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<h1 align="center"><a name="top"></a>Going Further with Cosmo Player 2.1.1</h1>
<p align="center">Copyright &copy; 1997-1999 PLATINUM technology, inc. All rights reserved.</p>
<hr>
<p>Cosmo Player plugs in to your Web browser to enable you to see and explore 3D worlds.
With Cosmo Player you can visit any 3D world authored in the Virtual Reality Modeling
Language (VRML). These 3D worlds often include other kinds of multimedia, like sound and
movies. (For more on VRML, see the Cosmo Software site at <a
href="http://cosmosoftware.com" target="_blank">http://cosmosoftware.com</a> and the VRML
Consortium site at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.vrml.org" target="_blank">http://www.vrml.org</a>.)</p>
<p>This manual presents the task-oriented information you need to get the most out of
Cosmo Player. It also tells you how to customize Cosmo Player.</p>
<p><a href="frames-help.html" target="_top">Getting Started with Cosmo Player 2.1.1</a>
shows you the basics of navigation. <a href="frames-quickref.html" target="_top">Cosmo
Player 2.1.1 Quick Reference</a> gives brief descriptions of each of the elements in the
Cosmo Player interface. You can find more technical information about installation and
trouble-shooting in the <a href="frames-relnotes.html" target="_top">Release Notes.</a></p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="usingcpctrls"></a>Using Cosmo Player Controls</h2>
<p>An <em>unselected</em> button is gray-green. A <em>selected</em> button is bright
green. <em>Unavailable</em> buttons are flat and gray.</p>
<p>When you pass the pointer over a button, its name and description are displayed. You
can turn off the display of names and descriptions.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><img src="label.gif" alt="label.gif (3314 bytes)"></p>
</blockquote>
<h4><em>To turn pop-up button </em>names <em>and</em> descriptions<em> off/on</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the <em>upper</em> triangle at the bottom-left of the dashboard.</li>
</ul>
<h4><em>To turn pop-up button </em>descriptions<em> off/on</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the <em>lower</em> triangle at the bottom-left of the dashboard.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="resizingdash"></a>Resizing the Dashboard</h3>
<p>You can minimize the dashboard to devote more of the Cosmo Player window to the 3D
world. When the dashboard is minimized, you can use keyboard equivalents for Cosmo Player
buttons. See &quot;<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using Keyboard Commands.</a>&quot; Of
course, you can also re-expand the dashboard.</p>
<h4><em>To minimize the dashboard</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the small triangle in the <em>upper</em>-left corner of the dashboard. <br><br>
<img src="minimize.gif" alt="minimize.gif (2972 bytes)"></li>
</ul>
<h4><em>To re-expand the dashboard</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the small triangle in the <em>bottom</em>-left corner of the minimized dashboard.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="understandctrls"></a>Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</h3>
<p>Cosmo Player has two sets of controls: you use the Movement controls to move around in
3D worlds, and you use the Examine controls to examine objects in a 3D world. </p>
<p>Some worlds allow you to use only Movement controls (<strong>Go, Slide,</strong> and <strong>Tilt</strong>).
Other worlds allow you to use only Examine controls (<strong>Rotate, Pan,</strong> and <strong>Zoom</strong>).
Still other worlds allow you to use both Movement and Examine controls. </p>
<p>Even if both sets of controls are available to you, it's usually best to use the
controls that are displayed when you first enter a world. <em>You could easily become
disoriented by switching randomly from one set of controls to another!</em></p>
<p>If your dashboard looks like this</p>
<p><img src="simplemovedash.gif" alt="simplemovedash.gif (18044 bytes)"></p>
<p>use <strong>Go, Slide, </strong>and <strong>Tilt </strong>to move around in the world.
See &quot;<a href="#movingaround">Moving Around in a World.</a>&quot;</p>
<p>If your dashboard looks like this</p>
<p><img src="examinedash.gif" alt="examinedash.gif (17917 bytes)"></p>
<p>use <strong>Rotate, Pan</strong>, and <strong>Zoom </strong>to examine objects in the
world. See &quot;<a href="#examobjects">Examining Objects in a World.</a>&quot;</p>
<p>When you switch from one set of controls to the other, only the Movement and Examine
controls change. Other Cosmo Player controls (for example, <strong>Seek, Straighten, Undo
Move,</strong> and <strong>Redo Move</strong>) remain the same. See also &quot;<a
href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using Keyboard Commands.</a>&quot;</p>
<h4><em>To switch between Movement and Examine controls</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the <strong>Change Controls</strong> button.<br>
<img src="examine2.gif" alt="examine2.gif (17857 bytes)"><br>
<em>Or</em></li>
<li>Press <strong>`</strong> (backquote), <strong>~</strong> (tilde), or <strong>-</strong>
(minus key on numeric keypad).</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="usingmousekybd"></a>Using Mouse and Keyboard</h3>
<p>You can navigate with the mouse, the keyboard, or both mouse and keyboard. </p>
<p>To navigate with the mouse, choose a control and drag in the window. There are several
ways of doing this:
<ul>
<li>Click a control, release the mouse button, and then click-and-drag in the window.<br>
When you release the mouse, the control remains &quot;permanently&quot; selected until you
click another.</li>
<li>Click a control, hold down the mouse button, and drag in the window.<br>
This method temporarily selects a control: when you release the mouse button, selection
reverts to the last button &quot;permanently&quot; selected.</li>
<li>Hold down <strong>Ctrl</strong> or <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily select a control.<br>
When you release <strong>Ctrl</strong> or <strong>Alt,</strong> selection reverts to the
last button &quot;permanently&quot; selected. See &quot;<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using
Keyboard Commands</a>&quot; and &quot;<a href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences.</a>&quot;</li>
</ul>
<p>To navigate with the keyboard, choose a control and press the arrow keys (singly or in
combination). </p>
<p>Most controls have keyboard equivalents.</p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="movingaround"></a>Moving Around in a World</h2>
<p>Cosmo Player gives you several different ways of exploring a 3D world. </p>
<p>You can choose from a list of interesting points in the world. See &quot;<a
href="#navviewpts">Navigating with Viewpoints.</a>&quot;</p>
<p>If you get disoriented, you can use <strong>Seek, Straighten, Undo Move,</strong> and <strong>Redo
Move</strong> to find your way again. See &quot;<a href="#godirect">Going Directly to an
Object,</a>&quot; &quot;<a href="#straightening">Straightening Your View,</a>&quot; and
&quot;<a href="#undoredo">Undoing and Redoing Movements.</a>&quot;</p>
<p>You will often want to use the Movement controls, <strong>Go, Slide,</strong> <strong>Tilt</strong>,
<strong>Float,</strong> and <strong>Gravity.</strong> See &quot;<a href="#goforwardback">Moving
Forward and Backward,</a>&quot; &quot;<a href="#sliding">Sliding Up, Down, Left, or Right,</a>&quot;
&nbsp; &quot;<a href="#tilting">Tilting Your View,</a>&quot;&nbsp;and &quot;<a
href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a World.</a>&quot;</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="navviewpts"></a>Navigating with Viewpoints</h3>
<p>One of the simplest ways of exploring a world is to move between viewpoints. Viewpoints
are named locations that the world's author has defined. </p>
<p><img src="Viewpoint.gif" alt="Viewpoint.gif (4493 bytes)"></p>
<h4><em>To navigate with viewpoints</em></h4>
<ul>
<li>Click the <strong>Viewpoint List</strong> button and choose a viewpoint from the pop-up
list<br>
The current viewpoint is checkmarked. The current viewpoint is displayed in the <strong>Current
Viewpoint</strong> box.<br>
<em>Or</em></li>
<li>Click the <strong>Next Viewpoint</strong> or <strong>Previous Viewpoint</strong> button.<br>
You can press <strong>Page Down</strong> for <strong>Next Viewpoint</strong> or <strong>Page
Up</strong> for <strong>Previous Viewpoint.</strong> <br>
<em>Or</em></li>
<li>Press the <strong>Home</strong> key to return to your initial viewpoint in the world.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="godirect"></a>Going Directly to an Object</h3>
<p><small><strong>Seek</strong></small> <img src="b7aseek.gif"
alt="b7aseek.gif (1439 bytes)" align="middle"> </p>
<p>Use the <strong>Seek</strong> button to go directly to an object in the 3D world.</p>
<h4><em>To seek an object</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click <strong>Seek.<br>
</strong>The <strong>Seek</strong> button is selected.</li>
<li>Click an object to &quot;seek&quot; it.<br>
You move directly to the object, and the <strong>Seek</strong> button is unselected.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can also put Cosmo Player in <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> mode, which makes
your pointer act as if <strong>Seek</strong> were being continually pressed. </p>
<p>In <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> mode other navigation controls continue to
function, but you don't interact with active objects. (An active object is one that will
do something--like play sound or an animation--when you click it or drag-and-click it. See
&quot;<a href="#activeobjects">Activating Objects.</a>&quot;)</p>
<h4><em>To move in Continuous Seek mode</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Double-click <strong>Seek.<br>
</strong>The <strong>Seek</strong> button turns white: <img src="c7seek.gif"
alt="c7seek.gif (1620 bytes)" align="middle"></li>
<li>Click objects.<br>
You can also click and drag to navigate normally with the navigation control you have
selected.</li>
<li>Turn off <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> by clicking <strong>Seek</strong> again.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can program a mouse button or key to turn on <strong>Continuous Seek</strong>. See
&quot;<a href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences.</a>&quot;</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="straightening"></a>Straightening Your View</h3>
<p><small><strong>Straighten</strong></small> <img src="b12astr8.gif"
alt="b12astr8.gif (1310 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p><strong>Straighten</strong> is especially useful if you've become disoriented--facing
the ground, for example--and want to return to a position from which it is easier to
navigate.</p>
<p>Click the <strong>Straighten</strong> button to return your view to an upright
position.</p>
<p>You can also press the <strong>End</strong> key to straighten your view.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="undoredo"></a>Undoing and Redoing Movements</h3>
<p><small><strong>Undo Move/Redo Move</strong></small> <img src="b11aundo.gif"
alt="b11aundo.gif (2007 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Cosmo Player keeps track of each place you stop in a world. Use the <strong>Undo Move</strong>
and <strong>Redo Move</strong> buttons to move backward and forward in the list of places
you've visited. </p>
<p>Keyboard equivalents for <strong>Undo Move</strong> are <strong>Delete</strong> or <strong>Backspace.</strong>
Keyboard equivalents for <strong>Redo Move</strong> are <strong>Insert</strong> or <strong>Shift</strong>+<strong>Backspace.</strong></p>
<p>If you've made a mistake in navigation, <strong>Undo Move</strong> is a quick way to
get back to where you were. </p>
<p>After you've used <strong>Undo Move</strong> at least once, <strong>Redo Move</strong>
enables you to move forward through the locations you've &quot;undone.&quot;</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="goforwardback"></a>Moving Forward and Backward</h3>
<p><small><strong>Go</strong></small> <img src="b1ago.gif"
alt="b1ago.gif (1832 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Go</strong> button (the default Movement control) to move in any
direction in the world. </p>
<p><strong>Go</strong> turns your point of view in the direction of movement. </p>
<h4><em>To go in any direction</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Make sure Cosmo Player is in Movement mode.<br>
See &quot;<a href="#understandctrls">Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</a>.&quot;</li>
<li>If <strong>Go</strong> is not already selected, click the <strong>Go</strong> button.</li>
<li>Drag up to go forward, down to go backward, left to go left, or right to go right.<br>
You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.
Hold down <strong>Shift</strong> to go faster (the <strong>Go</strong> button turns
white).</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h3><a name="sliding"></a>Sliding Up, Down, Left, or Right</h3>
<p><small><strong>Slide</strong></small> <img src="b2slide.gif"
alt="b2slide.gif (1780 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Slide</strong> button (a Movement control) to slide up, down, left, or
right in a world. Unlike <strong>Go</strong>, <strong>Slide</strong> does not turn your point of view in
the direction of movement. See also &quot;<a href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a
World.</a>&quot;</p>
<h4><em>To slide in any direction</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click <strong>Slide.</strong><br>
You can also press <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily switch to <strong>Slide</strong>
from any other selected Movement control. (Once you release <strong>Alt,</strong>
selection reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
<li>Drag up to slide up, down to slide down, left to slide left, or right to slide right.<br>
You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.
Hold down <strong>Shift</strong> to slide faster (the <strong>Slide</strong> button turns
white).</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h3><a name="tilting"></a>Tilting Your View</h3>
<p><small><strong>Tilt</strong></small> <img src="b3tilt.gif"
alt="b3tilt.gif (1698 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Tilt</strong> button (a Movement control) to tilt your view of the
world as if you were tilting a camera. You cannot turn your view upside down with <strong>Tilt.</strong></p>
<h4><em>To tilt your view in any direction</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click <strong>Tilt.</strong><br>
You can also press <strong>Ctrl</strong> to temporarily switch to <strong>Tilt</strong>
from any other selected Movement control. (Once you release <strong>Ctrl,</strong>
selection reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
<li>Drag up to tilt up, down to tilt down, left to tilt left, or right to tilt right.<br>
You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h3><a name="walkfly"></a>Walking or Flying Through a World</h3>
<p><small><strong>Gravity </strong></small><img src="b9grav.gif"
alt="b9grav.gif (1532 bytes)" align="middle"><small><strong> </strong></small><img
src="b10float.gif" alt="b10float.gif (1596 bytes)" align="middle"><small><strong>
Float</strong></small></p>
<p>Depending on how a world is designed, gravity can be turned on or off when
you're using the Movement controls. When gravity is on, you walk along the ground. When
gravity is off, you can float up off the ground.</p>
<p>If the author of a world has given you the choice of walking or flying, you can
use the <strong>Float</strong> button to be able rise up into the air or the <strong>Gravity</strong>
button to be able to walk on the ground.</p>
<p>When <strong>Gravity</strong> is selected, you cannot move off the ground. When you
walk, you follow the ups and downs of the surface. If you are in mid-air when you turn <strong>Gravity</strong>
on, you fall to the ground.</p>
<p>When <strong>Float</strong> is selected, you can move off the ground with <strong>Slide,
</strong>unless the author has specified that gravity is always on. See &quot;<a
href="#sliding">Sliding Up, Down, Left, Right.</a>&quot;</p>
<p>The keyboard equivalent for switching between <strong>Float</strong> and <strong>Gravity</strong>
is the <strong>Tab</strong> key or&nbsp; <strong>+</strong> (plus sign on numeric keypad).</p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="examobjects"></a>Examining Objects in the World</h2>
<p>You examine objects primarily by using the Examine controls: <strong>Rotate, Pan,</strong>
and <strong>Zoom.</strong> These work best with objects floating in space--it's better to
use the Movement controls when you're navigating in a world with &quot;sky&quot; and
&quot;ground&quot; or &quot;floor&quot; and &quot;ceiling.&quot; See &quot;&quot;<a
href="#understandctrls">Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</a>.&quot; See also &quot;<a
href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a World.</a>&quot;</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="rotation"></a>Making an Object Rotate</h3>
<p><small><strong>Rotate</strong></small> <img src="b4rotate.gif"
alt="b4rotate.gif (2120 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Rotate</strong> button (the default Examine control) to spin an object
in front of you. </p>
<h4><em>To rotate an object</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>If <strong>Rotate</strong> is not already selected, click the <strong>Rotate</strong>
button.</li>
<li>Drag the pointer in the direction you want to rotate the object.<br>
You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Rotate an object faster by
holding down an arrow key and <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>You can also make an object spin by itself when
<strong>Rotate</strong> is selected: just rotate the object normally
by dragging the mouse, but release the mouse with a
&quot;throwing&quot; motion (by releasing the mouse button while
you're still dragging.) The object in front of you continues to
spin even after you release the mouse.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a name="panning"></a>Panning Up, Down, Left, and Right</h3>
<p><small><strong>Pan</strong></small> <img src="b5pan.gif"
alt="b5pan.gif (2009 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Pan</strong> button (an Examine control) to pan up, down, left, and
right.</p>
<h4><em>To pan</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click <strong>Pan.</strong><br>
You can also press <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily select <strong>Pan</strong> when
another Examine control is active. (Once you release <strong>Alt,</strong> selection
reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
<li>Drag up, down, left, or right.<br>
You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Pan faster by holding down an
arrow key and <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h3><a name="zooming"></a>Zooming In and Out</h3>
<p><small><strong>Zoom</strong></small> <img src="b6zoom.gif"
alt="b6zoom.gif (1847 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
<p>Use the <strong>Zoom</strong> button (an Examine control) to zoom in or out.</p>
<h4><em>To zoom in or out</em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click <strong>Zoom.</strong><br>
You can also press <strong>Ctrl</strong> to temporarily select <strong>Zoom</strong> when
another Examine control is active. (Once you release <strong>Ctrl,</strong> selection
reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
<li>Drag up to zoom in or drag down to zoom out.<br>
You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Zoom faster by holding down an
arrow key and pressing <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h2><a name="activeobjects"></a>Activating Objects</h2>
<p>An active object is one that will do something when you click it or click-and-drag it.
Typical actions include playing sound or an animation, taking you to a different place in
the world or to a new world or Web page, or displaying information in your browser. </p>
<p>When you move the pointer over an active object, the pointer changes to a starburst.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><img src="starburst.jpg" alt="starburst.jpg"></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong><em>Note: </em></strong>When <strong>Seek</strong> or <strong>Continuous Seek</strong>
is selected, touchable objects remain inactive. See &quot;<a href="#godirect">Going
Directly to an Object.</a>&quot;</p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="usingkybdshrtcts"></a>Using Keyboard Commands</h2>
<p>You can use keyboard commands as substitutes for Cosmo Player dashboard controls.
Keyboard commands are especially useful when the dashboard is minimized. See &quot;<a
href="#resizingdash">Resizing the Dashboard.</a>&quot; See also &quot;<a
href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences</a>&quot; on how to customize mouse buttons and
some keys for left-handed or right-handed use.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td><em><strong>Action</strong></em></td>
<td><em><strong>Keyboard Command</strong></em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Switch Movement/Examine controls</strong></td>
<td><strong>`</strong> [backquote], <strong>~</strong> [tilde], <em>or</em> <strong>-</strong>
[minus sign on numeric keypad]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Slide</strong> (Movement)</td>
<td><strong>Alt</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement)</td>
<td><strong>Ctrl</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Pan</strong> (Examine)</td>
<td><strong>Alt</strong> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine)</td>
<td><strong>Ctrl</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Move/Examine</strong> with selected<br>
control</td>
<td>arrow keys</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Turbo</strong> (accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>)</td>
<td><strong>Shift</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Previous viewpoint</strong></td>
<td><strong>Page Up</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Next viewpoint</strong></td>
<td><strong>Page Down</strong> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Return to entry viewpoint</strong></td>
<td><strong>Home</strong> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Straighten</strong></td>
<td><strong>End</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Undo move</strong></td>
<td><strong>Delete</strong> <em>or</em> <strong>Backspace</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Redo move</strong></td>
<td><strong>Insert</strong> <em>or</em> <strong>Shift</strong>+<strong>Backspace</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Switch Gravity/Float</strong></td>
<td><strong>Tab </strong><em>or</em><strong> +</strong> [plus sign on numeric keypad]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Switch headlight on/off</strong></td>
<td><strong>*</strong> [multiplication sign on numeric keypad]</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr>
<h2><a name="settingprefs"></a>Setting Preferences</h2>
<h4><em>To set preferences </em></h4>
<ol>
<li>Click the <strong>Preferences</strong> button on the lower-right of the dashboard.<br>
<img src="prefsbutton.gif" alt="prefsbutton.gif (5755 bytes)"><br>
The <strong>Preferences window</strong> is displayed.<br>
<img src="prefspanel.gif" alt="prefspanel.gif (5911 bytes)"></li>
<li>Click a tab in the <strong>Preferences window. </strong></li>
<li>Set or change options by clicking checkboxes, radio buttons, or list items.</li>
<li>Click <strong>OK</strong> to set the new options or click <strong>Cancel</strong> to
revert to previous options and close the <strong>Preferences window.</strong></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefworld"></a>World</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Collision Detection On</strong></dt>
<dd>When collision detection is on, Cosmo Player will prevent your walking or flying through
solid objects in the scene.</dd>
<dt><strong>Headlight On [keypad * key]</strong></dt>
<dd>Turns the headlight on and off. Try using this option when the lighting doesn't look
right in the world you're exploring.</dd>
<dt><strong>Navigation Speed</strong></dt>
<dd>Changes the speed at which you move through the world. The &quot;as-is&quot; speed is
set by the author, but you can accelerate or decelerate the author's setting.</dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<h3><a name="preperf"></a>Performance</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Animate transitions between viewpoints</strong></dt>
<dd>When selected, your perspective shifts smoothly as you move from one viewpoint to
another. When deselected, your perspective jumps as you move from one viewpoint to
another.</dd>
<dt><strong>Nice Transparency</strong></dt>
<dd>Blends transparent colors with the objects behind them.</dd>
<dt><strong>Textures</strong></dt>
<dd>When selected, gives all background texture and image details, with possible reduction
in performance. Textures are images that are mapped onto the surfaces of some 3D objects.
If you turn off textures in a world that makes heavy use of them, you won't see the world
as its author intended. </dd>
<dt><strong>Image/Texture Quality</strong></dt>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Automatic</strong> - Attempts to make balance performance and quality. </li>
<li><strong>Best Quality</strong> - Provides maximum image quality but can reduce
performance speed, especially if you don't have hardware 3D acceleration on your system. </li>
<li><strong>Fastest</strong> - Ensures maximum performance speed, with possible degradation
of image quality. </li>
<li><strong>Enable specular and emissive color shine-through on
textured objects</strong> - When selected, specular and emissive
lighting will be unaffected by textures on objects. This is the
correct behavior according to the VRML spec, but it may degrade
performance (only on some systems), and it may cause textured
objects in some non-spec-compliant worlds to appear &quot;washed
out&quot;.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefmouse"></a>Mouse</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Mouse Drag Feedback</strong></dt>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>None</strong> - Provides no indication of where you clicked the mouse button.</li>
<li><strong>Crosshair at Mouse-down Point</strong> - Places a crosshair where you clicked
the mouse button.</li>
<li><strong>Crosshair and Rubberband</strong> - Places a crosshair where you clicked the
mouse button and draws a line from there to the current pointer location. This option
applies only to movement with <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide.</strong></li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Right/Middle Mouse Button</strong></dt>
<dd>The effect of the following options depends on your input device.</dd>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Slide/Pan</strong> - Turns the right/middle mouse button into a shortcut to
activate <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong> (Examine mode).</li>
<li><strong>Tilt/Zoom</strong> - Turns the right/middle mouse button into a shortcut to
activate <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode)).</li>
<li><strong>Continuous Seek</strong> - Keeps <strong>Seek</strong> turned on. Dragging
navigates as usual; clicking moves you to the object.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefkybd"></a>Keyboard</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>CTRL/ALT</strong></dt>
<dd>Determines how the control keys toggle between Cosmo Player commands. You can optimize
for either right-handed or left-handed use. See &quot;<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using
Keyboard Commands.&quot;</a></dd>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Right-handed: CTRL=Tilt/Zoom and ALT=Slide/Pan</strong> - Pressing <strong>Ctrl</strong>
changes to <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode).
Pressing <strong>Alt</strong> changes to <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong>
(Examine mode). </li>
<li><strong>Left-handed: CTRL=Slide/Pan and ALT=Tilt/Zoom</strong> - Pressing <strong>Alt</strong>
changes to <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode).
Pressing <strong>Ctrl</strong> changes to <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong>
(Examine mode). </li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt><strong>SHIFT</strong></dt>
<dd>Determines the effect of the <strong>Shift</strong> key on <strong>Go, Slide,</strong>
and <strong>Seek.</strong></dd>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Turbo Mode</strong> - Accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>
when the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed.</li>
<li><strong>Turbo Mode and Continuous Seek</strong> - Accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>
when the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed and activates <strong>Continuous Seek.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Continuous Seek Only</strong> - Activates <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> when
the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefaudio"></a>Audio</h3>
<p>These options do not take effect immediately. You must either reload the current world
or visit another one.
<dl>
<dt><strong>Spatialize Audio</strong></dt>
<dd>When selected, sounds seem to originate from left, right, behind, or forward. Choose an
output device.</dd>
<dt><strong>Max. number of simultaneous (non-MIDI) sounds</strong></dt>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Automatic</strong> - Sets the maximum number of non-MIDI sounds to equal the
number in the world you're navigating.</li>
<li><strong>Custom: __ Sounds</strong> - Type the maximum number of non-MIDI sounds you want
to allow. Performance may degrade when you set values above 6.</li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Automatic Muting</strong></dt>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mute when window is not active</strong> - Turns off sounds in inactive windows.</li>
<li><strong>Never mute</strong> - Allows sounds to continue in inactive windows. </li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefgraphics"></a>Graphics</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Renderer Selection</strong></dt>
<dd>The Cosmo Player renderer draws the 3D image. Your renderer may be software-only or it
may also use hardware acceleration, if it is available on your system. Cosmo Player
provides two renderers: OpenGL (an industry standard) and Direct3D (a Microsoft standard).
Either renderer can use hardware acceleration. If your system has hardware acceleration
for either OpenGL or Direct3D, Automatic Renderer Selection will choose the appropriate
renderer for you.</dd>
<dt><strong>Force Software-only Rendering</strong></dt>
<dd>Choosing this option forces Cosmo Player to use only software rendering, even if your
system has hardware acceleration.</dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<h3><a name="prefadv"></a>Advanced</h3>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Examine Viewer Style</strong></dt>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Standard Examiner</strong> - The object <em>always</em> rotates in the direction
of your mouse-drag. </li>
<li><strong>Virtual Trackball</strong> - Rotation depends on <em>the point on the screen</em>
where you grabbed the object.</li>
</ul>
<dl>
<dt><strong>VRML Console Behavior</strong></dt>
<dd>Determines when the VRML console is displayed (for VRML developers). Flashing yellow
warning and red error lights on the dashboard are your signal to open the VRML console for
messages.</dd>
</dl>
<ul>
<li><strong>Show console on error or warning</strong> - Displays the VRML console when a
VRML error or warning is encountered in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Show console on startup</strong> - Displays the VRML console whenever Cosmo
Player starts.</li>
<li><strong>Display VRML Console now</strong> - Displays the VRML console. Keyboard
equivalent:<em>&nbsp; </em><strong>\</strong><em> </em>(backslash).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Feedback on Cosmo Player</strong> - Click <strong>Submit Feedback</strong> to
send a comment to Cosmo Player engineering.</p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="support"></a>Cosmo Player Support</h2>
<p>Cosmo Player support is currently available in English only on the Cosmo Software site
at <a href="http://cosmosoftware.com" target="_blank">http://cosmosoftware.com</a> or for
a per incident charge through our call center at 1-888-91-COSMO. Cosmo Support Services
call center provides support from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.</p>
<hr>
<address>
<small>Part number 007-3853-002 / Revised October 28, 1998</small>
</address>
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