WorldView for Netscape Navigator

Release Notes

WorldView Installation

To use WorldView you will need the following:

  • Pentium 100Mhz or better
  • 16MB memory
  • 20M free disk space
  • Windows 95
  • Netscape Navigator or Navigator Gold version 3.0 or later

If you installed any Beta release of WorldView, you should uninstall it before installing this version. To do this, choose "WorldView Uninstaller" from the WorldView 2.0 for Internet Explorer group under "Programs" in the Windows 95 "Start" menu.

WorldView and Windows NT

Although DirectX for NT 4.0 is now shipping, the 3D rendering component, Direct3D, is not. It will be included in Service Pack 3 from Microsoft, which is currently in Beta release.

WorldView can be installed on Windows NT 4.0. If you have a Beta version of Service Pack 3, you should be able to use WorldView. (Please note that Intervista cannot provide you with one, contact Microsoft for information on participating in their Service Pack Beta program.) If you discover problems, please be sure to report them to support@intervista.com.

IF you're using NT, you will need to modify the CLASSPATH by hand in the regsitry under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Java VM\Classpath. The WorldView installer only sets it in autoexec.bat, which is not read by NT. You should prepend the WorldView class directory to your current CLASSPATH, which is C:\Program Files\WorldView for Internet Explorer\classes by default.

Java External Authoring Interface Installation

By default, the WorldView setup program will install .class files required to use the Java EAI in the same directory as the rest of the WorldView support files (Program Files\WorldView 2.0 by default). You may specify a different directory for them during installation.

The installation program will prepend the location you specify to the CLASSPATH environment variable set in AUTOEXEC.BAT, unless CLASSPATH is already set appropriately. A backup file of the original AUTOEXEC.BAT will be made automatically.

Note that the WorldView uninstall program will NOT revert AUTOEXEC.BAT to its original state.

If you get ClassNotFoundException:vrml.external.browser (in the VRML console or Internet Explorer's status bar) while trying to browse a world that uses the EAI, you might be having a conflict with other products' vrml classes. This problem can by solved by changing your CLASSPATH setting.

The installer puts a 'SET CLASSPATH=...' entry in AUTOEXEC.BAT for the EAI path (which was under the WorldView installation directory by default). Make sure this entry is the last in the series of 'SET CLASSPATH=' entries you have in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This will make sure that the WorldView classes are found before others.

Note that the EAI classes for WorldView for Internet Explorer differ from those for WorldView for Netscape Navigator. If you intend to use both products on the same machine, each time you switch from one to the other you will need to edit your autoexec.bat file to put the appropriate class directories in the CLASSPATH, and then reboot the computer.

Sending Feedback

Your feedback on the WorldView product is very important to us. Information on performance, features, compatibility, and usefulness will help the Intervista team create a better product. Please take a look at the feedback form. Use it to send comments, bug reports, or anything else you'd like us to know.

You may also give us feedback by sending e-mail to support@intervista.com.

Compatibility Notes

  • WorldView 2.0 supports standard VRML 2.0 files and specification-compliant VRML 1.0 files. If you attempt to read a draft VRML 2.0 file, warnings (and possibly errors) will be displayed.
  • The VRML 2.0, Java in Script Nodes, and JavaScript implementations correspond with the ISO/IEC DIS 14772-1 specification dated 4 April 1997, except as noted in the Developer's Guide and the Known Problems section, below.
  • The Java External Authoring Interface implementation corresponds to the Proposal for a VRML 2.0 Informative Annex dated 21 January 1997.

Known Problems and Important Changes

User Interface and Usability

  • When downloading some worlds you may get a warning concerning gzip files. Click OK on the warning dialog; the world will continue to load normally.
  • Study mode can have unpredictable behavior in worlds that use ProximitySensor-based heads-up-displays.
  • The area under the right-button pop-up menu is not always redrawn once the menu is dismissed.
  • Pressing and releasing the CTRL key can cause you to navigate slightly.
  • The cursor blinks continuously on many laptop PCs.
  • Using WorldView on a system that has an uncalibrated joystick installed can cause erratic and unpredictable navigation. To correct this problem, calibrate or unplug the joystick.
  • Some 3D hardware accelerators do not fully support the features in Direct3D, and can introduce limitations. For example, when you are running WorldView with hardware acceleration enabled, transparent objects may appear solid, or you might be unable to see worlds in wireframe. To turn off hardware acceleration, choose "Options" from the right-button pop-up menu and remove the check mark from "Use hardware acceleration".
  • WorldView 2.0 is not recommended for use with pre-release versions of Netscape Communicator.