Only VRML V1.0 files can be loaded into the CAVE-Lib and DIVERSE VE APIs. VRML97 or VRML V2.0 are not compatible with current VE APIs. For a description see two VRML-CAVE projects: 1) EVL: VRML in the CAVE and 2) VT: Adding Behaviors to VRML Models Ported to Immersive Environments". For VRML V1.0 files the user only needs to rename the file extension from *.wrl to *.iv. The *.iv file will load into CAVE-Lib's pfnav or Diversifly.
The construction of a VRML 1.0 file is the result of combining the polygon, vertice, and property data files with simple VRML commands. A template of the VRML 1.0 file shows these commands and where to insert the three data files. The glyph.wrl file can be viewed with a VRML 1.0 Web browser plugin or other appropriate VRML 1.0 viewers which can be downloaded from http://www.web3d.org/vrml/vrml.htm. The glyph.iv file can be loaded into either VE API running in the CAVE or CAVE-Simulator. Another section provides a better description of the correct color file format used to create the glyph.wrl and and glyphi.iv files. At this same web site there is a VRML 1.0 to VRML 2.0 (utf8) VRML 1.0 converter program that executes both on Windows and Mac OS X (forthcoming). More information on VRML 1.0 and Diversifly was organized for a FDI Workshop on Virtual Environments.
The VT-CAVE staff (John Kelso and Ron Kriz) recently took an SGI OpenGL class and we noticed that it would be possible to take the class notes and modify some of the examples to run in the CAVE. Below we have link to the SGI OpenGL class notes and will be working on the CAVE examples conversions this summer'99.
Dave Pape's Performer by Example
http://www.sv.vt.edu/classes/ESM4714/cave/glyph_vrml_opengl_performer.html