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VRMLoutVRMLout for AutoCAD
VRML Translator for Inventor

Publish AutoCAD 3D models and Autodesk Inventor assemblies on the Internet



These two add-on application are no longer supported - we recommend Forge-based web publishing of 3D models


ACAD2015 compatible

VRMLout for AutoCAD ("VRML Export") is an ARX application for AutoCAD Rel.13/14, AutoCAD 2000/i/2002, 2004/2005/2006, 2007/2008/2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 AutoCAD Architecture, Architectural Desktop and Mechanical Desktop. It allows to export any 3D solid from AutoCAD to the VRML format (Virtual Reality Markup Language). VRMLout also exposes an ActiveX API (for VisualLISP and VBA) which allows to use VRML export also from your aplications and scripts.

VRML Translator for Inventor simply adds VRML export to Autodesk Inventor 5.3/6, 7/8/9/10, 11, 2008/2009/2010 and 2011/2012/2013 and 2014/2015/2016's export formats.

What others say about VRMLout


"P.S. Jste sikulka!"
Jirka Zara, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Czech Technical University
"One such gap has been the lack of support for exporting AutoCAD drawings to VRML, for inclusion in Web sites. CAD Studio has attempted to fill just that gap, and in the true spirit of the Web and of Autodesk's "Virtual Corporation", is based in the far-away land of the Czech Republic."
Peter Sheerin, CADENCE Magazine
"Thanks for great news Jan!!"
Brenda Discher, MCAD product manager, Autodesk Inc.
"In the recent german iX computer magazine VRML review all vrml aware cad applications and converters were discussed. All? All but AutoCAD with vrml.arx!"
Reini Urban, VRMLout user through Internet
"This software has proven to be effective right out of the box with our AutoCad package. We are currently working on a project that requires support from remote locations and your software has aided in the viewing of Cad drawings via the web."
Frank Williams, Lockheed-Martin Michoud Space Systems, Manned Space Flight Center Operations

VRMLout for AutoCAD


System requirements

VRMLOUT requires AutoCAD 2016, 2015/2014/2013, 2011/2010, 2009/2008/2007 or 2006/2005/2004 or 2002/2000/i (a separate version for R13c4/R14), AutoCAD Architecture 2008-2015, Architectural Desktop 2007 or 2006/2005/2004 or 3.3 or Mechanical Desktop R4-6/2004-2008 running on Windows 2000/XP or Vista (w/o UAC) or Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10. Exported VRML files can be rendered by any standalone or Internet browser with apropriate VRML plug-in module (e.g. Cortona, Live3D, Cosmo, Blaxxun 3D Viewer ...).

Usage

You can use command line, toolbar or LISP API to invoke VRMLout commands:

  • VRMLEXPORT (VRMLOUT in older versions) command starts the export
  • VRMLPROPS (VRMLPROP in older versions) command sets material (optical) properties of selected solids, incl. color properties
  • VRMLOPTIONS (V3 and higher) command sets the export format options and node naming structure
  • VRMLHELP runs Help with VRML documentation
  • VRMLABOUT command shows version and copyright information

VRML options AutoCAD-assigned ACI color of a solid is respected in the resulting VRML scene. Multicolor objects and nested objects are supported. Any URL address can be attached to any object in VRML model (using standard AutoCAD commands) - VRMLout is compatible with Internet Publishing Kit (and AutoCAD hyperlinking). You can use the VRMLPROPS command to set specular color, emissive color, shininess, transparency and other object properties. The quality of translation from 3D solid to VRML object (smoothness) depends on AutoCAD's FACETRES system variable. 3D view of the scene can be set by setting UCS.

In VRMLOPTIONS you can choose to include layer information and entity hierarchical structure in the VRML file. Resulting VRML files can be internally compressed (recommended for web use, supported by most VRML viewers). Since ver.3.3 you can also set numerical precision, preset default viewpoint, enable background color and reuse material nodes in the VRML file. VRML 1.0 or VRML 2.0 (97) format can be selected (V3.x supports only VRML97). Since ver.5.0 you can include block names.

For "Architectural Desktop" operation mode you can use either Architectural Desktop or plain AutoCAD with AEC Object Enabler loaded. VRMLout retains object hierarchical structure.

VRMLout ActiveX API exposes numerous Objects, Methods ans Properties to be used in your applications and routines (since ver.3.4).

VRML output is viewable in standalone viewers, in Netscape Navigator or MS Internet Explorer (and other browsers) with an apropriate 3D plug-in.
If you are using the Cortona viewer make sure you select the VRML2.0 option and either assign a explicit color to your AutoCAD object (e.g. green sphere) or uncheck the 'Use AutoCAD colors' box (V2).

Examples of VRML models from AutoCAD


OILTANK 2005 model (requires a browser with installed plugin for .wrl viewing)

Other models can be found on our users' webpages, e.g.:

Some other VRMLout users:

  • SEXTANT model University Karslruhe (Germany)
  • eleMent software (China)
  • SKODA-Auto (Czechia)
  • University Leuven (Belgium)
  • Chung Pak Battery Works Ltd. (Hong-Kong)
  • CRAI (France)
  • Griffith University (Australia)
  • Oxford Archeological Unit (UK)
  • Telenor (Norway)
  • Arte Media (Germany)
  • Eagle Air (Australia)
  • Federal Aviation (USA)
  • Jabatan Industri (Malaysia)

Known limitations


  • if you want to export also 2D objects, add a small thickness to them (_CHANGE selectobjects _P _TH)
  • to export drawing texts you can use the TTF text meshing utility TXT2FACE
  • CMDDIA and FILEDIA sysvars are not respected
  • if you cannot see the VRML model in your browser make sure you have really exported 3D geometry (solids, extruded entities, walls, roofs, etc.), perform the Fit operation in your VRML browser - your geometry may be "out of view"
  • if you are using white background in AutoCAD and black background in your VRML viewer, you will get black VRML model on black background ...
  • see below how to simplify (optimize) the resulting VRML code
  • if you get no toolbar and have authorization problems in Windows Vista, please switch off the Vista UAC function
  • 64-bit versions of AutoCAD are supported since version 2010 only
  • since version 2010, special AEC objects are no longer supported - convert them to standard AutoCAD 3D objects first
  • for silent installation see Tip 4395
[typo: wrml vmrl vrl wrl vrm]

Version history [+] show/hide






VRML Translator for Inventor


VRML Translator for Inventor simply adds VRML export to Autodesk Inventor 5.3/6/7/8/9/10/11, 2008/2009/2010 and 2011/2012/2013 and 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 export formats. VRML Translator is an Autodesk Inventor Certified application by CAD Studio (former Xanadu).

 

System requirements

VRML Translator requires the 32-bit or 64-bit (since 2012) version of Autodesk Inventor R5.3 or R6/R7/R8/R9 or R10/R11 or 2008/2009 or 2010/2011/2012 or 2013/2014/2015 or 2016/2017/2018/2019 (or Inventor Professional) running on Windows NT or Windows 2000 or Windows XP or Win7 or Win8 or Win10. VRML files can be rendered by any Internet browser with apropriate VRML plug-in module (e.g. Cortona, Live3D, Cosmo, Blaxxun 3D Viewer ...).

Usage

Option settingsVRML Translator is very easy to use - just use the "File > Save copy as" function in Autodesk Inventor to save your current part (.IPT) or assembly (.IAM) to a WRL format file.

You can use the Options button in the 'Save copy as' dialog to set the output format, facetting tolerance, numeric (coordinates) precision, scale, flipping of Y-Z coordinates, intensity of ambient light and document properties.

Exported VRML file also contains 6 predefined views - Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left and Right. If your VRML viewer (browser) supports Views (Viewpoints), you can use these predefined views to display your model.

See sample video: VRML Translator

Examples of VRML models from Inventor


(requires a browser with installed plugin for .wrl viewing)

Known limitations


  • Inventor certified Inventor certified Inventor certified textures are not supported
  • special color schemes may result in a different color representation of your assembly in VRML browser


Version history [+] show/hide




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Please send possible questions and problems to info@cadstudio.cz or use our discussion forum.

More about VRML


  • You can find more information about VRML at www.vrml.org (Web3D consortium).
  • If you want to optimize your VRML files (make them smaller), we recommend the VIZup Optimizer (reducer).
  • If your VRML viewer supports .WRZ (compressed VRML, e.g. Cortona, Blaxxun) you can compress uncompressed .WRL files from VRMLout and VRML Translator using GZIP (www.gzip.org) - just run GZIP -9 myfile.wrl and rename the resulting myfile.wrl.gz to myfile.wrz
  • Interactive VRML models as Web Java applets with WireFusion by Demicron

Using VRML on a PocketPC


Inventor 3D assembly on a PocketPC To work with VRML 3D models on mobile PCs (WinCE, PocketPC) you can use the mobile version of Cortona player (Pocket Cortona - www.parallelgraphics.com). You can transfer you VRML files from Inventor to your Pocket PC (iPAQ, Jornada, ...). It can be an "mobile" alternative to 3D DWF.

VRMLout OEM


We offer VRMLout also as an OEM license. This kind of license is currently used by two Autodesk MAI partners - SPI (Germany) and Mechsoft.com/CADis (Czechia).

VRMLout technology is also used in some of our custom development projects - e.g. in gbXML and TreppenStudio.

VRMLout Shareware edition, pricing


Shareware version is free and can be copied for free - in the original installation pack. Shareware version for AutoCAD and ADT is limited to 15 days and to export of only one object at a time; shareware (trial) version for Inventor is limited to 15 days.

VRMLout Prices / Orders:


Authorization dialog

Registration codes are valid for all updates of the same product version. Updates can be installed without having to re-enter the registration code.

Delivery: VRMLout (or the authorization code) is delivered electronically - via e-mail. Please install the trial version first and specify your unique Request code in your order (available in VRMLout startup dialog, Authorize button - see on the right). Orders are processed within one business day.


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