Using Plugins
Plugins let you extend the functionality of your ROOMS desktop.
You can download plugins from the internet or create your own.
There are different kinds of ROOMS plugin for different kinds of task:
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RSI - ROOMS Stream Interface (1)
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Can be used to generate textures (e.g. from AVI or Web cam)
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RSI - ROOMS Stream Interface (2)
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Can be used to control devices (e.g. CD or DVD player)
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RPC - ROOMS Polygon Conversion
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Can be used to convert and manipulate 3D shape files (e.g. 3DS and .x)
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You use a ROOMS wizard to select a plugin to perform a task.
For example, you use the target page of the Property Wizard to select a plugin
which can control devices attached to your PC. And you use the editor
page of the Shape Wizard to select a plugin to convert or manipulate
3D files.
And you can select a texture-generating plugin from any Advanced/Smart Texture
dialog in any ROOMS wizard.
Plugins are installed into the ../rooms/plugins folder. This is
automatically done by the installation program.
Any ROOMS texture can take its image from an RSI plugin.
An RSI plugin may supply stationary or animated textures. An example
RSI plugin is supplied with the ROOMS FreeWare download. The example
lets you use AVI (movie) files as animated textures.
If you have programming skills you may also create your own
RSI plugins. You can download the free ROOMS
,
which includes plugin templates and the source code for the AVI example.
Just as a ROOMS icon can open or run a program, it can also be used
to issue a command to a device, such as your CD player.
Commands are issued through an RSI plugin. An example RSI plugin which
controls your CD player is included with FreeWare ROOMS.
You select the plugin as the target file for your icon instead of a program.
Once selected, the plugin tells you what choice of commands it offers, and you
select one of these commands which in turn is issued whenever your icon
is opened or run.
[This method also lets you trigger commands thru EVAC, e.g. merely
selecting an icon can be mapped by EVAC to the open/run command]
Again, if you have programming skills you may create your own
RSI plugins. You can download the free ROOMS
,
which includes plugin templates and the source code for the CD example.
ROOMS now support a generic, lowest-common-denominator, 3D graphics
file format called RAV [RAV stands for ROOMS Arbitrary Vertex.
See ].
If you can convert a shape into this file format then ROOMS can use
the shape.
Some standard conversions are supplied with FreeWare ROOMS. They are
for 3DS files, DirectX .x files and ROOMS RSF files.
In order to provide an expandible mechanism for file conversion,
conversion is implemented thru plugins - RPC plugins.
3DS, .x and RSF conversion plugins are included with FreeWare ROOMS.
They are used by the Shape Wizard.
A further, experimental, plugin is also supplied which allows you
to manipulate RAV shapes, e.g. changing their natural color and
texture triangle-by-triangle. This has the name "RAV_toolkit".
These plugins are bundled with ROOMS.
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AVI_movie_rsi.dll
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Display AVI images and control AVI replay
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CD_control_rsi.dll
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Control CD player
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3DS_to_RAV_rpc.dll
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Convert 3DS format shape files to RAV format
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XFILE_to_RAV_rpc.dll
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Convert DirectX .x format shape files to RAV format
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RSF_to_RAV_rpc.dll
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Convert ROOMS extruded shape format shape files to RAV format
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The RAV toolkit plugin is part of the
Plugin SDK package.
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RAV_toolkit_rpc.dll
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Manipulate properties of RAV files
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In addition to searching online for AVI files or 3DS files, you may like
to visit these sites which we have seen and look interesting.
[Please let us know if you have any suggestions for inclusion in this list.
Any suggestions will also be included on our links page].
6.1 AVI files
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6.2 3DS files
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6.3 .x files
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6.4 polygon reduction
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