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The Action Editor

The Action Editor is used to create new actions, based on vectors created in the Vector Editor. An action contains both vector and wave information in a format usable by the Sony PlayStation.

Using the Action Editor

Actions are created, edited, and saved in the following window:

Figure 6.1 Action Editor showing multiple Subactions and Waves

Action

Select Action

 Select the action you want to work with (more than one action can be associated with a MIME object).

Create Action

Create a new action, specifying its name, length, and number of frames.

Edit Action Parameters

Modify the name, length, or number of frames for the selected action.

Delete Action

Deletes an action from memory.

SubAction

Create Subaction

 Adds a subaction to the current action.

When you (CLICK-L) on this command, you're first prompted to select the vector for the new subaction, then a wave.

Note. You can select any wave to create the subaction, then edit it later in the curve editor; the curve editor is described in detail in the N-Dynamics Reference Guide.

Delete Subaction

Deletes the selected subaction from the its parent action.

Reorder Subaction

Reorder the subactions associated with the selected action.

Note. This order does not affect animation, just the order of display.

Wave

Because waves are saved independently from vectors, they can be moved, copied, and edited just like vectors. They can be copied between subactions or even shared by different subactions.

Figure 6.2 Waves are edited using the same curve editor in N-Dynamics

Create Wave

Creates a new wave.

When you (CLICK-L) on this command, you're first prompted to enter a name for the new wave.

After you specify a name, the curve editor is displayed; the curve editor is described in detail in the N-Dynamics Reference Guide.

Rename Wave

Renames a wave.

When you (CLICK-L) on this command, you're first prompted to select the wave you want to rename from the list of waves associated with the current action.

Enter the new name for the wave in the dialog box that appears and (CLICK-L) on OK.

Edit Wave

Edits the data for the selected wave.

When you (CLICK-L) on this command, you're first prompted to select the wave you want to edit from the list of waves associated with the current action.

After you select a wave, the curve editor is displayed; the curve editor is described in detail in the N-Dynamics Reference Guide.

Delete Wave

Deletes the selected wave.

When you (CLICK-L) on this command, you're first prompted to select the wave you want to delete from the list of waves associated with the current action.

A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm that the wave should be deleted; (CLICK-L) on OK to delete the wave.

Read Other Wave

Loads a wave previously saved to disk.

Figure 6.3 Reading a wave from disk

Once a wave has been loaded, it can be assigned to a vector by choosing it from the pop-up bar directly over the wave:

Figure 6.4 Selecting another wave for a vector

A list of waves associated with the current action is displayed; choose the new wave from that list.

Merge Waves

Combines two waves into a single wave.

The two waves are added, so values above the specified max will be clipped:

Figure 6.5 Merging two waves and using that wave in a third subaction

Redisplay

Selects the redisplay mode for the subactions in the Action Editor.

Redisplay

Refresh the display of subactions in the Action Editor.

Auto Redisplay On

Refresh the display of subactions in the Action Editor automatically when some modification is made (such as the modification of a wave).

Auto Redisplay Off

Do not refresh the display of subactions, even if some event occurs that would change the appearance of the subactions. Select Redisplay if you want to refresh the display.

Animate

Animate Action

 Animate the action in the N-Geometry window. The animation is based on the vectors and waves in the active subactions associated with this action.

Note. Subactions can be turned on or off using the check boxes next to each in the Action Editor. Inactive subactions are not used in generating the animation.

A one-bit recording is made each time the action is animated by capturing the contents of the N-Geometry window.

Note. The N-Geometry window must be open for the one-bit recording to be created.

Playback

Plays the one-bit recording from the last animation.

Playback Loop

Plays the one-bit recording from the last animation repeatedly.

Convert

Convert Action

 Writes the following files for the current action:

Convert Action (FlayPolygon)

Similar to Convert Action, except that the RSD files have the single normal polygon format.

Convert Action (Wave Only)

Writes out only the .wave files for the action.

Convert and Send Action

Writes the following files for the current action, then automatically FTPs the appropriate files to the host specified in the Modes menu of N-Dynamics:

Convert and Send Action (Flay Polygon)

Similar to Convert and Send Action, except that the RSD files have the single normal polygon format.

Dyna

Action Generate

 Creates a new action, converts the cues (keyframes) in N-Dynamics into their component vector and wave forms, and associates those vectors and waves with that action. The Action Editor automatically generates waves which interpolate the change in shape between vectors.

The action is given the same name as the script.

Action Regenerate

Updates the current action. This command is identical to Action Generate, except that instead of creating a new action, all vector and wave information is deleted from the current action, then is rebuilt, reflecting any changes you may have made to the N-Dynamics script used to generate this action.

Wave Regenerate

When you change the position of a keyframe in the N-Dynamics script, use this command to recalculate the wave data for the action without changing the vector data.

Vector Regenerate

When you change a value for a cue in the N-Dynamics script, use this command to recalculate the vector data for the action without changing the wave data.


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