784 lines
31 KiB
HTML
Executable File
784 lines
31 KiB
HTML
Executable File
<html>
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<head>
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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
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<meta name="Author" content="James Brook">
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<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 3.0">
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<title>Going Further with CP 2.1.1</title>
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</head>
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<body VLINK="#800080" LINK="#0000ff" BACKGROUND="background.gif">
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<h1 align="center"><a name="top"></a>Going Further with Cosmo Player 2.1.1</h1>
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<p align="center">Copyright © 1997-1999 PLATINUM technology, inc. All rights reserved.</p>
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<hr>
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<p>Cosmo Player plugs in to your Web browser to enable you to see and explore 3D worlds.
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With Cosmo Player you can visit any 3D world authored in the Virtual Reality Modeling
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Language (VRML). These 3D worlds often include other kinds of multimedia, like sound and
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movies. (For more on VRML, see the Cosmo Software site at <a
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href="http://cosmosoftware.com" target="_blank">http://cosmosoftware.com</a> and the VRML
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Consortium site at <a href="http://www.vrml.org" target="_blank">http://www.vrml.org</a>.)</p>
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<p>This manual presents the task-oriented information you need to get the most out of
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Cosmo Player. It also tells you how to customize Cosmo Player.</p>
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<p><a href="frames-help.html" target="_top">Getting Started with Cosmo Player 2.1.1</a>
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shows you the basics of navigation. <a href="frames-quickref.html" target="_top">Cosmo
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Player 2.1.1 Quick Reference</a> gives brief descriptions of each of the elements in the
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Cosmo Player interface. You can find more technical information about installation and
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trouble-shooting in the <a href="frames-relnotes.html" target="_top">Release Notes.</a></p>
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<hr>
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<h2><a name="usingcpctrls"></a>Using Cosmo Player Controls</h2>
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<p>An <em>unselected</em> button is gray-green. A <em>selected</em> button is bright
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green. <em>Unavailable</em> buttons are flat and gray.</p>
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<p>When you pass the pointer over a button, its name and description are displayed. You
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can turn off the display of names and descriptions.</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p><img src="label.gif" alt="label.gif (3314 bytes)"></p>
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</blockquote>
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<h4><em>To turn pop-up button </em>names <em>and</em> descriptions<em> off/on</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the <em>upper</em> triangle at the bottom-left of the dashboard.</li>
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</ul>
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<h4><em>To turn pop-up button </em>descriptions<em> off/on</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the <em>lower</em> triangle at the bottom-left of the dashboard.</li>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="resizingdash"></a>Resizing the Dashboard</h3>
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<p>You can minimize the dashboard to devote more of the Cosmo Player window to the 3D
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world. When the dashboard is minimized, you can use keyboard equivalents for Cosmo Player
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buttons. See "<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using Keyboard Commands.</a>" Of
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course, you can also re-expand the dashboard.</p>
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<h4><em>To minimize the dashboard</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the small triangle in the <em>upper</em>-left corner of the dashboard. <br><br>
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<img src="minimize.gif" alt="minimize.gif (2972 bytes)"></li>
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</ul>
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<h4><em>To re-expand the dashboard</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the small triangle in the <em>bottom</em>-left corner of the minimized dashboard.</li>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="understandctrls"></a>Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</h3>
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<p>Cosmo Player has two sets of controls: you use the Movement controls to move around in
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3D worlds, and you use the Examine controls to examine objects in a 3D world. </p>
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<p>Some worlds allow you to use only Movement controls (<strong>Go, Slide,</strong> and <strong>Tilt</strong>).
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Other worlds allow you to use only Examine controls (<strong>Rotate, Pan,</strong> and <strong>Zoom</strong>).
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Still other worlds allow you to use both Movement and Examine controls. </p>
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<p>Even if both sets of controls are available to you, it's usually best to use the
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controls that are displayed when you first enter a world. <em>You could easily become
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disoriented by switching randomly from one set of controls to another!</em></p>
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<p>If your dashboard looks like this</p>
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<p><img src="simplemovedash.gif" alt="simplemovedash.gif (18044 bytes)"></p>
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<p>use <strong>Go, Slide, </strong>and <strong>Tilt </strong>to move around in the world.
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See "<a href="#movingaround">Moving Around in a World.</a>"</p>
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<p>If your dashboard looks like this</p>
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<p><img src="examinedash.gif" alt="examinedash.gif (17917 bytes)"></p>
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<p>use <strong>Rotate, Pan</strong>, and <strong>Zoom </strong>to examine objects in the
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world. See "<a href="#examobjects">Examining Objects in a World.</a>"</p>
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<p>When you switch from one set of controls to the other, only the Movement and Examine
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controls change. Other Cosmo Player controls (for example, <strong>Seek, Straighten, Undo
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Move,</strong> and <strong>Redo Move</strong>) remain the same. See also "<a
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href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using Keyboard Commands.</a>"</p>
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<h4><em>To switch between Movement and Examine controls</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the <strong>Change Controls</strong> button.<br>
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<img src="examine2.gif" alt="examine2.gif (17857 bytes)"><br>
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<em>Or</em></li>
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<li>Press <strong>`</strong> (backquote), <strong>~</strong> (tilde), or <strong>-</strong>
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(minus key on numeric keypad).</li>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="usingmousekybd"></a>Using Mouse and Keyboard</h3>
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<p>You can navigate with the mouse, the keyboard, or both mouse and keyboard. </p>
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<p>To navigate with the mouse, choose a control and drag in the window. There are several
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ways of doing this:
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<ul>
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<li>Click a control, release the mouse button, and then click-and-drag in the window.<br>
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When you release the mouse, the control remains "permanently" selected until you
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click another.</li>
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<li>Click a control, hold down the mouse button, and drag in the window.<br>
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This method temporarily selects a control: when you release the mouse button, selection
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reverts to the last button "permanently" selected.</li>
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<li>Hold down <strong>Ctrl</strong> or <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily select a control.<br>
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When you release <strong>Ctrl</strong> or <strong>Alt,</strong> selection reverts to the
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last button "permanently" selected. See "<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using
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Keyboard Commands</a>" and "<a href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences.</a>"</li>
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</ul>
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<p>To navigate with the keyboard, choose a control and press the arrow keys (singly or in
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combination). </p>
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<p>Most controls have keyboard equivalents.</p>
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<hr>
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<h2><a name="movingaround"></a>Moving Around in a World</h2>
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<p>Cosmo Player gives you several different ways of exploring a 3D world. </p>
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<p>You can choose from a list of interesting points in the world. See "<a
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href="#navviewpts">Navigating with Viewpoints.</a>"</p>
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<p>If you get disoriented, you can use <strong>Seek, Straighten, Undo Move,</strong> and <strong>Redo
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Move</strong> to find your way again. See "<a href="#godirect">Going Directly to an
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Object,</a>" "<a href="#straightening">Straightening Your View,</a>" and
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"<a href="#undoredo">Undoing and Redoing Movements.</a>"</p>
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<p>You will often want to use the Movement controls, <strong>Go, Slide,</strong> <strong>Tilt</strong>,
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<strong>Float,</strong> and <strong>Gravity.</strong> See "<a href="#goforwardback">Moving
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Forward and Backward,</a>" "<a href="#sliding">Sliding Up, Down, Left, or Right,</a>"
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"<a href="#tilting">Tilting Your View,</a>" and "<a
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href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a World.</a>"</p>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="navviewpts"></a>Navigating with Viewpoints</h3>
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<p>One of the simplest ways of exploring a world is to move between viewpoints. Viewpoints
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are named locations that the world's author has defined. </p>
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<p><img src="Viewpoint.gif" alt="Viewpoint.gif (4493 bytes)"></p>
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<h4><em>To navigate with viewpoints</em></h4>
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<ul>
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<li>Click the <strong>Viewpoint List</strong> button and choose a viewpoint from the pop-up
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list<br>
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The current viewpoint is checkmarked. The current viewpoint is displayed in the <strong>Current
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Viewpoint</strong> box.<br>
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<em>Or</em></li>
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<li>Click the <strong>Next Viewpoint</strong> or <strong>Previous Viewpoint</strong> button.<br>
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You can press <strong>Page Down</strong> for <strong>Next Viewpoint</strong> or <strong>Page
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Up</strong> for <strong>Previous Viewpoint.</strong> <br>
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<em>Or</em></li>
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<li>Press the <strong>Home</strong> key to return to your initial viewpoint in the world.</li>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="godirect"></a>Going Directly to an Object</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Seek</strong></small> <img src="b7aseek.gif"
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alt="b7aseek.gif (1439 bytes)" align="middle"> </p>
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<p>Use the <strong>Seek</strong> button to go directly to an object in the 3D world.</p>
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<h4><em>To seek an object</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Click <strong>Seek.<br>
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</strong>The <strong>Seek</strong> button is selected.</li>
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<li>Click an object to "seek" it.<br>
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You move directly to the object, and the <strong>Seek</strong> button is unselected.</li>
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</ol>
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<p>You can also put Cosmo Player in <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> mode, which makes
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your pointer act as if <strong>Seek</strong> were being continually pressed. </p>
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<p>In <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> mode other navigation controls continue to
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function, but you don't interact with active objects. (An active object is one that will
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do something--like play sound or an animation--when you click it or drag-and-click it. See
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"<a href="#activeobjects">Activating Objects.</a>")</p>
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<h4><em>To move in Continuous Seek mode</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Double-click <strong>Seek.<br>
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</strong>The <strong>Seek</strong> button turns white: <img src="c7seek.gif"
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alt="c7seek.gif (1620 bytes)" align="middle"></li>
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<li>Click objects.<br>
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You can also click and drag to navigate normally with the navigation control you have
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selected.</li>
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<li>Turn off <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> by clicking <strong>Seek</strong> again.</li>
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</ol>
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<p>You can program a mouse button or key to turn on <strong>Continuous Seek</strong>. See
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"<a href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences.</a>"</p>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="straightening"></a>Straightening Your View</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Straighten</strong></small> <img src="b12astr8.gif"
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alt="b12astr8.gif (1310 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p><strong>Straighten</strong> is especially useful if you've become disoriented--facing
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the ground, for example--and want to return to a position from which it is easier to
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navigate.</p>
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<p>Click the <strong>Straighten</strong> button to return your view to an upright
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position.</p>
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<p>You can also press the <strong>End</strong> key to straighten your view.</p>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="undoredo"></a>Undoing and Redoing Movements</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Undo Move/Redo Move</strong></small> <img src="b11aundo.gif"
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alt="b11aundo.gif (2007 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p>Cosmo Player keeps track of each place you stop in a world. Use the <strong>Undo Move</strong>
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and <strong>Redo Move</strong> buttons to move backward and forward in the list of places
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you've visited. </p>
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<p>Keyboard equivalents for <strong>Undo Move</strong> are <strong>Delete</strong> or <strong>Backspace.</strong>
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Keyboard equivalents for <strong>Redo Move</strong> are <strong>Insert</strong> or <strong>Shift</strong>+<strong>Backspace.</strong></p>
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<p>If you've made a mistake in navigation, <strong>Undo Move</strong> is a quick way to
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get back to where you were. </p>
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<p>After you've used <strong>Undo Move</strong> at least once, <strong>Redo Move</strong>
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enables you to move forward through the locations you've "undone."</p>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="goforwardback"></a>Moving Forward and Backward</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Go</strong></small> <img src="b1ago.gif"
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alt="b1ago.gif (1832 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p>Use the <strong>Go</strong> button (the default Movement control) to move in any
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direction in the world. </p>
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<p><strong>Go</strong> turns your point of view in the direction of movement. </p>
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<h4><em>To go in any direction</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Make sure Cosmo Player is in Movement mode.<br>
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See "<a href="#understandctrls">Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</a>."</li>
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<li>If <strong>Go</strong> is not already selected, click the <strong>Go</strong> button.</li>
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<li>Drag up to go forward, down to go backward, left to go left, or right to go right.<br>
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You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.
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Hold down <strong>Shift</strong> to go faster (the <strong>Go</strong> button turns
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white).</li>
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</ol>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="sliding"></a>Sliding Up, Down, Left, or Right</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Slide</strong></small> <img src="b2slide.gif"
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alt="b2slide.gif (1780 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p>Use the <strong>Slide</strong> button (a Movement control) to slide up, down, left, or
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right in a world. Unlike <strong>Go</strong>, <strong>Slide</strong> does not turn your point of view in
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the direction of movement. See also "<a href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a
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World.</a>"</p>
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<h4><em>To slide in any direction</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Click <strong>Slide.</strong><br>
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You can also press <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily switch to <strong>Slide</strong>
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from any other selected Movement control. (Once you release <strong>Alt,</strong>
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selection reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
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<li>Drag up to slide up, down to slide down, left to slide left, or right to slide right.<br>
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You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.
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Hold down <strong>Shift</strong> to slide faster (the <strong>Slide</strong> button turns
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white).</li>
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</ol>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="tilting"></a>Tilting Your View</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Tilt</strong></small> <img src="b3tilt.gif"
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alt="b3tilt.gif (1698 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p>Use the <strong>Tilt</strong> button (a Movement control) to tilt your view of the
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world as if you were tilting a camera. You cannot turn your view upside down with <strong>Tilt.</strong></p>
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<h4><em>To tilt your view in any direction</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>Click <strong>Tilt.</strong><br>
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You can also press <strong>Ctrl</strong> to temporarily switch to <strong>Tilt</strong>
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from any other selected Movement control. (Once you release <strong>Ctrl,</strong>
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selection reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
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<li>Drag up to tilt up, down to tilt down, left to tilt left, or right to tilt right.<br>
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You can press the arrow keys (singly or in combination) instead of dragging in the world.</li>
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</ol>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="walkfly"></a>Walking or Flying Through a World</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Gravity </strong></small><img src="b9grav.gif"
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alt="b9grav.gif (1532 bytes)" align="middle"><small><strong> </strong></small><img
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src="b10float.gif" alt="b10float.gif (1596 bytes)" align="middle"><small><strong>
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Float</strong></small></p>
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<p>Depending on how a world is designed, gravity can be turned on or off when
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you're using the Movement controls. When gravity is on, you walk along the ground. When
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gravity is off, you can float up off the ground.</p>
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<p>If the author of a world has given you the choice of walking or flying, you can
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use the <strong>Float</strong> button to be able rise up into the air or the <strong>Gravity</strong>
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button to be able to walk on the ground.</p>
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<p>When <strong>Gravity</strong> is selected, you cannot move off the ground. When you
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walk, you follow the ups and downs of the surface. If you are in mid-air when you turn <strong>Gravity</strong>
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on, you fall to the ground.</p>
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<p>When <strong>Float</strong> is selected, you can move off the ground with <strong>Slide,
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</strong>unless the author has specified that gravity is always on. See "<a
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href="#sliding">Sliding Up, Down, Left, Right.</a>"</p>
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<p>The keyboard equivalent for switching between <strong>Float</strong> and <strong>Gravity</strong>
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is the <strong>Tab</strong> key or <strong>+</strong> (plus sign on numeric keypad).</p>
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<hr>
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<h2><a name="examobjects"></a>Examining Objects in the World</h2>
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<p>You examine objects primarily by using the Examine controls: <strong>Rotate, Pan,</strong>
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and <strong>Zoom.</strong> These work best with objects floating in space--it's better to
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use the Movement controls when you're navigating in a world with "sky" and
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"ground" or "floor" and "ceiling." See ""<a
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href="#understandctrls">Understanding Cosmo Player Controls</a>." See also "<a
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href="#walkfly">Walking or Flying Through a World.</a>"</p>
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<hr>
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<h3><a name="rotation"></a>Making an Object Rotate</h3>
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<p><small><strong>Rotate</strong></small> <img src="b4rotate.gif"
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alt="b4rotate.gif (2120 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
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<p>Use the <strong>Rotate</strong> button (the default Examine control) to spin an object
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in front of you. </p>
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<h4><em>To rotate an object</em></h4>
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<ol>
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<li>If <strong>Rotate</strong> is not already selected, click the <strong>Rotate</strong>
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button.</li>
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<li>Drag the pointer in the direction you want to rotate the object.<br>
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You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Rotate an object faster by
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holding down an arrow key and <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
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</ol>
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<p>You can also make an object spin by itself when
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<strong>Rotate</strong> is selected: just rotate the object normally
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by dragging the mouse, but release the mouse with a
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"throwing" motion (by releasing the mouse button while
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you're still dragging.) The object in front of you continues to
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spin even after you release the mouse.</p>
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<hr>
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|
|
<h3><a name="panning"></a>Panning Up, Down, Left, and Right</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p><small><strong>Pan</strong></small> <img src="b5pan.gif"
|
|
alt="b5pan.gif (2009 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Use the <strong>Pan</strong> button (an Examine control) to pan up, down, left, and
|
|
right.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h4><em>To pan</em></h4>
|
|
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li>Click <strong>Pan.</strong><br>
|
|
You can also press <strong>Alt</strong> to temporarily select <strong>Pan</strong> when
|
|
another Examine control is active. (Once you release <strong>Alt,</strong> selection
|
|
reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
|
|
<li>Drag up, down, left, or right.<br>
|
|
You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Pan faster by holding down an
|
|
arrow key and <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="zooming"></a>Zooming In and Out</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p><small><strong>Zoom</strong></small> <img src="b6zoom.gif"
|
|
alt="b6zoom.gif (1847 bytes)" align="middle"></p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Use the <strong>Zoom</strong> button (an Examine control) to zoom in or out.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h4><em>To zoom in or out</em></h4>
|
|
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li>Click <strong>Zoom.</strong><br>
|
|
You can also press <strong>Ctrl</strong> to temporarily select <strong>Zoom</strong> when
|
|
another Examine control is active. (Once you release <strong>Ctrl,</strong> selection
|
|
reverts to the previously selected button.)</li>
|
|
<li>Drag up to zoom in or drag down to zoom out.<br>
|
|
You can also use the arrow keys (singly or in combination). Zoom faster by holding down an
|
|
arrow key and pressing <strong>Shift.</strong></li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="activeobjects"></a>Activating Objects</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>An active object is one that will do something when you click it or click-and-drag it.
|
|
Typical actions include playing sound or an animation, taking you to a different place in
|
|
the world or to a new world or Web page, or displaying information in your browser. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>When you move the pointer over an active object, the pointer changes to a starburst.</p>
|
|
|
|
<blockquote>
|
|
<p><img src="starburst.jpg" alt="starburst.jpg"></p>
|
|
</blockquote>
|
|
|
|
<p><strong><em>Note: </em></strong>When <strong>Seek</strong> or <strong>Continuous Seek</strong>
|
|
is selected, touchable objects remain inactive. See "<a href="#godirect">Going
|
|
Directly to an Object.</a>"</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="usingkybdshrtcts"></a>Using Keyboard Commands</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>You can use keyboard commands as substitutes for Cosmo Player dashboard controls.
|
|
Keyboard commands are especially useful when the dashboard is minimized. See "<a
|
|
href="#resizingdash">Resizing the Dashboard.</a>" See also "<a
|
|
href="#settingprefs">Setting Preferences</a>" on how to customize mouse buttons and
|
|
some keys for left-handed or right-handed use.</p>
|
|
|
|
<table border="1" cellpadding="2">
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><em><strong>Action</strong></em></td>
|
|
<td><em><strong>Keyboard Command</strong></em></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Switch Movement/Examine controls</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>`</strong> [backquote], <strong>~</strong> [tilde], <em>or</em> <strong>-</strong>
|
|
[minus sign on numeric keypad]</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Slide</strong> (Movement)</td>
|
|
<td><strong>Alt</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement)</td>
|
|
<td><strong>Ctrl</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Pan</strong> (Examine)</td>
|
|
<td><strong>Alt</strong> </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine)</td>
|
|
<td><strong>Ctrl</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Move/Examine</strong> with selected<br>
|
|
control</td>
|
|
<td>arrow keys</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Turbo</strong> (accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>)</td>
|
|
<td><strong>Shift</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Previous viewpoint</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Page Up</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Next viewpoint</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Page Down</strong> </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Return to entry viewpoint</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Home</strong> </td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Straighten</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>End</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Undo move</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Delete</strong> <em>or</em> <strong>Backspace</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Redo move</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Insert</strong> <em>or</em> <strong>Shift</strong>+<strong>Backspace</strong></td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Switch Gravity/Float</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>Tab </strong><em>or</em><strong> +</strong> [plus sign on numeric keypad]</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><strong>Switch headlight on/off</strong></td>
|
|
<td><strong>*</strong> [multiplication sign on numeric keypad]</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</table>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="settingprefs"></a>Setting Preferences</h2>
|
|
|
|
<h4><em>To set preferences </em></h4>
|
|
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li>Click the <strong>Preferences</strong> button on the lower-right of the dashboard.<br>
|
|
<img src="prefsbutton.gif" alt="prefsbutton.gif (5755 bytes)"><br>
|
|
The <strong>Preferences window</strong> is displayed.<br>
|
|
<img src="prefspanel.gif" alt="prefspanel.gif (5911 bytes)"></li>
|
|
<li>Click a tab in the <strong>Preferences window. </strong></li>
|
|
<li>Set or change options by clicking checkboxes, radio buttons, or list items.</li>
|
|
<li>Click <strong>OK</strong> to set the new options or click <strong>Cancel</strong> to
|
|
revert to previous options and close the <strong>Preferences window.</strong></li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefworld"></a>World</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Collision Detection On</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>When collision detection is on, Cosmo Player will prevent your walking or flying through
|
|
solid objects in the scene.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Headlight On [keypad * key]</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Turns the headlight on and off. Try using this option when the lighting doesn't look
|
|
right in the world you're exploring.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Navigation Speed</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Changes the speed at which you move through the world. The "as-is" speed is
|
|
set by the author, but you can accelerate or decelerate the author's setting.</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="preperf"></a>Performance</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Animate transitions between viewpoints</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>When selected, your perspective shifts smoothly as you move from one viewpoint to
|
|
another. When deselected, your perspective jumps as you move from one viewpoint to
|
|
another.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Nice Transparency</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Blends transparent colors with the objects behind them.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Textures</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>When selected, gives all background texture and image details, with possible reduction
|
|
in performance. Textures are images that are mapped onto the surfaces of some 3D objects.
|
|
If you turn off textures in a world that makes heavy use of them, you won't see the world
|
|
as its author intended. </dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Image/Texture Quality</strong></dt>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Automatic</strong> - Attempts to make balance performance and quality. </li>
|
|
<li><strong>Best Quality</strong> - Provides maximum image quality but can reduce
|
|
performance speed, especially if you don't have hardware 3D acceleration on your system. </li>
|
|
<li><strong>Fastest</strong> - Ensures maximum performance speed, with possible degradation
|
|
of image quality. </li>
|
|
<li><strong>Enable specular and emissive color shine-through on
|
|
textured objects</strong> - When selected, specular and emissive
|
|
lighting will be unaffected by textures on objects. This is the
|
|
correct behavior according to the VRML spec, but it may degrade
|
|
performance (only on some systems), and it may cause textured
|
|
objects in some non-spec-compliant worlds to appear "washed
|
|
out".</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefmouse"></a>Mouse</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Mouse Drag Feedback</strong></dt>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>None</strong> - Provides no indication of where you clicked the mouse button.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Crosshair at Mouse-down Point</strong> - Places a crosshair where you clicked
|
|
the mouse button.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Crosshair and Rubberband</strong> - Places a crosshair where you clicked the
|
|
mouse button and draws a line from there to the current pointer location. This option
|
|
applies only to movement with <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide.</strong></li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Right/Middle Mouse Button</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>The effect of the following options depends on your input device.</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Slide/Pan</strong> - Turns the right/middle mouse button into a shortcut to
|
|
activate <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong> (Examine mode).</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Tilt/Zoom</strong> - Turns the right/middle mouse button into a shortcut to
|
|
activate <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode)).</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Continuous Seek</strong> - Keeps <strong>Seek</strong> turned on. Dragging
|
|
navigates as usual; clicking moves you to the object.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefkybd"></a>Keyboard</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>CTRL/ALT</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Determines how the control keys toggle between Cosmo Player commands. You can optimize
|
|
for either right-handed or left-handed use. See "<a href="#usingkybdshrtcts">Using
|
|
Keyboard Commands."</a></dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Right-handed: CTRL=Tilt/Zoom and ALT=Slide/Pan</strong> - Pressing <strong>Ctrl</strong>
|
|
changes to <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode).
|
|
Pressing <strong>Alt</strong> changes to <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong>
|
|
(Examine mode). </li>
|
|
<li><strong>Left-handed: CTRL=Slide/Pan and ALT=Tilt/Zoom</strong> - Pressing <strong>Alt</strong>
|
|
changes to <strong>Tilt</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Zoom</strong> (Examine mode).
|
|
Pressing <strong>Ctrl</strong> changes to <strong>Slide</strong> (Movement mode) or <strong>Pan</strong>
|
|
(Examine mode). </li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>SHIFT</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Determines the effect of the <strong>Shift</strong> key on <strong>Go, Slide,</strong>
|
|
and <strong>Seek.</strong></dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Turbo Mode</strong> - Accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>
|
|
when the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Turbo Mode and Continuous Seek</strong> - Accelerates <strong>Go</strong> and <strong>Slide</strong>
|
|
when the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed and activates <strong>Continuous Seek.</strong></li>
|
|
<li><strong>Continuous Seek Only</strong> - Activates <strong>Continuous Seek</strong> when
|
|
the <strong>Shift</strong> key is pressed.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefaudio"></a>Audio</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>These options do not take effect immediately. You must either reload the current world
|
|
or visit another one.
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Spatialize Audio</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>When selected, sounds seem to originate from left, right, behind, or forward. Choose an
|
|
output device.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Max. number of simultaneous (non-MIDI) sounds</strong></dt>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Automatic</strong> - Sets the maximum number of non-MIDI sounds to equal the
|
|
number in the world you're navigating.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Custom: __ Sounds</strong> - Type the maximum number of non-MIDI sounds you want
|
|
to allow. Performance may degrade when you set values above 6.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Automatic Muting</strong></dt>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Mute when window is not active</strong> - Turns off sounds in inactive windows.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Never mute</strong> - Allows sounds to continue in inactive windows. </li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefgraphics"></a>Graphics</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Renderer Selection</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>The Cosmo Player renderer draws the 3D image. Your renderer may be software-only or it
|
|
may also use hardware acceleration, if it is available on your system. Cosmo Player
|
|
provides two renderers: OpenGL (an industry standard) and Direct3D (a Microsoft standard).
|
|
Either renderer can use hardware acceleration. If your system has hardware acceleration
|
|
for either OpenGL or Direct3D, Automatic Renderer Selection will choose the appropriate
|
|
renderer for you.</dd>
|
|
<dt><strong>Force Software-only Rendering</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Choosing this option forces Cosmo Player to use only software rendering, even if your
|
|
system has hardware acceleration.</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="prefadv"></a>Advanced</h3>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>Examine Viewer Style</strong></dt>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Standard Examiner</strong> - The object <em>always</em> rotates in the direction
|
|
of your mouse-drag. </li>
|
|
<li><strong>Virtual Trackball</strong> - Rotation depends on <em>the point on the screen</em>
|
|
where you grabbed the object.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
|
<dt><strong>VRML Console Behavior</strong></dt>
|
|
<dd>Determines when the VRML console is displayed (for VRML developers). Flashing yellow
|
|
warning and red error lights on the dashboard are your signal to open the VRML console for
|
|
messages.</dd>
|
|
</dl>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><strong>Show console on error or warning</strong> - Displays the VRML console when a
|
|
VRML error or warning is encountered in the world.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Show console on startup</strong> - Displays the VRML console whenever Cosmo
|
|
Player starts.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Display VRML Console now</strong> - Displays the VRML console. Keyboard
|
|
equivalent:<em> </em><strong>\</strong><em> </em>(backslash).</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p><strong>Feedback on Cosmo Player</strong> - Click <strong>Submit Feedback</strong> to
|
|
send a comment to Cosmo Player engineering.</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="support"></a>Cosmo Player Support</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>Cosmo Player support is currently available in English only on the Cosmo Software site
|
|
at <a href="http://cosmosoftware.com" target="_blank">http://cosmosoftware.com</a> or for
|
|
a per incident charge through our call center at 1-888-91-COSMO. Cosmo Support Services
|
|
call center provides support from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<address>
|
|
<small>Part number 007-3853-002 / Revised October 28, 1998</small>
|
|
</address>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|