SHAPE V7.4 

See the Website www.shapesoftware.com for the latest information on new products and updates.

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HELP AND INSTRUCTIONS

The Help system is accessed through the Help menu, or the buttons in every dialog.

The Instructions in PDF form, included with the distribution, can be printed out.  The contents of the PDF instructions are exactly the same as the Help system.

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IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS

Whenever problems are encountered, the best course is usually to send a copy of the SHAPE data file (.str) which causes the problem(s).  These are ASCII or text files, and may be attached to an email message (send to support@shapesoftware.com).  

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ADDITIONS FOR V7.0

See online Help for further details

1) NEW WINDOWING ARRANGEMENT

In Windows, the "Multiple Document Interface" is no longer used, which means that there is no longer a main or container window.  Child windows, such as text windows and diffraction windows, may exist anywhere on the screen.

In both Windows and Macintosh, a Startup Window appears first, allowing opening, importing or entry of a data set.  When data set is present, a main Graphics Window appears in place of the Startup Window.  The Graphics window is the parent to other windows such as Text windows and Powder and Precession graphics windows.

2) ROTATION MOVIES

In the Rotation menu. This will write a movie or video file in .AVI (Windows) or .MOV (Macintosh) format. These files consist of a series of bitmap (raster) images. 	

3) POV-RAY FILES

POV-Ray is a program which draws a 3D image pixel-by-pixel, calculating all possible light-ray paths. It allows for much more elaborate lighting effects than the OpenGL software used in the 3D mode in SHAPE. Some obvious effects are shadows and refraction but there are many possibilities. Backgrounds and other objects may be added as well. The files are text (ASCII) and may be edited. 
The POV-Ray package, with instructions, samples, etc., may be obtained from www.povray.org.

4)  DIALOG BAR - Epitaxial

This dialog bar allows positioning of epitaxial crystals with respect to the main crystal.  Controlled by the Display menu.

5)  ANAGLYPHS FOR FILLED CRYSTALS

The Anaglyph display option will now work for shaded single crystals (the results for twins and epitaxial intergrowths are unpredictable and usually unsatisfactory).  Shading is done in the anaglyph colors (e.g. red and blue).

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ADDITIONS FOR V7.1

1)  CHANGES IN ORIENTATION ON RECALCULATE

The current orientation is now preserved when the Calculate option (File menu or Dialog Bar - Left) is excercised instead of returning to the Initial orientation as before.  To return to the Original or Initial orientation use the buttons in the Dialog Bar - Right or the menu option Rotations/Orientation.

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ADDITIONS FOR V7.2

This version is primarily a release to update the Macintosh editions for Intel processors - there are some corrections and additions are minor.

1)  RESCALING OF TWINS FOR 3D DISPLAY

Successive interpenetration twins can be rescaled by a small amount, avoiding the problem of coincident different colored surfaces when the individuals are given different colors.  This only applies to the 3D mode - twins should not be rescaled for the Standard display mode.


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ADDITIONS FOR V7.3

1) Support for Quad-buffered OpenGL 3D stereo viewing. This allows viewing in "true" 3D stereo, using special glasses and/or monitors. An nVidia Quadro series graphics card, or other adapter supporting Quad-buffered OpenGL, is required.  Selected in the Drawing Mode (see 4).

2) Support for 3D drawing using Microsoft Direct3D (DirectX) system software.  This allows various types of "true" 3D stereo viewing, using special glasses, monitors or projectors. The 3D Vision stereoscopic system by nVidia, using their GeForce display cards is supported; other systems may also work.

3) Support for Flash (.swf) movie files. This format is usable on all platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux).

4) Changes in display modes. Instead of a single Display Mode giving various combinations of 2D and 3D, Stereonet, etc. there are now two Modes: 

The Model Mode allows the choice of Standard, which draws the faces and edges in the usual way; Stereonet; and Sectors/Growth Zones. Standard can be shown as both 2D and 3D Drawing modes; Stereonet and Sectors/Growth Zones are 2D only

The Drawing Mode selects the drawing technique and type of stereo viewing; 2D Single; 2d Stereopairs; 3D (OpenGL) Single; 3D Stereopairs; 3D Quad Stereo (see 1); and Anaglyph.

These modes are selected in Sub-menus of the Display menu, or two drop-downs in the Dialog Bar - Left.

5) Optional Fullscreen display for all types of modes, 2D and 3D, on Windows, Mac and Linux.  Selected in the Modes menu or a button in the Dialog Bar - Left

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The SHAPE program file, formerly called wxShape.exe, is currently named Loki.exe. This is a temporary expedient which is necessary to allow stereo 3D viewing in a window with the nVidia display cards and glasses.
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SHAPE for Windows V7.3 requires that Microsoft DirectX 9 or later be installed.

If you get a message when you start up SHAPE such as "d3dx9_42.dll not found" you should update to the latest DirectX.  The best way to do this is directly from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179113

An alternative, which is not recommended, is to install those files which are needed. As best as can be determined, at least the following are needed:

d3dx9_42.dll
d3d9.dll
d3d8thk.dll

These are usually installed in the \Windows\System32 directory. Installing dll's may require expert knowledge and incorrect installation may damage your system. 

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ADDITIONS FOR V7.4

1) SUPPORT FOR 3D PRINTING. 

Writes .stl and .obj files.  3D Printing option in the File menu.




