This function allows the user to animate the selected frames as shown
in Figure
8.2.3
Figure 8.2.3 Animate
1.
PLAY
This function is used to animate the selected frames. Once the frame
number is bigger than 1, the PLAY button can be used (otherwise, disabled). After
clicking the PLAY button, the other three buttons, PAUSE, STOP and RECORD are
activated as shown in Figure
8.2.4.
Figure 8.2.4 Play Status
2.
PAUSE
This function is used to pause the animation as shown in Figure 8.2.5. In this mode, the four other functions are enabled for
use.
Figure 8.2.5 Pause Status
3.
FIRST FRAME
Display the first frame.
4.
PREVIOUS FRAME
Display the previous frame.
5.
NEXT FRAME
Display the next frame.
6.
LAST FRAME
Display the last frame.
7.
STOP
Stop the animation.
8.
This function is used to record the current animation as AVI or E3D
files. AVI file is a Microsoft multimedia file, which can save a series of 2D
images. E3D is a file format developed by ETA, which can save 3D animation and
play it in eta/3Dplayer.
l During animation,
click button and the program displays the WRITE FILE
window for the user to choose the file type and enter the name and location for
the file. Select AVI (*.avi) or E3D (*.e3d) format to save the file, enter a
file name and save to the designated directory. The default directory is where
the d3plot files located.
l After entering
the file name and selecting a directory, click the SAVE button in the WRITE
FILE window. For AVI file type, eta/Post displays the SELECT COMPRESSION FORMAT
for the user to select the compression type and quality.
l The program
writes the AVI or E3D file for the current animation
9.
FRAME NUMBER
After the animation is paused, this function allows the user to drag
the slider to the desired frame to display the result. During animation, the
frame number can be adjusted automatically according to the current step.
10.
FRAMES/SECOND
This function allows the user to adjust the speed at which the
animation is running by altering the number of frames per second. The user can
drag the slider to adjust the frame rate. Once the frame rate is selected, the
animation will continue at this frame rate until it is paused or stopped.