www.MignonSoft.com - Développement C++
3D Controls (v0.4a)
! This one is not the lastest version
see: 3D controls debug
:: Presentation ::

The ultimate aim of this project is the use of a 3D framework with a management of all the classical controls. As the 3D code comes from OpenGL, the crossplatform will be even more accentutated towards UNIX or MAC platforms.

Eventually this project will enable an alternative to the MS framework, but will remain cooperative with the existing API (it is not a new desktop).

In order to test this version, the most important is the performance of the 3D card.
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:: Utilisation ::
  • Left click on the title zone "Workbench" to move it.
  • Click mouse wheel + move mouse for 3D rotation
  • press 't': to toogle for the use of the window title
  • press 'f': to toogle between full screen or default size
  • press 'r': to toogle for the use of the Regions systems (no outline of the 3D object)
  • press 'd': to display debug interface
 
:: Status ::
beta version, performance problem
 
:: Coming next ::
  • Optimisation of the Region systems (use of CreatePolyPolygoneRgn in CreatePolygoneRgn)
  • Event control class definition
  • Addition of insert face into the debug
  • Migration of the debuger interface to an editor using format .3DRC
  • Add-in of 3D editor ressources inside Visual Studio 6.0 and .NET. An EXE was created to make alternative to resources editor (to use in other IDE)
 
:: Press ::

A similar project was developped by Sun "3D Looking Glass" . Here is the commercial démo .
And MS Longhorme interface too.

The striking similarity between my project and Sun's (although before version v0.4, I did not know about it) really discouraged me at the beginning. Then I deceide to give the information to interested people. Besides, though the Sun version is spectacular, it does not include all my concepts which I will not develop here (you never know if Sun might be listening...).

Historically the research for a 3D environment has begun since the early 90's with... Amiga (little wonder by Commodor, which rocked me a bit to near to the wall of programming!). Here is a non exhaustive list of the projects of the same type :

  • 1995, "Bob" a universe of shortcuts.
  • 2002, "the task gallery" MS project, 3D environment using ordinary 2D softwares.
  • 2002, "3dosx", MAC manages music in 3D.
  • 2003, "3d desktop" more of a multi desktop than a use of the 3D controls.
  • 2003, 3dna v1.1 very similar project to MS's right above.
 
:: Review ::
  • 12/19/2003 : v0.4a available, modifications and additions in the debug mode
    • light effects added
    • modifications of light and fog controls
    • textures are now managable
  • 12/12/2003: v0.4 available
    • advanced management of the debug mode, fog+light
    • light: management of more parameters
    • fog: each face can deceide to use the fog (if it is activated) or not
    • class CObject in debug
    • use of antialiasing (available for GFoce3Ti minimum )
  • le 28/11/2003: v0.3 available