com.ardor3d.example missing?

[Marlon]

Hello all!
I wanted to give Ardor3D a try, but I came across the problem that com.ardor3d.example can't be found in the provided package.
I am impressed of the Demos, but I don't get them running in eclipse on my own.
Please help!

[gouessej]

Hi

What's wrong exactly? Did you follow this tutorial?
http://www.ardor3d.com/wiki/svneclipsetutorial

com.ardor3d.example is in the sub-project called ardor3d-examples. You can run the example runner by doing a right click on the class ExampleRunner and then choose "Run As" -> "Java Application". Don't forget to set the library path correctly (except if you use the brand new JOGL 2.0 renderer).

[Marlon]

I only use Eclipse, not SVN.
I downloaded Ardor3D jar files Version 0.7 (most stable), but I can't inherit from ExampleBase (following the code of a demo), because it is missing.

I am a JAVA developer for many years, but I come across big problems here.
What am I doing wrong?

[gouessej]

It is not a big problem, don't worry. ardor3d-examples-0.7.jar isn't in the ZIP archive you downloaded. You must use the source code on the SVN repository to get the whole source code including ardor3d-examples. I have been a Java developer since 2002, I have programmed games since 1999 and I don't panic when a single JAR is missing. I suggest you to use the tutorial whose link is in my previous post, it is not difficult, it clearly explains each step. If something goes wrong, let us know.

[Marlon]

1000 Thanks for your help!
I just thought that it would be easier just to download the file package and import all jars in eclipse (thats the way I always do it).
That I have to install SVN first is not very handy.
So its just a suggestion for the Ardor3D Team to provide the example files in the package.
But nevermind, I will try the tutorial you just mentioned and work with SVN.
Thanks again!

[Marlon]

OK I don't get it.
I have just done the SVN Ardor3D installation tutorial and imported all data.
Now I have 12 Projects which all have the same error:
Build path specifies execution environment JAVA SE 1.6 There are no compatible JREs in the workspace.
I have JAVA 1.6 installed and build path says that, too.
So I don't know how to continue and just get a single, simple program running. :/

[renanse]

It sounds like you have some basic eclipse issues, not really ardor3d issues. But the good news is, you are really close, your Eclipse is probably just not setup to point to Java 1.6. Check under Windows->Preferences (on a windows PC) in Eclipse. On the left hand side, Check under Java->Installed JREs and make sure it lists jdk1.6 there. Also you can check Java->Installed JREs->Execution Environments and click on JavaSE-1.6 and make sure the right hand side has entries that say "perfect match"

[gouessej]

Hi

You don't have to manually install SVN, you can use Subclipse (Subversion plug-in for Eclipse):
http://subclipse.tigris.org/
If you install Subclipse with SVNKit (pure Java implementation of Subversion), you won't need JavaHL and any native install of it. You just have to use the update site, it is quite easy.

I think Renanse is right, maybe Eclipse detects your JRE but not your JDK. Of course, you need the JDK as it contains the compiler. Maybe Eclipse detects an older JDK (1.5?).

On the other hand, Ardor3D team and its occasional contributors try to do their best to ease the installation process but very complicated frameworks sometimes require a bit much effort than simply putting some JARs into the class path. It does not mean that the project is "bad", it just means that we can simplify some things in certain limits. The mechanism of project set allows to modularize the whole engine without complicating too much its installation, it is a good compromise.

Finally, you should not fear using a versioning system, it is something usual in development environments and the use of SVN, CVS and GIT is very easy in Eclipse. It allows to get the most recent source code which is better to get the most recently added features and bug fixes. Game programming without curiosity is not possible. You will probably learn a lot of things by using Ardor3D, you will have to use some technologies you might not know, don't fear using them. The growing community of Ardor3D and some other people on javagaming.org will be able to help you. Best regards.

[Marlon]

Thanks for your info and your help!
I am using JAVA 1.7 and I didn't know that it could be a problem in this direction (all other projects [imported and self created] are running with 1.7).
So I downgraded to JAVA 1.6 and got it running.
It's really frustrating to have all the huge amount code together, seeing the chaos at my workspace and don't know where to start. I would like to see a basic setup for a simple first 3D program which only shows a cube for example. I tried to change a model, start a new simple project but coming across many problems and don't know how to fix them (hey, I am a just Ardor3D beginner).
I am very interested in Ardor3D and the future development, but for now I have to concentrate on my own projects (I am going to start learning jPCT).
I will come back in regular intervals and take a look how Ardor3D is evolving.
I wish you all the best, thank you!
Marlon

[gouessej]

I'm sorry, I didn't imagine that Java 1.7 would cause such problems. It has to be fixed, it is not your fault.

It is already possible to start some basic examples and to learn how to modify them to create more complicated programs. Actually, it is exactly what I did. I started by using a rudimentary example based on Ardor3D and using JOGL and now it is ... a first person shooter (work in progress...). I admit there is a lack of tutorials but Renanse plans to write a step-by-step tutorial soon as far as I know.

If you don't succeed in simply changing a path to load your own model, don't expect not to have the same ones with other engines because it has nothing to do with Ardor3D, it means that maybe you don't understand how resources are located and loaded, you could have the same problem simply by trying to read the contents of a raw text file.

Good luck with jPCT (which is not open source). You'll be entirely dependent of the creator of this engine if you have a bug, you won't be able to debug inside the source code of the engine. It's up to you.