="license" content="http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/license.html">
                  

  <meta name="license" content="http://savage.nps.edu/Savage/license.html">
                  

  The license is available as license.html and also available in plain-text form as license.txt for embedding in source-code files. Under the terms of this BSD open-source license both commercial & noncommercial uses are permitted, and the contributing authors retain original copyright as appropriate. This license can be adapted for use by other open-source contributors, if desired. Discussion, rationale and references regarding this license are available via the XMSF bugtracker license entry.

Mobile Support

There is a mobile subset of the X3D vocabulary called the X3D Interactive Profile. Conversion tools are likely to emerge that can down-convert scenes using the X3D Immersive Profile or VRML97 for lightweight mobile and embedded applications.

• BitManagement's BS Contact Mobile X3D/VRML97 plugin for handheld devices running the Windows Mobile operating system.
• RayGun by Planet9 Studios is a GPS tracking, navigation and social networking application that works on PC's, cell phones, PND's and embedded systems.

PowerPoint Support

• Installing Cortona VRML Browser as a PowerPoint Control (also in .html) by Don Brutzman, Curt Blais and the SAVAGE group

References

Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics

• Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics Working Group
• Extensible 3D (X3D) Specifications
• Extensible 3D (X3D) Specification Feedback Form
• Extensible 3D (X3D) MIME Types describes proper configuration of http servers
• Don Brutzman's X3D/VRML course page

Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97

• VRML 97 Specification
• Floppy's Web3D Guide
• Bob Crispen's VRMLworks

Training

• Yumetech offers training courses on X3D authoring and use.
• The X3D for Web Authors adoption page lists courses and short courses offering X3D instruction.

Tutorials

• Instant Reality tutorials
• Yumetech X3D extensions documentation

Contact

Questions, suggestions and comments about these resources are welcome. Please send them to Don Brutzman (brutzman at nps.navy.mil)

Available online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html

Revised: 14 September 2008