The basics

Jicasso creates 3D scenes that can be saved as applets and subsequently edited. A single layout can consist of one or a number of it's library components with user specified behaviour, placed in a user specified arrangement.

After you start Jicasso you will see two windows. The topmost is the toolbar while the lower larger screen is the current applet. The basic sequence of operations to use Jicasso is as follows:

Select a component to put into the box

Press the component button to select the component you want. The component always appears in the center of the display. Remember that you need to light the scene in some way for the component to appear.

Customise the component properties

Now press the "properties" button to select a property that you want to change in the component. Further on there is a discussion of this in more detail.

Add behaviour

The button allows behaviours to be set for individual components. These do not show up while editing the scene. To see the finished scene with behaviours running you should press the preview button.

Change the positioning and orientation of the components

Component positions can be changed by using standard Java3D positioning techniques. Drag with the right mouse button pressed to change the X and Y co-ords. Drag with the left mouse button pressed as well as the "Alt" key to alter the Z co-ord. Orientation can be changed by simply using the normal mouse drag with the left button depressed.

Save the finished applet and upload it

Any number of components of any type can be added to the applet using the above steps. When you have the applet the way you want it save it. Jicasso creates both an HTML file for the applet and a JAR file that contains all the resources necessary to run the applet including any images or sounds. The default directory for the created files is the "applets" directory created in the same directory as the "Jicasso.jar" file.