Title: MNCadBuilder - RapidCAD with Delphi (OpenGL)
Question: Delphi and 3D CAD development - the first steps of a solution
Answer:
1. Install the MNCadBuilder
---------------------------
Download the latest version (http://www.develocad.com/reg/download/mncadbuilder/mncb_lt.htm)
Execute setup (e.g. D:\MNCB)
When setup is finished please check "Start" - "All Programs" -
"MNCadBuilder" - "Switch Libraries to" -- the Delphi version you are using.
Now, the corresponding files (*.dcu; *.bpl for Win32 platforms and
*.dcuil; *.dll for .NET platforms) are copied to the root folder of your MNCB installation.
2. Integrate MNCadBuilder in to Delphi (using Delphi 7)
-------------------------------------------------------
Install package ("Component" - "Install packages") - Click "Add" Button, and
select MNLib.bpl from the root of your MNCB folder. Now the "MNCadBuilder - 3D cad components collection" is installed.
3. First steps
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Create a new project.
Please make sure, that the root path of your MNCB installation folder is in the search path.
Start "Project" - "Options" - select folder "Directories/Conditionals" and add the MNCB folder to the "Search path" settings.
Now we drag and drop a TMNOglCanvas component on to the form.
TMNOglCanvas is the central component for drawing and render output.
When assigning a Window control to the property WinControl, an "OpenGL render context" is created based on the Window Handle of the Window control.
So, let us assign the Form (Form1) to the WinControl.
We also change the BackgroundColor of the TMNOglCanvas to get a more friendly
background color (maybe clCream).
When we now want to draw an object in this render canvas, we can use some predefined ones. We drag and drop a TMNShape3D on to the form.
Now we have to inform the MNOglCanvas that he shall draw this shape. We set the _Entity property to MNShape3D1. A click on the form (in design mode) and the MNOglCanvas is refreshing.
When we set the MNOglCanvas property Navigate to TRUE, we can change the view of the MNOglCanvas at runtime (means changing the projection matrix of the canvas) .
When start the project, we see the designed shape. Because of Navigate is TRUE, we can change the view by pressing the left mouse button and moving the mouse. When you additionally press the [Ctrl] key you can translate the view in X and Y.
If you want a perspective view, you can change the MNOglCanvas property FieldOfView to a value 0 (e.g. 20 degree). After restarting the project you see the object in a perspective view. And now we can also translate the view in Z axis by pressing the [Shift] key, left mouse button down and moving the mouse in Y+/- direction.
These were some of the first steps with the MNCadBuilder.
Leopold Minikus
DeveloCAD.com
This is the source of the pas file:
unit _Beginner1;
interface
uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
Dialogs, _MNDevice, _MNObjects3D, _MNPlatform, _MNOglCanvas;
type
TForm1 = class(TForm)
MNOglCanvas1: TMNOglCanvas;
MNShape3D1: TMNShape3D;
private
{ Private-Deklarationen }
public
{ Public-Deklarationen }
end;
var
Form1: TForm1;
implementation
{$R *.dfm}
end.
This is the source of the dfm file:
object Form1: TForm1
Left = 350
Top = 352
Width = 736
Height = 447
Caption = 'Form1'
Color = clBtnFace
Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
Font.Color = clWindowText
Font.Height = -13
Font.Name = 'MS Sans Serif'
Font.Style = []
OldCreateOrder = False
PixelsPerInch = 120
TextHeight = 16
object MNOglCanvas1: TMNOglCanvas
MNName = 'MNOglCanvas1'
BackgroundColor = 15793151
Culling = True
Cursor = CR_Cross
DefaultLight = True
DefaultPixelsPerUnit = 30.000000000000000000
FieldOfView = 20.000000000000000000
FontName = 'Modern'
FontSize = 40
Lightning = True
CanFocus = True
WinControl = Owner
ZoomFactor = 1.000000000000000000
DrawFocusRect = False
Navigate = True
EyeLight = True
_Entity = MNShape3D1
_ProjectionBase.BaseX.x = 1.000000000000000000
_ProjectionBase.BaseY.y = 1.000000000000000000
_ProjectionBase.BaseZ.z = 1.000000000000000000
PixelsPerUnit = 30.000000000000000000
Left = 64
Top = 56
end
object MNShape3D1: TMNShape3D
MNName = 'MNShape3D1'
CatchEnabled = True
HitPriority = 0
MNBase.BaseX.x = 1.000000000000000000
MNBase.BaseY.y = 1.000000000000000000
MNBase.BaseZ.z = 1.000000000000000000
ParentAttributes = False
SelectEnabled = True
Visible = True
_Attributes.MaterialKind = MKNone
_Attributes.Material.Ambient = 4210752
_Attributes.Material.Diffuse = 6710886
_Attributes.Material.Specular = 13027014
_Attributes.Material.Emission = 0
_Attributes.Material.Shininess = 76.800000000000000000
_Attributes.Material.Translucent = 1.000000000000000000
_Attributes.PenWidth = 1
_Attributes.PenStyle = psSolid
Shape = s3d_Box
Length = 3.000000000000000000
Width = 3.000000000000000000
Height = 3.000000000000000000
Filled = True
Left = 88
Top = 112
end
end