Browser configuration to visualize 3D objects

Last update of this page 2014 July 04

 

 

Contents

1.      Objective

2.      Prerequisites

2.1.   Google Chrome

2.2.   Mozilla Firefox

2.3.   Microsoft Internet Explorer

2.4.   Apple Safari

2.5.   Opera

3.      Update your browser

4.      Troubleshooting

 

1.   Objective

From TFTLabs 3D solution, visualize 3D CAD models into browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari or Opera without further installation (no plugin required) by using the WebGL HTML5 standard.

WebGL:

-        WebGL is the technology selected by TFTLabs to visualize 3D CAD models in a Web browser.

-        WebGL is based on OpenGL ES 2.0 and used to create 3D graphics in a Web browser.

-        WebGL necessarily conforms to the security principles of the Web platform.

-        Major browser vendors Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome), Mozilla (Firefox), and Opera Sotftware (Opera) are members of the WebGL Working Group.

-        (more info on Wiki WebGL : http://www.khronos.org/webgl/wiki/Main_Page)

 

2.   Prerequisites

List of browsers supporting WebGL:

2.1.           Google Chrome

2.2.           Mozilla Firefox

2.3.           Microsoft Internet Explorer

2.4.           Apple Safari

2.5.           Opera

2.1          Google Chrome Chrome.jpg

Status: WebGL is available and enabled by default.

Current version: Google Chrome 39

 

Troubleshooting

 

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2.2          Mozilla Firefox Firefox.jpg

Status: WebGL is available and enabled by default.

Current version: Firefox 35.0

 

Troubleshooting

 

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2.3          Microsoft Internet Explorer IE.jpg

Status: WebGL is available and enabled by default in IE11.

WebGL enabled by default since version 11.0.

Current version: Internet Explorer 11.0

 

WebGL in Internet Explorer is available since version 11.0 which is supported on Windows 8 and Windows 7 only.
This version can now be considered as fully supported for working with TFTLabs products.

 

Solutions invloving using Google Chrome Frame for older versions of Internet Explorer are no more valid since Google retired as of Februrary 2014.

 

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2.4          Apple Safari (on MacOS only)

Status: WebGL is available but NOT enabled by default.

WebGL is available since version Safari 5.1

Current version: Safari 8

 

WebGL is enabled by default since version 8.

 

To enable WebGL on older versions:

-        On menu bar, go to « Preferences » / « Advanced »,

-        Check the parameter « Show Develop menu on menu bar »,

-        On menu bar, go to « Develop » and check the parameter « Enable WebGL »,

-        Restart Safari.

WebGL is now enabled.

 

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2.5          Opera Opera.jpg

Status: WebGL is available and enabled by default.

Current version: Opera 26

 

WebGL is available since version Opera 12.0 beta. However, the adoption of Blink in Opera 15 significantly improved the quality of WebGL support.
It can now be considered as fully supported for working with TFTLabs products.

 

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3.   Update your browser

If you want to download the latest versions of browsers:

Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/

Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

Microsoft Internet Explorer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/downloads/ie

Apple Safari: http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

Opera: http://www.opera.com

 

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4.   Troubleshooting

 

Google Chrome

If an error message appears in the browser (mainly on Android devices), you have to change a setting in Google Chrome to take into account your graphic card:

-        To access parameters, type « chrome://flags » in the address bar,

-        A general warning message appears. Don’t be alarmed, the parameter to be modified concerns only the WebGL enabling,

-        At parameter « Override software rendering list », click on « enable »,

-        Restart Google Chrome.

WebGL is now enabled.

Note: some versions of Google Chrome contain a bug that will lead to bad display of comment, markups and textures in the 3d window. To prevent this :

-        Type « chrome://flags » in the address bar,

-        A general warning message appears. Don’t be alarmed, the parameter to be modified concerns only the WebGL enabling with 2D canvas,

-        At parameter « Disable accelerated 2D canvas  », click on « enable »,

-        Restart Google Chrome.

 

Mozilla Firefox

If an error message appears in the browser, you have to change a setting in Mozilla Firefox to take into account your graphic card:

(More info on https://wiki.mozilla.org/Blocklisting/Blocked_Graphics_Drivers)

-        To access parameters, type « about:config » in the address bar,

-        A general warning message appears. Don’t be alarmed, the parameter to be modified concerns only the WebGL enabling,

-        Find « webgl.force-enabled » parameter (sorted in alphabetical order or type « webgl » in the search bar),

-        Double-click on « webgl.force-enabled » to set the value to « true »,

-        Restart Firefox.

WebGL is now enabled.

If this still doesn't work, this probably means that your hardware or driver is not OpenGL 2.1/Direct3D 9/OpenGL ES 2.0 capable.

 

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