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TimeSensor |
| What is it? |
The TimeSensor node assists in coordinating animations and timing sound files. With this
node, you can specify beginning and ending times of the particular event, looping
and level of user activity.
For more details about this node, check out the VRML 2.0 Spec
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Create the scene and add Cameras
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1) First plan out a scene with all the objects, materials, animations and
NavigationInfo that are needed.
To the right, we have created a simple world for you to use as an example.
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2) Next it is a good idea to add at least one 'Camera' which will be a 'Viewpoint' in
the VRML file, but the file will still work without Viewpoints. NOTE: The more Viewpoints the better in VRML files. The
different browsers have various navigation abilities and restraints, therefore the
Viewpoints are the one consistent way the user can view the file.
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3) To add a Camera, go to the Creation panel/press the 'Camera' button and Choose 'Target'
as the Object Type.
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4) With your mouse, drag the Camera in the 'Top' viewport and stretch it out.
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5) To view what the Camera is seeing, go to the Perspective viewport
and press 'c' on the keyboard. And there you are from the Cameras
point of view.
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6) The Camera is easy to adjust with the Move and Rotate buttons, so test
them out.
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7) Also it is good to name your Cameras. The Camera name is what the user
sees in the VRML browser as the name of the Viewpoint. Otherwise it
will default to Camera01, Camera02 etc. Which is pretty boring, if you
have a great viewpoint to show off.
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8) Viewpoints help tell a story in the VRML file, because you can
lead the viewer to ideal viewing points of the model which they
might not otherwise explore.
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How to implement a TimeSensor into a MAX file:
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9) To implement the TimeSensor into the scene successively,
it is necessary to solidify the Grouping and Heirarchy levels and which parts will be moving.
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10) If you want an animation to occur within a subgroup, but not to the entire
parent group then follow these directions to implement the TimeSensor before
moving on to the Parent group.
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11) For example, if you want a particular subgroup to animate
and loop AND the parent group to animate but not loop, then you
must place the TimeSensor into the lowerlevel grouping first before adding an
additional TimeSensor to the Parent group.
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12) OTHERWISE just plan that if you want any animation or sound files
in subgroups, you will have to 'Open' the top level group,
do the animation and add the TimeSensor,
and then 'Close' the group while objects in the original group are still
selected.
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13) For the TimeSensor node go to the 'Creation' panel and choose 'Helpers'
Under 'Helpers' use the pull down the menu and choose VRML 2.0. Then
choose the Object Type 'TimeSensor'.
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14) Then go to your scene and drag the mouse anywhere. You will
see an icon that signals to you that you have placed the TimeSensor.
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15) Select the Pick Objects button to select the
animated objects that will be coordinated by the TimeSensor.
Select the objects or sound files with
a mouse click OR press the keyboard letter 'H'.
The selected objects will appear in the 'Pick Objects' box.
Turn off the 'Pick Objects' button by pressing
it again to get out of the selection mode.
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16) Now you can choose loop--and the animation will run continuously,
start on load--the animation will begin once the file is loaded,
startTime & stopTime--where you correspond TimeSensor times to
animation frames to provide for smooth animation.
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17) In the Icon Size box, you can designate a larger or smaller
icon size for the TimeSensor node---but this is only for the MAX
file and has no bearing on the VRML file.
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18) Now you have entered all possible information for the 'TouchSensor' node.
If you need to go back, after leaving the Creation panel, and alter any of the
parameters, then go to the 'Modify' panel and adjust.
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19) Now you have successfully implemented a TimeSensor into your
file.
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20) To check, go to the 'Selection' menu!
NOTE: You can name your TimeSensor in MAX in the 'Name' field.
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How to Export MAX files to VRML:
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21) Now go to 'File' and choose 'Export'.
The Exporter knows that you are referring to the file that is open
and requests that you name your file.
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22) So first choose '.wrl' filetype
Then name your file, i.e. 'SuchAndSuch.wrl'
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23) Suggestion: Because you might need to go back to the MAX file and adjust part of
your world, it is
a good idea to keep the filename between to two files the same.
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24) Check out a more elaborate sample file
that demonstrates the TimeSensor.
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