The SoWin SoWin component classes are a “class-for-class” equivalent of the SoXt X Windows Component library, adapted to the unique requirements and facilities of the Windows environment. Like SoXt , SoWin SoWin classes include an OpenGL drawing area, an Open Inventor render area that manages a scene graph, and Open Inventor viewers that add lights, cameras, and interactivity to a scene. SoWin SoWin classes can be used within any application framework. Read Section 18.3, “Microsoft Windows” for more details about the SoWin SoWin component classes.

IVF classes are a set of classes that integrate Open Inventor with the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) application development framework. (IVF is technically an MFC Extension DLL.) IVF classes are based on the SoWin SoWin component classes but shield the application from this level of detail. IVF classes also handle much of the complexity of when and where to do various operations within the MFC framework.

IVF includes a custom “AppWizard” that is used within the Visual C++ environment to build an initial framework for an Open Inventor MFC application. Applications can be created with a simple render area or any of the standard Open Inventor viewers – walk, examiner, and fly-through – including a fully functional SceneViewer. A SceneViewer application is capable of selecting objects in the scene, attaching manipulators, editing colors and materials, and many other operations.

The SoQt component classes are a “class-for-class” equivalent of the SoXt X Windows Component

library, adapted to the unique requirements and facilities of the Qt environment. Qt is a user interface toolkit that, like Open Inventor, can be used on Unix and Windows. Like SoXt , SoQt classes include an OpenGL drawing area, an Open Inventor render area that manages a scene graph, and Open Inventor viewers that add lights, cameras, and interactivity to a scene. Read Section 18.4, “Qt” for more details about the SoQt component classes.