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Introduction

 Apprentice is an OpenInventor 2.x pure C++ emulation  library for reading, modifying and displaying '.iv' and '.wrl' files. Currently, Apprentice supports serialization of most of the OI 2.x and VRML 1.x objects.

The implementation was based on examples and descriptions  in the Open Inventor Architecture Group book series, and modified to reflect the serialization processes described in the QvLib source code from SGI programmers (a freely available source distribution intended to read  VRML files, closely related to Inventor). Prior to writing Apprentice, I had never used Inventor.

Currently, the implementation handles state and element tracking, but no caching. In addition, manipulators, and other  capabilities not mentioned herein have probably not yet been implemented.

 

Core library source. Win95/NT OpenGL build.  Unix makefiles and bug fixes

Eric V. Powers

• Cleaner Linux builds.
• BOIDS example program.
• Partial Inventor implementation.
• ANSI C++ classes.
• Windows 95/NT OpenGL support.
• Linux/Iris Motif support.
• Basic shapes, polygonal surfaces and NURBS surfaces  with normals and simple texture mapping.
• Point, Directional and Spot lights.
• Perspective and Orthogonal cameras.
• Node grouping with Separators.
• Serializable Engines and Field connections.
• Property/state/element improvements.

If you don't already have it, get it... WinZip.

Source Code

The source code is available under the GNU LGPL.  Read the license and then download one of the two following files:

See Online Tutorial

Appren052.zip (533 KB) Updated 2 Sep 98 samples.tar.gz (790 KB) Updated 24 Mar 97	System Requirements: Windows 95/NT/ME/2k with OpenGL Microsoft Visual C++ (Version 5.0+ preferred). 32-bit (long filename) ZIP decompression utility (use -d option). Installation: Extract .ZIP file to a project directory (such as C:\MSDEV). Launch MSDEV. In the Tools/Options/Directories,  add the include directory (such as C:\MSDEV\Apprentice\inclu de),  library, and source directories (such as C:\MSDEV\Apprentice\src). If your Windows System directory is not C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM,  in Build/Settings/Custom Build, change the output to your System  directory. (i.e. NT users have C:\WINNT\SYSTEM, so open the  Apprentice project, go into Build Settings, select the Apprentice Debug  and Apprentice Release configurations, select Custom Build, change  the output directory to C:\WINNT\SYSTEM in both source and target.)
appren052.tar.gz (142 KB) Updated 2 Sep 98 samples.tar.gz (790 KB) Updated 24 Mar 97	System Requirements (incomplete): Iris, Sun or Linux. X/windows. Motif (optional). OpenGL or Mesa. 'tar' and 'gunzip' utilities. GNU C++ or equiv.
MiniIV.zip (40 KB)  MiniIV is a simple, introductory application for learning basic matrix and vector math.	System Requirements (incomplete): Windows 95/NT with OpenGL. Microsoft Visual C++ (Version 4.2 preferred). 32-bit (long filename) Tar/GZip decompression utility (use -d option).

  Contribute to the Apprentice Project as a developer:

• Discuss bug fixes and enhancements with the creator.

Best description of Inventor files without having the texts.
The best FAQs on the net.

Reference Books

1. Open Inventor C++ Reference Manual: The Official Reference Document for Open Inventor, Release 2, Open Inventor Architecture Group, Addison-Wesley, 1994. (~$44.25 USD)
2. The Inventor Mentor: Programming Object-Oriented 3D Graphics with Open Inventor, Release 2, Josie Wernecke, Addison-Wesley, 1994. (~$37.75 USD)
3. The Inventor Toolmaker: Extending Open Inventor, Release 2, Josie Wernecke, Addison-Wesley, 1994. (~$29.25 USD)
4. OpenGL Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Release 1, OpenGL Architecture Review Board, Addison-Wesley, 1993. (~$30.49 USD)