Create an Animation Template
Save Animation as Template
A user defined animation can be saved as an animation template to be later used in other animations.
To create an animation template the user has to choose the option "Save as Template" from the context menu of an existing user defined animation.
After this operation the "Add New Template" dialog will get open.
To create a template some settings are mandatory:
- Choose a location for the new template and name the template in the "Add New Template" dialog.
- Select the desired animated properties to be part of the template by enabling the checkbox on the right side of each animated property.
After the creation of it, the template will be displayed both in the Solution Explorer panel or in the Templates panel where it can be easily identified through the specific icon.
Use a Template
When the user needs to create a new animation associated to any of the available nodes from a scene, the "Add Animated Property" option from the context menu will be used.
The "Property Animation Configuration" dialog will become visible. To use an existing template the user has to check the "Create key frame sequence from template animation" radio button. All the existing animation templates will become available in the Template Animation section. Select an Animation Property Template and press < OK >.
After its creation, the new animation template will be displayed as a read only animation in the Animation Timeline panel.
The animation templates are also displayed in the animation's combobox of the Toolbar.
If the Animation combo-box is not visible, it can be activated through the menu "View > Toolbar > Animation".
By using a template, instead of creating a new animation, the user has the possibility to use an existing template animation if it fits the developing project.
Edit a Template
Editing an animation template is possible using a special editing mode from Animation Timeline panel. After a new animation has been created from a template, the user can select an animated property and choose from the context menu the option "Edit template" > "Enable".
While being in this special editing mode, all the modifications performed by the user will affect the current animation, the original animation template and all the animations created based on that template.
After the desired modifications have been performed, the user can exit from the special editing mode by choosing the "Edit Template" > "Disable" context menu option.
Run a Template Animation
Because animation templates are not linked to any scene it is not possible to run them. So when a template animation is selected, the [ Start the playback of the animation ] button will be disabled.