Our browser-based CAD viewer in Agile 9.3.4 has stopped rendering 3D models properly. Models that previously displayed fine now show blank screens or loading spinners that never complete. This started happening after recent browser updates across our organization.
We’re seeing this issue primarily with Chrome 122+ and Edge 122+, which both deprecated NPAPI plugin support. Firefox still works but our IT policy is pushing everyone to Chromium-based browsers. The old ActiveX-based viewer obviously won’t work anymore, and we’re stuck with delayed design reviews since stakeholders can’t visualize models without downloading native CAD files.
Is there a path to HTML5/WebGL viewer technology in Agile 9.3.4, or do we need to upgrade? What are others doing about browser plugin deprecation?
Agile 9.3.6 and later include updated visualization components that use HTML5/WebGL rendering instead of browser plugins. These work natively in modern browsers without requiring any client-side installations. The upgrade path from 9.3.4 to 9.3.6+ specifically addresses this browser compatibility problem. However, the upgrade also requires validating your CAD file format support since the new viewer has different format conversion requirements compared to legacy plugins.
We faced this exact situation six months ago. The Firefox workaround works but creates user confusion and IT support overhead. Users forget which browser to use, try viewing in Chrome, submit tickets, etc. Also consider that Firefox will eventually deprecate plugins too. Better to fast-track the upgrade and solve it permanently rather than managing browser-specific workarounds that delay the inevitable.
From a security perspective, continuing to use plugin-based viewers is a non-starter. NPAPI deprecation happened because plugins represent significant attack surfaces. Even if you could somehow enable legacy plugin support through browser policy overrides, you’d be creating security vulnerabilities. Modern HTML5/WebGL viewers run in the browser sandbox and are significantly safer. This should accelerate your upgrade decision from a risk management standpoint.