| HELP | Node Specifications | Semantic Requirements | Test Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Introduction | Introduction | Introduction |
| Node frame | VRML Concepts | ||
| Viewer frame | Node Reference | ||
| Banner frame | Fields and Events | ||
| Conformance Requirements |
The VRML Test Suite ( VTS ) is a software tool that can aid in the evaluation of VRML 2.0 WWW browsers for compliance with the VRML 2.0 Specification ( ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997 ). The VRML Test Suite works as a group of three HTML "frames" that provide a testing environment for an individual VRML node. The three frames consist of a Banner frame at the top of the screen, a Node frame on the left-hand side and a large Viewer frame on the right ( the frame in which you are currently reading this document ). Together, these three frames create an environment for comparing a VRML 2.0 node's specification, semantic requirements, actual test worlds, and expected test results in a single WWW browser window.
The Node frame to the left allows you to select a particular VRML node group, and associated nodes for testing your VRML 2.0 browser. The Viewer frame is the window into which test worlds, node specifications semantic requirements and online and will be displayed for a selected node. The Banner frame provides overall control of the testing environment, presenting options for selecting a node's specification, semantic requirements or individual test cases for viewing.
The Node frame:
When you first enter the VTS application, the Node frame on the left displays a list of all VRML 2.0 node groups. The VTS breaks the VRML 2.0 nodes into 11 functional categories.
After selecting a node group from the Node frame, the frame is updated with a list of all VRML 2.0 nodes that belong to the node group that you selected. For example, if the Appearance node group were selected, the list of VRML nodes belonging to the Appearance group would be displayed.
Above the list of nodes is a link to the general description of the node group, as defined in the VRML 2.0 Specification. Below the node list is a "link arrow" that will take you back to the list of VRML node groups. Selecting a particular node will update the Banner Frame with links to that node's specification, semantic requirements and test cases.
The Node frame also will display image files and sample mpeg movies of expected test results, if such files exist for a particular node test.
The Banner frame:
When a VRML Node is selected from the Node frame on the left, the Banner frame changes its links to display four items.
They are:
The Viewer frame is used to display test related information, including test worlds, semantic requirements, node specifications, and online help.
The VRML 2.0 specification for a node is a result of the continual refinement of the VRML language by the VRML Consortium.The VRML 2.0 Specification is an ISO Standard 14772-1:1997.
The primary portion of the VRML 2. 0 Specification that is used to specify a node's characteristics is the Node Reference. The Node Reference contains a list of all VRML 2.0 nodes, and a detailed definition of the syntax and semantics of each node in the specification. Additionally, the Conformance and Minimum Support Requirements section of the VRML 2.0 Specification is used to specifically minimum conformance requirements of each individual VRML node. This includes basic features that must be supported by a VRML 2.0 browser. In addition, a node's functionality is further specified with the Field and Event Reference portion of the VRML 2.0 Specification. The Field and Event Reference defines the acceptable format of data fields for VRML nodes.The Concepts portion of the VRML 2.0 Specification is also used to describe a node's behavior in relation to other nodes and to the VRML world itself.
Semantic requirements are functional descriptions of what defines a node, and how it is defined. Unlike the more detailed Node Reference,semantic requirements are a series of concise, axiomatic statements to represent any node parameters that may alter the behavior of a node, including other VRML nodes. For each VRML node, a list of semantic requirements exists that define the key functional properties of that node. Each of these semantic requirements will then be represented in a VRML test world so that the user can determine whether his/her VRML browser properly executes that semantic requirement for a particular node.
Each node will have a suite of test cases that measure a particular characteristic of the node for VRML 2.0 conformance. The test cases will be presented in a list, with each list item containig a description of the test case, and a hypertext link to a VRML world that test a browser's implementation of the described conformance characteristic.
The test world source code containins documentation on what semantic requirement is being tested, a description of the test and expected results, and the name of the author of the test.
In addition, if sample test results are available, they will be presented in the Node frame as images, mpeg movies or as sound files ( depending on the type of node test ).