"White_dune" documentation

# Contents

- ## "White_dune", what's that ?

- ## "White_dune" crashed, work lost ?

- ### Starting "White_dune" with foreign menues

- ### What is scenegraph, fieldvalues, routes etc. about ?

- ### What "white_dune" can not do/can do

- ### The 5 windows of "white_dune"

- ### Menu overview

- ### Navigation

- ### Changing the scenegraph

  - #### Using USE (new in version 0.29beta)

  - #### Scenegraph Operations (new in version 0.27beta)

- ### Input/erase of ROUTEs

- ### Changing FieldValues

  - #### Keyboard Input

  - #### Mouse Input

  - #### Changing "MF"-FieldValues (new in version 0.27beta)

  - #### Changing FieldValues in the 3D Preview window

  - #### 6D Input (new in Version 0.19beta)

  - #### 6D Local Mode Input (new in Version 0.19beta)

  - #### Mindstorms NXT dials Input (new in Version 0.29beta)

  - #### Linux Joystick Input (new in Version 0.20beta)

  - #### M$Windows Joystick Input (new in Version 0.22beta)

  - #### MacOSX Joystick Input (neu in Version 0.22beta)

  - #### Changing FieldValues in the ChannelView Window

  - #### Color Circle (new in Version 0.19beta)

  - #### Script Editor (new in Version 0.22beta)

  - #### URL Editor (new in Version 0.22beta)

  - #### Field pipe (new in version 0.29beta)

- ### Simplified Scriptbuilding (new in Version 0.22beta)

- ### NURBS Modelling (partitially new in Version 0.25beta)

  - #### NURBS basics

  - #### X symetric modelling (new in Version 0.25beta)

  - #### NURBS conversion (new in Version 0.25beta)

  - #### Degree elevate (new in Version 0.27beta)

  - #### IndexedFaceSet Knoten erzeugen (new in Version 0.25beta)

  - #### Building IndexedFaceSet (new in Version 0.25beta)

- ### Superformula Modelling (new in Version 0.27beta)

  - #### Superformula basics

  - #### SuperExtrusion

  - #### SuperShape

  - #### SuperEllipsoid

  - #### SuperRevolver

- ### other 3D-Modellierung related commands

  - #### Changing coordinate based nodes (new in Version 0.29beta)

  #### Array tool (new in Version 0.27beta)

  ### Repair commands in the "Actions" menue

  - #### Remove invalid children nodes (new in Version 0.27beta)

  - #### Triangulate IndexedFaceSet (new in Version 0.29beta)

  - #### Set path of all URLs to (new in Version 0.27beta)

  ### Other commands in the "Actions" menue

  - #### Edit object/URL (new in Version 0.29beta)

  - #### Set default values (keep scenegraph) (new in Version 0.27beta)

  - #### xray rendering (new in Version 0.27beta)

- ### VrmlCut scripted Proto (new in Version 0.29beta)

- ### File -> upload (new in Version 0.27beta)

## "White_dune", what's that ?

White_dune is a graphical VRML97 editor, simple (NURBS) 3D modeller and animationtool in development. It can read VRML97/X3DV files, display and let the user change the scenegraph, fields and routes. This can be used to improve or make VRML97/X3DV 3D-worlds, animations and interactions.
The modelling features of white_dune are not strong enough (yet), to use it alone. It makes sense, to let it work together with a 3D modelling tool with static VRML97 export (like for example wings3D or Art Of Illusion).
In difference to most 3D modelling tools the lightning/coloring and the interal structure of white_dune is based on the VRML97/X3D standards. This leads to a better support of the possibilities of VRML97/X3DV, when you create or postprocess 3D models with white_dune.
Compared with the general purpose 3D modellers (which often support only the export of mesh (IndexedFaceSet) and interpolator nodes) white_dune supports all VRML97 nodes and the major part of the nodes of the X3D standards.

### "White_dune" crashed, work lost ?

White_dune is work in development and it is not always as stable as it should be.
If white_dune crashed, is your work lost ?
No not automatically !
"White_dune" will try to save the VRML97 file short before crash. This is not always successful e.g. when the error which caused the crash destroyed the internal data structure (this occures seldom). If the file is written sucessfully, white_dune will write under Unix/Linux something like

       Internal Crash !
       Try to save Files
       attempt to write file to /home/someone/.dune_crash_NUMBER_NUMBER.wrl
       write sucessful

to standard error of the starting window and to system console (eg. to the window of the xconsole application).
The important line is the line "write successfull".
Under M$Windows you get (possibly after clicking "ignore", if you are asked about using a debugger) a similar Messagebox
When you restart white_dune and use the file menu, you should see the filename of this .dune_crash file.
Just click to it and save to another file.
This Method can fail, if the error that led to crash has damaged the internal data structure of the program.
In this case it is worth to search in directory of VRML-files for temporary files (".dune_*"), that are produced during the execution of File->Preview or File->Textedit.
These Files will be deleted at a normal program end, but not in case of a program crash.
When white_dune often crashes but all data can be restored successfully, it can be usefull to search this intermediate files and delete them in order to recover diskspace.
Beside files for preview and textedit, white_dune also stores the content of edited scriptnodes in a temporary textfile for use by a texteditor.

### Starting "White_dune" with foreign menues

White_dune can be started with menues in foreign languages.
For example, to start white_dune with the german language, the commandlineoption "-german" must be used.
Currently 3 commandlineoptions for languages are available:

- -english
- -german
- -italian

Cause it is not very usefull, always to type this in a commandline, there is a second way, to select the language. Under Linux/UNIX this is done via the LANG environment variable. If the first 2 characters of this environment variable is set to "de", german menus are used, if they are set to "it", italien menus are used.
If you want to work in a foreign language environment with $LANG set, but want to use the english menus for white_dune, you must use the -english option.
This can be done with a shellscript (Linux/UNIX/MacOSX) or batchfile (Micro$oft Windows).
If you can not find a matching file (e.g. germandune for the german language), you can create one (e.g. for the german language) with the commandlines:

- For Linux/UNIX:

           echo dune -german > germandune.sh
           chmod +x germandune.sh

- For Micro$oft Windows:

           echo drive:\pathto\white_dune_version.exe -german > germandune.bat

For MacOSX you can modify in the file white_dune.app/Contents/MacOS/dunestarter the lines with the options for the program start:

       DUNEOPTIONS=" "
       export DUNEOPTIONS

and add e.g. the -german option for the german language:

       DUNEOPTIONS="-german "
       export DUNEOPTIONS

For other exotic UNIX desktops you will find similar options in the following files

- SGI IRIX/4Dwm: desktop/irix*/duneoptions.m4
  Read the file README_IRIX.desktop for more information
- IBM AIX/cde: /usr/local/bin/white_dune.dt
- Sun Solaris/cde: /opt/White_Dune/bin/white_dune.dt
- Redhat Linux/kde: /usr/share/applications/dune.desktop

In a similar way, it is possible to include other commandlineoptions of white_dune. See the man page of white_dune for other options.
The most important options are:

- Options for 3D inputdevices
  Supported inputdevices differ on different operationsystems. They include joystick, spaceball, dials or magnetic trackers.
- Options for stereoscopic view
  This options (like "-stereo") are usefull for stereoscopic view with shutterglasses (or beamers).
- Options for white_dune variants:
  Currently, there are 4 different variants of white_dune available. These variants can select either a completely different GUI or minor differences in the usable menus/toolbars.
  - The -x3dv option
    This option starts white_dune with support for a X3DV file from begin on. Without this option, a VRML97 file is created, that can be stored to a X3DV file (via the menupoint File -> save as...) later.
  - The -4kids option
    This option starts white_dune with a total different, simplified menu. This menu is intended for total beginners. Is has been used in courses for children and juveniles.
  - The -4catt option
    This option starts white_dune with a total different menu, intended for users of the 3D-soundsimulationsprogram Catt Acoustics 8.
  - The -cover option
    This options supports some additional VRML nodes and extensions for the immersive VRML-Browser "cover/cover".
  - The -kambi option
    This options supports some additional X3D nodes and extensions for the X3D based gameengine "kambi".
- The -tessellation option
  The argument of the -tessellation option is a integer. It influences the number of vertices of a surface for nodes like Sphere, Cylinder, Cone and NURBS- or Superformula-nodes (with u/vTessellation not zero) during rendering.
  Therefore the -tessellation option is crucial for the usage of computers with missing 3D hardware-acceleration (and/or a slow processor).
  With the -tessellation option is it possible to create and work with 3D objects on under-performing computers. The objects will displayed coarse on the under-performing computer, but will be displayed complete on a powerfull computer. When the -tessellation option is missing, a default value of 32 will be used. The minimal possible value is 8.
  The -tessellation Option do not help, when nodes like IndexedFaceSet, *Triangle*Set, Extrusion or ElevationGrid need to be displayed, cause the vertices of this nodes are defined from beginning. Therefore it should be avoided to convert from not nodes with not exactly defined vertices (e.g. Sphere or Cylinder) to this nodes on a slow performing computer.

The menus and dialogs of white_dune can be translated to foreign language without programming skills.
If you are interested to translate the white_dune menus and errormessages into a new foreign language (no programming skills required), please read the step by step instructions about localisation in the developer documentation.

### What is scenegraph, fieldvalues, routes etc. about ?

White_dune (without -4kids or -4catt option) is a lowlevel tool to make/change VRML97 or X3DV Files. The user needs to knows the basic structure of VRML97/X3D.
Of course white_dune can also be used to learn and explore the basics of VRML97/X3D.
A good startpoint is of course the "-4kids" commandline argument, but then the features are limited to building 3D-Objects and Animation. The more interesting VRML/X3D features about interaction and scripting are not available in the "-4kids" variant.

You can find some typical VRML/X3D examples (you can load into white_dune) here, but take care about the fact, this examples do not show modelling or animation features, they show mainly VRML97 examples about interaction and scripting. These are features, which can be not shown in white_dune directly (yet).
The examples are a start base to build interactive 3D worlds with white_dune, which are showed later with a "real" VRML/X3D browser.
The route view and the scripting code is most interesting for a beginner.

You can find detailed technical information about VRML97 in the official ISO specification at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/vrml/ISO-IEC-14772-IS-VRML97WithAmendment1 . For the use of white_dune, especially the node reference http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/vrml/ISO-IEC-14772-IS-VRML97WithAmendment1/part1/nodesRef.html is important.
A good, simple tutorial about VRML97 for beginners you can find (beside in a range of books) at http://web3d.vapourtech.com/tutorials/vrml97/.
X3D is the sucessor of VRML97. Despite some minor technical differences (which are handled automatically by white_dune) are alle commands of the VRML97 standard still available in X3D.
This is not the case for the "forgotten" VRML97 Amendment 1 Standard from 2002. Sone VRML97 Amendment 1 commands like e.g the CoordinateDeformer node do not exist anymore, but all still existing VRML97 Amendment 1 commands are handled automatically by white_dune, when a VRML97 file is stored as X3D(V) file.

### What "white_dune" can not do/can do

- White_dune is not a full featured VRML browser (yet) (and is still very wide away from a fulll featured X3D browser) and can not display all Features of VRML/X3D
  It has features to create interactions and script programming, but you still need File -> Preview (or you have to save the file and open it in a VRML Browser) to test the results.
- What is (still) missing in white_dune is the support for creating self defined VRML/X3D nodes (PROTO bzw. EXTERNPROTO)
  White_dune recognise PROTOs and writes PROTOs back unchanged when saving files. You can create new VRML/X3D nodes of the matching PROTO-type and change the fieldvalues (the default values of PROTOs of files in the net (EXTERNPROTO) are not (yet) correct recognised). PROTOs are not shown correctly in the 3D Preview Window in all cases (yet). There is no way (beside using File -> textedit ) to change the PROTO definition itself (yet).
- White_dune is not a general purpose modelling tool (yet)
  It has easy input features for primitive VRML97 shapes like Box, Sphere, Cone and Cylinder and shapes like ElevationGrid and Extrusion, but not for other shapenodes like IndexedFaceSet (a shape made of multiple facets), IndexedLineSet and PointSet.
  The most common shape in 3D modelling is the "mesh". Most 3D modelling programs currently export "mesh" data to VRML97 as IndexedFaceSets.
- A also common object in 3D modelling is the "NURBS" object, which can be used in white_dune. Nodes like NurbsSurface, NurbsGroup or NurbsCurve are not part of the traditional VRML97 standard from 1997, but they are part of the VRML97 Amendment 1 Standard from 2002. A VRML97 Amendment 1 incompatible NURBS implementation is available in the X3D standard. White_dune can convert from VRML97 Amendment 1 NURBS to X3D NURBS and vice versa.
  You can find a introduction to NURBS in a later section. Currently, VRML97 Amendment 1 is supported by VRML97 browsers like bitmanagement/blaxxun cc3d/contact, but not implemented in no longer supported VRML browsers like cosmoplayer 2.1.
  There is a (slow and not complete) implementation for cosmoplayer 2.1 via a VRML PROTO. You can find more information about this here.
- White_dune finally allows the conversion of all surface shapes to a IndexedFaceSet (at least all surfaces which can be rendered by white_dune itself, with the exception of Text). A IndexedFaceSet can be converted to a IndexedLineSet, a IndexedLineSet can be converted to a PointSet.
  But take care about the fact, that these convertions are working in only one way. A conversion back is not possible inside white_dune. Thereforen a menupoint File -> Export as ... -> PureVRML97 exists.
  Animated Surfaces (simple Timer and Interpolator Animation) like NURBS or Superformula nodes will be changed to a Timer and Interpolator Animation of a IndexedFaceSet on a export to "PureVRML97", but via a conversion to a IndexedFaceSet. A problem is the accounting of values between two times for NURBS/Superformula nodes. The accounting is different from the CoordinateInterpolator node, which is needed for IndexedFaceSet. Therefore a successfull conversion of such a animation need enough keyframes, more keyframes than a NURBS/Superformula based animation.

### The 5 windows of "white_dune"

Beside some toolbars with icons and messages "white_dune" (without the "-4kids" or "-4catt" startoptions) essentially contains 5 windows. Beside the "3D Preview" window you can switch on/switch off this windows via the menu "View". Switch this windows on and off to match your current work status.

- Scene Tree
  This window contains the scenegraph. This shows the structure of a VRML/X3D file, the information, how the VRML/X3D nodes are arranged.
- Field View
  This window contains the fieldvalues, the numbers (or character strings) in a VRML/X3D file. Only the fields of the current selected node are shown.
- Route View
  This windows contains the ROUTEs, the ways of information different VRML/X3D nodes can send messages between them.
  According to the Settings in options -> RouteView Settings there are either only the current ROUTEs are shown (like ROUTEs are stored in a VRML/X3D file) or the Routes and all existing nodes are shown. To show all nodes makes it easier to build new ROUTEs in small VRML/X3D files, but can be very confusing in very big VRML/X3D files.
- Channel View
  This window is only valid for interpolator nodes. Interpolator nodes are most important for animations in VRML97 and X3D.
- 3D Preview window
  This Window can not be switched off and shows a preview of the graphical output of a VRML file. In difference to the other windows, the implementation of the VRML97 standard in this window is (still) incomplete.
  Some VRML97 nodes like "MovieTexture" or the self defined "EXTERNPROTO", nodes are not shown at all. The icons of not shown nodes are either empty (EXTERNPROTOs) or surrounded by a black frame.
  The nodes from the not widely used VRML97 Amendment 1 Standard (ISO/IEC 14772:2002) has the most failures, despite the fact that the nodes NurbsSurface, NurbsCurve and NurbsGroup from Amendment 1 are currently responsible for the most powerfull 3D modelling features of white_dune.
  The support for X3D nodes is also not complete.
  Not all fields are shown correctly, e.g. the "Text" node under Linux/UNIX/MacOSX should be seen as "better than nothing" (especially, if the program is compiled without support from the GLUT library). The fieldvalues of the "FontStyle" node (which belongs to the "Text" node is also not correct (yet).
  The field "convex" is (still) ignored too. When "convex" is set to "false", nonconvex polygons are displayed correctly.
  Correct and false image of a IndexedFaceSet with nonconvex polygons with "convex false" in FreeWRL (links) and white_dune (rechts)
  The problem with "convex false" exist also in Extrusion-based nodes. The are more rendering errors when using Extrusions.
  The display of multiple transparent shapes is also errornous.
  There are also errors in the display of some PROTOs.
  Here are detailed descriptions by Michalis Kamburelis (the author of the kambi VRML gameengine) of further errors in the 3D preview window.
  Of course, such a false image of a VRML object in the 3D Preview do not mean, there is a error in the VRML file.
  If in doubt, use File->Preview to start a VRML browser.

### Menu overview

The main menu of white_dune is seperated into the following submenus:

- File
  This submenu is intended for handling files, like loading, inserting and saving VRML/X3D files. It has can also be used to export to various variants of VRML/X3D files and some other 3D file formats.
  The File submenu also contain a way to edit the current file in text form without extra load/save dialogs.
- Edit
  This submenu is used to copy, paste, delete or search objects.
  It also contain a menupoint for the VRML/X3D "DEF" command. This command is used to assign a name to a VRML/X3D object. This can be used in a "ROUTE" statement to exchange messages between VRML/X3D objects. It can also be used for the "USE" command (also available in the "Edit" submenu), which creates a indistinguishable pointer to the object, similar to a UNIX hard link.
- View
  This submenu is intented for setting the used windows and toolbars.
  Beside the possibility, to switch on or off single windows and toolbars there is also a menupoint View -> FullScreen, which switchs off als toolbars beside the standard toolbar (e.g. with icons for open and save) and shows the 3D preview window as only window. This is very usefull to modell a 3D object or navigate inside the 3D world.
- Create
  This submenu is intented for the creation of new VRML/X3D nodes.
  The menu is orginised somewhat similar to the components of the X3D standard, but only VRML97 nodes are organised this way. VRML97 Amendment 1 nodes, X3D nodes, X3D draft nodes and extension nodes for browsers like cover or kambi are seperated in own submenus.
- Actions
  This submenu contains functions to change the VRML/X3D file.
  A mayor part of this functions were designed cause they are not available in a lot of 3D modellers (or not supported by their VRML/X3D Export).
- Convert
  This submenu is intended to support the conversion between 3D objects.
  There are two classes of conversions:
  - Shape conversion:
    The conversion of shapes means the loss of information in almost all cases. In a typical case, you start with a shape with only few parameters like a sphere with only one parameter (radius) or a scripted PROTO like SuperShape (with less than 20 parameters for a complex object). The next step may be the conversion to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface. A typical Nurbs(Patch)Surface has much more parameters then a primitive or scripted PROTO (if you don't count huge array of values as only one parameter). But unlike a primitive etc., you can change small details of a Nurbs(Patch)Surface easily.
    The next step could be the conversion to a IndexFaceSet (mesh). This also increases the possibilities to change details. While a Nurbs(Patch)Surface can be changed via a few controlpoints, a IndexFaceSet has usually much more vertices as details, that can be changed. But the conversion also looses control, cause the change of a controlpoint in a Nurbs(Patch)Surface can control a lot of vertices of a shape.
    The next possible steps only loose information: the conversion to a IndexedLineSet only loose information about faces and the next possible step, the conversion to a PointSet only loose information about the connections between the vertices.
  - Interpolator creation:
    This menupoints creates Position- and OrientationInterpolators from a NurbsCurve. Unlike the conversion of shapes, the new created interpolator do not replace the NurbsCurve. The new created interpolator is not connected to other nodes. To use it for a animation, it need to be connected to a TimeSensor and a target node with the following Routes menu.
- Routes
  This submenu is used for VRML/X3D ROUTE commands.
  The chapter about Input/erase of ROUTEs discribe this submenu.
- Mode
  This submenu is used to set navigation and input modes.
- Options
  This submenu is used to change settings.
- Help
  This submenu shows helppages with a HTML webbrowser.
- ! (optional "teacher menu")
  This submenu is only available, when the program was compiled with this option. It is used to mark right and wrong constructs.

### Navigation

To navigate in the 3D Preview Window, you have two differ between different walk modes.

- Shift-Mouse 1: Zoom View
- Ctrl-Mouse 1: Rotate View
- Shift-Ctrl-Mouse 1: Move View

Additional you have from version 0.16 a SGI like navigation. Please note, that is it not seldom, that a similar configured windowmanager interpret all mouse input, that uses the Alt key but itself....

- Alt-Mouse1: Rotate View
- Alt-Mouse2: Move View
- Alt-Mouse1-Mouse2: Zoom View

When a 6D inputdevice is active and the Scene icon is selected in the Scene Tree you can navigate depending on the transform icons in the VRML file.
The Scene icon is selected, wenn you klickt into the void of the 3D preview window.
Additionally, there is each a Icon that forces navigation with the mouse or the inputdevice .

### Changing the scenegraph

The most simple way to change the scenegraph is to add new node by clicking to the matching VRML node icon.
To identify a VRML node icon, move the mouse to it and wait. A descriptive text will occure in the status bar at the bottom of the white_dune window.
White_dune tries either to include the new node at the point of selection in the scenegraph,
or to the root of the scenegraph ("Scene" icon).
White_dune will gray out all node icons, that are impossible to add.
The following table shows the requirements for this nodes in the VRML97 standard:

- Appearance need Shape
- Material need Appearance
- ImageTexture need Appearance
- MovieTexture need Appearance (or Sound)
- PixelTexture need Appearance
- TextureTransform need Appearance
- Coordinate need IndexedFaceSet or IndexedLineSet or PointSet
- Color need IndexedFaceSet or IndexedLineSet or PointSetor or ElevationGrid
- Normal need IndexedFaceSet
- TextureCoordinate need IndexedFaceSet
- FontStyle need Text
- AudioClip need Sound

For example a Appearence node need to be selected, to include a ImageTexture node, or a Shape node need to be selected to include a Appearence node.
All of the matching node fields in the VRML97 are of type SFNode, therefore only one node can be inserted. A icon is also grayed, if there is already a matching node.
For example you can not include two ImageTexture Nodes to a Appearence node. Therefore the ImageTexture is also grayed, if a Appearence node is selected, but a ImageTexture node is already there.
According to the VRML97 Standard the shape nodes Box, Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, IndexedFaceSet, IndexedLineSet, PointSet, ElevationGrid, Extrusion and Text need a Shape node. The needed structure for the usage of this Shape.geometry nodes is clear. Therefor the click on the icons and the usage of the Create -> Shape -> menuitems build a complete Shape-structure (including default Appearance/Material nodes and a surrounding Transform node).
(New in Version 0.29beta) If the selection in case of a creation of such a node is not a node a Shape node can be part of, the surrounding Transform node is filled in a way, that the new node is shown directly in front of the actual viewpoint.
For the new, but now deprecated nodes of the VRML97 Amendment 1 standard (CoordinateDeformer, NurbsSurface) there are additional rules.

- Coordinate need CoordinateDeformer
- NurbsSurface need either Shape or NurbsGroup
- Contour2D need TrimmedSurface
- NurbsTexutureCoordinate need NurbsSurface
- TextureCoordinate need either VRML2 nodes or NurbsSurface

The extensions and extra nodes of the immersive Cover VRML97 browser also need additional rules.

- Wave need Shape
- VirtualSoundSource need VirtualAcoustics

The extensions and extra nodes of the kambi VRML game engine also need a additional rule.

- ImageTexture, PixelTexture and MovieTexture nodes need either their VRML97 nodes or KambiAppearance

White_dune itself also has a scripted PROTO extensions, which has also a additional rule.

- VrmlScene need VrmlCut

Cause there are much more X3D nodes than VRML97 nodes, the list of needed nodes is very much longer:

- MultiTexture need Appearance
- ImageTexture need Appearance or MultiTexture
- MovieTexture need Appearance or MultiTexture
- PixelTexture need Appearance or MultiTexture
- MultiTextureTransform need Appearance
- TextureTransform need Appearance or MultiTextureTransform
- MultiTextureCoordinate need IndexedFaceSet or NurbsPatchSurface
- FillProperties need Appearance
- LineProperties need Appearance
- NurbsTextureCoordinate need NurbsPatchSurface
- TextureCoordinate need either the need nodes for VRML97 nodes or or IndexedTriangleFanSet or IndexedTriangleSet or IndexedTriangleStripSet or TriangleFanSet or TriangleSet or TriangleStripSet or MultiTextureCoordinate
- Coordinate or CoordinateDouble need either the VRML97 nodes for Coordinate or LineSet or IndexedTriangleFanSet or IndexedTriangleSet or IndexedTriangleStripSet or TriangleFanSet or TriangleSet or TriangleStripSet or NurbsPatchSurface or NurbsCurve or NurbsPositionInterpolator or NurbsOrientationInterpolator or NurbsSurfaceInterpolator or NurbsTrimmedSurface or HAnimHumanoid or HAnimSegment or NurbsOrientationInterpolator
- Normal need either the needed VRML97 nodes or HAnimHumanoid or IndexedTriangleSet or IndexedTriangleFanSet or IndexedTriangleStripSet or TriangleFanSet or TriangleSet or TriangleStripSet
- Color need either the needed VRML97 nodes or GeoElevationGrid or LineSet or IndexedTriangleFanSet or IndexedTriangleSet or IndexedTriangleStripSet or TriangleFanSet or TriangleSet or TriangleStripSet
- ColorRGBA need either the needed VRML97 nodes for Color or GeoElevationGrid or IndexedTriangleFanSet or IndexedTriangleSet or IndexedTriangleStripSet or TriangleFanSet or TriangleSet or TriangleStripSet
- NurbsCurve2D need Contour2D or NurbsSweptSurface
- ContourPolyline2D need Contour2D
- Contour2D need NurbsTrimmedSurface
- HAnimSegment need HAnimHumanoid or HAnimJoint
- HAnimJoint need HAnimHumanoid or HAnimJoint
- HAnimSite need HAnimHumanoid or HAnimJoint
- HAnimDisplacer need HAnimJoint or HAnimSegment

Additionally, there are rules for the X3D nodes of the Rigid Body Physics component, which is listed seperatly, cause this rules alone are not sufficent for a sensefull use:

- RigidBody need BallJoint or DoubleAxisHingeJoint or SingleAxisHingeJoint or UniversalJoint or SliderJoint or MotorJoint or RigidBodyCollection or Contact
- CollideableOffset need RigidBody or CollidableOffset or CollisionCollection or CollisionSpace or Contact
- CollideableShape need RigidBody or CollidableOffset or CollisionCollection or CollisionSpace or Contact
- CollisionSpace need CollisionCollection or CollisionSpace
- CollisionCollection need CollisionSensor

This rules are not sufficent, cause only a structure make sense, where CollideableShape and CollideableOffset nodes are in the root nodes or the scenengraph and get USE-ed in several other nodes, which are USE-ed again. To simplify the creation of this structure, there is a similar operation for scenegraph branchs.

The commands Edit -> copy, Edit -> paste and Edit -> delete work similar to the same commands in many programs.
Of course only changes of the scenegraph are possible, which match the rules above about "node A needs node B". Depending on the selected node in the scenegraph (the target of a Edit -> paste command) the menupoint Edit -> paste can be grayed out or not.
In a unchanged scenegraph it can occured, that it is not possible to insert a copied node at once, cause a node needed to inserted the copied node is missing. The missing node must be created first, before the copy action can be completed successfully.

A unusual command is the Edit -gt; copy branch to root command. It copies all nodes along the path to the root of the current scenegraph branch into the paste buffer.
This can be very handy, if you need to double and split a scenegraph branch.

Another way to change the scenegraph is to drag parts of it with the mouse.
White_dune will show you with a icon of a stop sign, if the target node is not possible cause of the "missing node rules".
If the target node is possible, white_dune will show the normal mousepointer.
The target is not possible, if there are multiple SF/MFNode fields of the target node.
Nodes with multiple fields of type SF/MFNode (e.g. the collision node) always display the field names in the scenetree (despite a opposite setting in the Options -> Preferences dialog), so you can use the field names as targets in this case.

Similar to the local copy/move in the explorer program of M$Windows2000 and similar filemanagers it is possible to change the behaviour, if the keyboard is used when the mouse is still dragged:

- Move:
  no key pressed or Shift key pressed (icon do not change)
- Copy:
  Crtl key pressed (icon add "+" picture)
- DEF/USE:
  Crtl key and Shift key pressed together (icon add "arrow" picture)
  The USE construct is something like a undistinctable pointer, the reuse of a already existing node.
  In a DEF/USE construct it is impossible to identify orginal and copy.
  - When you change the orginial, the copy changes too.
  - When you change the copy, the original changes too.
  - It has no consequences to the orginal, when you delete the copy.
  - It has no consequences to the copy, when you delete the orginal.
  This is similar to the hardlinks in a UNIX filesystem.

#### Using USE

(new in Version 0.29beta)
Beside the drag and drop method above, there is a additional way to use the USE construct. The node to be USEd need a DEF name which can be applied with Edit -> DEF. The usage of Edit -> USE (if possible) adds a new USE of the last DEFd node at the point of the selected node.
In white_dune (unlike when using a text editor on a VRML97 file), you can legally delete the DEFd node. The first written formerly USEd node becomes the new DEFd node. pointers.
Using USE is useful for keeping VRML files small (faster downloadable), it increases maintainabilty and it can maybe used for faster rendering by a smart VRML browser (e.g. by using glLists on OpenGL rendering).
Additional commands, that can create USE constructs are the array tool and some of the "create" scenegraph operations following.

#### Scenegraph Operations

(new in Version 0.27beta)
There is no way to move multiple nodes in the scenegraph (yet). As a workaround there are operations to rearrange the current scenegraph branch (Actions -> Move Sibling -> up/down/to first/last position) and operations which can be applied to all nodes in the scenegraph branch following the selection (including the selection itself).
The are commands available via Actions -> Rest of scenegraph branch:

- Move to
  This command move the nodes into a grouping node (like Group, Transfrom etc.)
  It is also possible, to bring nodes into a new VRML97 file and use this file via the Inline command, but only if there is no ROUTE has one of this nodes as target or a USE is used.
- Move 1 level up
  This command moves the nodes into the same scenegraph branch as the parent of the selected node.
- Move to Transform selection
  This command works only with a selected Transform node. It moves the nodes which follow the selected nodes into the Transform node. In difference to the similar command to move into a new Transform node the position, orientation and scale of the nodes are important.
  In the selected node will be up to 7 (depending from the fields of the selected transform) new Transform nodes created. This up to 7 Transform nodes equalize the position, orientation and scale of the moved nodes, so the global position, orientation and scale of the moved nodes do not change.
  This command is often used, to create multipart symetric objects.
  In the first step, the most upper of the new inserted Transform node is selected and the menupoint edit -> copy is used.
  In the next step, the original selected Transform node is selected again
  to duplicate the nodes with the menupoint edit -> paste .
  With a command like actions -> flip -> x the duplicated nodes are mirrored.
  This procedure to create symetric objects only works, when the scaleOrientation field of the original selected Transform node do not make its contained object unsymetric.
- Create
  This command creates the new node (ImageTexture, Material, Appearance, Normal etc.) at every possible place in the scenegraph branch. The created nodes are all belong to the Shape node. It has to be differed between nodes, which belong to the appearance field of Shape (ImageTexture, Material und Appearance) and nodes, which belong to the geometry field of Shape (Normal, TextureCoordinate). For nodes, which to the appearance field, a new node is created at the first possibility in the scenegraph and for all following possibilities the node is reused via USE.
  This makes it possible to change the color, the material and the texture of a whole scenegraph branch with little effort. Nodes which belong to the geometry field of shape will be generated according to the data of the Shape (e.g. a IndexedFaceSet).
  To create any type of node at some places in the scenegraph, see the special -> field pipe subcommand.
- Set
  This command changes some fields (creaseAngle, transparency, etc.) in the scenegraph branch, which influence the view of a shape.
- Convert
  This command converts some nodes into other nodes. This is very similar to the main Convert menupoint, but currently only conversion to IndexedFaceSet and TriangleSet is implemented.
- Remove
  This command remove some nodetypes (ImageTexture, Material, Appearance, Normal etc.) or general nodes (depending on their name or DEF name) in the scenegraph branch.
  Most of the nodetypes are corresponding to the nodes in the Create command, because the Create Command can only insert nodes, if the matching field is not blocked by a already existing node.
  Somethings it is usefull, to remove the nodes in the first step and create them new in the next step.
  For example, you have a lot of textured objects in a scenegraph branch and want to give them the same texture. In the first step, you remove the texture node everywhere and in the next step you create a texture node everywhere. Cause the new texture node is always the USE "clone" of the first texture node, any change of this texture node will be result in the change of all created texture nodes
  The removal of some of the nodes (e.g. Normal or TextureCoordinate) also has consequences to the remaining parent node, cause some of the fields of the parent node (e.g. normalIndex or texCoordIndex of the IndexedFaceSet node) should be removed too. In this cases, white_dune also removes this fields.
- special:
  This category collects all things, that do not match into the other categories.
  - Use field pipe
    The concept of fieldpipe is discribed in a later capter. In this case is used for every node in the scenegraph branch with the name or DEF-name matching the nodefilter fields in the dialog.
  - Show polygons/primitives in status bar This command is a informational command and do not change anything in the Scenegraph. It can be used to find the part of the scenegraph, which contain the biggest number of polygons/primitives. This is very important for finding performance problems in realtime 3D data.
    Primitives are nodes like Box, Cone, Cylinder and Sphere. For Primitives, the number of polygons used in the VRML Browser depends from the VRML Browser itself. For example, a VRML Browser can use 16 Polygons to draw the top surface of a Cylinder of a low quality view with sharp edges or can use 32 Polygons for better quality.
    A Sphere usually use very much more polygons than a Box.
    To find the part of the scenegraph, that contain the biggest number of polygons/primitives, you can use a binary search algorithm:
    Click to the scene icon at the root of the scenegraph and use Actions -> Rest of scenegraph branch -> Show polygons/primitives in status bar. The result are the number of polygons/primitives in the whole VRML file. Select a node approximatly in the mid of the current level of the scenegraph branch and use Actions -> Rest of scenegraph branch -> Show polygons/primitives in status bar.
    If the number is greater than the half of the result of the last command, the majority of polygons/primitives is in the upper part of the current level of the scenegraph branch. Continue with the command at the approximatly mid of the upper part of the current level of the scenegraph branch.
    If the number is less than the half of the result of the last command, the majority of polygons/primitives is in the lower part of the current level of the scenegraph branch. Continue with the command at the approximatly mid of the lower part of the current level of the scenegraph branch.
    Continue with this scheme of using the mid of the remaining range of the last command, till you find either a node or a range of nodes which contain the most polygons/primitives in your file. The node (or range of nodes) (e.g. if it is a Group or Transform node) can itself contain multiple other nodes. If you click to the plus sign in the Scene Tree of such a node you open a new level of the scenegraph branch. If you need to continue the search for the part with the most polygons/primitives of the scenegraph branch, use Actions -> Rest of scenegraph branch -> Show polygons/primitives in status bar and continue with the second step.
  - Build RigidBodyCollection/CollisionSensor
    This command only is usefull for the X3D Rigid Body Physics component. In this case a complicated structure of nodes has to be build, full of DEF/USE constructs. This command collects CollideableShape and CollidableOffset nodes in the current scenegraph branch and builds the needed structure for Rigid Body Physics simulation. Beside simulation parameters you only may need to add joint nodes, and USE the RigidBody nodes in this joints.
  - Show polygons for Catt 8 in status bar
    This command is similar to the similar command to display the number of polygons/primitives. The difference is the fact, that this command ist made for the export into the Catt8 fileformat. The format for Catt8 do not know primitives. Additionally Catt8 do not know doublesided surfaces, so the front and backfaces has to be exported (and counted) twice.

Unfortunatly some of these operations are (still) very slow.

### Input/erase of ROUTEs

In white_dune, there are two different settings, which drive the way to insert a ROUTE.

- In Options -> RouteView Settings... the checkbox for "Show all nodes in Routeview" is set:
  All nodes in the scene are shown in the routeview.
  This is usefull for working with small VRML files, but for VRML files with a lot of nodes, it can be horrible to find the right icon.
- In Options -> RouteView Settings... the checkbox for "Show all nodes in Routeview" is not set:
  Only nodes with already existing routes are shown in the routeview.
  To let a node without ROUTEs occure in the Routeview, you need to select the node in the scene tree window and use the Route -> show node on top command.

ROUTEs are made in white_dune by finding the right icon in the RouteView Window (if you click to the icons, the matching icon in the scene tree windows is selected) or useing Route -gt; Move node to top to add the node to the RouteView Window and click to the boxes of the matching events. The name of the matching event is shown, and you can draw a line to the next icon/event.
As required by the VRML standard, only events with the same type (same color of boxes) can be connected.
To erase ROUTEs, simply cut the line.
As a sugestion for beginners, some event boxes are marked with a small red point. The red point marks a important/often used event.
Of course the importance/usage of events differ with the task of your VRML world. All sensor nodes (the original source of most eventprocessing) have event boxes with red points.

In complex VRML worlds with a lot of objects (for example the VRML export from a 3D-Modelling program like Wings3D, Blender, AOI, Catia, 3D Studio Max, Maya etc.) it can be difficult to find the wanted VRML nodes in the RouteView window.
There are operations to jump to the selected node (with Routes -> Unzoom/jump to selection )
or zoom out of the Routeview (with Routes -> Zoom out)
but in such cases, the usage of the Inline VRML node is recommended. It can be used to put static objects (for example parts of the environment or parts of rigid shapes) in their own VRML files. In result the complete VRML world can only consist of very few VRML nodes.

Commands with automatic generation of ROUTEs
There are two commands to automatically generate new ROUTEs.

- Action -> animate
  With this commands the ROUTEs for
  TimeSensor -> *Interpolator -> selected node
  will be generated. After using the command, a Dialog is opening, which ask for a new TimeSensor should be build or a already existing TimeSensor should be used. The dialog also asks what target event (field) in the selected node should be used. Depending on the Type of the target event a new Interpolator is generated.
  - SFFloat: ScalarInterpolator
  - SFVec3f: PositionInterpolator
  - SFRotation: OrientationInterpolator
  - SFColor: ColorInterpolator
  - MFVec3f: CoordinateInterpolator (except the target node is a Normal node, then a NormalInterpolator is generated)
  - In the X3D Standard there are additional Interpolators:
    - SFVec2f: PositionInterpolator2D
    - MFVec2f: CoordinateInterpolator2D
  When the value of the target event can be read, a new first key/keyValue pair with key=0.0 and keyValue=value_target_field will be set.
- Action -> add Interaction(new in Version 0.29beta)
  In this case, the ROUTE
  Sensor -> selected node
  will be generated.
  Cause there are more than one possible target events in the selected node and different to the Interpolators, the assignment between target event type and sensor is ambigious. There are very much possibilities, a lot of them make seldom sense. Therefore there are two Listboxes: one Listbox you can use to select between recommended events and all events and a listbox, you can select already existing sensors.
  In a window there are checkboxes will all sensor events/target events combinations for a new interaction, according to the selection of the listboxes.

### Changing fieldvalues

There is more than one way to change fieldvalues:

- Keyboard input
  By clicking with the mouse to the matching value and releasing the button. A text input window will open to input values from the keyboard.
- Mouse input
  By pressing the left mousebutton on the matching value and not releasing the button, but moving the mousepointer to left or right. This will decrease or increase the value.
- Changing "MF"-FieldValues(new in version 0.27beta)
  In the fieldview Window, a "+"-sign at the left side mark a "MF"-field like MFFloat, MFInt32, MFVec3f, MFRotation, MFString etc. "MF"-Fields are arrays of data, you can count their content: first, second, third, etc.
  To show/change the content of a "MF"-field, you need to click on the "+"-character on the left side.
  As in a VRML file a "MF"-field with only one data is shown similar a normal single data "SF"-field.
  To add data to a "MF"-field, you need to click to the second column of "+"-characters. New data is inserted at the next point of the array.
  To insert at the first point, click to the right side of the fieldview before the first of a opened "MF"-field.
  To delete from a "MF"-Field, click on the left side of the fieldview at the row with the data you want to delete and use the menuitem Edit -> delete.
- Changing FieldValues in the 3D Preview window
  Changing in the 3D Preview window is also a chainging of the fieldvalues. Often transform nodes are changed.
  During interactive work with the mouse in the 3D Preview window, the icons select between a
  - translation
  - rotation
  - scale
  - uniform scale (new in version 0.29beta)
  - changing center (new in version 0.19beta)
  Please note, you can not use this tools, when there is no transform node in the branch of the scenegraph.
  Beside the Transformnode, other fieldvalues can be changed in the 3D Preview window. Most nodes have small white boxes ("handles"), which belong to the "geometry" field of a shape node. The moving boxes are e.g. connected with a edgepoint or a curve. Examples for such nodes with handles are Box, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, ElevationGrid, Extrusion, PointLight, (Indexed)*Set, the X3DV/VRML97 Amendment 1 Nurb(Patch)Surface/NurbsCurve Nodes or nodes, which are generated via scripting ("scripted PROTOs") from NURBS curves (z.B. SuperExtrusion, SuperRevolver)
- 6D Input (new in version 0.19beta)
  Since version 0.19beta white_dune supports 6D inputdevices (6D is about the 6 degrees of freedom) under Unix/Linux.
  is pressed, you can move a Transform node (and the containing objects) in all 6 degrees of freedom. The icon limits the movement to translations, the icon limits to rotations.
  The classic 6D inputdevice is the spaceball, a sort of joystick (which a sphere instead of a stick) which allows only small excursions, but in all directions, including rotations.
  If you press the top of the spaceball for example, the object moves down. When you twist the spaceball, the object will follow this movement.
  Similar devices are Magellan spacemouse and spacenavigator, they use a ergonomic plate instead a sphere.
  The configuration of 6D inputdevices (still) works exclusively via commandlineparameters. Beside the type of the 6D inputdevices a scale of the inputvalues is needed for example:

         white_dune -xinput spaceball -allxyz=20,200 -allrot=40,400

  It is also possible to change the scale of the inputdevices when the program is running. Use Mode -> Inputdevice -> Increase input device (icon ) or Mode -> Inputdevice -> Decrease input device (icon ).
  If you limit the movement to translations (), only the "allxyz" scale is changed. If you limit to rotations , only the "allrot" scale is changed.
  Beside the support via the Xinput protocol, Linux joystick and libsball are also supported. For details to the commandlineparameters see the man page.
  Another 6D inputdevice are the dials (e.g. available under SGI IRIX). Per default, the inputaxes are awkward placed.
  Via Commandlineparameters

           dune -xinput dialbox-1 -x=0 -y=2 -z=4 -xrot=1 -yrot=3 -zrot=5 -all=100,100,wheel

  you can exchange the axes.
- Mindstorms NXT dials Input:
  A selfmade device very similar to the SGI dials can be build easily with the Mindstorms NXT set.
  Just attach a wheel/gear to each of 3 Mindstorm NXT motors, connect the motors with the NXT brick, connect the NXT brick with your Computer via USB and and you can use the result as a USB driven dials device.
  The access is done with libusb, which may need additional configuration,
  To use e.g. libusb functions unter Linux, a script like tools/nxt_udev.sh is usefull.
  The matching commandline to use the first ("0") brick connected to the USB port is

           dune -nxtdials 0 -all=,,wheel

- 6D Local Mode Input: Do you know RC planes ? (new in version 0.19beta)
  When the 6Dlocal icon is pressed, you can steer via the local axes of a transform node.
  For example, if you move a spaceball into z-direction ("into the screen") the transform node (and the containing objects) move to the direction of it's local z axis, it follows the blue z-arrow. For example, if you move a spaceball into y-direction ("up") the transform node (and the containing objects) move to the direction of it's local y axis, it follows the green y-arrow.
  This is usefull, when object and transformnode are similar arranged. Normally the object is not in the direction of the arrows of it's transform node.
  Therefore the transform node should be put into another and the transform node of the object should be rotated accordingly.
  When you use this type of steering, you will see a effect, which is not surprising for users of RC planes: If the object is moving "toward you", a roll to the left of the spaceball leads to a roll to the right of the object.
  A similar transformnode is the rocket mode. In rocket mode, translations are only in the local z-direction allowed. This is useful, if you want to steer a object on a path while allowing all types of rotation.
  A other similar transformmode is the hover mode. In hover mode, rotations are allowed only around the local y-axis. This is usefull, if you want to steer a object in-plane.
  Other transformmodes, that work in a local mode (changes in direction of the local axes) are the scale and changing center modes.
- Linux joystick Input:
  Unfortunatly, "real" 6D inputdevices are not very widespread. So white_dune under Linux has support for joysticks.
  There are a lot of different devices (including the spaceball), that can be used under Linux as joystick.
  Joysticks are the natural inputdevices for the 6D local mode or the "hover" mode.
  You have to differ between 6D (e.g. gamepads with 2 thumbsticks and a digital axescross, Labtec Spaceball, Magellan spacemouse), 4D (e.g. gamepads with 2 thumbsticks), 3D (z.B. joystick with a twisting stick (e.g. Micro$oft Sidewinder Pro)) and "normal" 2D joysticks.
  - 6D joysticks (e.g. gamepads with 2 thumbsticks and a digital axescross, Labtec Spaceball, Magellan spacemouse) are used like all other 6D inputdevices.
    For Gamepads gamepads with 2 thumbsticks and a digital axescross it can be usefull to swap axes, when the digital axescross (which only allow movement with constant speed) is assigned to "important" directions (e.g. the forward/backward movement).
  - 4D joysticks (e.g. gamepads with 2 thumbsticks) do not allow 6D and 6D Local mode. Beside translation , rotation , scaling and changing of the center they support the hover mode and the rocket mode.
    Depending from the mode, rotation and translation will be assigned to the appropriate axes.
  - When using 3D joysticks (e.g. joystick with a twisting stick) things are more complicated. In the default configuration, a input via the 3. axis (a twist of the stick) cause a movement assigned to the z-axis.
  - When using a 2D joystick, there are not enough axes to make 3D input data. Therefore you have to switch between the interpretation of the 2. axis as z-direction (near/far mode) and as y-direction (up/down mode) via the icons.
    On rotations the near/far mode is interpreted as rotation around the y-axis, the up/down mode is interpreted as a rotation around the z-axis.
  - The rocket mode need 4 axes in a sense. To make it available with a 3D joystick, the rotationinformation of the near/far Mode and up/down mode is used here.
    Beim 2D Joystick steht der The rocket mode is not available for 2D joysticks.
  Sometimes, a joystick axis looks not very useful (e.g. the extra controler of the Micro$oft Sidewinder Pro).
  Therefore, the number of axes can be limited. To use e.g. the Micro$oft Sidewinder Pro as 3 axis joystick, you can use the -axis option in the commandline.

         white_dune -joystick /dev/input/js0 -axes=3

  Gamepads are often overcrowded with less useful axes. For example the Logitech Wingman Cordless Gamepad report 9 axes when testing with the jstest programm. To use the 6 good axes (2 thumbsticks and the cross-hairs), you need to change the assignment of axes in the commandline.

         white_dune -joystick /dev/input/js0 -y=4 -z=-1 -xrot=6 -yrot=3 -zrot=5

  You have to interpret the option "-z=-1" in this way: the z-axes will be assigned to axis number 1 (this is the 2. axes, counting begins with 0), but the inputdirection is reverted.
- M$Windows joystick Input:
  The support of a M$Windows joystick is very similar to a Linux joystick.
  The special qualities of joystick drivers delivered with M$Windows should not make you wonder, if e.g. the 2. thumbstick of a gamepad do not deliver values or a joystick axis will be reported, but can deliver only errors.
  Beside this, the wisdom of the authors of the M$Windows joystick API leaded to the fact, a error of a axis must be interpreted as full turn (a similar problem leaded to the explosion of the first Ariane 5 rocket....).
  Therefore you should begin to test under M$Windows with only 2 axes. For the first M$Windows joystick (number 0) the commandline may look like:

         white_dune.exe -joystick 0 -axes=2 -none=2 -allxyz=20,,,0.000001 -allrot=0.2,,,0.0000001

- MacOSX joystick Input:
  A typical commandline for the joystick usage under MacOSX would be

        dune -startX11aqua -SDLjoystick 0 -all=,,,0.000004 -y=-1 -xrot=2 -z=-3 -none=2 -allrot=0.2

  but it is not common to use (but possible) the commandline under MacOSX.
  Therefore white_dune is packaged in a MacOSX application named white_dune.app. From the view of the commandline, white_dune.app is a usual directory, it is possible to enter it with a normal "cd" command. It is also possible to open the white_dune.app package with the "finder" program. There is a file "dunestarter", in the directory white_dune.app/Contents/MacOS . It can be changed with a normal Texteditor.
  In this file there are the options for the programstart

         DUNEOPTIONS=" "
         export DUNEOPTIONS

  which can be extended with the options for the joystickusage, for example

         DUNEOPTIONS="-SDLjoystick 0 -all=,,,0.000004 -y=-1 -xrot=2 -z=-3 -none=2 -allrot=0.2"
         export DUNEOPTIONS

- Changing FieldValues in the ChannelView Window
  The ChannelView Window is used to show or change interpolator nodes. In a interpolator node, input values between 0 and 1 are assigned to a range of output values.
  Interpolators are used in VRML for simple animations in the form

         ROUTE TimeSensorDEFNAME.fraction_changed TO ??InterpolatorDEFNAME.set_fraction
         ROUTE ??InterpolatorDEFNAME.value_changed TO ??DEFNAME.set_??

  The output "fraction_changed" of a TimeSensor node (deliver values between 0 and 1) ist routed into the "set_fraction" input event of a interpolator node. The interpolator node select a matching intermediate value between the output values. The result can be routed into a another VRML node, this leads to a animation without jerk.
  In the following example:
  the output of a PositionInterpolators with the input values 0, 0.3, 1 and the output values x=1 y=0 z=3, x=1 y=2 z=3, x=3 y=3 z=0 is routed to the set_translation Input for a transform node. For example, the transform node (and the containing object) will move in the timecycle from 0 to 0.3 from y=0 to y=2 (to the top).
  - Easy usable are all SF-interpolators:
    - ColorInterpolator:
      Interpolate between Colors.
      Route targets for colors you will find at Shape->Appearance->Material
    - PositionInterpolator:
      Interpolate between Positions.
      Route target can be Transform.set_translation for example.
    - OrientationInterpolator:
      Interpolate between rotations.
      Route target can be Transform.set_rotation for example.
    - ScalarInterpolator:
      Interpolate between single (floating point) numbers.
      Single numbers are possible EventIn's of multiple VRML Nodes.
      There are multiple possibilities of usage.
  - The following MF-interpolators are not easy to display in the ChannelView, there is a lot data that can simply flood the window. Therefore only changes of the MF-Values over the time is displayed. If there are not changes, the first value is always displayed
    to allow to set additional keys with the mouse
    (e.g. to repeat the first timestep as last timestep)
    .
    There is a upper limit in the number of displayed values. See "Limit keys in Channelview" in the Options -> Preferences dialog. Set this limit accordingly to the speed of your system.
    - CoordinateInterpolator:
      Interpolates typically between points in a IndexFaceSet.
      Animations, which use the CoordinateInterpolator are usually called "morphing".
    - NormalInterpolator:
      Interpolate between the Normales of a IndexFaceSet.

Some interpolator animation can be created in white_dune via changes in the 3D Preview window. PositionInterpolator/Transform.set_translation and OrientationInterpolator/Transform.set_rotation based animations can also created with the recording of 6D inputdevices.
If you want to work with the tools like a VCR recorder (record and playback animations) the following must be true:

- The ROUTEs must have the form

         ROUTE TimeSensor.fraction_changed TO ??Interpolator.set_fraction
         ROUTE ??Interpolator.value_changed TO ??.set_??

- In the Timesensor-Knoten the fieldvalue "loop" must be "TRUE". (the Animation will start again and again).
- The fieldvalue "starttime" of the Timesensor must be greater or equal to the fieldvalue "stoptime" of the Timesensor-Knoten.

Since ersion 0.27beta there is a menuitem Actions -> Animate in white_dune, which create this structure for the selected node. The menuitem is only available, when the node has EventIns/ExposedFields of a type-matching intepolator. In the Actions ->Animate dialog is asked
if a new TimeSensor with what animation time should be created or a already existing TimeSensor should be used and what fields should be animated.
When only the recordbutton is pressed , during the creation of a animation, you have to change the timecursor first and then input a value (via keyboard, mouse or 6D inputdevice).
When the recordbutton is pressed together with the playbutton , the change of the values (via mouseinput or 6D inputdevice) is recorded continuesly.
The recording of the mouseinput require a calm hand. It is not uncommon to want to delete some of the recorded values.
You need to select a time range by pressing the left mousebutton and dragging the mouse left/right in the channelview window and then use either the Edit -> delete menuitem or the delete icon.
The matching values will be deleted.
When deleting things, you have to take care about the last mouseclick you made. When you click to a object in the 3D preview window after the selection, this object will be selected in the scene tree. The following Edit -> delete command will then delete the object, not the range in the channelview. When you click to a element of a MF-field after the selection in the channelview, a following Edit -> delete command will then delete the element of the MF-Field.
- ColorCircle (new in Version 0.19beta)
  There is a special inputwindow for colors, it takes place of the fieldView Window. To get it, a colorfield must be selected in the fieldView Window and the Colorcircle Icon must be pressed.
  With a mouseclick, you can select a color in the color circle and in the bar beside it, you can select a darker variant.
  Currently, when not using a true/directcolor display on Unix/Linux, the display of the color circle is slow (today, this occures only with very old graphiccards).
  When the "OK" button is pressed, the normal fieldView window returns.
- Script Editor (new in Version 0.22beta)
  There are two ways to start the scripteditor:
  - To create a new scriptnode:
    Via the "Script" icon (menuitem Create -> Programming -> Script),
  - To change a existing scriptnode.
    If a script node is selected, via the "Object Edit" icon (menuitem Actions -> Object edit),
  The scripteditor dialog
  allows it, to add new fields/events to the scriptnode (add), to change them (change), to copy them (copy) or to delete them (delete).
  Additionally it is possible to add special functions like Initialize, Shutdown and Eventsprocessed.
  Press "OK" to finish the work on the script node.
- URL Editor (new in Version 0.22beta)
  The "url"-field (it can contain the ECMAscript (javascript) code of a scriptnode) can be changed in a texteditor.
  Via the menuitem options -> Texteditor Settings it is possible to select the texteditor.
  When the "url"-field is empty, a scheme of a ECMAscripts will be created.
  To start the textedit, select a Script Node and use the "URL Edit" icon (menuitem Actions -> Url edit).
  The URL editor can also bei used to change the file content of a URL for local movie files (".mpeg") of MovieTexture nodes, for local sound files (".wav") of Audioclip nodes and for local picture files (".jpg"/".png") of ImageTexture nodes.
  Often, a matching program to change files has already been selected during compiletime configuration (e.g. gimp for image files or audacity for soundfiles). If not, a dialog will ask first for a matching program.
  The programs can be changed with Options -> Text/Object Editor settings....
- Field pipe(new in version 0.29beta) One of the most powerfull ways to change field values is the field pipe. It allows you to change field values by any external program.
  Usually there is no matching external program yet, so the field pipe is mainly important for a user with programming capabilities.
  Beside the field pipe for single fields it is also possible to use the field pipe for scenegraph branches .
  If you select a SFField or MFField in the fieldview window and use Actions -> field pipe one line with the fieldvalue is written to a file in case of a SFField. In case of a MFField as much lines as the number of SF-values in the MFField are written to the file.
  For example, if you select the following TextureTransform.scale field
  (a SFVec2f field) the values

            1 1

  are written to the file.
  For example, if you select the following Color.color field
  (a MFColor field) the values

            0 0.5 0
            0.5 0 0
            0 0 0.5
            0.5 0.5 0
            0.5 0 0.5
            0 0.5 0.5

  are written to the file.
  The file ends with a newline character.
  When using Actions -> field pipe, a dialog is opened, that asks the user for a commandline. This commandline can be used to start a compiled program (e.g. written in programming languages like Ada, C, C++ or Fortran) or a interpreter with a program in a interpreted language (e.g. written in programming languages like awk, perl or python).
  The given commandline is internally started with

        commandline < file > outputfile

  which processes each line of the file as standard input with the given commandline and writes the standard output result to the outputfile.
  If the written outputfile has the same/matching structure as the processed field/inputfile (e.g. for the SFVec2f example

            2 1

  or for the MFColor example

            1 0.5 0
            0.5 1 0
            0 0 0.5
            0.5 0.5 0
            0.5 0 0.5
            0 0.5 0.5

  where it is important, that Color values are floating point values in the range between 0 and 1. The content of the outputfile is used as new fieldvalue and the intermediate input/output files are removed.
  The most simple example of a field pipe is simply using the "echo" system command.
  The commandline

             echo some th ing

  simply writes back the arguments

             some th ing

  In a very simple example, this can be used to change the values "1 1" to "2 1" by useing

             echo 2 1

  as the commandline in the field pipe dialog.
  For the following more complicated (but more realistic) example, the awk programming language is used, a interpreted language rather similar to the C language. Awk is very handy for this task, cause it splits a input line automatically into values and accepts complete programs given on the command line.
  If you use the following commandline

             awk '{print $1 + 0.1 , $2 + 0.2 , $3 + 0.35}'

  as field pipe for the following MFColor field

            0 0.5 0
            0.5 0 0
            0 0 0.5
            0.5 0.5 0
            0.5 0 0.5
            0 0.5 0.5

  the result would be

            0.1 0.7 0.35
            0.6 0.2 0.35
            0.1 0.2 0.85
            0.6 0.7 0.35
            0.6 0.2 0.85
            0.1 0.7 0.85

  E.g. if this MFColor field would be used as the colors of the corners of a IndexedFaceSet Box, the command would make all the corner colors a bit more bright, a bit more green and more blue.
  The same example in the C language would require to write a program like the following:

      #include

      int main(int argc, char** argv)
      {
         while(!feof(stdin)) {
            float c1, c2, c3;
            scanf("%f %f %f", &c1, &c2, &c3);
            printf("%g %g %g\n", c1 + 0.1, c2 + 0.2, c3 + 0.35);
         }
         return 0;
      }

  If this file is named main.c you would need to compile the file (e.g. with a command like

            cc -o /tmp/a.exe main.c

  on the commandline) and you would have to use something like

         /tmp/a.exe

  in the field pipe dialog.
  One of the most simplest usage of the UNIX echo command in a filepipe is the remove of nodes by simply using

            echo

  for the matching parent node/parent field.

### Simplified scriptbuilding (new in Version 0.22beta)

Before you can use the scripteditor dialog, you need plan what are the datatypes and eventIn/eventOut informations of the nodes you want to connect. To do this, you need to read the node description of the VRML standard (e.g. you can use the menuitem Help -> name of currently selected Node or use a advanced book).
For fast experimenting, you may find it more convenient to use a simplified scriptbuilding method.
Create a new "empty" scriptnode with the "Script" icon (or the menuitem Create -> Programming -> Script).
Following the "get out of the way!" philosophy of the orginal dune project, simply press "OK" on the scripteditor dialog (see above).
Now you can use the RouteView window for further work.
Scriptnodes have a special "connect anything" eventOut. If you click and drag this with the mouse, a white route will be drawn.
Keep the mousebutton pressed while routing and you see (like "normal" routing), you can connect this route to eventIns of other nodes,
but (unlike "normal" routing) the color of the route (marking the datatype) can change with the probed eventIn.
When you release the mousebutton, the route will be established.
In a similar way, you can use the special "connect anything" eventIn of the scriptnode
and connect it to a eventOut of a other node.
Now you need to edit the "url" field of the script node. Beside using urledit you can also select the script node in the SceneTree window, the "url" field in the FieldView.
and press the "Object Edit" icon (or use the menuitem Actions -> Object edit).
Now "white_dune" will try to start a external editor - UNIX die-hards use "xterm -e vi", this is the default under Linux/UNIX ("xedit" for MacOSX, "edit" for M$Windows) if $WINEDITOR was not set at first run. You can change the editor with the Options -> Texteditor Settings ... menuitem.
In the editor window, you will see a schema of the needed javascript code.
Use the editor to complete the javascript code and save/quit the editor - in case of the vi editor use the keystrokes :wq
Use Options -> ECMAscript settings to control, if you want extended comments in the schema.
A lot of comments are written per per default. This is usefull for beginners, they only have to select from the possible commands for the used datatypes. But unfortunatly, this makes larger scripts difficult to read.
User with experience tend to uncheck anything in the Options -> ECMAscript settings window, so only the hardwired comments about the used datatypes remain.

### NURBS Modelling (partitially new in Version 0.25beta)

- #### NURBS basics

  When used in computergraphics, the term NURBS means a complicated mathematical formula, which can be used to store random surfaces and curves in a very compact way.
  Especially for a networkstandard like VRML the suppport of NURBS is a great advantage, cause it avoids the transfer of the data of all vertices of a surface mesh. Instead only a relative small amount of numbers have to be transfered. The numbers can be used to account the data of the vertices.
  This is a advantage, cause accounting power raised very much more than network speed (for example: the computer which sended 1969 the first Character ("L" from "LOGIN") over the Internetprotocol was a Honeywell DDP-516 minicomputer with 12KB memory, a clock of 1.1 Mhz (but needed much clockticks for one assemblercommand) and the weight of a half ton. This computer used a networkconnection with 50000 baud. This is approximatly the same as the computerpower of a simple calculator and networkconnection of a modern telephon modem.
  Therefore NURBS support was added not only to the X3D standard. It was also added to the VRML97 standard in 2002 (VRML97 amendment 1).

  According to "The NURBS book" (by Pigel/Tiller) NURBS reads as "Noone Understands nonuniform Rational Basis Splines".
  You do not need to understand completely this mathematics to work with a NURBS modeller. But it can be useful for the usage of a programm like white_dune (which has access to all numbers of NURBS surfaces and curves) to understand the basics.

  When you produce a NURBS curve (with Create->VRML97 Amendment 1 Node->NurbsCurve /OK) and move the little white boxes and open all numbers in the fieldView
  you can see, that a NURBS curve use essentially 4 types of data.

  - controlPoints:
    This is the main part of the positions of the points marked with white boxes (the other part of the positions is the weight).
    When you move a box, a part of the curve moves similarly.
    controlPoints are the most important elements in white_dune, to influence NURBS.
  - weight:
    These values is responsible for the influence of each controlpoint to the whole curve. The word "weight" remembers to the time before the computerage as curves were made with thin pieces of wood and weights. When the controllpoint stays at place and the weight is increased,
    the curve will be pulled nearer to the controlpoint.
    Despite the controlpoint is a the same place, its value has been changed. The reason is related to the fact there are two equivalent mathematical formulas to store NURBS (homogeneous and inhomogeneous form).
  - knot:
    Knot values are responsible (among other things) if a controlpoint hits a line and if there is edge. To force this, the values has to be repeated "degree" "(order - 1)" times.
  - order: (also (degree+1))
    This number is responsible how far reaches the influence of a controlpoint.
  The remaining value "tessellation" has no mathematical, but a practical background. It is responsible for the number of points/edges the curve is shown.
  The change of this value allows a easy fitting to the graphicspower of a computer.
  Per default (value "0"), white_dune (which should also run on weak computers) uses too small values of "tessellation".
  A example shows a Nurbs(Patch)Surface, that was converted from a sphere. Some controlpoints were pulled out.
  Only with a high value of "tessellation" you see the "real" shape of the object.

- #### X symetric modelling (new in Version 0.25beta)

  White_dune let you create a Nurbs(Patch)Surface (e.g. with Create -> VRML97 Amendment 1 -> NurbsSurface -> plain/OK). You can change this surface with the mouse,simply drag the white boxes around.
  This changes the controlpoints of the Nurbs(Patch)Surface.
  In this type of operation white_dune is most useful to form landscape with dunes
  but is not very useful for most other tasks.

  A lot of objects to model require some symetric modelling, one half of the object should look similar to the other side of the object. In white_dune, this can be done with Actions -> X symetric modelling. When this is active, any movement of the controlpoints of one side
  will be also applied to the other side,
  and it is rather easy to build a rather complicated symetric Nurbs(Patch)Surface.
  The X direction for symetric modelling has been choosen cause of the local input modes.

  It is possible to limit the movement of the controlpoints to a line or a plain.
  With only one of the settings Mode -> only x, Mode -> only y or Mode -> only z (or their icons with one arrow in x (red), y (green) or z (blue) direction) the movement of the points is limited into this direction. The direction is not the direction in the global space, it is the direction of the matching geometry. Only the x, the y or the z value of the moving controlpoint is changed.
  If for example only the Modus -> only y (the second of the arrow icons) ist used
  the movement of the controlpoints is limited to the y-direction. This is the direction the green arrow of the last Transform node which match the geometry is pointing to.
  When two of the settings Mode -> only x, Mode -> only y or Mode -> only z (its icons with only one arrow to x (red), y (green) or z (blue) is used, the points can be moved in the matching plain.
  If for example only the Mode -> only x and Mode -> only z or the first and the third of the arrow icons is used
  the movement of the the controlpoints is limited to the xz-plain.
  When all or no icon is used,
  there is no limit, the movement of the point with the mouse can change the x, y or z values.

  The decision if to move the symetric part of a Nurbs(Patch)Surface is driven by the decision if the values of the symetric controlpoints/weights is nearly the same. They are nearly the same, if the distance of the absolute values is smaller then a value "Epsilon". The value of "Epsilon" can be set in the Options -> Preferences dialog.
  When symetric modelling has been choosen, multiple points at nearly the same place snap together and move together. This can be used to close open Nurbs(Patch)Surfaces, but multiple controlpoints at one place of a NurbsSurface result in a edge/peak.
  It is also possible, to move more than one controlpoints together.
  This is done with a click of the middle mousebotton to a white box, the white box becomes green.
  When additional boxes have been clicked with the middle mousebutton, they also change their color into green.
  When one of the green boxes is moved via the left mousebotton, the other boxes will follow.
  When actions -gt; X symetric modelling is activated, the matching controlpoints one the other side will be moved accordingly.
  When actions -gt; X symetric modelling is activated, it is not possible to select two symetric boxes (on the exact matching position on the other side).
  The second middle mouseclick would have no effect.
  A new created nurbssurface exists (according to the VRML standards) per default only one sided (which is important, when the surface is not closed): field "solid" is TRUE.
  In most cases this is not very useful. Change the field "solid" in the FieldView to FALSE, to make the surface double sided.
  Often even a two sided surface is not useful to form a shape with a volume. In this case it is recommended to create a NurbsGroup node
  Move the Shape with the Nurbs(Patch)Surface into the NurbsGroup node.
  Then copy the Shape with the Nurbs(Patch)Surface once again into the NurbsGroup. To do this, drag the Shape icon into the NurbsGroup icon and then hold down the control-key ("Ctrl") while the mousebutton is still pressed.
  Cause the field "solid" is still FALSE in this example, a common problem of realtime 3D can be demonstrated when the color of one shape is changed:
  Too thin walls (also called "z-fighting").
  When you move one controlpoint of one Nurbs(Patch)Surface a bit upward, to give the shape more volume, your rendering hardware and software is not capable to decide, which of the close two surfaces with which color face the viewer.
  This effect is not predictable, it can change with the viewing angle, the used software (e.g. VRML browser or used graphics driver) and even with the used graphics hardware (graphics card).
  To avoid the problem, you have to switch back the both "solid" field to TRUE and use the "ccw" field ("Counter Clock Wise") to differ between the upper side and lower side of a one sided surface.
  Now you can now move the nonborder controlpoints of the lower Nurbs(Patch)Surface to give the shape more volume.
  The NurbsGroup node is in the VRML standard responsible to draw the borders of the contained Nurbs(Patch)Surfaces connected, when the controlpoints of the border of the Nurbs(Patch)Surfaces are identical.
  In white_dune, a NurbsGroup also allow X symetric modelling. Changes of a controlpoint are distributed to all Nurbs(Patch)Surfaces that are directly (or via a shape node) contained in a NurbsGroup.
  This allows to move the controlpoints on the border of one Nurbs(Patch)Surface and keep the whole thing closed, course the matching controlpoints of the neighbour Nurbs(Patch)Surface nodes are moved accordingly.
  At the end, you should take care that the NurbsGroup is contained in a Transform node, otherwise you can not move/rotation/scale etc. the object.

- #### NURBS conversion (new in Version 0.25beta)

  When building closed Nurbs(Patch)Surfaces, it can be usefull to start with a already close shape. White_dune do not allow to convert a mesh (a IndexedFaceSet node) to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface (yet), but allows you to convert the VRML primitives (box, cone, cylinder and sphere) to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface. It also allows you to convert a NurbsCurve to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface (by revolve).
  Since version 0.27beta it also allows to convert a NurbsCurve to a Superextrusion PROTO (see below) and it allows to convert a SuperEllipsoid PROTO or SuperShape PROTO (see below) to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface by approximation.

- box
  To convert a box to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface, first select a box in the Scenegraph
  and use the menuitem Convert -> Convert to Nurbs(Patch)Surface.
  If you switch off the "6 Plains" checkbox, you get a single Nurbs(Patch)Surface.
  If the "6 Plains" checkbox is pressed, you get 6 plains in a NurbsGroup forming a box.
- cone, cylinder and sphere
  Convertion of this primitives is similar to the convertion of a box, but the objects are build internally with a revolving line (better NurbsCurve). For example, in the result of a cylinder conversion
  you see that there are controlpoints that reach the surface. This has been done by the repeat of values in the knotvectors. As a consequence, a edge will be created at the matching places when the controlpoints are moved.
- Creating a Nurbs(Patch)Surface via a revolving NurbsCurve
  First a NurbsCurve node has to be selected in the scenegraph
  When creating a NurbsCurve (e.g. via Create -> VRML97 Amendment 1 -> NurbsCurve ) you should take into account, if you want to continue with X symetric modelling or not.
  The NurbsCurve creation dialog
  offers you three options: Curve along x, along y, along z axis. Only if you revolve a curve along the y or z axis, x-symetric modelling is possible. So you may prefer to create a NurbsCurve only along the y or z axis.
  Drag now the curve points to form the side view of the revolved shape.
  Now use Convert -> Convert to Nurbs(Patch)Surface to continue.
  To make X symetric modelling possible, you should keep the checkbox "Flatten Curve before rotation" pressed. It moves all points into one plain, but keeps the distance from the origin.
  As with a converted Sphere, Cylinder and Cone a edge may be created, when the controlpoints are moved.
  Rather similar to the NurbsCurve rotation is the scripted SuperRevolver PROTO. The SuperRevolver node generates a NURBS surface based shape on each change of a ("flattend") 2D curve, but as a scripted PROTO, it is only a indirect part of the Standard.

- #### Degree elevate (new in Version 0.27beta)

  During modelling with NURBS nodes you may wish to insert new controlpoints in one direction.
  With the menuitem Actions -gt& NURBS operations -> Elevate (U/V) Degree up is this possible, without changing the shape.
  With the new controlpoints you can make a new notch.

- #### Building IndexedFaceSet (new in Version 0.25beta)

  NURBS surfaces are often seen as rounded faces. But beside multiple controlpoints and knotvector values, the setting of u/vTesselation values can easily be used to build a object with edges (IndexedFaceSet).
  For example, if you convert a sphere node with Convert -> Convert to Nurbs(Patch)Surface
  and set u/vTesselation to low values, you get a only a few faces.
  With Convert -> Convert nurbs to IndexedFaceSet you can can convert the result to a IndexedFaceSet node.
  To get rid of the normalssetting, which smooth the colors of the faces, you need to delete the Normal node from the IndexedFaceSet.

  The following table shows what basic-like shapes can be converted from primitives, when setting u/vTesselation in Nurbs(Patch)Surface

  Shape | Converted | uTesselation | vTesselation
  Tetraeder | Cone | 3 | 4
  4-edged Pyramid | Cone | 4 | 4
  Hexaeder | Sphere/Cylinder | 3 | 2
  Octaeder | Sphere/Cylinder | 4 | 2
  n-egded prism | Cylinder | n | >1

  When you create a Nurbs(Patch)Surface plain (Convert -> VRML97 Amendment 1 -> NurbsSurface -> Plain (Nurbs)) with degree 1
  and set the uTesselation to uDimension-1 and set vTesselation to vDimension-1, the visible edges and the position of the handles (of the nurbsSurface) are identical, exactly as in a IndexedFaceSet.
  With Convert -> Convert nurbs to IndexedFaceSet you can can convert the result to a IndexedFaceSet node.
  To get rid of the normalssetting, which smooth the colors of the faces, you need to delete the normals node from the IndexedFaceSet.
  Unfortunatly, the convertion from a IndexedFaceSet back to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface is not implement yet...

### Superformula Modelling (new in Version 0.27beta)

#### Superformula basics

White_dune has support for 3D-modelling based on the so called "superformula"

            pow(pow(fabs(cos(m * angle / 4.0) / a), n2) +
                pow(fabs(sin(m * angle / 4.0) / b), n3), -1.0 / n1)

This formula has been found by a biologist a few years ago and can be used to form n-symetric shapes similar to shapes in nature like flowers, leafs, insect bodies, shells or starfishs.
See this range of shapes, which are all done with the SuperShape PROTO.
Superformula based shapes are not part of VRML97 by itself and are implemented by a PROTO (self defined VRML97 node) with scripting ("scripted PROTO").
Superformula based shapes can be converted either to a Extrusion node or to a IndexedFaceSet node. IndexedFaceSet based scripted shapes can also be approximated to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface node as a starting point for further NURBS-modelling.

- #### SuperExtrusion

  The SuperExtrusion PROTO uses the superformula to account a 2D polygon in the X-Z-plane and form a shape by repeating this polygon in the Y direction along a curve. The curve is similar to a NurbsCurve and can be changed by moving the controlpoints. This shape can be converted to a Extrusion and some of its parameter work similar to a Extrusion. Unlike the Extrusion node, the scale parameters are not applied to each spine point, they are smeared over the whole spine.

- #### SuperShape

  The SuperShape PROTO uses the superformula to account a 2D polygon in the X-Z-plane and form a shape using the superformula also in the Y-Z-plane similar to spherical coordinates.
  This shape can be converted to a IndexedFaceSet.

- #### SuperEllipsoid

  White_dune also has a PROTO for the superellipsoid, a special case of a supershape. It can be used to form a sphere,
  a box, a cylinder,
  a octaeder and rounded forms of this shapes
  with only 2 parameters. Like the SuperShape PROTO the SuperEllpsoid PROTO has a field "border", e.g. to form a half sphere.
  This shape can be converted to a IndexedFaceSet.

- #### SuperRevolver

  The SuperRevolver PROTO works similar to the rotation of a NurbsCurve, but uses the superformula instead of a rotation and a two dimensional curve instead of a three dimensional curve.
  The default values of the super formula (a=1, b=1, m=0, n1=1, n2=1, n3=1) form a circle on a 2D plain. This form can be also seen, if a SuperRevolver is seen from above.
  Unlike the rotation of a NurbsCurve, the usage of a SuperRevolver do not require the conversion between different types of objects. Instead the 2D nurbscurve can be changed interactivly at any time and the SuperRevolver shape is changed accordingly.
  There is also a field "pieceOfCake", which allows it to cut "cake pieces" out of the shape.

### Changing coordinate based nodes (new in Version 0.29beta)

Since version 0.29beta also Coordinate based nodes (like IndexedFaceSet ("Mesh"), IndexedLineSet or PointSet) can be changed interactivly in the 3D preview window in the same way as changing the controlpoints of a NURBS shape.
For nodes with very much vertices, this (still) only usefull to change small details.

### Flip/swap and set center actions

There are a few handy modelling actions in the Action menu:

- Create Shapes at Zero (x/y/z)
  Usually, new shapes created in the root level of the scenegraph are always created in front of the current camera. This is especially usefull in "examine" mode, when the user want to move around the new shape to change details. The Create Shapes at Zero action is made for the rare cases, when it is usefull to create shape at zero.
- Flip (x/y/z)
  The Flip command can be used for whole scenegraph branches. It changes all values of the Transform and Shape (sub-)nodes from x to -x, y to -y or z to -z. This is usefull to mirror a branch of objects after doubling the branch. When used on difficult objects like Cone or IndexedFaceSets, flip tries keep things constistent. A Cone can not be flipped in the y-direction, therefore the cone of a y-flip command is converted to a Nurbs(Patch)Surface first. For a Surface node like the IndexedFaceSet, flip takes care about the normal and ccw fields. A Coordinate node in the IndexedFaceSet also support the Flip command, but you have to take care about the normal and ccw field by yourself.
- Swap (xy/yz/xz)
  The Swap command can also be used for whole scenegraph branches. E.g. the xy command exchanges the x and y values in all matching nodes.
- Flatten (x/y/z)
  This command only works for NURBS and Coordinate nodes. It sets all points in the x, y or z direction to the average of all nodes in this direction.
- Flatten to zero (x/y/z)
  This command only works for NURBS and Coordinate nodes. It sets all points in the x, y or z direction to zero.
- Set Center to (mid min/max x/y/z)
  This command requires the combination
  Transform -> Shape -> geometrynode
  where the geometrynode (e.g. Box, Sphere, IndexedFaceSet etc.) is selected. The command set the center (rotation point) of the Transform node to the mid or the borders of the bounding box of the geometry. This is usefull when working with modelling tools, which export VRML objects with the rotation point wide away from the object.

#### Array tool(new in Version 0.27beta)

White_dune allows to multiply objects. In difference to similar functions in some 3D-Modellers (like the "Art of Illusion" program) it do not create N copies of the same object. It creates N VRML Transform nodes (for translation, rotation etc. in respect to the Array dialog below.) with a VRML USE construct. A USE construct is a compact way to repeat things in VRML. It is a sort of "pointer without difference" similar to a hardlink to a UNIX file (if you know only M$Windows: a more smart way of a shortcut to a file). A USEd node also changes, when it orginal changes.
To use the Array tool, select the object you want to multiply
and use Actions -> Array. A dialog will occure
where you can input the number of objects and the parameters for the transform node.
When you change the orginal, all USEd nodes change too.

### Repair commands in the "Actions" menue

The following commands are usefull, when you work with VRML/X3D files made by other tools. The commands are made to correct some minor errors and problems.

- #### Remove invalid children nodes (new in Version 0.27beta)

  In some cases tools export files with invalid children nodes.
  You have to differ between two cases when useing the remove command for invalid children nodes.
  - The programmer of the tools confused the meaning of DEF/USE with a macro usage like the usage of "#define" in the programming language C. Cause there is a additional matching USE command, the invalid children node can be removed inside white_dune without loosing information in this case.
  - The programmer of the tools made another mistake. In this case the remove of the invalid children node means a true data loss.

- #### Triangulate IndexedFaceSet (new in Version 0.29beta)

  A IndexedFaceSet is a shape made of polygons. In general, this means there may be faces with 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc. edges. Unfortunatly, the task to render general polygons in realtime 3D is not easy.
  There may be three major problems if a face have more then 3 edges:
  - The polygon is self-intersecting.
    There is a matching rule about a IndexedFaceSet in the VRML97 standard:
    "Each face of the IndexedFaceSet shall have: ... vertices that define a non-self-intersecting polygon."
    A self-intersecting polygons is usually seen as defect. Often it has been created by a true programming error with accidently swaped edges of the polygon.
    In any case, this polygons are not displayed as they are defined.
    Left a self-intersecting polygon, right the triangulated polygon
  - The polygon is not flat.
    There is a matching rule about a IndexedFaceSet in the VRML97 standard:
    "Each face of the IndexedFaceSet shall have: ... vertices that define a planar polygon."
    But unfortunatly, it is not very uncommon that this rule ignored, despite there are at least two different ways to render nonplanar polyons.
    For example a polygon with edges 1, 2, 3, 4 can be rendered either as a triangle with edges 1, 2, 3 and a triangle with edges 3, 4, 1 or rendered as a triangle with edges 4, 1, 2 and a triangle with edges 2, 3, 4. In the nonplanar case, this triangles look different.
  - The polygon not convex.
    Unlike the two other cases, it is legal to have a IndexedFaceSet with non-convex polygons, but its "convex" field must be set to "FALSE". In general, it is simpler/faster to render convex polygons than to render non-convex polygons. If the algorithm to render convex polygons is used to render non-convex polygons, the result may look very ugly.
    Left a non-convex polygon, rendered with "convex TRUE", right the triangulated polygon.
  All of this problems can be avoided by converting the polygons with more than 3 edges into triangles. This is called "triangulation".
  In general, the triangulation of a polygon may require the creation of new vertices, so using triangulation for a IndexedFaceSet with morphing animation is usually not a good idea.

- #### Set path of all URLs to (new in Version 0.27beta)

  Some tools, which write VRML/X3D Files produce paths in the "url" field (e.g. when using images/bitmaps for the ImageTexture node), which are only valid on the creating computer itself (e.g. "C:\temp\beispiel.png"). But VRML/X3D files will be often transfered to a webserver. Even when the files has been transfered too to the webserver, it is not sure, that the paths in the VRML/X3D File is true.
  The command "Set path of all URLs to" allows it, to change all paths at once. Very usefull is the defaultpath ".". This means that all image-, sound- and moviefiles are in the same directory as the the VRML/X3D file itself.

### Other commands in the "Actions" menue

- #### Edit object/URL (new in Version 0.29beta)

  The usage of the "Edit Object"/"Edit URL" action has been already described in the chapter about script editing. Beside the usage of a Texteditor to change the "url" field of a Script node ("Edit URL") it also describe the usage of a special tool ("Edit object") to change the Script node by itself.
  The same principles apply to some of the other nodes with "url" fields: the ImageTexture, the AudioClip and the MovieTexture node.
  The usage of Action -> object edit starts depending from the selected node of type
  - ImageTexture a program to change imagefiles/bitmapfiles (.jpg/.png) (e.g. gimp or xpaint)
  - AudioClip a program to change soundfiles (.wav) (e.g. audacity or wavesurfer)
  - MovieTexture a program to change moviefiles (.mpeg) (e.g. avidemux)
  The Linux/UNIX version of white_dune searches in the configuration step of the compilation for already known programs, that can be used for Edit object.
  When there is no matching program available, a Dialog will ask at the first usage for a program. It is possible to exchange the programs via a dialog at Options -> Text/object Editor settings ....
  A important hint for MacOSX users: the programm used to edit text or objects may not return a once to the commandline. This is often the case for usual ".app" MacOSX programs. You can either try to use the binary program of a something.app MacOSX program in the directory something.app/Content/MacOS or you can prefer to use ported UNIX/X11 programs like gimp.

- #### Set default values (keep scenegraph) (new in Version 0.27beta)

  Sometimes it is usefull, to reset all changed values of a node back to the default values. But the nodes in the VRML/X3D scenegraph tree often contain other nodes, so a reset to the default values would cause the deletion of hole subtrees.

- #### xray rendering (new in Version 0.27beta)

  Xray rendering is a experimental functions, which let you look through all solid surfaces of a scene. In general this can be very confusing, but it is sometimes rather usefull.

#### VrmlCut scripted Proto

(new in Version 0.29beta)

In VRML/X3D it is amaizingly different to build sequences of animations, usually called "movie". According to the realtime 3D nature of VRML/X3D animations can be started interactivly and independendly from each, so it there is difficult to define a overall timeline, just like the cutting of a movie.
One approach to ease this problem in white_dune is the usage of the scripted PROTO node VrmlCut. It has a Field "scenes", where single animation VRML/X3D data can be put into other scripted PROTO nodes named VrmlScene. The content of such a VrmlScene node can be seen similar to a single scene in a movie. The VrmlCut node switches from one VrmlScene to the next VrmlScene and try to jump to the first camera viewpoint and try to start all the animations in the current VrmlScene node.
Just like the SuperShape, SuperEllipsoid, etc. node the VrmlCut node is not a buildin VRML node. It is a PROTO, a sequence of VRML nodes, that is composed by a Switch node and a Script node and TimeSensor node.
Like a Script node it has a changable set of fields/events. Cause multiple VrmlCut nodes would have multiple different sets of fields/events, you can have only one Proto definition of VrmlCut and therefore you can have only one VrmlCut node per VRML-file.
The VrmlCut switches between a sequence of VrmlScene nodes (basically a Group-like node with some scripting for routing) driven by the internal TimeSensor and the Script.
All information between the VrmlCut, VrmlScene, TimeSensors (for animations) and Viewpoints (cameras) are passed via ROUTE commands. This makes the concept flexible (for example the ROUTE sources can be reused to drive other nodes like Sound or Fog) but building much ROUTEs is much work.
To reduce the work, the following method can be used:

- Build single scenes, each in one VRML file
- Open a VRML file with common background (or empty)
- Use Create -> Scripted PROTOs -> VrmlCut to create a VrmlCut node
- Directly use Create -> Scripted PROTOs -> VrmlScene to create a VrmlScene node
- Directly use File -> Import to include a VRML file into the scene. All timesensors and the first viewpoint gets ROUTEs from the VrmlScene node. The loop field in the timersensors are switched off. The longest cycleTime of the timesensors are copied into the matching offset of the scenelengths field of the VrmlCut
- Directly use Create -> Scripted PROTOs -> VrmlScene to create the next VrmlScene node.
- Directly use File -> Import to include the next VRML file.
- Continue with this steps

At the end, you can use the "play" icon or File->previewto start the sequence of animations.
With the sceneNumber, numberPreviousScenes and numberNextScenes fields of VrmlCut can be used play a reduced range of scenes. This is usefull to optimize the lengths of the scenes in the sceneLengths field of VrmlCut.

#### File -> upload

(new in Version 0.27beta)

White_dune has a command (menuitem File -> Upload) to upload a VRML file to a internet server.
When you upload files to the internet, you are usually ask about a access password. White_dune has the ability to store the password in a memory protected from swapspace by mlock/vlock calls.
The swapspace is a region on the disk where the content of the computer memory can be swapped out to make space for other running programs. A intruder can inspect the swapspace to search for passwords.
Passing a password from one application (white_dune) to a other application (the upload command) in a secure way is not a easy task in respect to things like swapspace.
In the upload settings dialog (see Options -> Upload settings...)
the upload command can have two parameters. Each parameter of the upload commandline is set with the characters "%s".

- In case of one "%s", this parameter is replaced by the path of the VRML file, which is created from the the current white_dune data.
  If no password is used, the upload program can either ask for a password each upload or use a advanced authentication mechanism like ssh passphrase.
- If there is one "%s" and there is a password, this password is sended via standardin to the upload program. Usually the content of standartin/standardout is not protected from spacespace, so there is possibly a security risk when using this option.
- Using two "%s" send the password via a commandline option. On most Operationsystems, this is a high security risk, cause commandline options can be read by any other user on the same system.

The last line in the upload settings dialog gives you the ability to reload a HTML-webpage after the upload. To use it, you have to type in the HTML tags that will be copied into a HTML file.
For example, the following dialog will copy the data by white_dune to a VRML file with a static name and will display this VRML file together with the string "hello" in the webbrowser on the next File -> upload command.
The HTML tags line can contain "%s" characters, which would be replaced by the password. This would result in a HTML file with the password in it. This is a very high security risk, do not use this feature without knowing exactly what you are doing !