View VRML file with WebGL-capable browser

Question

I have a legacy application that generates VRML 1.0 files. I'd like to build a WebGL-based web interface that can display these VRML files. Is there an easy way to do so?

Edit: Specified that they are VRML 1.0.

Answer 1

If you can get it to VRML 2.0 (VRML '97) using a tool like the above-referenced one from Parallelgraphics, you can use the Fraunhofer Institute's tools (see discussion and links to InstantReality at http://www.x3dom.org/?page_id=532) to go from VRML 2 to either X3DOM or X3D. With Firefox or Chrome and a current graphics card and driver, you've got the WebGL support needed to run X3DOM. X3DOM handles only a subset of X3D, but can be referenced straight from XHTML and CSS, or plug-ins required. It's at a much higher level and easier to deal with than dealing directly with WebGL.

Answer 2

As I understand it, X3D is a development from VRML, and there's a WebGL-based renderer for it called X3DOM. Converting over is unlikely to be zero-effort, but it might be easier than trying to make the jump all the way to a "native" WebGL format.

Answer 3

VRML can be pretty complex with lots of interactivity and it doesn't look like a ont-to-one converter is available. However, here is what you could try:

1. Convert your VRML file to a standard OBJ file using something like MeshConv
2. Import the converted file in CopperLicht (Free) or CopperCube (Not free)

You will then have some kind of conversion of your VRML file which you can fine-tune.