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Micrografx Simply3D 3
======================

System Requirements
===================

* 486DX or faster processor
* Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 or higher
* 8MB of RAM under Windows 95 (16MB recommended), 16MB of RAM under Windows NT (24MB recommended)
* CD-ROM drive
* Hard disk with 50MB of free space
* VGA video (SVGA recommended)
* Mouse or other pointing device


Installing Simply3D 3
======================

Note: Virus checkers installed with “strict” checking prevent you from copying files to the hard disk until the checker has gone over the file. If you have a virus checker on your system, disable the checker or set it to a different mode before installing Simply3D 3.

1. Start Windows.

2. Insert the Application CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. The Micrografx Simply3D Setup program automatically opens.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen. The Setup program guides you through the installation.


Uninstalling Simply3D
=====================

1. Click the Start button and point to Settings.

2. Click Control Panel, and double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

3. Click Micrografx Simply3D 3.

4. Click Add/Remove and follow the instructions on your screen.


Simply3D Catalogs Stored on CD-ROM
==================================
Simply3D catalogs contain professionally designed 3D objects, materials,lighting schemes, and animations that you can use in your 3D scenes. Depending on the installation options you select while installing Simply3D, your hard disk may not receive copies of all the catalogs.

To open a Simply3D catalog:

1 If the catalog window is not visible in Simply3D, click the catalog button on the Standard toolbar.
2 On the File menu, click Open Catalog. The Catalog browser appears, with a list of available catalogs. Each catalog's icon tells you whether the catalog is installed on the hard disk or located on CD-ROM.
3 Double-click the name of the catalog that you want. 
4 If Simply3D prompts you to insert the CD-ROM, insert the Simply3D CD-ROM, and click OK.

Tip
· If you have additional catalogs stored in a different location, click Browse and navigate to the location.



Problems with Playback of AVI Animation Files
=============================================
Simply3D 3 does not support the Intel Indeo(R) Video Interactive or Intel Indeo Video 5.xx compression codecs when saving AVI files.

The Windows 95 Media Player has problems playing back AVIs at some sizes when compressed using Microsoft Video1 or Indeo compression types.

If you experience problems, you can either re-save the AVI using a different type of compression, or play the AVI with Microsoft's ActiveMovie player. The player is available on Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web site.


Display Modes
=============
If you are running the application with your display set to 8-bit (256 colors) and experience problems viewing the illustrations in the Help files, try setting your display to a higher color depth.

You might need to close Simply3D 3 before changing your display's color-depth setting.


Direct3D Acceleration
=====================
Simply3D 3 can use Direct3D for acceleration in both software and hardware support modes. These modes and issues specific to each are discussed below. If you encounter problems when switching between Hardware Direct3D and Software Direct3D modes within Simply3D 3, close and re-launch the application after changing the acceleration type.

Note that Simply3D 3 is designed to be used with DirectX version 3.0 and higher. If you have an earlier version of DirectX, the installation updates it to 5.0 if you are running under Windows 95.  If you are running Windows NT, please make sure that you have service pack 3 installed in order to get Direct3D acceleration.

Direct3D Hardware may not support 24-bit display mode.  In order to take full advantage of your video card's Direct3D capabilities, it is strongly recommended that you run Simply3D in either 16-bit or 32-bit mode.

Direct3D with Software
======================
In software-only mode, all the 3D computations necessary for displaying the scene are handled by the CPU. 

To enable Direct3D software-only mode in Simply3D 3:

1  On the Tools menu, click Options.

2  In the Acceleration box, select Direct3D.

3  Make sure that Double Buffered and Texture Map are also selected.

Direct3D with Hardware
======================
In hardware mode, the 3D computations necessary for displaying the scene are handled by dedicated 3D-acceleration hardware (typically found on a specialized video card) instead of by the CPU. With appropriate 3D hardware, Direct3D can significantly speed up the drawing of your 3D scenes.

If you are unsure whether your video card has 3D acceleration, you should contact your video-card manufacturer before attempting to switch on Direct3D hardware support in Simply3D 3.

To switch on Direct3D hardware support, follow the steps above in the "Direct3D with Software" section, and then do the following:

1  In the Acceleration section of the Options dialog box, click the Advanced button.

2  Click Hardware Direct3D Support, and then click OK. This option is available only if your video card supports 3D acceleration at the current color depth.

If your hardware drivers are set up properly, you should get faster performance when previewing your 3D scenes. There are two issues to remember about hardware Direct3D support:

*  Most Direct3D-enabled hardware works best in 16-bit video modes (65,000 or 35,000 colors). True color (24 and 32 bit) and 256 color (8 bit) may be slower and, in fact, may disable hardware support altogether or even cause system crashes.

*  Many 3D accelerated cards only provide 3D acceleration at or below certain resolutions. Check the documentation that came with your 3D acceleration hardware to make sure you are running in an appropriate video mode before attempting Direct3D hardware support.


Saving a Scene
==============

Sequential Targa

When saving a Simply3D animated scene in Sequential Targa format(*.tga) scenes, limit the Save As name to four characters or less. Anything with a longer filename will be saved as the first four characters followed by four sequential numbers. Example: Longfilename.tga would appear as Long0001.tga.



Importing non-S3D files
========================

3D File types

When loading large DXF files, wait for about 10 minutes before assuming that Simply3D has locked up.  Even though the task manager may show "not responding", it doesn't necessarily mean that it's locked up.

Simply3D 3 does not load Visual Reality 2.0 Unisphere files correctly.  Attempting to load one will produce unpredictable results.

Internet JPEGS (Progressive JPEGS)

Simply3D 3 does not support JPEGS that you extract from a Web page in their original, or progressive format. You must first load these files into an image editing program such as Picture Publisher and re-save them as a normal JPEG. Simply3D 3 will accept normal JPEGS.


Vector graphics

Vector graphics such as WMF may appear with reversed colors in Simply3D 3. These problems are increased when a vector graphic file contains multiple objects, or complex colors and patterns. 


2D File types

Simply3D 3 will handle simple 2D files.  Complex files may not be handled correctly.

Simply3D 3 does not recognize text from 2D formats as text.  Create text within Simply3D 3.

If your 2D object comes in stretched horizontally after opening, use the Scale X tool to adjust its width.

If an imported 2D shape doesn't look right after you open it with File/Open, try opening it in the application that created it, copying it to the clipboard, and then pasting into Simply3D.

In most 2D files, an outline around a shape can cause problems when you import the shape into Simply3D.  To avoid this, delete the outline around the shape within the application that it was created in, and then import the shape into Simply3D.

2D shapes created in MS Office also include the rectangle that comprises the backdrop of the image when it is in one of the Office programs.  To get rid of this object when you get in Simply3D, right click on the object in the Scene Explorer and choose to "Separate Objects." Then, select the white rectangle object and delete it.

Text copied from another application and pasted into Simply3D 3 will not bring with it the appropriate font and sizing information.  To avoid potential problems, create your text in the text tool or the text wizard.



Printing OLE Objects in Microsoft Office Products
=================================================

You must render a scene in Simply3D 3 before inserting it as an OLE object in a program like Microsoft Word. Objects that are not rendered before they are inserted will not appear on the printed page.


Other things to know
====================

Some animation paths (such as the scale and rotate paths) are not changeable with the modify animation path tool.

If you are using 800x600 display resolution in combination with large fonts, the project wizard will be too large for the screen.  Switch to small fonts to avoid this problem.

Due to Direct3D and OpenGL limitations, you cannot preview the following catalog lighting effects: Animated Attenuation, Circle Round, Parallel Light 1 and Parallel Light 2.  To see these, save the scene as an animated GIF, AVI, or FLC file.

Do not view VRML files in Live Picture's RealSpace viewers.  It is not capable of fully supporting the VRML 2 format that is most commonly used.  

If an IVR file that you've saved looks pixelated when you view it with Live Picture's RealSpace viewer, try re-saving the file with the Simply3D project window set to a larger size. 

Make sure to close Simply3D before changing color depths in your Display Properties.  Failing to do so may cause undesirable affects.

If you plan to use the Intervista WorldView plug-in for viewing VRML files in PowerPoint, you must install PowerPoint 97 before installing the plug-in.

When you insert a VRML frame into a PowerPoint slide show, an icon in the lower right corner takes you to the Intervista WorldView homepage.  This link only works in Internet Explorer 4.0.

If your VRML objects aren't visible after you insert them into a PowerPoint slide show, turn off the Intervista WorldView plug-in's "Use hardware acceleration" setting or change your display to a different color depth.

When you create 3D text, only TrueType fonts are supported.  ATM and Type1 fonts are not supported.

Creating a morph animation for objects in a parent-child hierarchy will combine them into a single object.




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Where to Find Help
------------------------------------------------------------

Online Help -- The Simply3D 3 context-sensitive, online help system is designed so you can easily find the information you want.

Technical Support -- Micrografx offers a number of technical support services. Please call (972) 234-2694 for further information regarding free and fee-based support options, fax support, and online services.

Web Site -- You can contact Micrografx through our World Wide Web site on the Internet. Our Web address is http://www.micrografx.com.


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