Hi All,

3D Canvas 6.5.0.5 is now available: 3D Canvas 6.5.0.5

Note that releases 6.5.0.3 and 6.5.0.4 were internal releases.

This release includes the following fixes/improvements:

o) The Move/Copy keyframe timeline function has been fixed. In the previous release it would not properly copy rotational keyframes.

o) "My Documents" folder may now be located on a network drive.

o) The "3D Canvas.log" file is now located in "My Documents". This was done because Windows XP Home users do not have the ability to grant access to the "program files" folder to "limited users".

o) 3D Canvas is now more tolerant of some errors. Error 91 is now not always a fatal error.

o) Many errors with easy solutions automatically refer the user to the 3D Canvas FAQ for resolution.

o) Installation was fixed so that when 3D Canvas is uninstalled data access objects (DAO) continues to function properly.

o) Resolves error 3041 problems some users were having. Note that a very small number of users who are having error 3041 will continue to have error 1004 instead. As of yet there is no know solution to this.

Amabilis provided plug-ins are available for 6.5.0.5:

Merge Faces

Create Triangle

Add Triangle To Edge

Note that plug-ins created for release 6.5.0.2 will NOT work with this release.

Richard

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

A basic B3D Exporter plug-in is now available for version 6.5.0.5: B3D Export Plug-In

Graham Kennedy provided me with a B3D Export script and gave me premission to convert it to a plug-in.

I have no idea if it works or not since I don't have Blitz Basic to test it with.

It does not currently export normals or skeletal information.

Unfortunately I can't compile it for 6.5.0.2 since I do not have it installed.

Richard

"Note that plug-ins created for release 6.5.0.2 will NOT work with this release. "

Ok, stupid question. Why must it always be like this?

This is inherently problematic. If someone like Paul Gausden decided to call it quits... we would never be able to update canvas versions if we still wanted to use his plugins.

This fact, coupled with my difficulties collaborating with users of older versions 3D Canvas have created bumps in the road where there really shouldn't be any.

So... is this on purpose?

There are at least couple of reasons why plug-ins occasionally need to be recompiled for a new release.

It is one of the hazards of using ActiveX controls for plug-ins. If I make any destructive changes to the "interface" of 3D Canvas plug-ins stop working and have to be recompiled.

But that isn't the main reason this happens. The main reason is that there are bugs in Microsoft Visual Studio that cause this problem. Most of the time plug-ins stop working it is the result of a bug in Microsoft Visual Studio. For example I cannot add any new enums to the 3D Canvas Scene Graph without having to recompile EVERYTHING.

Richard

Darn...

Makes you wonder why Microsft wins the popularity contest.

pwillard,

It's just one of those things. To be fair to Microsoft, my collection of ActiveX DLLs, EXEs and OCXs probably are more complex than your typical Visual Basic program. As a result there aren't likely many other programs out there having the same problems I am having. There is a new service pack for VB so I am hoping that some of the problems I have had in the past will be fixed in the new service pack. I'll know if it has helped soon enough.

All,

Graham got a chance to try the B3D exporter and it seems to work OK.

I'm not sure when I'll get to expanding it to export normals and skeletal information but at least there is a basic object exporter available now.

Richard

I wish you'd switch to VB.net ASAP.
People could make plugins for free.(#Develop)
It might even solve these upgrade problems.

I agree it would be nice to switch to VB .NET. But, I would have to upgrade to DirectX 9 at the same time since VB .NET does not support earlier versions of DirectX. So, first I'm going to put out a version of 3D Canvas with a new renderer (DirectX 8.1) and then I'll start thinking about the large upgrade to .NET.

Richard

Hi Richard,

I have a large utility program for MS Train Simulator with some 30,000 downloads. I bought VB .Net to convert it from VB6 and had to give up in the end, the benefits were minimal and the amount of programming needed to convert the program (which is not as complicated as 3D Canvas) was enormous.

VB6 recommended you use controls in arrays, I had dozens of them. VB .Net does not support control arrays...

Mike.

My plugins (and Operations) for 6.5.0.5 are now available at:

http://www31.brinkster.com/decapod

I think if I did give up writing these plugins, I would pass the code over to Richard or make it all available for download for others to compile.

As it is, anyone is free to request the source code from me at any time if they want to take a look.

Mike,

That doesn't sound very good. I absolutely require the ability to have arrays of controls on a form. If it doesn't support it then I am in trouble.

The annoying thing is that in order to user DirectX 9 I have to use VB .NET since DirectX 9 doesn't support VB 6. It may be possible for me to write a "wrapper" for DirectX 9 in VB .NET and then use that wrapper from VB 6. But that's something I'm going to have to look into.

But all of this is sort of off topic I guess. I probably should be moderating myself.

Richard

do i need to download new versions of the pro features? because when i go to input the license code- there isn't an option for it, just to download the pro features.

Yes you need to download the Pro Upgrade from the Help menu. Also any plug-in that you have downloaded will need to be replaced with a version for 6.5.0.5.

Richard

The "Release Candidate" is now the "official" 6.5.0.5 release.

Richard