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Note: Plug-ins not available on all platforms, currently plug-ins are only supported on Linux and Solaris/Sun.

## Installing Plug-Ins

There are two ways to install plug-ins:

1. From source (just after compiling it)
2. From binary package

In either case the goal is simple, the plug-in binary needs to be placed in either `/usr/share/vertex/plugins/` or in `$HOME/.vertex/plugins/` (note these paths may differ if you have set up the Locations differently in Vertex's preferences). Installing in the global directory makes the plug-in available to all users on your computer when they run Vertex, if you only wish to use the plug-in for yourself then just install it in your local directory.

Most binary packages will place the plug-in globally in `/usr/share/vertex/plugins/` when you install using your distribution's package installer (ie `rpm` for Redhat Linux).

Installing from source requires that you first compile the plug-in (usually by typing `make` in the source's directory and then afterwards (if no errors occured during compiling), type `make install`.

In case something goes wrong or there is no automatic installation, just manually move the binary to one of the above directories. For example:

- `mv whatever.so /home/me/.vertex/plugins/whatever.so`

Once installed, do not edit the `plugins.ini` file. It will be updated automatically when you run Vertex, if you are currently running Vertex then you should save any modified data and restart it. Once you start Vertex the plug-in will be scanned but marked as disabled, you will need to go to Edit->Preferences->Plug-Ins to enable it (this is for security reasons).

If for some reason Vertex crashes on startup or a plug-in was configured improperly and cannot be fixed, just remove the `plugins.ini` file instead of removing the actual plug-in binaries.

## Setting Up Plug-Ins

Vertex allows the user to set a few custom parameters for their plug-ins, see Edit->Preferences->Plug-Ins for a list of installed plug-ins and options for them.

Most plug-ins will run just fine without any special options/parameters, just make sure that you Enable it (selected the Plug-In and click on the Enable/Disable button). Note that any options/parameters set for a plug-in is stored in the `$HOME/.vertex/plugins.ini` file.

You should Disable any plug-ins that you don't plan on using often, this will reduce the risk of crashes and improve performance.

## Making Your Own Plug-Ins

To make your own Plug-Ins you will need some basic background in:

- Programming C
- Programming libv3d (the Vertex model data API library language)
- Using Vertex

To get started, you should first visit the Vertex web page http://wolfpack.twu.net/Vertex/ and download the Vertex Plug-Ins development package (note that it does not have any dependencies other than that you have Vertex installed).

The Vertex Plug-Ins development package comes with a few demos and all the header files that you need to `#include` plus coding procedure and compiling instructions.

There are no libraries that you need to link to, not even libv3d as Vertex provides all libv3d facilities for your plug-in (see the `v3d*.h` files from the Vertex Plug-Ins development package).

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Vertex is Copyright © 2000-2001 WolfPack Entertainment

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