Plug-ins !

Yes, you're reading correctly. Ofcourse, one of the main advancements in 3DTop would be if applications could become part of 3DTop. Stay with us, read on further.

On this page you
will find some
paintings by
Marie-Louise
Blaauw that you
can use on your
3DTop also. If
you're interested
in her work, a
CDROM is
available and
can be ordered
at sales@3dtop.com.

Plug-ins !

The new, commercial, version of 3DTop will have the possibility for every program out there to make parts or the whole of their user-interface, or even the complete application, become a part of 3DTop. To accomplish this there are three very important features built into the plug-in structure:

1. A function that allows you to draw any OpenGL-based graphics you like in the 3DTop-scene.

2. A scheme for mouse-interaction and picking that very easily lets you build an application almost just like you used to.

3. Any application can send a message to 3DTop to start a particular plug-in.

Some Examples.
-Applications can be totally made as a plug-in. 3DTop gives programmers the possibility to use mouse-interaction, pushbuttons and draw into the 3DTop-scene. You can for instance create a CD-player ,walk around it, push buttons, start CD's, etc.
- Applications that want a more original look on the desktop can send a message to 3DTop that loads a 3-dimensional model they've created in OpenGL-code. If the user then double-clicks on the plug-in, the model can be animated and the application started.
- 3-Dimensional animated advertisements.
- Fun ! Desktop-games !
- Well-defined stand-alone parts of a user-interface of an application can be integrated into the desktop.
- Computer performance monitors.
- I've probably forgotten a lot also.

If you think : This is for me/us ! Send a mail to research@3dtop.com and we'll send you the necessary information and examples to start building plug-ins or applications immediately. Programming-skills and knowledge of OpenGL required !