Buttons

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Add Buttons to a project to allow users to perform functions like displaying or hiding objects, playing animations, executing programs, or opening a website.

ill_intro_buttons

Button samples

 

  To insert buttons

1.Create a new, or open an existing project.
2.Insert a terrain model, as described in Terrain Models, if one has yet to be inserted into the project.
3.From the Insert menu, click Button.
4.In the Insert Button dialog box, configure the button settings and click Insert.

dlg_insert_button

  To configure buttons

1.Insert a button, or select a Button object in the Objects window.
2.In the Button dialog box, or in the Object Properties window, make the following settings on the General tab;
Name – Specify the name of the button object. This is the object name that appears in the Objects window.
Button Type – Select the type of button.
oRectangle – The shape of the button is rectangular.
oEllipse – The shape of the button is elliptical.
oEmpty – The button displays no shape, but the text is visible.
oImage – The button uses a background image. You can
Background Images – Specify images for the Released and Pressed states of the button. This is only available when the Button Type is set to Image.
Color & Transparency –  Select a color for the button appearance and set the transparency ranging from 0 - 100, where 100 is completely transparent. Default = 0.
Button Geometry – Choose the placement of the button in the main viewport. Either drag and drop the gray box in the preview window or enter new X and Y position values. You can also adjust the width and height values for the button.

ill_button_width_samples

Adjusted width values for a rectangular and elliptical button.

3.Click the Contents tab, and make the following settings;
Button Text – Enter the text that appears in the button in the main viewport.
Font – Select a font for the button text.
Font Size – Specify the font size.
Font Color – Choose a color for the button text.
Icon – Click the Browse button ico_browse_small to select an icon image that is displayed next to the button text.
oLeft – Places the button icon to the left of the button text.
oRight – Places the button icon to the right of the button text.
oTop – Places the button icon above the button text.
oBottom – Places the button icon below the button text.
oRemove – Click the X button ico_button_icon_remove to remove the button icon.
Icon Size – Set the width and height of the icon.
Transparency –  Set the transparency ranging from 0 - 100, where 100 is completely transparent. Default = 0.
Alignment – Choose the placement of the button in the viewport. Either drag and drop the gray box in the preview window or enter new X and Y

ill_button_content_samples

Samples of different content (icon or text), alignment, font and font size.

4. Click the Command tab to edit the button functionality.

A command can be assigned to a button by using a simple script language. This script language contains multiple commands, which are described below.

Toggle Button – Enable if you want the button to perform a one command when pressed and another command released.
Button Press Command – Enter the command that the button performs when pressed.
Button Release Command – Enter the command that the button performs when released. Only available if Toggle Button is enabled.
Check – Checks and notifies you if the command string you've entered is valid.

Park shown

ill_park_show

Park hidden

ill_park_hide

Example of a SHOW/HIDE button that controls the display of vector data, like a park boundary.

Syntax:

<command>

::=

<action> <object> [USING <parameter>+]

<action>

::=

DO | SHOW | HIDE | PLAY | GOTO | LOOKAT | USE

<object>

::=

<sceneobject> | <animation> | <token> | <applicationcommand>

<sceneobject>

::=

object in the project tree

<animation>

::=

animation object

<token>

::=

DEFAULTPOSITION | ANIMATION | SPHERENAV | CONENAV | GAMENAV | UFONAV

<applicationcommand>

::=

EXIT | SNAPSHOT |
EXEC USING CMD=<value> [<parameter>+]

<parameter>

::=

<name> = <value>

<name>

::=

DIR | PARAMS

<value>

::=

string literal

Semantic:

DO + <applicationcommand>

SHOW + <sceneobject that has visual representation>

HIDE + <sceneobject that has visual representation>

PLAY + <animation> | ANIMATION | <sceneobject of type videolayer>

GOTO + DEFAULTPOSITION | <sceneobject of type bookmark> | <sceneobject that has visual representation>

LOOKAT + <sceneobject that has visual representation>

USE + *NAV

Examples:

DO EXEC USING CMD=notebpad.exe,DIR=c:\windows

DO EXEC USING CMD=www.autodesk.com

SHOW Compass

GOTO MyBookmark

LOOKAT MyImageLabel

USE UFONAV

...