Animation Toolbar Menu

Use

You can use the Animation toolbar menu to access the Animation Options window, in which you can set and modify animation settings. These settings are then used when your animations are played. You can also select the specific sequences you want to play. For sequences (not for steps and procedures), you can also set and apply the Simple, Cyclic, and Ping Pong menu options.

Features

For sequences, the following Animation toolbar menu options are available for your use. When a step or procedure is selected, only the Options and Sequences menu options are initially displayed.

Context Menu Option	Functional Description
Options	Used to open the Animation Options window
Simple	Used to set the animation to play once from beginning to end
Cyclic	Used to set the animation to play continuously from beginning to end
Ping Pong	Used to set the animation to play continuously back and forth between the beginning and end
Sequences	Used to list the available associated sequences, from which you can choose one for display.

After you have chosen Options in the context menu, the Animation Options window opens.

Field Areas	Functional Description
Sequence	Lists the following details for each available scene animation sequence Name: The name of the animation sequence Start: The number of the frame at which the animation begins End: The number of the frame at which the animation ends FPS: The frames per second, that is, the number of frames of an animation sequence that are displayed every second. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the animation. This setting is related to the playback system as various film, computer, and TV playback systems differ.
Playback Control	Used to select the percentage playback speed and to skip frames. Speed: Determines the percentage playback speed, that is, the speed at which the animation plays back as a percentage of real-time speed. For example, if the animation is 10 seconds long and you enter 100%, it will take 10 seconds to playback. However, if you enter 50%, the animation will take 20 seconds to playback. Skip frames: Frames are skipped if the computer cannot keep pace with the current frame rate (FPS). This results in certain frames being left out when playing the animation. Otherwise, all frames are displayed during playback even if they are not displayed at the current frame rate. Continuous time: Calculates the animation between frames (frame interpolation) as you move the time/frame slider. Snap to frames: Moves from frame to frame, without frame interpolation, when you play the animation. Default fly to camera time: Sets the default fly to camera time. Play all steps cyclic: Plays all animation continuously from beginning to end.
Time Display	Used to select how to display the time in the time/frame slider. This setting is related to the FPS and overall number of frames in the sequence. Frames: Displays the time in frames Seconds: Displays the time in seconds MM:SS: Displays the time in minutes and seconds SMPTE: Displays the time in the Society of Motion Picture Technical Engineers standard. This standard is used for the measurement of video and television production time.

Field Areas

Functional Description

Sequence

Lists the following details for each available scene animation sequence

Name: The name of the animation sequence

Start: The number of the frame at which the animation begins

End: The number of the frame at which the animation ends

FPS: The frames per second, that is, the number of frames of an animation sequence that are displayed every second. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the animation. This setting is related to the playback system as various film, computer, and TV playback systems differ.

Playback Control

Used to select the percentage playback speed and to skip frames.

Speed: Determines the percentage playback speed, that is, the speed at which the animation plays back as a percentage of real-time speed. For example, if the animation is 10 seconds long and you enter 100%, it will take 10 seconds to playback. However, if you enter 50%, the animation will take 20 seconds to playback.

Skip frames: Frames are skipped if the computer cannot keep pace with the current frame rate (FPS). This results in certain frames being left out when playing the animation. Otherwise, all frames are displayed during playback even if they are not displayed at the current frame rate.

Continuous time: Calculates the animation between frames (frame interpolation) as you move the time/frame slider.

Snap to frames: Moves from frame to frame, without frame interpolation, when you play the animation.

Default fly to camera time: Sets the default fly to camera time.

Play all steps cyclic: Plays all animation continuously from beginning to end.

Time Display

Used to select how to display the time in the time/frame slider. This setting is related to the FPS and overall number of frames in the sequence.

Frames: Displays the time in frames

Seconds: Displays the time in seconds

MM:SS: Displays the time in minutes and seconds

SMPTE: Displays the time in the Society of Motion Picture Technical Engineers standard. This standard is used for the measurement of video and television production time.

Activities

Opening and Displaying the Animation Toolbar Menu for an Animated Scene

Right-click the Animation toolbar, and the Animation Toolbar menu with all five menu options is displayed. If there is more than one sequence, you must select one.

Opening and Displaying the Animation Toolbar Menu for a Selected Step or Procedure

Right-click the Animation toolbar, and the Animation Toolbar menu with the Options and Sequences menu options is displayed. If you then select a particular sequence and right-click the toolbar again, the other three menu items are also displayed.

Selecting a Particular Menu Option in the Animation Toolbar Menu

After the five menu options are displayed in the Animation Toolbar menu, simply click the required option, for example the Ping Pong menu option, to activate it.

Selecting the Animation Options Menu

After the Animation Toolbar menu is displayed, simply click the required Animation Options menu option. You can then make your entries in some of the following window field areas

Example

If the time/frame slider displays frame 45 out of 90 and the FPS is set to 30, the time/frame slider displays the following values for each of the different time display options:

Frames: 45/90
Seconds: 1.5/3
MM:SS: 0:1,50/0:3
SMPTE: 0:1:15/0:3:0