9.1 Using Mathematica to generate OOGL files

The package OOGL.m allows Mathematica to write graphics objects in OOGL format. To use it, give the command << OOGL.m to Mathematica to load the package. The WriteOOGL[file,graphics] command writes an OOGL description of the 3D graphics object graphics to the file named file.

This package also provides the Geomview command which sends a 3D graphics object to Geomview. The first time you use this command it starts up a copy of Geomview. Later calls send the graphics to the same Geomview. There are two ways to use the Geomview command.

Geomview[graphics]

Sends the 3D graphics object graphics to Geomview as a geom named Mathematica. Subsequent usage of Geomview[graphics] replaces the Mathematica object in Geomview with the new graphics.

Geomview[name,graphics]

Sends the 3D graphics object graphics to Geomview as a geom named name. You can use multiple calls of this form with different names to cause Geomview to display several Mathematica objects at once and allow independent control over them.

     % math
     Mathematica 2.0 for SGI Iris
     Copyright 1988-91 Wolfram Research, Inc.
      -- GL graphics initialized --
     
     In[1] := <<OOGL.m
     
     In[2] := Plot3D[Sin[x + Sin[y]], {x,-2,2},{y,-2,2}]
     
     Out[2] := -Graphics3D-

This displays graphics in the usual Mathematica way here.

     In[3] := WriteOOGL["math.oogl", %2]
     
     Out[3] := -Graphics3D-

This displays nothing new but writes the file math.oogl. You can now load that file into Geomview on any computer. Alternately, you can use the Geomview command to start up a copy of Geomview from within Mathematica.

     In[5] := Geomview[%2]
     
     Out[5] := -Graphics3D-