Polytron32 Manual - written by Steve Klinger

The Options and Configuration window offers five areas we can use to adjust the settings of Polytron32. Let's take a minute to look over the options.

• Controlling
• PMV Settings
• Tools
• Directory
• Interface

• Point Movement Settings - Settings pertaining to how points are moved.
  • Move Rate - Sets the amount that a point will move when a move icon or keyboard move command is clicked.
  • XY Point Movement Mode - When this box is checked, the 4 and 6 keys on the num pad will move a point in the -X and +X directions. The 1 and 8 keys will move a point in the -Y and +Y directions and the (+) key and (-) key will move a point in the +Z and -Z directions. All irregardless of the focused view. With this box unchecked, the 4 an 6 keys will move a point left or right in the focused view. This is the familiar setting.
  • Show Marked Polygons as crossed - Shows all marked polygons with a cross in the 2d views to aid in identifying the marked polygons. This can also make the display appear more cluttered. The choice is yours.
• Insert Offset - These settings determine where a copied set of points and polygons will be placed when the Paste Offset option is chosen. The default setting is 0.100 to the front.

In this section, we can set how the PMV preview displays the robot.

• Textured, Manual Update - This displays the robot in a PMview style. In fact this part of the program uses the PMview engine by Garry Knudson. With this setting, to view updates, you must do so manually. By clicking the manual icon in the Preview Toolbar.
• Textured, Auto-Update - With this setting we get a WYSIWYG view. It is updated as changes are made without any extra effort of our own. This setting does tax the system, so if you have a slower machine, then you may not want to use this setting all the time.
• Textured - This setting will display the robot with the textures visible. Unchecked, the model will appear as a solid white.
• Cull-face - This allows you to view the other side of the polygons. This can be useful for checking the normals. This will not flip the normals, just allow the the robot to be viewed as if they were flipped.
• Line/Poly - Checked, this setting will display the robot as a solid model. Unchecked, the model will be displayed as a wireframe.
• Size2Poly - Effects how the model will be display. Large or small.
• Background Color - We can choose an alternative to the black background with this drop down list.
• Texture Set - With this list we can view the robot with the different Descent 2 PIG files.

Basically we have PMView inside Polytron32. This feature is a great time saver because we don't have to switch back and forth between PMView and Polytron. But don't get rid of PMView. It still has its uses with Polytron for comparisons and examining the textures of other robots.

With this dialog we can set the directories where these two tools can be located by Polytron32. Note that RBotEdit can not be called by Polytron at this time.

Here we can set the default directory where Polytron looks for and saves files to. You should be aware that this directory is also where Haxmedit32 will look for hmel files. So, changing this directory will affect Haxmedit32 as well.

• SingleView - With this option set, the model will be displayed in a single, large view. Helpful for low res users.
• QuadView - This will display all four views on screen at once. This mode is more taxing on system resources and will slow down the redraw times. If you have a slower computer, consider using the SingleView.
• New View Orientation -   With this box checked, the orientation will be top in the upper left. Back just below it and the side view in the upper right. The wireframe view will be in the lower right. Those familiar with drafting will recognize this configuration. Unchecked, backview is upper left, top is upper right, side is lower left.
• View Options - Depending on which view is selected here, the grid and snap sliders will reflect the settings for that view.
• Grid Slider - Set the grid setting here. The grid setting determines the size of the grid in the view. It can be turned off if desired.
• Snap Setting - Set the snap settings here. The snap determines the accuracy of how a point moved with the mouse will be placed in position. This cannot be turned off.

Back

Contents

Next

WebHits counts accesses on this page since 02/08/97. View detailed statistics!