App Manager

App Manager is an easy-to-use tool for creating and performing various operations with Verge3D applications.

Contents

Running App Manager

The App Manager is implemented as website shown by the locally-run web server. This is quite similar to running admin panel for your WiFi router.

App Manager main screen

By default, the pages are served from the address localhost:8668, which you can navigate to, refresh or bookmark. The server can be launched in several ways (see below).

A. From Blender, 3ds Max, or Maya

The local web server is started automatically when you launch your 3D tool with Verge3D plug-in installed. Upon clicking on the App Manager button (Blender) or menu option (Max, Maya), the App Manager page is shown in the web browser.

Running app manager from Blender Running app manager from 3ds Max Running app manager from Maya

If the web server happens to be down for some reason (e.g. you closed the first launched instance of your 3D editor), this operator also restarts it.

B. Using Desktop Application

The local web server can be launched even without running Blender, 3ds Max, or Maya. Simply click on the desktop icon created by the Verge3D installer (Windows-only). The App Manager page will be immediately shown in the web browser.

Running app manger via desktop icon

If the web server is already running (e.g. you launched it from the 3D editor), this desktop application just opens the App Manager in the browser.

C. From Command-Line

Install Python 3, e.g. from Microsoft Store. Once you have Python 3 installed, launch Command Prompt and type:

cd verge3d_blender

(or whatever path you installed Verge3D in), and then for Blender version type:

python manager\server.py BLENDER

for Max version type:

python manager\server.py MAX

or for Maya:

python manager\server.py MAYA

Finally, open up the browser and navigate to localhost:8668 as usual. Users of maxOS or Linux can use the same commands, only with forward slashes.

First Start

When Verge3D is first installed or updated to a new version a splash screen is shown up:

App manager splash screen

On this screen you should select an applications folder in which your projects will be stored. You can leave the default path to create a subfolder in Documents. On this screen you can also switch between Light and Dark themes.

Exploring Applications

List on the Main Page

Upon starting or refreshing the main page, the App Manager scans the applications folder and displays all found folders as a list.

For each application in the list, the App Manager displays all .html, .gltf/.glb and 3D editor save files (.blend, .max, .ma/.mb) found in an application folder. These files can be viewed by clicking on their icons.

App manager item

Application lines which contain too many files are expandable through the triangle icon near app name.

App manager expanded item

Applications can be filtered using the search field on the top.

App manager search

Application Page

By clicking on the application name, a more elaborate page is shown.

Clicking app title

On the application page, all files are listed with their names, also runnable. The files on this page are filterable via the search input.

Application view

Asset Store

Asset Store includes dozens of demos, tutorial projects and material libraries that are shipped with Verge3D. You can use this content to learn from or reuse it for your own applications.

Asset store directory

You can open the Asset Store by clicking the Cart icon:

Asset store icon

Creating Applications

A new application can be created using the button on the left bar.

New app icon

You may type a name for the new application, and select a template from which the app will be created. By default, 4 templates are offered: "Standard Light", "Standard Dark", "Blank Scene", and "Code-Based". You may create and add more templates for choosing from.

App creation options

You can also include optional modules in the application to enable truetype font converter, texture decompressor module, or the physics engine.

Once a new application is created, there will be shown a link which you may use to go to the application page (or just close the window).

Create success dialog

The new app will start being displayed in the main list.

Importing Applications

An application ZIP can be appended (imported) to the App Manager by a simple drag-and-drop operation:

Appending an app

Once an application is appended, there will be shown a link which you can use to go to the application page (or just close the window).

Append successfull dialog

The appended app will appear in the list of the applications.

Operations

Edit Puzzles

You can start adding or editing Puzzles for an application by clicking the button in the 'operations' column on the main page:

Edit puzzles icon on main page

... or by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Edit puzzles icon on app page

See more information on Puzzles here.

Open Folder

You can open the application folder by clicking the button in the 'operations' column on the main page:

Open app folder icon

... or by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Open app folder icon on app page

This operation will invoke the default file manager of your operating system (e.g. File Explorer on Windows 10/11).

Managing Application Settings

You can open the Application Settings dialog by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Open app settings dialog

By using this dialog you can customize how your app looks in the browsers, search engines, or social media:

App settings dialog

The settings include:

General Tab

Title
Application title displayed in the browser and search results.
Description
Application description displayed in the search results.
Favicon 16x16, 32x32, 48x48
Basic application icons (called favicons) shown when running your app on desktop browsers. These are also used to display your app on search engine result pages. You should use the icons in PNG format and provide correct dimensions for maximum compatibility.
Apple Safari 180x180
Application icon shown on iPhones/iPads.
Android Chrome 192x192, 512x512
Application icons shown on Android devices.

Preloader Tab

Image
Preloader image. For better look you should use square-sized images in PNG, JPEG, WebP, or SVG format.
Image Size
Preloader image width and height.
Bar Color
Preloader bar color, gradient, or custom CSS style.
Bar Border Color
Preloader bar border color.
Bar Height
Preloader bar height, not including border which have 1 pixel thickness.
Background Color
Preloader screen background color.

UI Tab

Fullscreen Open
Button to switch into the fullscreen mode. For better compatibility provide square-sized image in PNG, JPEG, WebP, or SVG format.
Fullscreen Close
Button to leave the fullscreen mode. For better compatibility provide square-sized image in PNG, JPEG, WebP, or SVG format.
Move Forward
Button shown on mobile devices when using first-person camera controls.

Annotation Tab

Marker Colors
Annotation text, background, and border colors.
Marker Size
Annotation size in pixels.
Dialog Colors
Annotation dialog text, background, and border colors.

Sharing Tab

Open Graph Title
Title to be shown when sharing your app in most social media channels, such as Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc.
Open Graph Description
Description to be shown when sharing your app in most social media channels, such as Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc.
Open Graph Image
Image to be shown when sharing your app in most social media channels, such as Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc. The recommended size of this image is 1200x630.
X/Twitter Title
Title to be shown when sharing your app on X (Twitter).
X/Twitter Description
Description to be shown when sharing your app on X (Twitter).
X/Twitter Image
Image to be shown when sharing your app on X (Twitter). The recommended size of this image is 1200x630.

Errors Tab

WebGL Error Message
Error message displayed when the user runs your app in a browser which does not support WebGL. You can use plain text or HTML markup to specify this message.
WebGL Error Image
Image displayed above the WebGL error message.

Publish

You can publish an application by clicking the button in the 'operations' column on the main page:

Publish app icon

... or by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Publish app icon on app page

This operation will start uploading the application to Verge3D Network (operation cancellable), so that it becomes available online.

Upload app dialog

If uploading fails with the message "The difference between your local system time and the server time is too large", then you should correct time on your computer and try again.

After uploading is complete, a window will be shown from which you can copy the link to your app or the embedding code.

Upload success dialog

You can also use social sharing buttons and QR code generator there.

Verge3D Network QR code

Uploaded files can be inspected or removed on the Network Directory page.

Create / Upload ZIP

You can create or upload the ZIP archive of an application folder by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Create or upload ZIP icon

This operation will pack your application folder and then either:

  1. download the archive to your local file system, or
  2. upload it to Verge3D Network.

As a result, your app can now be shared with your co-workers, clients, partners, or us, Verge3D developers (for debugging). This feature is also useful for backups.

Create or upload ZIP selector

If you choose to upload the archive, a window will be shown from which you can copy the link to the file uploaded to Verge3D Network.

Upload complete dialog

If uploading fails with the message "The difference between your local system time and the server time is too large", then you should correct time on your computer and try again.

Uploaded files can be inspected or removed on the Network Directory page.

Create Desktop/Mobile Apps

App Manager comes with the tool to convert your 3D projects to desktop or mobile apps. To perform this conversion, use the following button located on the right bar of the application page:

Creating desktop/mobile apps with Verge3D

Read more about this tool in the following sections depending on the apps you want to create: desktop or mobile.

Create E-learning Apps

With Verge3D you can pack your 3D web apps to e-learning courses compatible with SCORM 1.2 standard. Use the following button located on the right bar of the application page:

Button to create SCORM courses with Verge3D

Read the following guide for more info on how to use this feature properly.

Move to Trash

You can delete an application by clicking the button in the 'operations' column on the main page:

Delete app icon

... or by using the button on the right bar when on the application page:

Delete app icon on app page

The application is moved to the system Trash from which it is possible to restore it.

Update

If an application is based on an older version of Verge3D, a button for updating it becomes active in the 'operations' column on the main page:

Update app icon

The button will also appear on the right bar of the application page:

Update app icon on app page

See more information on updating here.

Templates

What's a Template

When creating a new application, you may select a template from which the app will be created. By default, 4 templates are offered: "Standard Light", "Standard Dark", "Blank Scene", and "Code-Based".

App templates list

The source files for these templates can be found in the templates folder, e.g. "verge3d_blender\manager\templates". You can modify these files or create an entirely new template for use in your project.

In the templates folder, there is also a hidden template called "Embeddable" which you can use for creating React.js or Vue.js applications.

There are many possible ways to modify/improve your template. You can change the layout by editing HTML/CSS files, embed/use some JavaScript code or library, replace the UI elements or the preloader, or add some puzzles to be included in each new application by default.

Creating Templates

In order to create your own template, click the Settings button on the left bar, then select Templates tab:

Settings icon

In the panel shown up, click + and specify the name for your new template (e.g. "My Template"), then click Apply:

Manage templates dialog

As a result, every time you create a new application, the option to choose your template will appear:

New template on app creation dialog

By default, an empty folder will be created for your application, since no files were provided for the new template. The easiest way to start with a real template is to copy some of the existing templates (e.g. "Standard Dark") and rename the copied folder according to the name of your template (that is, "My Template").

Managing Network Directory

By clicking on the cloud button on the left bar, you can open the Verge3D Network directory:

Verge3D Network icon

Network directory lists all files, directories, or ZIP archives you uploaded there previously:

Verge3D Network remote files

On this page you can see the size of the items as well as the date/time the assets were uploaded to the Verge3D Network (in your local timezone). For directories, date/time info corresponds to the most recently uploaded child element (file or another directory).

The first item ("/") shows some important info: the total size occupied by all your data, and last time something was uploaded to the Network directory.

You can select (with checkboxes) some items and then click on the buttons located on the right panel:

  1. To download apps, or individual files back to your local Verge3D distro.
  2. To remove files from the directory.

App Manager Settings

By clicking the gear button on the left bar, you can open up the panel with various settings:

App manager settings icon

It looks as follows by default:

General Tab

App manager general settings dialog
Applications Folder
Use the specified absolute path (e.g. C:\Users\Alex\my_verge) for the applications folder.
Notify about Verge3D updates
The App Manager will display a notification in case a new stable Verge3D version is available (enabled by default).
Upload app sources (models, puzzles, backups)
The Publish feature will upload the files that are normally not needed for running an application online, and as such are skipped by default. This includes .blend, .max, .ma/.mb, visual_logic.xml, and the contents of the v3d_app_data folder. You can enable this when you want to share the source files with your collegues.
Use URL shortener for uploaded apps
Shorten the links to the apps uploaded to Verge3D network or generate direct (long) links. Using the direct links may be less convenient, but have the benefit of loading a bit faster. This also makes it impossible to guess about the URLs of other users' apps uploaded to Verge3D Network, which makes sense if privacy is a concern.
Enable external server interface
Use the IP address in your local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network instead of localhost:8668. You can find your computer IP address from the operating system preferences: Win 10/11, Win 7, Mac, Linux. Launch the App Manager by navigating to the network address, e.g.: 192.168.1.15:8668
Verge3D Network cache age (minutes)
set the period of time after which Verge3D Network will refresh the re-uploaded application. Set this to 0 (that is, refresh instantly) for faster iterations in developement.

UI Tab

App manager UI settings dialog
Select Theme
Switch the App Manager and Puzzles editor between Light and Dark modes.
User Manual URL

Assign custom path to the User Manual. You might want to this in the following possible scenarios:

  • Replace the English docs by a localized version.
  • Read docs offline and faster via URL http://localhost:8668/docs/manual/en/index.html
  • Use docs for an older Verge3D version or a preview version rather than the latest stable User Manual.

This setting replaces manual in Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, App Manager, and Puzzles.

Templates Tab

See above.

Puzzles Tab

Enable Performance Mode

Experimental feature: the Puzzles Editor will use some optimization measures aimed to improve dragging and zooming performance. User experience can vary depending on a particular browser with Chromium-based ones (Google Chrome, MS Edge, Brave, etc...) benefitting the most and others like Firefox and Safari to a lesser extent. This feature can help if your puzzles setup has grown too much to the point that it causes noticeable performance issues.

License Management

Use the Key icon in the App Manager to activate your Verge3D copy with a license key and to review your license status. When you just installed Verge3D your copy is designated as "Trial" — note the small red dot near the Key icon:

Verge3D Trial

Click Enter Key and paste your license key. This will turn your Verge3D copy to the "Active" status and the expiration date will be displayed in the resulting window:

Verge3D active license

Once the maintenance subscription is expired you'll be suggested to renew your license at 50% price via email. This is known as the "Grace period" and it lasts one month:

Verge3D grace period

After the grace period is expired you'll be required to purchase a new license at full price. However, you can still use the older versions of Verge3D covered by your expired license.

Verge3D license expired

If you're planning to use Verge3D for long time, it is optimal to take advantage of the grace period. Check your email box periodically, and watch out for the Key icon to see if a red dot is there:

Verge3D license is fine

Got Questions?

Feel free to ask on the forums!