Datasheet

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CHAPTER 1 GETTING TO KNOW VIZ
The long horizontal elements across the bottom of the viewport are the time slider and track bar,
used for animation. You can hide the track bar to save space on the screen. Choose Customize  Show
UI  Show Track Bar to toggle this part of the interface off until you’re ready for making animations.
Just to the left of the animation controls are the transform type-ins. This area displays the location of
your cursor in X, Y, and Z coordinates. It also displays other types of data, depending on your current
activity. For example, if you’re rotating an object, the coordinate readout displays the rotation angle of
the object being rotated. If you’re scaling the data, these text boxes will show percentages.
In addition to the transform type-ins, there is a Grid panel, which may lie hidden to the right if
your display is set to low resolution. To find it, place the cursor on the vertical bar just to the left of
the prompt line until you see a double-pointed arrow.
When you see the arrow, click and drag to the left. The Grid panel will be revealed to the right
of the transform type-ins.
You can display a grid in the current, active viewport by clicking this panel or by clicking the
G shortcut key. Right-click the panel to open a dialog box that lets you set the grid spacing and
other grid parameters.
Below and to the left of the Grid panel is the Communication Center icon. Click this icon to establish
the settings that determine when VIZ checks for official updates, patches, and news from Autodesk.
Once this is set up, an information bubble will appear whenever information from Autodesk is available
from the provided Internet link.
Finally, to the far left at the bottom of the VIZ window is the MAXScript Mini-Listener.
MAXScript is a programming language that allows you to create custom applications or macros
in Autodesk VIZ 2008. A macro is like a prerecorded series of instructions. The MAXScript
Mini-Listener serves two functions: The pink area displays your activity when the MAXScript
MacroRecord function is turned on, and the white area provides a space where you can enter
commands through the keyboard.
Using Shortcut Keys to Switch Viewports
You can set the current, active viewport to display a top, front, or left side view by pressing the T, F, or
L key. You can also press B for the bottom view. Pressing P will display the perspective view, and press-
ing U will display an isometric user-defined view. If you have added a camera, you can press C to select
from a list of camera views. The hotkeys of R for right view and K for back have been removed from the
defaults in VIZ. You can easily assign your own hotkeys to commands; this procedure is covered later in
the chapter.
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