[Chimera-users] chimera vrml issues...

[Greg Couch]

Forgot to cc the list.  So to summarize:

There some major bugs fixed with the X3D ribbon output in chimera version 
1.2180 that affected the Renderman and POV-ray output as well.  So please 
upgrade your chimera.  I think I have fixed all of the problems, so if it 
still fails, please submit a bug report (ideally with enough data to 
reproduce the problem).

As for vrml output, the xslt technology is slow, but works.  In the 
X3dToVrml97.xslt file, it suggests using saxon.sourceforge.net's 
java-based converter, and I second that recommendation (it was the fastest 
of the alternatives I tested).

Even when the X3dToVrml97.xslt method works, it has problems -- it outputs 
VRML 3.0 and most VRML importers expect VRML97 aka VRML 2.0.  This is 
especially problematic for ribbons because ribbons use triangle strips for 
their geometry and 3.0 supports triangle strips while 2.0 doesn't. 
VRML97 doesn't support translucent colors either.

Consequently, I have put improving the VRML output on my list of things to 
do.

And if you have the option of using the Renderman output, use it, because 
it reproduces what you see in the chimera window the best of the various 
export formats.

 	Greg Couch
 	UCSF Computer Graphics Lab