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Using Excel As a 3D Graphics Engine

Posted by kdawson on from the right-tool-for-the-job dept.

simoniker writes "Obviously whimsical but slightly mind-blowing — an Eastern European coder has published video and the Excel tables to get full 3D wireframe running in Microsoft Excel. He even has solid polygonal graphics running. This isn't an Easter Egg by the Excel creators. Rather, he's using formulas to output the graphics, using two different methods, and showing all the variables on-screen in real time as the 3D is created."

5 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. Explains the flight simulator in Excel 97? by TheCycoONE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So that's it, Excel is actually a 3d programming environment. The Excel 97 flight simulator then was a demo. http://www.eeggs.com/items/718.html

  2. Re:A true geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Relatively easy. Just create a vba and load some com components...

    Its kinda fun to create a button in word which executes a vba app that creates an excel chart based on data in an access database and embeds it in a cad drawing then prints that to pdf and sends an email through outlook. Makes peoples heads explode even though it is very basic programming.

  3. Re:One can only ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The central thesis appears towards the end of the article. The idea is that something like Excel represents a different coding paradigm that hasn't been seriously considered, where you basically lay out what your stuff is supposed to do, i.e. declare it instead of coding it sequentially. By doing this, you increase comprehension of what's going on, b/c it's easier to visualize the algorithm (at least for 3d manipulations) by viewing the tables, instead of trying to decipher a sequential piece of code. It's basically advocating using a declarative programming paradigm (like Prolog) for games, except using a comical venue to show it.

    Tim Sweeney's POPL talk had some similar ideas too.

  4. I did this years ago by robvangelder · · Score: 5, Interesting

    3D graphics in Excel: http://vangelder.orcon.net.nz/excel/convex3d.html
    Fractal Generated Landscpare Excel: http://vangelder.orcon.net.nz/excel/terrain.html

  5. Re:compressed: by glittalogik · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm shouting into the storm here, I know, but this is NOT true. Both of my female housemates and several of my female friends ONLY date/shag geeks. This whole "geeks can't get laid" is entirely "geeks (don't want/are too scared to try) to get laid."

    As to WHY these girls like geeks, it's generally a combination of the following:
    a) They have a mother complex that makes them want to care for and nurture the most socially inept/awkward partner they can find.
    b) They're geeks themselves, and stick to their own kind.
    c) They have a fetish for crying boys sobbing "thank you, thank you, thank you!" over and over.