ESM4714_
Scientific Visual Data Analysis and Multimedia

Introduction to CAVE programming at Virginia Tech (Sept-1997)

Information posted below are mostly links to existing information on CAVE programming created at by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory and NCSA. This section introduces students to a simple set of C++ programs that draw spheres from which the students can create more complex programs. Our main objectives in this section is to show how to successfully compile and link necessary libraries on the SGI Octane workstation in the Laboratory for Scientific Visual Analysis. Since the CAVE is presently being constructed we will do this first with some simple CAVE programs that can be run on the CAVE simulator on the Octane workstation (viz8.sv.vt.edu) and then we will create a more complex program that draws a static glyph of a fourth order stiffness tensor which includes color mapping and open stripes so that the viewer can see inside the glyph for other geometries. If the CAVE is up and running by the end of this semester we will be able to move what we do on the CAVE simulator into the CAVE.

Since this is our first attempt to teach students how to begin programming in the CAVE, we anticipate that alot of problems we be solved by good communication. So if you find a solution to a problem we would appreciate that you would send everyone in the class an email on your solution. The biggest problem will be linking to the libraries in the compile step. Although the Octane (viz8.sv.vt.edu) is working well the CAVE machine itself is still in the process of being configured. For all the students who want accounts on the CAVE machine, I recommend that you try out your idea first on the Octane. The I-Desk like the CAVE is still being configured and has at present insufficient disk space to handle any large projects. Again I recommend using the Octane instead of the I-Desk.

The good news is that our CAVE Programmer/Instructor, John Kelso, begins November 3, 1997. My strategy is to do my best to get you started on your CAVE programming and let John Kelso help you when he starts in two weeks. I see that John's biggest job will be to configure the Octane, I-Desk, and CAVE to compile and execute your programs transparently. A resonable goal will be to start on some simple examples on the Octane first until John comes online.

Introduction to CAVE programming at NCSA & EVL

NCSA Virtual Environments Software Start-Up Package.
CAVE User's Guide (CAVE Library 2.6)(May 11, 1997)
CAVE User's Guide (CAVE Library 2.5.6)(May 11, 1997)
Simple OpenGL examples from Dave Papes Web site.

Note :

Makefile for OpenGL examples that will run on viz8.sv.vt.edu
ball.c
bounce.c
interact.c
navigate1.c
navigate2.c
network1.c
pfnav.c++ NOTE: to compile the pfnave.c++ program here use the Makefile from section

Working with optical media on the Viz Lab's: CAVE, I-Desk, and Octane

We encourage students to use their mountable 4.2 GB optical media . Using your optical media not only provides a conveninet way to move massive data sets between the CAVE, I-Desk, and Octane but it is an extra level of data security and backup. The write speed on these optical drives is three times faster that the old REO 650 drives so most people use them as their own personal mountable hard drives. Please don't regard them only as backup media.

Below we've outlined a procedure to initialize, create a filesystem , mount and unmount your optical media. I requested that our system administrator put these as scripts on link thru the menu on the desktop Toolchest but it looks like we will have to wait for John Kelso to come on board to make the Octanes, I-Desk, and CAVE more human usable. Until then please figure out how to use these commands to initialize, mount and unmout the optical disks.

Procedure for initializing optical media:

Insert blank disk into Apex drive.
whoami: verify username
oruid: set ownership of mount point to your current username
ofx: initialize the media
omkfs: makes a filesystem on the initialized media
omount: mounts the media at the mount point /OPTICAL
oruid: set ownership of mount point to your current username again
cd /OPTICAL: change directory to /OPTICAL
mkdir test: test to see if you can create a directory "test"
ls -la: list files and directories in /OPTICAL and confirm ownership of directory "test"
cd ~class: go back to the class home directory before you try to unmount the optical media.
oumount: unmount optical media
push button on the front of Apex optical drive to remove media
if media refused to come out contact John Kelso or Ron Kriz

Procedure for mounting and unmounting optical media

omount: mounts the media at the mount point /OPTICAL
oruid: set ownership of mount point to your current username again
cd /OPTICAL: change directory to /OPTICAL
ls -la: list files and directories in /OPTICAL and begin your work.
cd ~class: go back to the class home directory before you try to unmount the optical media.
oumount: unmount optical media

C++ Glyph example using Performer

READ_geoset
Dave Pape's: Performer by Example
Originial Geometry C++ Program waves.c++
Modified waves.c++ program to include color mapping and open stripes: geoset.c++
Makefile that runs on the SciViz Octane (viz8.sv.vt.edu: username: class)

Transforming AutoDesk 3D Studio files into the CAVE using performer

This section will outline how to transform AutoDesk 3D Studio files into a CAVE Walkthru.

Presently this only works on the SciViz Lab Octane (viz8.sv.vt.edu). This was a team project for the NCSA Visual Supercomputing Institute 1997. Participant where Joan McLain-Kark , Dennis Jones, John Kelso and Ron Kriz. Go to the directory ~class/doit/lang/cave/VSI97/Convert and take a look at these files starting with the README files. Follow the outline in README_Convert and you should be able to reproduce this conversion example.

Transforming AutoCAD files into the CAVE using performer

This section outlines how to transform AutoCAD *.dxf files into a CAVE Walkthru.

Presently this only works on the SciViz Lab Octane (viz8.sv.vt.edu). A working example is given at ~class/doit/hberes/SUB.dxf . This transformaiton is very similar to that given for AutoDesk 3D Studio files above except we use a different conversion programs to convert a *.dxf file to an inventor file *.iv, a VRML file *.wrl and finally a performer binary file *.pfb .