Creating a Video |
 
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Creating a Video |
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STRUCTURAL RESPONSE
The most basic input is the specification of a Flexcom motion database file (DBM file extension), from which the structural display is sourced. Use the 
button to add a database file to the Database Files view. Naturally the database file must exist, so it is necessary to have successfully performed a Flexcom analysis in advance. A video is typically based on a single database file, but you may add further database files if you wish. You may also remove database files subsequently from the list using the 
button.
Once you select a database file in the Database Files view, it is loaded in the Preview window where it may be previewed. This view contains all the functionality of the standard Model View in the main Flexcom program. It also allows you to view an animation of the structure response, and also facilitates rotating, panning, and zooming. It also has other useful display features such node and element numbering, nodal coordinates, seabed topography, water surface profile, and many more.
Should you wish to augment the eventual video with some external captions/pictures, it is also possible to load a range of image files into the project. This is handled by the Image Files view, and again the and buttons may be used to add or remove images. Once you select an image file, it is loaded to facilitate a preview.
STORING CAMERA POSITIONS
Typically you will formulate a series of desirable views while examining the structural response over time, and you may store each viewpoint as a dedicated Camera Position. In a similar vein to the Database Files view, the and buttons are used to compile a list of Camera Positions in the Camera Positions view. Once you select an item in the Camera Positions view, it is loaded in the Preview window. If you are not entirely satisfied with the Camera Position, you may alter it by panning or zooming, and then storing the updated viewpoint using the 
button.
Notes:
a) If successive Camera Positions are different i.e. depict different locations, the AVI editor will move between the viewpoints when it comes to generating the AVI file. If you wish to keep a single viewpoint for a certain period of time, place the same Camera Position at the start and finish time of this interval.
b) A mathematical algorithm is used to move the camera between two Camera Positions. On occasion, due to the nature of this interpolation the images created between successive Camera Positions may appear distorted. This distortion can be prevented by creating and inserting more intermediate Camera Positions into the timeline to smooth the transition.
ADDING DISPLAY OPTIONS
Additional information may be added to the display in the Preview window, such as the inclusion of node numbers, labels or coordinates, selectively viewing certain element sets only, or even changing the background colour. Collectively, each of these additional features may be described as display options, and different configurations may be created and stored in the View Options Sets window. As before, options sets may be added, removed or updated via the , and buttons, respectively.
CREATING THE TIMELINE
Once you have assembled all the required database/image files, camera positions and option sets, you can now compile them into a series of events which form the basis of the final video. Events may be added or removed via the and buttons in the Timeline View. The addition of a visual element (such as a database, image file or blank screen) is a mandatory first step, for which you specify the start time and duration of the image display. In the case of a database file, you must also specify the desired playback speed, and the simulation time at which the display is to commence from. Pre-defined camera positions or display options may also be initiated at various times in the sequence of events.