First, i am totally new to all this 3D stuff.
I installed Povray few days ago and spent larger part of me weekend with it.

Writing code i beyond me so i need a GUI for all this. :)
I use KDE/Gentoo Linux i have used this kpovmodeler that is part of a 
kde-base/kdegraphics package.

Looks like this GUI can not handle any of the .pov files that are 
available here in many newsgroups.

I was hoping to use those .pov files to figure out hot to create some 
cool effects etc. (i did go through  the "Modeling a screwdriver using 
the "Contructive Solid Geometry"" method at http://www.linuxgraphic.org/ 
  - BTW, it is full of mistakes. Wrong icons in text, wrong coordinates 
and so on :)
sorry for all the blaa-blaa-blaa... so my question is, what other GUI's 
for Povray can you recommend?

Regards.

Post a reply to this message

> Looks like this GUI can not handle any of the .pov files that are
> available here in many newsgroups.

Hi,

where exactly was the problem?

In kpov, you may add the code from an external povray-file.
To keep the files small, it might be better, just to include them
#include "myfile.inc"

I think by default kpov needs povray 3.5, so there might be the problem with
your files, many of them certainly were written for pov 3.1.

I started writing a small tool povfront, that allows to include different
files in addition to a main "world"-file.

It is not a modeller, but a tool to combine the objects from different
modellers to a complete scene.

I you try it, and delete the entrys in mytextures.inc (I think i added two

run with pov 3.1, at least it did some days ago (it is work in progress).


On that page, you also will find Links to some other nice tools.

For more information, it would be helpful to get more detailed
problem-descriptions, for example with code from a file that does not work.

Mark
http://povfront.sourceforge.net

Post a reply to this message

"Mark Ulrich" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> > Looks like this GUI can not handle any of the .pov files that are
> > available here in many newsgroups.
>
> Hi,
>
> where exactly was the problem?
>
> In kpov, you may add the code from an external povray-file.
> To keep the files small, it might be better, just to include them
> #include "myfile.inc"
>
> I think by default kpov needs povray 3.5, so there might be the problem with
> your files, many of them certainly were written for pov 3.1.
>
> I started writing a small tool povfront, that allows to include different
> files in addition to a main "world"-file.
>
> It is not a modeller, but a tool to combine the objects from different
> modellers to a complete scene.
>
> I you try it, and delete the entrys in mytextures.inc (I think i added two

> run with pov 3.1, at least it did some days ago (it is work in progress).
>
>
> On that page, you also will find Links to some other nice tools.
>
> For more information, it would be helpful to get more detailed
> problem-descriptions, for example with code from a file that does not work.
>
> Mark
> http://povfront.sourceforge.net


Hey Mark, I'm in the same boat as @(none) as far as being a newbie to all of
this. I have amny questions before I get started. I'm just starting to use
the Kpov, doing basic things like the metal looking spheres on a flat
plane. However, I would like to one day move up to landscapes and more
complex objects like a human face. So I have a couple of questions
regarding the LINUX side of the POVray world.

I'm running Fedora II with the new Kernal, and for some reason I can't the
java programs up and running. Could you dircet me to a place that gives
install and running information for Java Programs with LINUX. I would realy
like to get Jpatch up and running. I have not a clue on how to get these
Java files installed and running? I tried everything I know in the Shell
command, but I'm missing somthing?

With Fedora II, I have the KPovModeler 1.1.1 (KDE 3.2.2-8FC2 Red
Hat)...Question: Does Jpatch not have it own GUI? Or do you have to use the
KPovModeler to do the rendering. And yes, I have to download POVRay 3.5
before I could create any pictures.

SO basicly your program combins all these diffrent objects from other
redering software and merges them into one sceen? Is there a program out
there that already does this for LINUX?

Anyway, I'm going to give your program a shot. Thanks for your hardwork. I
hope I can get working.

Thomasso

Post a reply to this message

Thomasso wrote:

>install and running information for Java Programs with LINUX. I would
> realy like to get Jpatch up and running. I have not a clue on how to get
> these Java files installed and running? I tried everything I know in the
> Shell command, but I'm missing somthing?

Hi Tomasso,

I don't know if the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) is part of FC2? It is not
part of Rh9, which I have so I had to download it myself.

Maybe you too need to download the J2RE (Java 2 Runtime Environment) from
the Sun Microsystems website - its about 12 MB if I remember right. What
you then need to do is to install it, and then run Jpatch. I don't have
Jpatch, but I have another Java program called Arbaro that is used with
PovRay. After installing the JRE, I run Arbaro like this from the shell:

java -server -Xms256m -Xmx512m -esa -jar arbaro_gui.jar


You'll probably need to run jpatch.jar or whatever.
 
> With Fedora II, I have the KPovModeler 1.1.1 (KDE 3.2.2-8FC2 Red
> Hat)...Question: Does Jpatch not have it own GUI? Or do you have to use
> the KPovModeler to do the rendering. And yes, I have to download POVRay
> 3.5 before I could create any pictures.

Yes, Jpatch has its own GUI. I saw ran it one and it looked quite functional
and nice. Have you tried Blender as well? I found it quite usefull, along
with ppmodeller, to make objects in Linux for Povray and then convert them
using ppmodeller into Povray triangle patches that can then be used.
 
> SO basicly your program combins all these diffrent objects from other
> redering software and merges them into one sceen? Is there a program out
> there that already does this for LINUX?

Hmm - don't know what exactly you mean but PPModeller seems to allow you to
convert quite a few formats into PovRay triangle patches, allowing you to
integrate several programs.
 
Regards,
-- 
Stefan Viljoen
Software Support Technician
Polar Design Solutions

Post a reply to this message

Hi,

> I'm running Fedora II with the new Kernal, and for some reason I can't the
> java programs up and running. Could you dircet me to a place that gives
> install and running information for Java Programs with LINUX. I would realy
> like to get Jpatch up and running. I have not a clue on how to get these
> Java files installed and running? I tried everything I know in the Shell
> command, but I'm missing somthing?

Java-installation is somewhat annoying.

Download
http://javashoplm.sun.com:80/ECom/docs/Welcome.jsp?StoreId=22&PartDetailId=jre-1.5.0-oth-JPR&SiteId=JSC&TransactionId=n
oreg

You can download a RPM-File, but it is packed.
To unpack, type
chmod 755 xxxx.bin
../xxxx.bin

Then you have a RPM you may install (as root) with
rpm -i xxxx.rpm

Then search for java on your harddrive, it often is in /usr/java/jre1.5.0

To get easy access, I made a link in /usr/bin:
ln -s /usr/bin/java /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java


Then I downloaded and extracted jpatch.
To make it easy to run, I made a small "batch-file" called "runme":
java -jar jpatch.jar

Add this line in a new Textdocument (e.g. with kedit), and save it as
/usr/local/jpatch0.3/runme

Now make it executable:
chmod 755 runme

Like this you can start jpatch with a simple mouseclick in your filemanager.



> With Fedora II, I have the KPovModeler 1.1.1 (KDE 3.2.2-8FC2 Red
> Hat)...Question: Does Jpatch not have it own GUI? Or do you have to use the
> KPovModeler to do the rendering. And yes, I have to download POVRay 3.5
> before I could create any pictures.

Jpatch has no gui to render.
You must export to povray, and use a file like this (taken from the
documentation):

//--------------------------------------code--
// camera
camera {
 angle 40
 location <0,40,-100>
 look_at <0,15,0>
}

// reflecting ground plane
plane {
 y,0
 pigment { color rgb 0 }
 finish { ambient 0 diffuse 0 reflection 0.5}
}
// light sources
light_source { <-1000,1000,-1000> color rgb 1 parallel }
light_source { <1000,0,-1000> color rgb 0.5 parallel shadowless }
light_source { <0,1000,1000> color rgb 1.5 parallel }

// load the include file
#declare vase =
union {
 #include "vase1.inc"
};

// add objects to scene
object {
 vase
 rotate <0,-30,0>
 translate <-20,0,10>
}
object {
        vase
        rotate <0,60,0>
        translate <15,0,-10>
}

//-----------------------------------

As this is quite annoying too, I started writing povfront (which runs on
Linux and Windows)

Here you simply add your file created with jpatch to the "objects"-List, and
click on "go" to render.

Very simple.

I added some scenes with different floors, to give you mor flexibility, read
the website for details :)

If you want to do this in kpov, you must use the "add Pov-Code"-Icon, and
insert the code from the jpatch-file via copy and paste.

I think povfront works faster in this case.



> SO basicly your program combins all these diffrent objects from other
> redering software and merges them into one sceen? Is there a program out
> there that already does this for LINUX?

Yes. Povfront is a kind of "scene-arranger" to get some organisation in all
the different models, not more (though now with terraform-support and
camera-creator it might become a complete landscape-animator).



> Anyway, I'm going to give your program a shot. Thanks for your hardwork. I
> hope I can get working.

If not, just ask :)

Greets, Mark

Post a reply to this message

Thanks Mark for your reply,

I tried to follow your directions as closely as I could....and managed to
hit a few snages along the way. However, I would like to say, you have
being more of a help with Java, then the people over at Java-Sun. They
expect if you download the file, you can figure the shell-scrips without a
document. Anyway.....


> Java-installation is somewhat annoying.
>
> Download
>
http://javashoplm.sun.com:80/ECom/docs/Welcome.jsp?StoreId=22&PartDetailId=jre-1.5.0-oth-JPR&SiteId=JSC&TransactionId
=n
> oreg

You got that right! It took a few tries to get it. You need to set up a
account and go throught a couple of pages of information and personal data
before you can get your hands on the goods!
>
> You can download a RPM-File, but it is packed.
> To unpack, type
> chmod 755 xxxx.bin
> ../xxxx.bin
>
OK, I got the above part fine. The chnmod 755 is basic. the only problem
that I ran into was I had to use "./xxxx.bin" to do the
self-extraction-thing.


> Then you have a RPM you may install (as root) with
> rpm -i xxxx.rpm
>
> Then search for java on your harddrive, it often is in /usr/java/jre1.5.0
>

Unpacked the rpm with no problems.

> To get easy access, I made a link in /usr/bin:
> ln -s /usr/bin/java /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java
>
This part I never did. I did the cut and paste in my shell, but noting
happend. I guess I need lessons on making shortcuts.
>
> Then I downloaded and extracted jpatch.
> To make it easy to run, I made a small "batch-file" called "runme":
> java -jar jpatch.jar
>
> Add this line in a new Textdocument (e.g. with kedit), and save it as
> /usr/local/jpatch0.3/runme
>
> Now make it executable:
> chmod 755 runme
>
> Like this you can start jpatch with a simple mouseclick in your filemanager.
>

Ok, this is where things got me! I found out where the Java JRE directory
was exracted to, and the file is right where you siad it would be. I typed
in "java -jar jpatch.jar" in the text document right in the jpatch
directory adn made it executable. Nothing happened. I tried clicking on the
jpatch.jar icon too. Nothing.  So, I'm wondering if I never realy started
the Java program up after I installed it? Is there something there that
needs to activated inside the java software? It seems that java never did
anything once I got installed--I saw the control panal, but nothing seem to
say that it was functioning?

This is as far as I got with the installation. Again, thanks for your reply!

cheers
Thomasso :)

Post a reply to this message

> OK, I got the above part fine. The chnmod 755 is basic. the only problem
> that I ran into was I had to use "./xxxx.bin" to do the
> self-extraction-thing.

oops... that was a type-mistake by me, sorry.


> > To get easy access, I made a link in /usr/bin:
> > ln -s /usr/bin/java /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java
> >
> This part I never did. I did the cut and paste in my shell, but noting
> happend. I guess I need lessons on making shortcuts.

huh... I always mix this...
it is the other way round:

ln -s /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java /usr/bin/java

*sorry again*



> Ok, this is where things got me! I found out where the Java JRE directory
> was exracted to, and the file is right where you siad it would be. I typed
> in "java -jar jpatch.jar" in the text document right in the jpatch
> directory adn made it executable. Nothing happened.

Yes off course, because the link did not work.
So the command "java" is not in the PATH

If you put the link in /usr/bin, it can be found (/usr/bin is in the
$PATH-Environment-variable)

Alternatiively you could execute java with the full path, like
/usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java  -jar jpatch.jar

But with the symlink you don't need it.
The symlink is practical, because you will not need to remeber the full path
to java in future :)

If there remains something unclear, just ask :)

Mark

Post a reply to this message

Hello Mark,

I though I had posted to this already, but I guess I must not have send it.
I'll just give you an outline of what I said before in case I did post it.
>
> You can download a RPM-File, but it is packed.
> To unpack, type
> chmod 755 xxxx.bin
> ../xxxx.bin
>

I had to type "./xxxx.bin" to get it to work.


> Then you have a RPM you may install (as root) with
> rpm -i xxxx.rpm
>
> Then search for java on your harddrive, it often is in /usr/java/jre1.5.0
>
After a while I did manage to ubpack it. It is now where you said it would
be.

> To get easy access, I made a link in /usr/bin:
> ln -s /usr/bin/java /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java
>

I haven't done the link yet.
>
> Then I downloaded and extracted jpatch.
> To make it easy to run, I made a small "batch-file" called "runme":
> java -jar jpatch.jar
>
> Add this line in a new Textdocument (e.g. with kedit), and save it as
> /usr/local/jpatch0.3/runme
>
> Now make it executable:
> chmod 755 runme
>
> Like this you can start jpatch with a simple mouseclick in your filemanager.
>
>

OK, I have done all this. But the jpatch does not run. I even tried clicking
on the .jar icons, and nothing. I'm wonrdering if there is something else I
forgot to do with java? Do you need to "start" jave before you run a java
program?

Anyway, I have all the file upacked in ther directories. Java is where it
should be and I have made jpatch in /home/user/jpaatch/


Any more hints?


Cheers

Thomasso.

Post a reply to this message

Thanks Mark,

Oh.... I double posted this. oops, disregard the last post :)

I'll give this try tomorrow. Thanks again Mark!


Thoamsso




"Mark Ulrich" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> > OK, I got the above part fine. The chnmod 755 is basic. the only problem
> > that I ran into was I had to use "./xxxx.bin" to do the
> > self-extraction-thing.
>
> oops... that was a type-mistake by me, sorry.
>
>
> > > To get easy access, I made a link in /usr/bin:
> > > ln -s /usr/bin/java /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java
> > >

Post a reply to this message

Thanks Mark, it works like a charm!!!!!! I'm a happy camper.
It fired up on the first try. Very nice.

Thanks for your help Mark.

Have a great day :)
Thoamsso


--------------------------------------------------------------------->
>
> ln -s /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java /usr/bin/java
>

------------------------------------------------------------------->
> Alternatiively you could execute java with the full path, like
> /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/java  -jar jpatch.jar
>
> But with the symlink you don't need it.
> The symlink is practical, because you will not need to remeber the full path
> to java in future :)
>
> If there remains something unclear, just ask :)
>
> Mark
--------------------------------------------------------------------->

Post a reply to this message