Skip to main content

Part 5: Configure State Machine

State Machine feature is used for transitioning from one state to another. In our example, we will have a Music state and a Navigation state. The transitions between these two are triggered by pressing the Music and Navigation buttons in the Menu section.

  1. In Solution Explorer navigate to the GlobalStateMachine which can be found following the path below. Double-click the GlobalStateMachine.
    • The State Machine Editor will be opened and GlobalStateMachine will be displayed.
    • GlobalStateMachine consists of an Initial State (circle) and a State (rectangle) called "State" and a transition from the Initial State to the State.
      Solution Explorer Path
      Solution > State Machines > GlobalStateMachine
  2. In State Machine Editor add another state by dragging a State from the upper right toolbar and dropping it into the State Machine diagram below the already existing state.
    • A new state "State_1" will be created in the State Machine Editor.
      drawing-5-1729864735.png
  3. In State Machine Editor add a transition from "State" to "State_1" and another transition from "State_1" to "State". To do this drag a Transition from the toolbar onto the outgoing state (e.g. State) then click onto the second state (e.g. State_1).
    • 2 Transitions will be added from State to State_1 and back
      drawing-5-1748252301.png
  4. In State Machine Editor select the State and State_1 one by one. In the Properties panel's [General] section change their Name properties according to the table below.
    • In State Machine Editor you can see that the states have been renamed.
        Target State "State" Target State "State_1"
      General > Name
      Music
      Navigation
  5. While the state "Music" is selected in the State Machine Editor click on the [Fusion...] button on the bottom left.
    • Fusion will be opened, displaying the Fusion node "Music".
    • The displayed Fusion node offers 2 behavior connectors: one for [On Entry Actions] and one for [On Exit Actions].
      drawing-5-1748253300.png


  6. In the [Music] Fusion Node drag the [On Entry Actions] connector circle to the right and release the mouse.
    • A Select Behavior dialog will be opened.
    • This dialog has an input field on top and a list of behaviors organized as a tree on the bottom.
    • This list of behaviors is similar to the one in the Toolbox panel's [Behaviors] section.

  7. In the Select Behavior dialogue find the "Enable Rendering" behavior and double-click it.
    • In Fusion a new [Enable Rendering] node is created, which is connected to the Slider's [On Entry Actions] connector.

      Use the dialogue's input field and start typing "Enable Rendering". While you are typing, the list of behaviors decreases as the content of the input field serves as a filter.


  8. In Fusion configure the [Enable Rendering] node according to the table below.
    • The [Enable Rendering] node is fully configured.
    • Whenever GlobalStateMachine enters the state "Music", the GroupNode "Music" will get visible.
      Music Node
      On Entry Actions > EnableRendering
      TargetNode
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Music
      Visible
      TRUE
  9. Repeat similar steps to create an [EnableRendering] Fusion Node for the [Music] node's [On Exit Action] connector. Configure this new [EnableRendering] node according to the table below.
    • The [Enable Rendering] node is fully configured.
    • Whenever GlobalStateMachine exits the state "Music", the GroupNode "Music" will get invisible.
      Music Node
      On Exit Actions > EnableRendering
      TargetNode
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Music
      Visible
      FALSE


      drawing-5-1748248693.png
  10. In State Machine Editor select the [Navigation] state, switch to Fusion and configure a similar [On Entry Action] and [On Exit Action]. Necessary configuration details are given in the table below.
    • The [Navigation] State has been configured similar to the [Music] State.
    • Whenever GlobalStateMachine enters the state "Navigation", the GroupNode "Navigation" will get visible.
    • Whenever GlobalStateMachine exits the state "Navigation", the GroupNode "Navigation" will get invisible.
      Navigation Node
      On Enter Actions > EnableRendering
      TargetNode
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Navigation
      Visible
      FALSE
      NavigationNode
      On Exit Actions > EnableRendering
      TargetNode
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Navigation
      Visible
      FALSE

 

  1. In the Scene Tree panel navigate to TextButton_Music which can be found following the path below and select it. Click on the Fusion button on the top right of the Scene Tree panel.
    • Fusion will be opened, displaying the TextButton_Music's Fusion node with a Behaviors connector.
      Scene Tree Path
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Menu_button > TextButton_Music
  2. Drag the Behaviors connector to the right and release the mouse button.
    • The Select Behaviors dialog will be opened
  3. Find the "Handle Control State" behavior and double-click it.
    • A new Fusion node [Handle Control State] will be created.
  4. Repeat these steps for TextButton_Navigation which can be found following the path below.
    • A new Fusion node [Handle Control State] will be created.
      Scene Tree Path
      IVI_Sample > IVI_Sample > Menu_button > TextButton_Navigation


Next, we will configure how these transition are triggered. Select each Transition and set the displayed Properties as shown below.

drawing-5-1729866483.png


Now, all configuration is done. Please save your solution and click the Play button in the menu bar to run CGI Player.

drawing-5-1729866511.png

The Player starts displaying the Music screen (and we are in Music state). Use the menu buttons "Navigation" and "Music" to switch between Navigation and Music.

drawing-5-1696587974.png