[x3d-public] What or where is pp3.x3d

[Vincent Marchetti]

Is pp3.x3d a real file with a accessible URL or is it a phantasm conjured up by a large language model?

Related, I request that any content generated by a large language model, or for that matter any text copied from a 3rd party, be clearly identified as such and the source ( LLM or otherwise) be identified

Thank You
Vince Marchetti


> On Jul 28, 2025, at 12:08 PM, John Carlson via x3d-public <x3d-public at web3d.org> wrote:
> 
> Maybe some could try this prompt generated by AI:  maybe expand it to create a PROTO:
> 
> You are asking about a very advanced and complex feature for X3D. Native X3D specifications do not include nodes for rich text editing, such as multi-line selection, cut, copy, and paste, directly within the 3D scene.
> 
> The example you've pointed to, pp3.x3d, demonstrates a sophisticated, custom-built solution that simulates this functionality using a combination of sensors, scripts, and programmatic manipulation of the scene graph. It is not an "out-of-the-box" feature but rather a scripted application running inside the X3D environment.
> 
> Here is a breakdown of how such a system is built, based on the techniques used in advanced examples like the one you referenced.
> 
> The Concept: Building a Text Editor from Scratch in 3D
> To achieve editable 3D text, you must essentially recreate the logic of a text editor using X3D's event handling and scripting capabilities. This involves capturing all user input (keyboard and mouse) and using a script to manually update the text geometry and appearance to reflect typing, selection, and other actions.
> 
> Core Components of the Solution
> 	• Input Sensing: The foundation of this system is capturing user input.
> 		• Keyboard Input: A <KeySensor> node is used to capture every key pressed by the user. Its keyPress events are sent to a script for processing.
> 		• Mouse Input: A <PlaneSensor> or <TouchSensor> is placed over the text area. This sensor tracks the mouse's position when the user clicks and drags, which is essential for determining the start and end points of a text selection.
> 	• Scripting (The "Brain"): A central <Script> node, written in JavaScript (ECMAScript), is the core of the editor. This script receives events from the sensors and performs all the logic:
> 		• Text Management: The script maintains the full text string in a variable. When a key is pressed (e.g., 'a', 'b', 'Backspace', 'Enter'), the script updates this string accordingly. It then updates the string field of one or more <Text> nodes to display the changes in the 3D scene.
> 		• Multi-line Handling: To create multiple rows, the script can either manage multiple <Text>nodes (one per line) or use a single <Text>node. A single node can render multiple lines if its string field is an array of strings (e.g., string='"First line" "Second line"'). The script is responsible for breaking the text into lines when the 'Enter' key is pressed or when text wraps.
> 		• Caret/Cursor Management: The script must calculate and display a cursor (often a simple 3D shape like a thin Box or a line). Its position is updated based on typing and mouse clicks.
> 	• Selection Simulation: This is one of the most complex parts.
> 		• Hit-Point Calculation: When a user clicks, the script uses the coordinates from the <PlaneSensor> to calculate which character in the string was clicked on. This requires knowledge of the font's metrics (character width, line height, etc.).
> 		• Visual Highlight: To show the selection, the text cannot simply be highlighted as in HTML. Instead, the script programmatically creates a visual effect. A common method is to place a semi-transparent colored <Box> or IndexedFaceSet behind the selected portion of the text. The script dynamically resizes and repositions this highlight box as the user drags the mouse.
> 	• Clipboard Integration (Cut, Copy, Paste): The script must interact with the web browser's clipboard.
> 		• Event Trapping: The script listens for specific keyPress events from the <KeySensor>, such as 'Ctrl+C' (copy), 'Ctrl+X' (cut), and 'Ctrl+V' (paste).
> 		• Browser API: It uses the browser's navigator.clipboard API to perform the operations.
> 			• Copy: The script takes the currently selected text (which it manages internally) and uses navigator.clipboard.writeText() to place it on the system clipboard.
> 			• Cut: Performs a copy operation and then removes the selected text from its internal string and updates the 3D <Text> node.
> 			• Paste: The script calls navigator.clipboard.readText() to get text from the clipboard and inserts it into its internal string at the cursor's position, then updates the 3D text.
> Summary of the Workflow
> 	• User clicks in the 3D text area.
> 	• The <PlaneSensor> sends the click location to the script.
> 	• The script calculates the character position and places a 3D cursor there.
> 	• User types a key.
> 	• The <KeySensor> sends the key value to the script.
> 	• The script updates its internal text string, moves the cursor, and pushes the new string to the stringfield of the visible <Text> node.
> 	• User clicks and drags to select text.
> 	• The script calculates the start and end of the selection and continuously updates the size and position of a 3D highlight box behind the text.
> 	• User presses 'Ctrl+C'.
> 	• The script detects this key combination, gets the selected text, and uses navigator.clipboard.writeText() to copy it.
> In conclusion, creating a fully functional, multi-line editable text area in X3D is a highly complex programming task that requires building an entire application from the ground up using X3D's scripting and event-handling nodes. The example you linked is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved with this advanced approach.
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM John Carlson <yottzumm at gmail.com> wrote:
> Now that we have FontLibrary, it seems a lot more likely that we can create documentation and specifications in X3D 4.1 instead of HTML.
> 
> So the thought is to take our generated content in the archive, and create a 3D library world out of it,  Maybe call it the X3D 3D library world.
> 
> Maybe we can figure out new ways of interacting with specifications and documentation.
> 
> The first thing I plan to do is take my textareas in X3DJSONLD 12, and render them in 3D.  Maybe the first task is to create a 3D textarea.
> 
> 
> See Starcel:
> https://youtu.be/rJuRTZOE99g
> 
> John 
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