Re: [www-vrml] VRML still the most popular Web3D format - by far.

[Don Brutzman <brutzman@nps.edu>]

Braden McDaniel wrote:

> [...]
> Which, from where I'm sitting, makes "Extensible" 3D less extensible
> than VRML97. Because I'm interested in a spec that will enable an
> extensible implementation. VRML97 enables an implementation that can be
> extended by plugins--written by users--which can be referred to with a
> browser-agnostic syntax; thus enabling content that can scale to various
> browsers. I do not see how X3D enables that approach; and (consequently)
> I also see no mapping for VRML97 content that takes advantage of it.

This is a pretty simple matter, hopefully hard to confuse.  We've

a. kept prototypes identically as in VRML97, in all their glory.
b. added components for browser-level extensibility as well as
   better control of browser footprint, if desired
c. augmented Inline with IMPORT/EXPORT for extending behaviors of a subscene
   up to the parent, without having to convert everything into a prototype
d. multiple mechanisms for adding new XML validation checking for new nodes.

http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/ISO-IEC-19775-FDIS-X3dAbstractSpecification/Part01/concepts.htmll#PrototypeSemantics
http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/ISO-IEC-19775-FDIS-X3dAbstractSpecification/Part01/concepts.html
http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/ISO-IEC-19775-FDIS-X3dAbstractSpecification/Part01/concepts.html#Components

So as far as X3D extensibility goes, (a + b + c + d) > a.  More isn't less.
Hope this helps.

all the best, Don
--
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       work +1.831.656.2149
              MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA  fax  +1.831.656.7599
Virtual worlds/underwater robots/X3D/XMSF     http://web.nps.navy.mil/~brutzman
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