john2005bc@yahoo.com
All
Queries/Problems/Customization Requests can be mailed to
MAILTO:john2005bc@yahoo.com
<Subject:LBWF_GUI_V02>
About
v2.01
LBWF
GUI is a combination of LBWF(Liberty Basic WireFrame) Library
v06,developed by
Tom
Nally mailto:Steelweaver52@aol.com and the LBWF_GUI_V02 by me, John
van den Berg.
The
LBWF Library originally consisted of 52 functions
wich
creates, moves, edits, etc eight(8) diffrent primitive object types.
For
the Purpouse Of the GUI, I had to SLIGHTLY modify some of the Library
functions
and
add a few more one. Thus I called it v06.ax <-Hope you dont mind,
Tom.
This
Version of the GUI also Recognises Files of the previous version, BUT
filenames
will have to be changed to that of one of the "Project Files"
used by
v2.01.
More on that later. The GUI consists of 46 functions, which open
dialogs, etc to
use
the Library, and sub functions for file and automation functionality.
Note
that if you want to change or use any of these functions feel free
to
do so, but leave acknowledgement to either me or Tom in the Source
code.
REMEMBER:
This Application is released as open source.
The
story
At
the end of developing v1.01 fo the WireFrame GUI, I eagerly started
to
develop the second edition. Doing do, I realized that the first
version's
functionality
was quite limited. I suppose the reason being is my
limited
programming experience. Anyway, since then, I worked late every
morning
till 05h00 to re-think, restructure and re-design the GUI. Now, I
think
the
second edition is ready for release. Good news/Bad news time: Bad
news
is
that the LBWF_GUI_V03_Anim8 will take some more time b4 it hits the
forum. Good news is that I just started on a
fully
functional Animation Program that will have an extensive database
of
Object Types(pre-designed Objects that will consist of various
primitive
object
types and grouped together as a sinle defined Object Type),that can
be
loaded directly into the GUI for editing. a Beta should be ready for
release
about mid-end November(Yes, I have to do a normal job too, which
happens to consume most of my time and I program for a hobby).
Correspondence via eMail to me should keep
you
up to date on what and when etc. I will also appreciate ANY
suggestions.
From
there I will like to Make some considerate effort to design a
Wireframe
type
Game Engine........
Have
fun using the GUI and drop me a eMail if you experience any problems.
System
Requirements
TO
RUN AS EXE:
Pentium
I or higher(Although I did not test it on anything lower than P1)
Microsoft
Windows® 95 or Higher
32
MB RAM Required(64 MB Recomended)
MB
Free disk space
An
imagination
FOR
DEVELOPERS:
Just
Basic V01
Liberty
Basic V01 or higher
New
since v1.01
Fresh
look GUI
(Well, almost), with
more functionality, especially regarding
Automation
and Object editing:
Advanced
Object, Group and Device Automation
Camera Automation(since
the first version) is no longer supported. Instead, I included a
Sequence Editor wich alows the user to move Objects
in
seven diffrent ways and also allows movement and rotation of Object
types
and whole structures, thus giving more powerfull automation wich can
be
easily
edited at will. The Object animation is termed as follows: for each
SCENE
that
gets evaluated, all the objects available at the time will
participate.
Object
will only be regarded as a active participant if parameters is set
for
either the object, or the group that the object belongs to. There can
be
up
to 100 SCENES, where any amount of Objects can participate. Now that
the
SCENE
is defined, comes a SEQUENCE. a SEQUENCE consists of the SCENES
set
up for automation. As you can copy a SCENE, it will be a time
consuming
task
to redefine those 100 or less SCENES. Therefore you can let 100
scenes
belong
to a single SEQUENCE and then copy the SEQUENCE if neccassary, or
just
add a new SEQUENCE, wich can have another 100 SCENES. Doing some
math,
it means that you can have up to 100 SEQUENCES, each having 100
SCENES,
and if there is for instance 10 objects in the active Project,
it
means that you can have up to 100x100x10=100 000 stored Individual
movements(or
more if object count is higher) on one file!
NOTE:
The main window will be disabled if an automation is being
performed,so be warned.
a
Brief description of the seven types of Object Automations:
A>
Move Object:This will move the selected
Object only along any of the
three
axis at the speed chosen. This will not affect any objects
of
the same type as the chosen Object.
B>
Move an Object's Group:This Option will
move all the objects that
belongs
to the same group as the selected Object.
NOTE:For
movement and rotation of Object Types, I firstly included a
Object
Group Editor wich makes grouping of object easy as pie.
Secondly,
this version will allow you to select an object, set movement
of
that objects particular group, and then selecting an object of the
group
and give that object another movement to perform during the same
SCENE!
This makes multiple movement of objects a breeze.
C>
Rotate Object:Same as A,
but will rotate the Chosen Object about
the
chosen axis. Also disregards Object Types.
D>
Rotate an Object's Group:Same as B,
with the alteration being that
the
grouping of Objects will rather Rotate.
NOTE:When
it comes to group movements and rotations, each object's
parameters
will be considered individually, so if you move an object
of
a group and then rotate another object of the same group, both
actions
will get performed.
E>
Orbit Group About Object: This works a
bit diffrent. It allows you to
select
an object for which you want to be a pivot for all the other objects
that
belongs
to that object's group. I suggest you create a very small
box(say
0.1x0.1x0.1) and name it pivot and let the goup of objects orbit this
pivot.
Unfortunately, the plane of orbit will ONLY
happen in the Y-axis.
F>
Move Device of Object : This lets you choose an Object and
will move all other objects that belongs to that object's Device.
G>
Rotate Device of Object : Same as above but all the objects of
the device that the selected object belongs to will individually
rotate.Do not confuse rotate with orbit here.
H>
Hide/Show Object : This will hide or show the selected device
for one frame of animation or untill this object's group or device is
called apon for activity.
NOTE:As
you will notice, the maximum amount of spaces any object can move
or
degrees it can rotate is eight(8). I did this because if an object
have
the
ability to move vast spaces, it will cause an unwanted effect during
runtime
of the automation. HINT:6x15=90 degrees. Use the "Copy Scene"
facility
provided!
Improved
File Management:
For v1.01, a prompt
popped up, asking for a filename under wich to save
the
file. NOT the case with V02! The GUI now has what I call a Project
Planner,
wich consists of ten(10) Projects. Unfortunately(think demo
version),
you can only work with these ten files. No rename, delete will
be
allowed. You can however clear Projects or their automations.
Improved
Object information
Dialogs including
Object Grouping Editor, Resource Meter and upgraded Automation
Routines.
Advanced
Error detection.
I added this in case
any users experience serious errors during runtime. Thus, if the
program DOES experience an Error, a notice will popup, informing the
user that there was a serious problem, also giving an Error code(this
error code will let me know exactly in wich function the error
occured, and what caused the error). With that information I can
identify what the user tried to do, and even send an updated TKN file
if the user's need is greater than what the application's extends to.
Improved
Program integrity.
The GUI currently
operates from a single main window and only calls any of the 97(yes,
ninety-seven) functions neccessary to create, load, move, edit,
automate, etc. all the objects and groupings types in the main
display.
|
BUTTON
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Description
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Create a line : This creates a line with the 2 sets
of x, y, z co-ordinates
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Create a polygon : This creates a polygon. The parameters are
radius and amount of sides
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Create a box : Creates a box with width height and
z-dimension(Thickness)
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Create a Pyramid : Creates a pyramid with dimensions width,
height and z-dimension(Thickness)
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Create a Cone : Creates a cone with dimensions radius, height
and amount of sides.
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Create a Cylinder : Creates a Cylinder with dimensions radius,
height and amount of sides
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Create Cylinder type 2 : Creates a cylider with different
radius dimensions on top and bottom. Apart from that, it is the
same as one above
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Create Dome : Creates a dome with dimensions of radius, height
and amount of sides.
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Create new Device/Group : Sets up a new Device and Group and is
also used to add groups to existing devices. The Dialog also has a
“Lock” checkbox that will allow multiple object
creation without having to redefine the groupings.
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Add to Device/Group : Allows user to add Objects to previously
created Devices/Groups. Also supports the Lock Facility.
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Load Project : Opens the Project Manager and allows you to load
one of your 10 Projects
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Save Project : Saves The Active Project.
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Exit : Closes The Program. Autosave will not be done and the
program will not prompt you to save(yet!)
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Center Screen : Allows you to choose where your screen Center
Should Be
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Grid : Setup the Grid
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Camera : Set's up the Camera Settings.
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Objects info : Dialoge that shows the information of all the
Objects.
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Object Group Editor : Dialog where You can group and Regroup
the objects. Usefull for when automation of groups, devices is set
up.
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Move Objects/Camera/Zoom, etc : This handy Dialog allows the
movement of many tyoes. Easy to follow.
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Resources info : This Program uses arrays that allows the
creation of 500 objects only. Always check Here for resource
availability if you want to have more than +/- 300 objects, for
you can easily run out of line/node resources.
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Run Automation : Starts up the automation as set up by the
user.
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Help : Shows the name of this HTML Document
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Allows a multi colored effect during automation.
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