Version 5 Tutorials

[jevans]

Lin Evans has alread produced a tutorial which describes the basic steps for getting to grips with the "Objects and Animation" window which you can find here

http://www.lin-evans.net/p2e/index.html

This is a very useful first introduction to the "Objects and animation" functions and is in the form of a tutorial as to how to add and manipulate objects.

I have suggested that it might be a good idea to start on a more general tutorial which describes each individual control, information of dialog box in the window as a reference document which can be used to look up control functions. This would be similar to the document I wrote for the Timeline window for the previous PTE version. It may be a little too early to do this as Igor obviously has some more work to finish off the animation editor and add the missing version 4.48 functions. But it is possible to make a start and then edit the document to update existing functions and add the new ones. I am very willing to have a go at this task and have made a preliminary start. However I have some questions about the existing control which I hope somone can answer.

1. There are two controls at the top left of the window. One is marked "Add Frame" and the other is marked "Add Rectangle". If you click either, the text in the "Objects" window is always "Rectangle" and they appear to have the same grouping function. What is the difficerence between these two controls?

2. What is the function of the ">" control between the Undo and Paste buttons?

Jeff

[alrobin]

Jeff,

One adds an empty "rectangle" and the other an opaque, gradient-filled "rectangle". The purpose of the former is to provide a platform on which to add objects so their parameters can be changed as a group. Haven't found a use for the opaque rectangle yet.

The > button is for "Re-do", the opposite of "Un-do"..

[thedom]

1. There are two controls at the top left of the window. One is marked "Add Frame" and the other is marked "Add Rectangle". If you click either, the text in the "Objects" window is always "Rectangle" and they appear to have the same grouping function. What is the difficerence between these two controls?

2. What is the function of the ">" control between the Undo and Paste buttons?

Jeff

1 - With what i already experimented, I saw no difference except that the "add frame" is empty and you don't have to put opacity to 0.

With "add rectangle", you have a background color (solid or gradient).

But I guess you already knew that.

2 - ">" = "redo" (only avalaible if you made a "undo" before").

Maybe in the final release this button should be active only if you click on undo before...

I think it might be useful to have a "balloon help" (not sure of the translation ) on each button ?

Maybe in a future release...

[jevans]

Thanks guys for those comments. Will get on with writing the guide now.

Jeff

[thedom]

By the way, what is the function of "center" (between "rotate" and "opacity" in the "objects and animation" window) ??

I really have no idea...

A tip I discovered today : you can quickly reset to value default the PZR, center and Opacity by clicking on "Pan"/"Zoom"/"Rotate"/"Center"/"Opacity" fields...

[alrobin]

By the way, what is the function of "center" (between "rotate" and "opacity" in the "objects and animation" window) ??

I really have no idea...

"Center" moves the "centre" for the object highlighted so that you can rotate it around a "lopsided" centre point. There's always something new to discover with PTE! (It took me a while to figure this out too).

"Right-click / Put to center" is also a useful function for centering objects in the window.

[bharkins]

I would love to see Jeff's PTE5 tutorial as I enjoyed the Timeline document and finally learned how to use the Timeline properly. Since 5.0 beta has been released, there has been a wealth of information flowing on the Forum and I wish I had all that material in a nicely organized document. I am usually several months behind the cutting edge Forum members, but I stay with the Forum and particularly since 5.0. I basically lurk in the background, but I enjoy those email Forum messages every day!

Bill

[thedom]

"Center" moves the "centre" for the object highlighted so that you can rotate it around a "lopsided" centre point.

Thanks Al.

All right, I understand : "Centre" gives you the ability to move something like an anchor.

It's really a very powerfull function !

Exactly what I thought was missing.

So many things are included in v5 and done in such a smart way.

No competitor really and I mean it.

[Ronniebootwest]

jeff Evans,

I know that you are writing a tutorial for version 5. Would you please let us all know when it is ready for us all to see. I am finding the whole thing a little overwhelming at the moment and I certainly nees some guidance on how to use all of these new features.

Ron

[Igor]

Hold Shift pressed to drag center point of an object.

[jevans]

jeff Evans,

I know that you are writing a tutorial for version 5. Would you please let us all know when it is ready for us all to see. I am finding the whole thing a little overwhelming at the moment and I certainly nees some guidance on how to use all of these new features.

Ron

Ron,

I am working on it now but, in the meantime, look at Lin Evans' tutorial here,

http://www.lin-evans.net/p2e/index.html

I am trying to write a description of every function and element in the editor window as a reference document. Lin's tutorial is more an example of how to put images into the editor and obtain the various movement effects.

Jeff

[jevans]

Jeff,

One adds an empty "rectangle" and the other an opaque, gradient-filled "rectangle". The purpose of the former is to provide a platform on which to add objects so their parameters can be changed as a group. Haven't found a use for the opaque rectangle yet.

/quote]

Al,

I am trying to write a guide and am struggling with the Frame/Rectangle function. Objects only appear to be grouped if they are sub-objects of a main object. If the rectangle is the first object and an image is added as a sub-object, then they are connected together. However if the rectangle and image are separate items, then their parameters are independent. Merely adding a rectangle does not allow objects to be grouped and there is no "group" command as there was in the object editor of the previous version. Thus I cannot see the purpose of the frame/rectangle.

Incidently the tool tip for the empty rectangle is "Add Frame" but the name in the objects window is "Rectangle".

Jeff

[alrobin]

... I cannot see the purpose of the frame/rectangle.

Jeff,

That is correct - if you merely add a rectangle (or "frame"), without any objects indented directly below it, then it has no effect on anything else in the list of objects.

However, if you add a frame or rectangle, and then add a number of sub-objects "attached", or secondary to the frame or rectangle, then whatever action you give the frame or rectangle will be applied to the individual objects, in addition to whatever different actions you apply directly to the objects themselves.

[jevans]

Jeff,

However, if you add a frame or rectangle, and then add a number of sub-objects "attached", or secondary to the frame or rectangle, then whatever action you give the frame or rectangle will be applied to the individual objects, in addition to whatever different actions you apply directly to the objects themselves.

Thanks Al,

I had got that far but wondered why you would want to add an empty rectangle. If you want to group objects then you can do it without the rectangle. However I suppose the empty rectangle just provides a reference object around which to group other objects. Not sure I fully understand the logic of two frame/rectangle buttons but I at least understand how they work.

Jeff

[alrobin]

Jeff,

You have to group them onto some other object, and you may not want to use an image or dark slide for this purpose. (You will notice that there is no longer a "Group" button in the O/A window any more.)

There are probably other reasons for using a rectangle "frame" - less memory required, less clutter in the window, etc.

[thedom]

I found a tip a few days ago but forgot to post it.

I'm sure most of you already know it now, but for the others who missed it, here it is:

in the "Objects and Animation" window, you can play the whole current slide in the visualization screen by pressing on the "Play" button.

But instead of playing the whole slide, you can choose to play it from a selected point by clicking on anywhere you want in the timeline (at the bottom of the window).

Notice that you have to press "Play" first and then click on the timeline.

Very interesting feature, especially if your slide has a long (or very long) display time...

May be it would be interesting to add this tip in the future Tutorial.

[jevans]

Hi Folks,

I have finished a first go at a guide for PTE Version 5 Beta#2 and you should be able to find it here

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jvedette/PTEV5guide.pdf

Some points to note. It is a first go and may have some errors.

Version 5 is not complete so it may need to be changed or supplemented. I will try to do this when the final version of Version 5 is published.

It is in the form of a pdf document. The link above should open the document in Acrobat Reader and you should be able to save the document onto your computer. I am new to using web hosting so I am not completely sure this will work but it has worked for me so it should be ok for others.

Would be interested in any comments and will, of course, do any modifications that are required.

Jeff

[Lin Evans]

Hi Folks,

I have finished a first go at a guide for PTE Version 5 Beta#2 and you should be able to find it here

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jvedette/PTEV5guide.pdf

Some points to note. It is a first go and may have some errors.

Version 5 is not complete so it may need to be changed or supplemented. I will try to do this when the final version of Version 5 is published.

It is in the form of a pdf document. The link above should open the document in Acrobat Reader and you should be able to save the document onto your computer. I am new to using web hosting so I am not completely sure this will work but it has worked for me so it should be ok for others.

Would be interested in any comments and will, of course, do any modifications that are required.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Looks really great. My only suggestions would be to expand a sentence or so on the (3.2.6) Window Zoom and clarify that this is only a viewing zoom and has no effect on the actual size of the image itself. In passing you might also want to touch on the fact that using a small percentage such as 10% will provide a space (the grey space) in which you may right click to add additional objects each in their own layers. There has been some confusion over how to avoid the parent/child relationship and by adding from this zoom window outside any visible rectangles surrounding objects you make the new additions come in on their own layers.

Then a correction of a typo in (3.5.4) where you meant to say "To achieve pan, zoom......" You left out the "n" on pan. Otherwise it looks great to me.

best regards,

Lin+

[bharkins]

Just downloaded your your tutorial and scrolled down the 16 pages. It looks like real gold, and just what we've been waiting for. It's amazing to me that such a polished piece could be produced of a beta program only a few weeks since announced. I'm sure there will be lots of Forum comments on this.

Bill

[Ken Cox]

Jeff is there any chance of you and Lin working together on this -- kind of a "joint Venture"?

ken

[alrobin]

Very nice, Jeff! Good piece of work - it should be quite useful.

[thedom]

Yes, I had a quick look and it seems to be very interesting already.

May be I'm wrong but it seems you don't speak about the Center feature.

Anyway, congratulations and be sure I'm gonna read it from the first to the last page and give you feedback.

And may be I'm gonna learn some more new things about PTE...

[jevans]

Version 5 Guide :

Lin : Thanks very much for your useful comments. I will amend the text but may wait until Igor has posted the next Beta version before posting a revised copy. My thoughts are to revise the basic draft to incorporate all of the new features of Version 5 when it is puiblished in its final form.

Ken Cox has posted a comments that you and I should collaborate and, of course, I am very willing to do this. I class myself as a relative beginner as far as avi work is concerned but I do have quite a lot of experience is writing technical documents.

One problem that I am facing is that I have just tried to set up a web site via my ISP provider. I have had little success until I managed to get an initial page registered onto which I have managed to place the pdf guide. I am sure that this is not the correct way to do it as it does not produce a download link like so many of the forum members seem to do. I need to research this in a bit more detail.

Jeff

[thedom]

Jeff, here are my remarks (mainly some tips you could add and two questions) about your excellent tutorial :

"This is the window zoom control with step settings from 10% to 500%". (p.6).

You could add the following tips :

- move the screen window in the work area with the mouse holding the ALT key

- zoom the window with the wheel of the mouse holding the SHIFT key

- directly type a number in the the zoom field

- x (numeric keyboard) : zoom = auto

- / (numeric keyboard) : zoom = 100%

"When an image is paced into the O/A Editor window, it's size (Zoom), locations in the window (Pan) and orientation (Rotation) can be physically changed by dragging on the image handles". (p.7)

You could add that :

- you can modify the panning only vertically (without affecting the panning horizontally) by holding the SHIFT key.

And of course the opposite is true.

- you can quickly reset to value default the PZR, center and Opacity by clicking on "Pan"/"Zoom"/"Rotate"/"Center"/"Opacity" fields...

"Distortion can only be achieved by typing values into the zoom boxes and not by using the mouse'. (p.10)

It's not correct, it can be achieved with the mouse by holding the SHIFT key.

"Values cab be typed into one or both boxes to displace the centre of the image from its default position". (p.10)

And you could add that you can move the center of an object with the mouse holding the SHIFT key.

"This [centre feature] allows an image to be rotated around a point other than its exact centre point". (p.10).

It's true, but not only. The choice of a "moving" center affect pan and zoom too.

"The Play button plays the animation action". (p.11).

You could add what I wrote here.

"The figure shows the timeline of a slide, set to have a duration of 15s and a transition time of 1.5s...". (p.12)

question : Doesn't the transition time on the slide should show 0.75s (effect applied to two slides, half time on each) ?

"However as they (Keypoints) are an essential elements of the ability to achieve pan, zoom and rotate actions....". (p.14)

You could add that it concerns center and opacity too.

"Keypoints may be added to an image timeline in two ways". (p.14)

Actually, there is a variant for the first way : right-click on the timeline at the position where a keypoint is required and choose "Add a keypoint here"..

"There is always a keypoint at the beginning of the timeline for each object" (p. 15).

Yes, by default, but this first keypoint can be moved if needed (in combination with the starting line by example).

question : Why do we have the ability to move keypoints of an object OUT of its own slide timeline ?!? Is it a bug because it seems it doesn't have any effect...

[bharkins]

These are very useful additional tips, particularly shift-clicking to move the center point. Very useful to focus on a zoom to an area of the image.

Bill