VPT 3D-Viewer (WF-3D)

For systems-of-systems modeling, CSIM's 3D Viewer is part of CSIM's Vehicle Platforms Terrains (VPT) model library. (Also called:   Win-Frame 3D-Viewer or WF3D)

The WF-3D Viewer can accept animation commands from three (3) interfaces:

File (XML format commands), Socket (XML format commands), C-call (linked object file).

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WF3d is intended for visualizing and interacting with complex simulations. It does not emphasize photo-realistic displays, but rather light-weight, easy-to-use, better-than-schematic visualizations. It supports systems engineering by combining logical data with mission-level displays. This general-purpose viewer can be used with virtually any simulator, sensor, or design tool.

The following documents, tools, models, and examples are available:

1. XML Format Commands - WFL - Specification   {Updated 9-3-08}
   This is the Win-Frame-Language (WFL).

2. Download 3D-Viewer - [Right-click to download] (Contains small example geom.dat for testing.)
   • Linux: wf3d.tar.gz - 221 kB - {Updated 7-3-08}
   • Microsoft: wf3d_4ms.zip - 316 kB - {Updated 7-3-08}
   • Sun: wf3d_sun.tar.gz - 90 kB - {Updated 7-3-08}

3. 3D Model Libraries
   • 3D Models of Vehicles and other Objects -
   • 3D Models of Earth and other Planets -

4. Tutorial: Using WinFrame3D  

5. WF3D-Viewer Operation and Usage Instructions

6. Examples:   Some simple examples are included with CSIM distributions.

7. Download Example Set 1: (Simple Examples)
   • examp1.wfl - Four boxes on axes and origin.   Run as:   wf3d examp1.wfl
   • test_geom.dat - Super-simple (hello_world - like) example. First generates three butterflies. ~10 lines. Nothing to compile. Just a text-file.

     Directions:
             1. Run viewer:     wf3d test_geom.dat
     

   • geom_test2.dat - Simple example of placing two spheres with text.

8. Download Example 2:
   • Generate_landscape.c - [Right-click to download]
   Directions:
           1. Compile:     cc -O gen_landscape_lowres.c -lm -o gen_landscape
           2. Build landscape file:     gen_landscape
           3. Run viewer:     wf3d geom.dat
   Suggestion: Peruse the geom.dat file to understand the makeup of the animation commands.

9. Importing Mesh/Polygon Objects - Converters:
   The following formats can be converted for importing predefined objects into WinFrame3D:
           3DS - 3D Studio
           LWO - Lightwave Object (partial)
           WFL - WinFrame Language
           DXF - AutoDesk DXF

10. Importing Terrains - Converters:
    • Importing DTED Terrains into WinFrame 3D Viewer
    • Importing Image Terrains into WinFrame 3D Viewer
    • Mapping Images to Spheres for WinFrame 3D Viewer - Making Earth Models
    • Additionally, all the GDAL Raster Formats formats can be converted for import into WinFrame3D.

11. WF3D Command-Line Options
    • WF3D Command-Line Options.

12. WF-3D Object Interface -
    You can link WF-3D to your own programs so that you can call WF-3D commands/operations directly, without using a socket or file interface. See WF-3D Object Interface.

    Related libraries:   Otk - Open Tool Kit - Add buttons/controls, gauges/meters to your WinFrame3d displays.

13. Auxiliary Utilities -
    
    • XYZ-2-WF - 3D Data Plotting. Converts matrix data into 3D surface-plots or bar-graphs for highly interactive viewing with WF3D. (Numeric visualization.)