User`s guide

VRML Editors

5-3

• “Native VRML Editors” on page 5-4

• “3D World Editor” on page 5-4

Text Editors

A VRML file uses a standard text format that you can read with any text editor. Reading

the VRML code in a text editor is useful for debugging and for directly changing VRML

code, as well as for automated processing of the code. If you use the correct VRML

syntax, you can use the MATLAB Editor or any common text editor to create virtual

worlds.

Consider using a text editor to work on a VRML virtual world when you want to:

• Create a very simple virtual world.

• Debug syntax and formatting errors in a VRML file. Corrupted VRML files do not

open in most 3-D tools.

• Learn about VRML syntax by using VRML syntax highlighting in the MATLAB

Editor. For details, see “VRML Syntax Highlighting in the MATLAB Editor”.

• Perform global search VRML editing operations across one or more VRML files.

• Combine several VRML models. Combining models can involve temporary model

inconsistencies, which most 3-D tools cannot handle.

VRML Syntax Highlighting in the MATLAB Editor

You can display VRML syntax highlighting in the MATLAB Editor.

To change MATLAB Editor properties for VRML syntax highlighting (for example, the

color for highlighting comments or not using the smart indentation feature):

In MATLAB, select Preferences > Editor/Debugger > Language.

In the Editor/Debugger Language Preferences dialog box, set the Language field to

VRML.

Change the highlighting properties that you want.

General 3-D Editors

General 3-D editors, such as 3D Studio, SolidWorks

, or Autodesk

Maya, do not use

VRML as their native format. They export their formats to VRML. These tools have

many features and are relatively easy to use.