proj-imim:
ANNOUNCE: PTViewer 0.9
Helmut Dersch 2000-May-05 13:04:32
PTViewer 0.9:
I have posted version 0.9 to
<http://www.fh-furtwangen.de/~dersch/PTVJ.zip>
and updated the docs at
<http://www.fh-furtwangen.de/~dersch/PTVJ/doc.html>
There are many changes to version 0.8:
o Hotspots can be any size and shape using a mask, see the
streetlight in the example.
o Hotspot images can popup, see the same example.
o Download feedback: Supplying the filesize of the panorama in a
parameter tag enables the browser's document download feedback in the
status line.
o New panoramas can be loaded in running applet; all parameters
including hotspots can be reset too.
o New scripting options: move from point to point, get and
set parameters like autopanning etc, more.
o An overlay image (eg frame) can be loaded in front of the viewer
window. This must be a partially transparent gif.
o Hotspots can be defined in separate tags for each hotspot
(hotspot0, hotspot1,...). The previous method (defining all
hotspots in a single tag) is also supported.
o User defined javascript functions can be called by the applet
whenever the mouse enters or leaves a hotspot.Netscape only.
o User defined javascript functions can be called by the applet
whenever the view (pan,tilt or field of view) changes. This enables
the user to implement a compass or navigation map, directional sound
and many other neat things. Netscape only.
o Many bugfixes: No vertical tilt maximum when tilt minimum is set,
applet works when zooming disabled (fovmax = fovmin),
applet is stopped properly, etc.
o Math is optimized with 20% speed increase. This tiny step took
actually 80% of the development time for this release.
I have looked into each suggestions but did not implement them all,
some because they decreased performance, some because they are
difficult to code, and others because of side effects. The following
feature requests are not realized yet, but will be addressed further:
o Horizontal pan limits (vertical tilt limits are implemented since version
0.8) and partial panoramas.
o Other image formats, specifically Flash.
These suggestions are unlikely to get implemented:
o Panning with mouse outside the applet window. I noticed that some browsers
do not track the mouse properly and report garbage coordinates when
outside the main window. This makes it impossible to write a meaningful
panning routine. The LivePicture applet also disables panning in this
case.
o Custom cursors are only supported in Java 2.0. It would be quite
simple to add this feature but then many systems become incompatible,
eg all macs.
Andrei has distributed new versions of the control buttons which I don't
include again. I suggest to put these and other resources on Ronny's
upcoming panotools site. Maybe someone writes a javascript compass
or directional sound snippet which we could post there too.
Regards
Helmut Dersch