We are considering using Java3D for visualization purposes. So fare we have relied on using iris explorer for our visualization need in our solutions. A common need is to visualize parameters on a surface which when it hit the visualization is composed of triangles with parameter values defined at the vertices.
What I think is the right Geometry object to use is IndexedTriangleArray, possible one of its subclasses depending on the meshs topology.
One problem with these classes is that the way I have understood them they do not store data as memory eficient as one may have hoped for, related to the fact that all the data array must be of equal length: 'number of vertices'.
The most 'sparse' array is likely to be the color data array. Here you store a color map which you indices into refers to as a function of which color that vertexs parameter mapped to. This color table is going to have fare fewer entries then there are vertices, still the length of this array must be the number of vertices.
One question I have (given that the above understanding is right): When one gets Java3D based on the 1.2 spec. and have the posibility to have Geometry refer data will this change: i.e. may the data arrays be of non equal length?
If any body read this and see I have misunderstood something (I have only now started learning Java3D) I would be happy to be told, the samething goes for my question...
Arne Halvorsen,
BSSI
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
