1.0 Overview

2.0 Features

    Asynchronous Streaming Support
    Cache Support
    Full Hardcopy Support
    Data Persistence in OLE Container Applications and in-Place Activation and De-Activation
    Full Integration with the HOOPS 3D Application Framework
    Support for Rapid Customization


1.0 Overview

Sharing data across an internal network or across the internet continues to be a critical requirement in many industries. Often sharing data means the transfer of very large 2D/3D models and related information across limited-bandwidth connections. To boost the efforts of our customers to develop rich applications capable of sharing these large data sets effectively, TSA has significantly enhanced its HOOPS/ActiveX technology.

2.0 Features

Asynchronous Streaming and Incremental Drawing

On a separate thread, the HOOPS/ActiveX Integeration classes are capable of connecting to a webserver and streaming in HSF data. This allows other model interactions (such as selection) to occur smoothly and without interruption. When the user stops navigating the scene, the data is incrementally added to the scene. This means objects are added to the scene without the penalty of a complete screen redraw.

Cache Support

The ActiveX control stores streamed data in the system's cache and uses it intelligently to avoid redundant downloading of HSF files.

Full Hardcopy Support

The existing HOOPS/ActiveX integration classes support native GDI Vector and raster printing, copy-to-clipboard, as well as the ability to rapidly customize the control for Postscript, CGM and HPGL2 hardcopy output.

Data Persistence and In-Place Activation in ActiveX (OLE) Container Applications

The base HOOPS/ActiveX classes encapsulate a considerable amout of functionality.   Data persistence ensures embedded HSF files remain linked to application files after saving and shutdown.  In-place activation and deactivation allows an image (WMF) to be substituted in place of 3D data while users operate in the native application environment (outside the ActiveX control). Camera views and other model-specific view data are not only saved to the image but also are retained by HOOPS/ActiveX. The retained settings are used again upon re-activation.

Full Integration with the HOOPS 3D Application Framework

The HOOPS/ActiveX Classes not only enable developers to rapidly build controls to stream in 2D/3D data, but also allows them to include the functionality available in the HOOPS/3dAF toolset within their custom control. This places an enormous toolset, such as the pre-written model interaction tools in the HOOPS/MVO class library, at the disposal of ActiveX developers.

Support for Rapid Customization

The capability for rapid customization is a unique feature of HOOPS/ActiveX. The integration classes allow developers to quickly implement complex operations by providing interoperable toolkits, flexible class architecture, and free source.