Here you wll find frequently asked questions regarding
WireFusion.
| Problems running a presentation |
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| General Design/Programming
Questions |
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| JavaScript Related Questions
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Installation
Problems
Question:
I am having problems with your installer package. When
I try to install the installation screen goes blank.
Answer:
Try to decrease the hardware acceleration on your graphics
card, at least during the installation process.
Top
Question:
I can't install WireFusion 4.1 on OS X 10.3.9. What's
wrong?
Answer:
There is a Mac OS X bug that affects how certain programs
are installed (WireFusion included) on OS X 10.3.9 systems
with the QuickTime 7.0.4 upgrade. This appears to only
affects systems running 10.3.9, and not 10.4. The current
workaround is to revert to QuickTime 7.0.1, through
a reinstaller available from Apple on the Support/Downloads
page.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/quicktime701reinstallerforquicktime704.html
Top
Question:
I'm trying to install WireFusion on Mac OS X, but gets
the following error message:
"Installer User Interface Mode Not Supported
Unable to load and to prepare the installer in GUI mode."
Answer:
The installer software, "Install Anywhere",
does not like to be on a second volume/physical HD.
Moving the installer to the startup disk solves this
issue!
Top
Question:
How do I activate and unlock my software?
Answer:
Click here for instructions
>
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Problems
running a presentation
Question:
My presentation never starts. What's wrong?
Answer:
Try to check the Java Console window for error messages.
If you get a message about "out of heap memory",
then the Java memory is full.
Top
Question:
I get an error message "Exception in thread "Thread-7"
java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space".
What is the problem?
Answer:
The "java.langOutOfMemory : Java heap space"-message
means that the memory allocated for Java has ran out.
There are ways to increase the memory, but that isn't
really a solution for you as you can't instruct all
your site visitors to make this change just in order
to view your presentation. What might cause the problem
is the size of your textures, and how many of them you
have in your project. The problem is not the file size,
but the size in pixels (width and height).
You can calculate how much memory your textures consume
by using the below formula:
([Width in pixels ] * [Height in pixels] * [Number of
images] * 4) / 1024 = [memory size in KB]
If you texture has alpha channels, then you have to
double the size.
Another tip is to read the "3D Modeling"
guide and the "3D Reference" manuals. Both
manuals have optimzation tips:
http://www.demicron.com/support/learning/documents.html
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Question:
When looking at presentations using Firefox, it happens
that it crash. I have to kill the process in the Task
Manager. Why is that?
Error message in the console:
Exception in thread "Thread-2" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException
at sun.net.www.ParseUtil.decode(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.file.Handler.openConnection(Unknown
Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.file.Handler.openConnection(Unknown
Source)
at java.net.URL.openConnection(Unknown Source)
and so on...
Answer:
You might have "strange" characters in the
URL. Please check here:
http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6354767
Top
Question:
I want to place a WireFusion presentation on eBay, but
it's not accepted. What can I do?
Answer:
Normally eBay does not allow JavaScript. By default,
the HTML source in WireFusion use JavaScript to load
the launcher.js file. You would need to modify the HTML
code so that it doesn't use launcher.js.
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Question:
Why does it take so long for my presentation to load
and start?
Answer:
The problem with slow loading and startup is normally
related to the following:
1. You have a lot and large textures. Try to both reduce
the pixel size (width and height), and also the file
size by using higher JPEG compression.
2. Your 3D model is large in size (KB), which normally
means that it consists of many polygons. Try to lower
the number of polygons, or use a polygon reducer such
as Simplygon.
Even if fully loaded, large 3D models takes longer to
startup due to pre-processing.
Top
Question:
How come my presentation works on newer Java versions
(Java 1.2+), but not in Java 1.1?
Answer:
Make sure that your resource files (images, 3D models,
audio etc) does not have any non-standard characters
in their file names. Example of non-standard characters
are "å", "ä", "ö"
etc.
A tip is to check the Java Console window for error
messages.
Top
Question:
My applet won't start. The only thing I see is a red
X. What is wrong?
Answer:
Read more here:
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000040200.xml
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Question:
Can I automatically allow Internet Explorer to run applets
offline, without having a warning about scripts and
ActiveX controls?
Answer:
Yes. In Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options
> Advanced > Security, make sure to select the
checkbox named
"Allow active contents to run in files on My Computer".
Make sure to restart the browser.
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Tryout
Related Questions
Question:
I have tried your product for the last 30 days, but
now the tryout period is over. Can I extend the tryout
period?
Answer:
No, the 30 days trial period cannot be extended. The
options you have are:
1) to try to install a tryout of another edition on
your computer, or
2) to install a tryout on another computer.
Top
General
Design/Programming Questions
Question:
I have an object on the Script Area with an out-port
connected to another object. Now I want to change the
out-port to another out-port. Do I have to delete this
connection and create a new one, or is there a way to
edit connections?
Answer:
A tip for creating and editing connetions is to use
the Wire Creator.
Press ALT on you keyboard and then click the object
you want to connect from (source object) and then click
the object you want to connect to (destination object).
Already connected out-ports will have a green ball
to the right. When you select that out-port, the in-port
connected to the out-port will have a blue checkmark
to the right.
Select also the in-port and you can choose to "Disconnect".
Top
Question:
Is it possible to have multi-language support in a presentation,
i.e. to display the text in different langauages?
Answer:
Yes, it's possible. Please contact us for instructions.
Top
Question:
How to use a font that handles Chinese/Japanese characters
in the Text Window object?
Answer:
Set the font, using the in-port Set Font Name, to one
of the following fonts:
SimHei
SimSun
NSimSun
They are installed by default in Windows on Chinese
and Japanese computers.
Top
Question:
Why is my animated GIF, used as loading graphics, behaving
strange?
Answer:
Artifacts may occur if your GIF animation uses "Disposal".
Therefore, try to disable disposal.
Read
more >
Top
3D
Related Questions
Question:
Is there a limit for how many polygons WireFusion can
handle?
Answer:
There is no exact limit for how many polygons WireFusion
can handle. The number of polygons you use in a presentation
should be optimized for the target system that the presentation
should be viewed on. Faster computer, means that you
can use more polygons. However, as WireFusion uses a
software renderer, a general rule is not to use more
than 50,000 polygons.
If you still want to use more than 50.000 polygons
we recommend to either use the Navigation Renderer (choose
e.g. Contour or Wireframe), or, try to use the OpenGL
option (hardware acceleration).
Top
Question:
How large textures can I have?
Answer:
For small objects, use textures with 64x64 pixels or
128x128 pixels. For larger objects, use textures with
256x256 pixels or 512x512 pixels. Don't use more than
5 textures with 1024x1024 pixels.
You can calculate how much memory your textures consume
by using the following formula:
([Width in pixels ] * [Height in pixels] * [Number of
images] * 4) / 1024 = [memory size in KB]
If your texture has alpha channels, then you have to
double the size.
NOTE: To make sure that the presention runs well in
all different kind of browser, try to keep the total
texture memory size below 50,000 KB.
Top
Question:
Is there any way to put hotspots on a single object
which trigger different actions?
Answer:
You can easily create touch sensors of individual shapes
in your model. In the 3D Scene dialog, select the shape(s)
you want to make touch sensor of, then mark the checkboxes
Show Touchsensor Ports and Enable Touchsensor.
You will now have touch sensor out-ports in the 3DScene
object for these shapes, and can then trigger different
events. For example, an URL.
Top
Question:
I use Lightwave and when I use cubic mapping, cylindrical
mapping and spherical mapping I get strange results.
How come?
Answer:
It seems that Lightwave is only capable of exporting
to VRML correctly when using planar mapping.
Top
Question:
I have a 3D house and sometimes I can see through the
floor and see the "plane" object underneath
the house. How can this be avoided?
Answer:
The model might have a very small scale, which is the
cause of the imprecision on the ordering of the 3D surfaces.
What you can do to remove this artifact is to scale
up the entire 3D scene in your authoring tool. In general,
the units used in VRML/X3D is SI-units, so you can begin
with using that scale in your model. If there still
are some artifacts, then try to put a bigger gap between
the different surfaces or scale up the model even more.
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JavaScript
Related Questions
Question:
My Firefox with Java 5 (1.5_x) may crash when rapidly
calling JavaScripts from WireFusion presentations (or
any Java Applets for that matter). Why is that?
Answer:
Firefox 1.5_04 has been reported to work well for the
above issue. Else, please try to avoid the "Add
Loading Progress JavaScript" option in the WireFusion
publishing dialog.
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Question:
When running on Macintoch, why doesn't it work to communicate
between HTML and the applet using JavaScript (External
Link)?
Answer:
This has finally been fixed for Safari 1.2. Else it
seems to be a common problem for all HTML to/from Java
applet communications on Macintosh, when using JavaScript.
Top
Flash
Related Questions
Question:
Can I insert a WireFusion presentation into Flash or
Director?
Answer:
No, you can't. A WireFusion presentation is a Java applet
and Java applets cannot be inserted into Flash or Director.
However, WireFusion is capable to playback Flash animations
(saved as Flash version 2. see below).
An alternative is to use DHTML and place either the
Flash animation in a layer above the WireFusion presentation,
or, to place the WireFusion presentation in a layer
above the Flash animation.
Flash animations and WireFusion presentations, placed
on the same HTML page can communicate through JavaScript
(eee below).
Top
Question:
Why does WireFusion only support Flash version 2 animations?
Answer:
The Flash player in WireFusion is about 47 kb in size,
and it is a completely standalone player.
It does not require the Flash browser plug-in in order
to playback Flash animations in WireFusion.
The Flash player in WireFusion has to be downloaded
everytime a presentation (that inlcudes a Flash animation)
is loaded. Therefore, the size of the player is of highest
importance. The smaller it is, the faster the presentation
starts. If the player should support features found
in Flash 3, or higher, the size of the player would
become substantially larger. The idea with the Flash
support in WireFusion is not to be able to playback
the latest fancy Flash animations, but to give the developer
a possibility to incude some kind of vector graphics
and animations.
Note that all later Flash versions can save to Flash
version 2 format, even though not all features might
be included.
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Question:
In the future, will WireFusion support Flash animations
made in newer version?
Answer:
Maybe, in future versions, there might be selected features
added to the player.
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Question:
I have a website with some Flash buttons on an iframe
and a WireFusion presentation on another and I just
want to switch cameras by pressing the Flash butons.
What code I am supposed to insert in the Flash buttons?
Answer:
The idea is to use the ExternalLink object in WireFusion
(you need Professional or Enterprised edition for this).
You will find it under the Environment category. Then
choose link type "Call presentation from Java/JavaScript".
Choose a link name of your choice and choose "Add
linked Button...".
This will generate a JavaScript call to the HTML code
using a HTML button. Create a Flash button that uses
JavaScript for external communication. Replace the HTML
button with your Flash button and make sure any values,
parameters and names are the same.
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Question:
How to export Flash (version 2) using Flash MX?
Answer:
Under File > Publish Settings, click the Flash tab.
There's a drop down list for version of output. It will
output animations fine, but the on(release) handler
won't pass any functions, so buttons won't work. Should
be fine for most other things though.
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Question:
I want to make a Flash (version 2) button to trigger
an event in WireFusion. How do I do that?
Answer:
To trigger an event from a Flash (version 2) animation
integrated into a WireFusion presentation, you need
to use the getURL action.
In Flash, after creating a button and inserting the
getURL action, in the URL field, enter a text or number
value, for example "link1" or "1".
Then publish your animation (as Flash version 2).
Now, in WireFusion, insert a Flash object and load
your .swf file. Check the Out-ports for the Flash object
and you will notice that there is an option called "URL
Requested". This port sends out your URL ("link1"
or "1", or whatever you named it) as a text
string. Simply use it to trigger events in your WireFusion
presentation.
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