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Before I get too far in developing my own 3D version of Algodoo's Phun Program, I am wanting to get some input on how the interface controls will best suit most users. I know that I won't please everyone, but at the same time I don't want to create an interface with annoying controls.

So far the user interface controls is based off of the Unreal Tournament level editor. I also have 4 simultaneous camera views on screen. 3D (Perspective), Top(orthogonal), Side(orthogonal), and Front(orthogonal). The camera view sizes are adjustable on the fly with a click and the movement of the mouse. As the camera views are adjusted the aspect of the views stays in their proper ratio's.

This program can currently also add cubes and CSG subtract with the movable wire-frame cube brush. The cube brush is also scalable with a push of button and move of the mouse.

I also know that custom interface controls will also be a must so that will also included of course.

I do need to purchase the BlueGUI add-on as well the Dark Physics package to boot. For me those will be a must when I get the money to buy them. for now, at least I have Cloddy's neat DLL to play with .

As a autodesk user at my work (I use autodesk inventor 2010), and I have been using autodesk software since 1994. I have tried many times with many different software package including turbo-cad and blender, etc at home to make models in. But what I have learned is that the interface is everything. A cube is a cube no matter what you draw it in but if I have to hunt for 15 minutes for the button that make me uninstall the software very quickly. The next best interface I have seen would alibre. I downloaded the Unreal GDK opened it, closed it bought a book on level design (mastering unreal - level design) and then opened the software, tried and went back to FPS creator. Once again it was the interface that frustrated me, I make a cube after 20 minutes of looking for the "subtract" button. then press the asset opening thing which has 7 windows and not only loads textures, but sounds, models, and everything else and am just overwhelmed and don't even know where on the screen to look for the texture I just imported. I feel it's almost backwards from what us "engineer" types are used to.

quick example Of what I would like, Select rectangle, select drawing surface (plane or face on object), start point corner 1, end point corner 2, extrude length = xx, done, you have a cube. Now texture - select face or area or object, select map from a normal windows browser, apply to selection. done.

Summary - I would maybe download some 30 trials of autodesk, alibre, turbocad, and blender (is free of course) and see what sets the experience apart.

ps - I first used inventor 3 years ago, I had only ever used regular autocad and the interface is set up so good I had 2 useable parts modeled in 4 hours having never touched the software before. If you look at the attached, the model took about a week to draw and assemble the parts.

I've used a few different bits of software over the years and as when I went to college my first course was engineering I've also used AutoCAD. I prefer Newtek's Lightwave control method EASILY over any other bit of 3D software which I've used for about 10 years. I know this isn't CAD, but with some modification to be "CADy" I think it'd be good.

Nick, what are the Newtek's Lightwave camera controls like in perspective mode? I went to the main website to find a demo and there is none. I went to YouTube to see some tutorials and none explained how the camera view moves about.

Orthogonal 2D projections will be simple enough in my program. Right mouse click and mouse-move will move the scene around.

But getting around in perspective mode is another story. Fill me in if you would.

How about the way I do things...

Left mouse click + drag translates in the cameras current X and Z axis perpendicular to the ground. (Strafe left/Right and move forward/backward)

Right mouse click + drag translates in the Worlds Y Axis. (Straight Up and down)

Middle mouse rotates the camera around an axis a set distance in front of the camera.

Scroll wheel increases/decreases the above distance to zoom in/out.

I'll make a demo if you want?

As you'll no doubt see everybody will always prefer a different way of doing things as there are so many ways to do it (particularly in CAD). I work for a CAD company and know from experience that if you are designing and coding it you should do it how you like it to work! That way you aren't constantly fighting to use someone elses 'favourite' way of working which may conflict with your own.

You will never please everyone with a CAD UI so just please yourself... you'll probably use it the most anyway!!

This is my preferred method. Controls are as I mentioned above.

So Far my 3D interface is as goes:

Move(Camera) Ahead/Back: Left Click, move mouse up/down

Turn Camera Right/Left: Left Click, move mouse right/left

Move Up and Down: Right-Click and Left-Click Move mouse up/down
Strafe Left and Right: Right-Click and Left-Click Move mouse Left/Right

Yaw camera up/down. Right-Click, move mouse up/down

Yaw camera right/left: (Same as Turn camera right/left)

I'm going to try to add pivot around a selected object from relative the position and angle of the mouse with the click of the middle mouse button and the move of mouse move up/down/left/right will pivot the camera 360 left/right and 360 up down. Man will that be a tall order