OpenGL Performer^™  Programmer's Guide

Table of Contents

New Features in This Guide

About This Guide

Why Use OpenGL Performer?

What You Should Know Before Reading This Guide

How to Use This Guide

Internet and Hardcopy Reading for the OpenGL Performer Series

Bibliography

Obtaining Publications

Reader Comments

1. OpenGL Performer Programming Interface

General Naming Conventions

Class API

Base Classes

2. Setting Up the Display Environment

Using Pipes

Using Channels

Controlling the Video Output

Using Multiple Channels

Using Channel Groups

3. Nodes and Node Types

Nodes

Working with Nodes

Node Types

Sample Program

4. Database Traversal

Scene Graph Hierarchy

Application Traversal

Cull Traversal

Draw Traversal

Controlling and Customizing Traversals

Process Callbacks

Intersection Traversal

5. Frame and Load Control

Frame-Rate Management

Level-of-Detail Management

Maintaining Frame Rate Using D ynamic Vid eo Res olution

Dynamic Load Management

Successful Multiprocessing with OpenGL Performer

6. Creating Visual Effects

Using pfEarthSky

Atmospheric Effects

Patchy Fog and Layered Fog

7. Importing Databases

Overview of OpenGL Performer Database Creation and Conversion

libpfdu - Utilities for Creation of Efficient OpenGL Performer Run-Time Structures

Developing Custom Importers

Maximizing Database Loading and Paging Performance with PFB and PFI Formats

Supported Database Formats

Description of Supported Formats

Database Operators with Pseudo Loaders

8. Geometry

Geometry Sets

3D Text

9. Graphics State

Immediate Mode

10. Shader

Multipass Rendering

Using OpenGL as a Graphical Assembly Language

The pfFBState Class

Shading Concepts

The Default Shader State

Loading Shaders from Files

The OpenGL Performer Shader File Format

11. Using DPLEX and Hyperpipes

Hyperpipe Concepts

Configuring Hyperpipes

Configuring pfPipeWindows and pfChannels

Programming with Hyperpipes

12. ClipTextures

Overview

Cliptexture API

Preprocessing ClipTextures

Cliptexture Configuration

Configuration API

Post-Scene Graph Load Configuration

Manipulating Cliptextures

Using Cliptextures

13. Windows

pfWindows

Creating a pfWindow

Configuring the Framebuffer of a pfWindow

pfWindows and GL Windows

Manipulating a pfWindow

Communicating with the Window System

More pfWindow Examples

14. pfPipeWindows and pfPipeVideoChannels

Using pfPipeWindows

Controlling Video Displays

15. Managing Nongraphic System Tasks

Handling Queues

High-Resolution Clocks

Memory Allocation

Asynchronous I/O (IRIX only)

Error Handling and Notification

File Search Paths

16. Dynamic Data

pfFlux

pfEngine

Animating a Geometry

17. Active Surface Definition

Overview

Using ASD

ASD Solution Flow Chart

A Very Simple ASD

ASD Elements

Data Structures

pfASD Queries

Using ASD for Multiple Channels

Combining pfClipTex ture and pfASD

ASD Evaluation Function Timing

Paging

18. Light Points

Uses of Light Points

Creating a Light Point

Setting the Behavior of Light Points

Callbacks

Reducing CPU Processing Using Textures

Preprocessing Light Points

Calligraphic Light Points

Using pfCalligraphic Without pfChannel

Debugging Calligrap hic Lights on Non-Calligraphic Systems

Calligraphic Light Example

19. Math Routines

Vector Operations

Matrix Operations

Quaternion Operations

Matrix Stack Operations

Creating and Transforming Volumes

Intersecting Volumes

Creating and Working with Line Segments

General Math Routine Example Program

20. Statistics

Interpreting Statistics Displays

Collecting and Accessing Statistics in Your Application

21. Performance Tuning and Debugging

Performance-Tuning Overview

How OpenGL Performer Helps Performance

Specific Guidelines for Optimizing Performance

Performance Measurement Tools

Guidelines for Debugging

Memory Corruption and Leaks

Notes on Tuning for RealityEngine Graphics

22. Programming with C++

Overview

Class Taxonomy

Programming Basics

Porting from C API to C++ API

Subclassing pfObjects

Multiprocessing and Shared Memory

Performance Hints

Glossary

Index