HOOPS Visualize explained

HOOPS Visualize
Developer:	Tech Soft 3D
Latest Release Version:	2022
Programming Language:	C++, C#
Operating System:	Microsoft Windows 10, Linux (CentOS 7 / RHEL 7 / glibc 2.17), macOS 10.9, iOS 11.0, Android (operating system) 5.1, Xamarin^[1]
Platform:	x86,x86-64,ARM64, armeabi-v7a, arm64-v8a
Genre:	3D computer graphics
License:	Proprietary software

HOOPS Visualize is a 3D computer graphics software designed to render graphics across both mobile and desktop platforms.^[2] HOOPS Visualize provides 3D Graphics API to render CAD models. It's part of the HOOPS 3D Application Framework SDK. Since June 2018 it's licensed via Siemens PLM Software.^[3]

History

The HOOPS 3D Graphics System was originally developed in the mid-1980s in the CADIF Lab at Cornell University. Ithaca Software later formed to commercialize the technology. Subsequently, HOOPS was widely adopted for Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software.

In 1993, Autodesk, Inc. acquired Ithaca Software.^[4] In 1996, HOOPS was spun out of Autodesk by Tech Soft 3D, Inc.,^[5] which continues to develop and sell the HOOPS 3D Graphics System under the name HOOPS Visualize. The software is made available free of charge to educational institutions.

Overview

The program features a unified API that allows users to add interactive 3D visualization to both desktop and mobile applications. HOOPS Visualize provides a hierarchical scene management engine capable of handling a range of graphics entities, together with a graphics pipeline and interaction handling algorithms. It includes clash detection, multi-plane sectioning, and large model visualization, along with many other features.

Features include:

• Retained-mode graphics system with a supporting database
• Data is structured hierarchically in a scene graph^[6]
• Able to use many different contexts for rendering, including DirectX, OpenGL, as well as software and hardcopy
• Interfaces with C, C++, C#, and Java
• Out-of-core rendering mode for visualizing large point-cloud datasets
• Integrates with other engineering SDKs like ACIS, Parasolid, RealDWG, and HOOPS Exchange, as well as industry standard CAD formats
• PMI support, mark-up, model trees, point clouds
• Compatible with all major graphical user interfaces
• Platform independent input architecture^[7]

Technical Overview

Internally it uses OpenGL or DirectX (Windows). Tech Soft 3D has developed its own framework for event handling.

The graphics kernel (Core Graphics) is based on the hierarchichal scene graph data structures.

File formats

Supported file formats ^[8] !File format!Imports!Exports!Notes

HSF			HOOPS Stream File
OBJ			Limited export
STL
PTS/PTX/XYZ
Parasolid			All file formats supported by Kernel
Autodesk RealDWG			All file formats supported by SDK
PostScript
PDF
DXT1
DXT3
DXT5
JPG
PNG
TGA
RGB
RGBA
ARGB
Grayscale
Mapped8

Notes and References

1. Web site: Supported Platforms — HOOPS Visualize HPS 2023 U1 Documentation . 2023-04-20 . docs.techsoft3d.com.
2. Web site: Technical Overview — HOOPS Visualize HPS 2023 U1 Documentation . 2023-04-20 . docs.techsoft3d.com.
3. Web site: Tech Soft 3D’s HOOPS Visualize Now Available from Siemens PLM Software Tech Soft 3D . 2023-04-20 . www.techsoft3d.com.
4. Web site: Menezes . Deelip . A Long Conversation with Ron Fritz . 2013-01-30.
5. Web site: Folini . Franco . An Interview with Ron Fritz, Managing Partner of Tech Soft 3D (HOOPS3D) . 2013-01-30.
6. Eastman . J. Ronald . 1988 . Graphics Programming goes 3-D . Digital Review . 41.
7. Book: Leler, WM . 3D with HOOPS: Build Interactive 3d Graphics into your C++ Applications . Merry, Jim . Longman Pub Group . 1996 . 978-0-201-87025-1 . 383–384.
8. Web site: Supported File Formats — HOOPS Visualize HPS 2023 U1 Documentation . 2023-04-20 . docs.techsoft3d.com.