GoRoundTM 6.6b Interactively rotate objects 360°

GoRound Manual Index 1. What is GoRound 2. Feature Summary 3. Applet Parameters 4. Creating GoRound Images 5. Native and JavaScript Scripting 6. Download 7. How to register/order 8. Release history 9. License Agreement

GoRound displays objects in web pages that can be interactively rotated 360°.
The advantage of GoRound is that it is a very small, fast Java^TM applet that will run in any web browser that supports Java applets (on any platform). GoRound is a great alternative to QTVR object movies.

TIP: Drag in a circle around object

This example was created with the following HTML code:

<applet name="goround" code="goround.class" width=200 height=131>   <param name="script" value="$THIS:go-bug">   <param name="auto" value="1600"> <applet>

With an inline native script, part of which looks like:

[go-bug]   cpad.focus = n=0;c=808080   goround.images = images/bug/[01-36].jpg

You supply multiple images of an object to GoRound, and GoRound will display your images in-order, which will give the effect of the object being rotated.

• The easiest way to add object movies to web pages and CDs -- quick start
• Object is displayed as it is loaded
• Very small cross-platform Java applet loads quickly
• Fully controllable via Scripting -- details
• Actively supported, professional product -- release history
• Extensively tested under the major browsers for maximum compatibility

The following table describes the parameters that GoRound can use. In most cases, you will only need to use just a couple parameters, but it is nice to have total control when you need it.

For the GoRound applet, only the images parameter is required. Here are the basic applet parameters:

Basic goround.class Java Applet Parameters
name	value	Description
images	URL	The URL to all the images of the object
dragtype	Integer	0=circle; 1=left/right (default:0)
auto	Integer	Auto scroll through all images in this many milliseconds (default: 0) [1.0c]
delay	Integer	Delay in milliseconds before auto rotate restarts (default: 30000) [1.2a]

If you want to fully customize GoRound, review the following advanced applet parameters:

Advanced goround.class Java Applet Parameters
name	value	Description
script	file-ref	Runs the given script [2.0a] details
ratio	Integer	Step through images at this rate (default: 1) [2.0a]
logo	URL	The URL to a logo image to display at startup [2.0a]
logotime	Integer	The time in milliseconds to display the logo (default: 5000) [2.0a]
view	Integer	The number of degrees covered by the images (default: 360)
sauto	Integer	Auto scroll at startup in this many milliseconds (default: 1000) [1.1a]
background	hex-color	Color of applet background (default gray: C0C0C0) [2.0a]
cHelp	hex-color	Background color of help boxes (default light yellow: FFFFC0) [1.1c]
key	ascii-code	Mimics the user pressing a key on the keyboard [2.0a]
skin	URL	A 2x2 (corners) Image: creates a 'frame' inside the display [5.2a]

The images parameter uses a technique to encode multiple images into a single URL that looks like:

[01-36].jpg = 01.jpg,02.jpg,03.jpg,....,35.jpg,36.jpg image[1-20].jpg = image1.jpg,image2.jpg,...,image20.jpg fish[01-24].jpg = fish01.jpg,fish02.jpg,...,fish24.jpg

So, in the example above, "images/car/[01-36].jpg" expands into 36 images, named "images/car/01.jpg" to "images/car/36.jpg".

file-ref: is a "filename{:section}", where the filename is relative to the html document, followed by an optional ":section" to denote a section of the file to use (instead of the entire file). For help using file sections, refer to the Native Scripting Manual.

hex-color: A color specified in 'RRGGBB' (red/green/blue) hexadecimal format. For example, 'FF0000' is pure red, '00FF00' is pure green, '0000FF' is pure blue, 'FFFFFF' is white, '000000' is black, 'CCCCCC' is light gray, etc. Please refer to http://www.utexas.edu/learn/html/colors.html for a list of sample colors along with 'RRGGBB' values.

script -- <param name="script" value="script.exe:goFish"> -- Please refer to the Native Scripting Manual for complete details on how to use scripting in any Duckware applet. Native scripting allows multiple applets parameters to be set via a script.

TIP: GoRound expects pictures in counter-clockwise order, but what if the pictures were taken in clockwise order? No problem. Just change the order of the numbers in the specification. For example, fish[01-24].jpg specifies counter-clockwise order. But fish[24-01].jpg specifies clockwise order.

Install the Demo: First download and install the GoRound demo (into a directory/folder of your choice) as the following steps assume you already have GoRound installed. View the readme.html file from the demo to verify that GoRound works. You will see a demo very similar to what you see above.

Preparation: Using a tripod is a must as the object will be moved between pictures, but you want the background to stay exactly the same. A light background helps to hilight an object (maybe by using a white sheet) and helps to reduce image size as very little background detail will compress very well. Plan on taking around 20 to 24 pictures (or more, like 36, if you want to) to cover the full 360°. With 24 pictures, your object will have to be rotated 15° after each picture (360°/24=15°). With 36 pictures, 10° (360°/36=10°), etc. More pictures result in a less jerky result, but longer download times. Practice rotating your object. Can you rotate your object a small amount each time and have it return to its original position? A rotating platform is optional, but can yield superior results.

Picture Taking: Set up your object, tripod, and camera. Frame your object in the camera viewfinder so that what you see is what you want GoRound to display. Trust me, you don't want to do any image cropping. Take your pictures. A digital camera will make this step a lot easier. Remember to rotate your object counter-clockwise after each picture.

TIP: One client uses a cardboard disk, marked in half, quarters, etc, with a little slot in the middle and places it on a phonograph turntable. Then an object is centered on this stand, a picture is taken using a digital camera on a tripod, and the turntable is rotated by one mark. The process is repeated until all photos are taken.

Image Resizing: Transfer your images into your computer and one-by-one resize them all to a size that you feel is appropriate. You will also probably want to play around with resizing and saving a test image to discover the resulting file size. Aim for about 3k to 6k per image. Sequentially number each picture (eg: fish1.jpg, fish2.jpg, etc), saving them into a new directory/folder in the GoRound install directory (where you unzipped the goround.zip files).

View The Result: Run the HTMLGEN.EXE program (Requires Windows and Internet Explorer to be installed for Java support) from the goround.zip install directory/folder. This will allow you to create the HTML that is required to view your files with GoRound. Simply select the image group from your new directory/folder and press "Create and Test Now". Easy!

Please review the Scripting Manual to understand how all Duckware applets can be scripted by either using Native Scripting or JavaScript Scripting. You can also create custom graphical interfaces to control GoRound by using the ControlPad applet. That is how the demo above was created.

The goround.zip download file is small, so it downloads quickly. Use WinZip (or equivalent) to unzip into any directory on your local machine and use your favorite web browser to view the readme.html file, which contains a sample panorama.

The goround.zip download file contains these files:

readme.html - view this file first in your web browser pmvr.jar    - applet class files htmlgen.exe - Windows EXE that helps generate GoRound HTML images/*.*  - misc images directory car/*.*     - a car goround scene bug/*.*     - another car goround scene shoe/*.*    - a shoe goround scene

Please note that the readme file extension is '.html' and that the java class filename extensions are '.class' (in case you mistakenly extract the files from the ZIP as 8.3 filenames).

GoRound is shareware. Please try it for free. If you like it enough to keep using it, you must pay for this program. "Unregistered Version" will be displayed over pictures until you purchase a license:

Order personal use (non-commercial) license for $29.95
Order business use license for $49.95

Please refer to the license usage information page for details.

A GoRound license also comes with the Label, and cpad applets.

Version/Date    Changes made in release 6.5c - 02/25/2009  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.6a - 09/25/2008  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.5c - 07/15/2008  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.5b - 06/26/2008  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.5a - 06/20/2008  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.4a - 02/20/2008  · stay in sync with PMVR update 6.3a - 10/09/2007  · uses new installer 6.3a - 09/11/2007  · Uses new acore /25 engine 6.1a - 07/15/2006  · htmlgen.exe now has dragtype option; new HTML code 6.1a - 05/13/2006  · Uses new acore /24 engine 6.0c - 03/28/2006  · Uses new acore /23 engine 6.0a - 03/09/2006  · Uses new acore /22 engine 5.2a - 02/04/2006  · new 'skin' param 5.1a - 01/19/2006  · Uses new acore /16 engine 5.0c - 01/09/2006  · Uses new acore /14 engine 5.0b - 01/03/2006  · Uses new acore /12 engine 5.0a - 12/19/2005  · internationalization support now standard · LiveConnect enhancements allow for CD based virtual tours · initial script Unicode support · any color in the GUI can now be configured · GoRound license includes PMVR 2.7a - 09/26/2005  · Uses new acore /10 engine 2.6a - 11/16/2004  · work around Netscape/Sun JavaScript problem 2.5a - 03/01/2004  · Uses new acore engine 2.4a - 02/11/2004  · Uses new acore engine 2.3a - 05/13/2003  · Uses new acore engine 2.2b - 02/19/2003  · Java 1.1 or later required (removed Java 1.0 support) 2.2a - 06/25/2002  · Java 1.3/1.4 image improvements 2.1a - 05/28/2002  · percent done is now a graphical bar 2.0b - 03/02/2002  · updated signing core 2.0a - 02/27/2002  · scripting; script/ratio/logo/logotime/key params 1.2c - 01/04/2001  · maintenance release 1.2b - 08/17/2000  · compensate for bad web servers -- image load retry on errors 1.2a - 07/11/2000  · added 'delay' parameter 1.1c - 04/25/2000  · added 'cHelp' parameter 1.1b - 04/25/2000  · improved image loading times 1.1a - 04/17/2000  · fix several htmlgen problems 1.0c - 03/15/2000  · added 'view' applet parameter 1.0b - 03/11/2000  · now bundled with HTMLGEN.EXE 1.0a - 03/10/2000  · first offered for sale

GoRound is shareware. That means that you may try it for free to see if it works for you. If you like the software enough to keep using it, please support the program by paying for it. If you find anything wrong with the software, let me know and I will try to fix the problem immediately. My entire liability for your use of this software shall not exceed the amount you paid for the software. You may not reverse engineer or decompile the software. You may not modify the software in any way. The software may not be used on adult sites nor to display adult material. License violations will result in license termination, forfeiture of license fees, and possible prosecution.