Web3D/VRML
[] readme course preface 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 reference resources

talk show print

the RIF slides Format

(source)


It is intended to be a 3D enhanced version of Microsoft Powerpoint. We admit however that our socalled .pvl format lacks many of Powerpoint original features. But, on the other hand, Powerpoint does not offer many of the features we provide.

the pvl format language

We use a simplified form of HTML, with some additional features.

example


   
   <h4>A header</h4>
   <ul>
   <li> item 1 </li>
   <li> item 2 </li>
   </ul>

A description of the origin of this approach can be found at 


   http://www.cs.vu.nl/~eliens/online/hush/manuals/man/man8/ht-ml.html
   http://www.cs.vu.nl/~eliens/online/papers/htf4

displaying slides

 The slides can be displayed in a number of ways:

To realize presentations a collection filters is needed, among which the vr-ml.flt

For how the slides are used see also: 


  http://www.cs.vu.nl/~eliens/online/guide.html

presentation level

In VRML display mode, there may be multiple levels in a slide. Levels are used to allow for incremental presentation of the content of slide.

Each element in a slide, may have an indication of start and end level. Some tags allow for a indicating automatic increments of the start level, which is usually indicated with level=auto.

creating slides

There are a number of contexts, and associated file types, in which slides may be created:

See example makefiles for actual usage

parameters for vr-ml.flt

afterthoughts on formatting

The VRML protos supporting the slides format must be kept simple and basic. In some cases extra tags are needed to get the desired result (or an approximation of that).

extra tags

beware of

Also, the filtering is done on an as best as possible basis. In some cases it will be very hard to get what you want. Actually, since it is a legaccy format, you're not even supposed to use it. So, why bother.

on the design of the tag structure

To accomodate the various modes of formatting and the various uses that can be made of the slide format, we make a number of assumptions:

the slide tag

the text tag (VRML only)

 ,slideid=sl-uol>

the list tags: ul and ol

Both unnumbered and numbered list are allowed, as in HTML

To indicate items in a list use the <li> tag. When additional lines are need, use the line tag.

beware (may/must change (MC))

The text after a bullet or number must be on one line, additional lines need to be indicated with a tag.

the dl list tag

Should have

Use the <dt> and <dd> tags to create the items for the list.

displays

To allow for unformatted text, such as program text the display tag is supported, which is like the <pre> tag in HTML.

the font tag

font abbreviations

font color abbreviations

the object tag

It might be worthwhile to incorporate VRML objects in a slide. These are only visible in VRML, naturally.

As an example: 


  <object>
  Transform { translation 9 0 -4 children [
  <include file=sensor.wrl>
  ] }
  </object>

Note that the VRML text is automatically hidden when using the object tag. The include tag is a feature of the .t format.

hiding VRML

The <vrml> and </vrml> tags are needed if you don't want your VRML code to be displayed in HTML.
[] readme course preface 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 reference resources
eliens@cs.vu.nl

draft version 0.1 (15/7/2001)