Order of Objects in 5B5

[dagrace]

I haven't played too much with Beta 5 yet, but I was working a bit yesterday and I perceive a difference between betas 3 & 4, and Beta 5. I might be crazy...

I'm adding objects to a "base" image. If I click on the name of the base image "Base", then click the insert button, I get an image Image1 that is hierarchically "beneath" Base, that is, indented in the list. So far so good. Now I want to insert another image Image2. I don't want it to be indented from Image1, only Base. So I click again on Base, then insert, and Image2 is now indented. But the list now looks like this:

Base

Image2

Image1

(the indents don't show on the post, but Image2 and Image1 are indented from Base).

After 4 of these, it looks like this:

Base

Image4

Image3

Image2

Image1

I guess it doesn't really matter (at least at my level of proficiency) but I thought in previous betas, it came out

Base

Image1

Image2

Image3 etc.

Actually the same thing happens at the "root level": If I insert Base1, then click in the white space to de-select it (so that the next image is at the same "level", and insert Base2, they are again inverted:

Base2

Base1

I could find no way to change the order (I did find the "send to back" etc.) and again I thought in previous versions it would have given the opposite result.

Am I going crazy? Please tell me I'm doing something wrong. "User error" is a great answer! I'm willing to learn!

[Lin Evans]

I haven't played too much with Beta 5 yet, but I was working a bit yesterday and I perceive a difference between betas 3 & 4, and Beta 5. I might be crazy...

I'm adding objects to a "base" image. If I click on the name of the base image "Base", then click the insert button, I get an image Image1 that is hierarchically "beneath" Base, that is, indented in the list. So far so good. Now I want to insert another image Image2. I don't want it to be indented from Image1, only Base. So I click again on Base, then insert, and Image2 is now indented. But the list now looks like this:

Base

Image2

Image1

(the indents don't show on the post, but Image2 and Image1 are indented from Base).

After 4 of these, it looks like this:

Base

Image4

Image3

Image2

Image1

I guess it doesn't really matter (at least at my level of proficiency) but I thought in previous betas, it came out

Base

Image1

Image2

Image3 etc.

Actually the same thing happens at the "root level": If I insert Base1, then click in the white space to de-select it (so that the next image is at the same "level", and insert Base2, they are again inverted:

Base2

Base1

I could find no way to change the order (I did find the "send to back" etc.) and again I thought in previous versions it would have given the opposite result.

Am I going crazy? Please tell me I'm doing something wrong. "User error" is a great answer! I'm willing to learn!

Hi David,

What you are dealing with is called the parent/child relationship. There are several ways to get objects on the identical level without any "indent". The easiest way for me is to zoom the image to about 10% then right click way away from the green bounding rectangle in the grey area of the Objects and Animation screen. If you click "on" an object name then right click and "Add" a new object (image), you will end up with this:

OBJECT 1

----OBJECT 2

This is the parent/child relationship you would also get if you used the "rectangle" to bound the two in the visual view.

To prevent this, you click away from the word object on the object list or do it as suggested above and use the zoom feature (to the right of Paste on the tool bar on top) to click far away from any rectangle.

Then you should see this:

OBJECT 1

OBJECT 2

Once you have the objects in the object list, go to the Properties tab and click on the "Transparent to Selection" box so there is a checkmark in it. This way when you actually click on an object in the object list, you will see only the rectangle which bounds that object.

Now click on the object in the object list then right click the mouse and choose order. You can then move any object forward or backward by one step or all the way to front or back.

Best regards,

Lin

[alrobin]

I haven't played too much with Beta 5 yet, but I was working a bit yesterday and I perceive a difference between betas 3 & 4, and Beta 5. I might be crazy...

......snip.......

Am I going crazy? Please tell me I'm doing something wrong. "User error" is a great answer! I'm willing to learn!

No, you're not "seeing things" - Igor changed the order of insertion of objects in response to someone's post in the last beta. Now the most recent objects added appear at the top of the list of added objects (for any particular "level", of course):

Object 4

Base

- Object 3

--- Object 6

--- Object 5

- Object 2

- Object 1

(makes it a little more like Photoshop layers, I guess).

[jevans]

No, you're not "seeing things" - Igor changed the order of insertion of objects in response to someone's post in the last beta. Now the most recent objects added appear at the top of the list of added objects:

Object 4

Base

- Object 3

--- Object 6

--- Object 5

- Object 2

- Object 1

(makes it a little more like Photoshop levels, I guess).

Yes Al, it was me. I jusr mentioned that the order was the reverse of the "Layers" palette in Photoshop and Igor changed it to match.

Jeff

[dagrace]

I haven't played too much with Beta 5 yet, but I was working a bit yesterday and I perceive a difference between betas 3 & 4, and Beta 5. I might be crazy...

Well, this doesn't prove I'm NOT crazy, but at least I understand this part now. Makes sense. Thanks all.

[dagrace]

Hi David,

What you are dealing with is called the parent/child relationship. There are several ways to get objects on the identical level without any "indent". The easiest way for me is to zoom the image to about 10% then right click way away from the green bounding rectangle in the grey area of the Objects and Animation screen.

<snip>

Lin

Hi Lin,

My questions were not around the heirarchy but rather the order of insertion. I understand the parent-child relationship quite well and see its value. I have to admit I don't zoom the image much at all (I just forget about it). That will make it easier to navigate. Thanks.

[Ronniebootwest]

David,

I understand the parent-child relationship quite well and see its value.

If you understand the Parent-Child thingy well, would you please post an in depth explanation of it, I am more than a little confused by it all and would welcome some tuition.

Ron

[thedom]

Ron,

Trust me, it's very well explained in bjc's tutorial (step03).

Once you have watched this tutorial, I think everything will be much clearer about Parent-Child and every aspects of animation.

[Ronniebootwest]

Dom,

I watched this flash movie and agree that it is very good, providing a lot of information. It does not go into any real detail on the subject of Parent/Child however. What I would like to see is a detailed tutorial on what Parent/Child is and how to actually use it in PTE Version 5.

I have an excellent description of it from Jeff Evans (Thanks Jeff) now I must find out how and when to use it properly.

Ron