TransMagic provides the ability to link to other computers for the purpose of sharing 3D models in a Collaboration Session over a network or the Internet. It is an excellent presentation tool. Despite the detailed instructions below, this is very easy to do. Geometry Repair will not share in a session, therefore we recommend that you use models that show the quality you wish to share.
How to run a Collaboration Session using TransMagic over a network:
To launch and run a TransMagic Collaboration Session over a network, follow the same steps as for over the Internet, except for the need to map to the leader's IP address. The TM Collaboration Server must be running on a computer on the network so that it is “visible” to the computers involved in the Collaboration Session. The TM Collaboration Server applet is launched from your Windows Start Menu under Start->Program Files->TransMagic->TM Collaboration Server.
How to run a Collaboration Session using TransMagic over the Internet:
Important Note: The computers involved in the Collaboration Session must each have a license of TransMagic installed. To start the session, one person must launch the TM Collaboration Server. That person will be referred to as the “Leader” in this document. All other parties will be referred to as “ Remote Clients.”
To Launch and run a TransMagic Collaboration Session over the Internet, follow the steps below:
1) The Leader of the Collaboration Session should first Launch the TransMagic Collaboration Server.
Launch the TM Collaboration Server by clicking Start->Program Files->TransMagic->TM Collaboration Server. A dialog box will open indicating that the Collaboration Server is running. This can be minimized (and forgotten about).
2) If TransMagic isn't already running on the collaborators computers, it should now be launched.
3) Start a Collaboration Session. From the TransMagic Menu Bar, click File->Collaborate from the pull down menu. The “Network Options” dialog box will open.
4) Inside the “Network Options” dialog box, the Leader should then enter the IP address of his/her computer then click on the “Connect” button, also in the “Network Options” window. A Dialog box will pop-up indicating that the “Connection is Up”.
Note: The Leader will need to know the IP address for his computer. (If you do not know your IP address or if it changes every time you connect to the Internet, it can be determined by clicking the MS Windows “Start” button then click “Run” to get a Command Prompt. Type in the dialog box “cmd” and press <Enter>. At the Command Prompt type ipconfig and press <Enter>. (If your computer is not finding IPCONFIG, you can look for it and Run it from the Winnt/System32/ipconfig.exe.)
Use of the TM Collaboration Server does not require that anything be entered in the following fields of the “Network Controls” Window: Server Port (default 11111), Server Admin Pwd, or Server Access Pwd.
5) Once the connection is up, the Leader should then assign a “Session Name”, “Client Name” and optional Session Pwd (Password). The Leader should provide this information to the Remote Client(s).
Note: Do not use spaces in the Session Name or Client Name.
6) Remote Client(s) should Login to the Collaboration Session. In order for remote Clients to login to the Collaboration Session, first enter the Leader's IP address, then click on the connect button. Once connected, select (highlight) the Session Name from the Session window, then enter a Session Pwd (Password), if any, and a Client Name. Once complete click the “Join” button. A TransMagic Window will open with information showing the participants and a chat window.
7) Import a Model. The Leader can now Import a model into the Session and begin to show the geometry by rotating, zooming, etc to the areas of interest. To do so he MUST use the File, IMPORT command and then locate the file. The model can be displayed shaded mode hidden line or wireframe. If an assembly is being viewed, parts may be moved or deleted as desired.
Note: The Leader has Control of the Session until it is “Released”. If a Remote Client wishes to take control of a Session, he/she can click the “Request Control” button. The Leader will get a message saying that a Remote Client has “Requested Control”. The Leader then can click the “Release Control” button to allow the Remote Client to take control of the Session. The Remote Client can manipulate the view locally during a Session, but others will not see these changes in the Session. A Remote Client can save a file used in a Collaboration Session by clicking File, Save As and give the file a name. The file will be a polygonal model of the *.hsf type. An HSF file cannot be translated into a solid model.
8) To Chat, type your text message in the space provided and press the <ENTER> key. At the present time you will not see your own text message but will see the other participants messages displayed in the chat window.
Note: Not all TransMagic functionality is implemented for a Collaboration Session.