#AmigaVisionClock
8 messages in this thread
Would anyone out there happen to know how to float a clock (preferably
digital) over an AmigaVision presentation? I need the clock to display
over anims, screens, and IFF's. I've been through all the clocks on FF
205-950, and the only one that will do it is FAClock. That clock is
completely inadequate however. I've tried using several Window to Front
utilities, but they don't work in this situation. None of the clocks in
the Amiga Forums work either.
This is for a commercial client, and I'm stuck using AmigaVision, as
that's what they're using on their broadcast setup. I have used
AmigaVision in the past and am fairly familiar with it. Any ideas, tips,
or crumbs of information would be greatly appreciated.
Doug
Hi Doug,
Not sure as to what you really want and unsure about AmigaVision but will
SPCLOCK work. It is sprite based and always appears at the front of all
screens. I think it's in the libs somewhere. If you don't find it, or it's
no good keep me posted as I have a copy here if needed.
Charles Collinson – Co-ordinated Computer Integration
Thirsk – North Yorkshire – UK
Charles,
Thanks for your reply. The system I'm working on is an Amiga 2000
running AmigaVision (not AmigaVision Pro) at a local General Motors
assembly plant in Dayton, Ohio. It is used to display plant information
and news via the plant's closed circuit monitor system. There are
approximately 20 monitors scattered through the plant. The AV presentation
consists primarily of a continuous slide show of IFF pictures, with an
infrequent anim now and then. The 2000 is connected to the closed circuit
system with a SuperGen genlock, which acts strictly as an encoder.
Management wants a clock which is constantly visible above whatever is
currently being displayed on the monitor. I tried SPClock, and it works
fine on standard Amiga screens, but when an IFF picture is displayed by
AmigaVision the clock vanishes. I know this can be done because I've used
a clock called AFClock, which displays over all AV screens (even anims!).
But the clock is analog, too small, and real cheesy. Not to mention the
fact that the docs are in German. Like you, I figure some sort of sprite
based clock should do the trick. I've tried a clock called MouseClock,
which is tied to the mouse pointer, but it vanishes after about 10
seconds, and is not really suitable.
I appreciate your help, and if you have any other ideas I'm all ears.
Thanks,
Doug Downing
Doug,
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on the clock. I just tried the clock over
an anim and it wasn't very good. I've never tried AmigaVision so wouldn't
know what it does with screens. My only other thought would be another
authoring system – not an ideal answer but still. I'll give it ago with
Helm, as that offers some control over what you want to do.
Charles Collinson – Co-ordinated Computer Integration
Thirsk – North Yorkshire – UK
Doug,
The only idea I have would be to put a clock into your screen interface.
This of course would not be dragable but you might be able to make it
dragable by setting the x,y coordinates when you click on it (something I
have never tried). The problem with AV is that it doesn't have a way of
dealing with mouse press down or up separately so you wouldn't be able to
have a normal click, hold and drag effect.
Unfortunately, that won't work with animations because you can't put
objects over them (the anim will have artifacts left over.)
Sorry I can't help further.
Andrew
ICAM — ActiveMedia Development / IICS "InforMedia" Newsletter Editor
Gliding in from Toronto on AutoPilot…
Andrew,
I don't understand what you mean when you say "put a clock into
your screen interface". Do you mean the AmigaVision screen interface? If
so, how do you do this? As far as anims, that would be no problem, as they
are shown very infrequently, and are very short.
The system I'm working on is an Amiga 2000 running AmigaVision
(not AmigaVision Pro) at a local General Motors assembly plant in Dayton,
Ohio. It is used to display plant information and news via the plant's
closed circuit monitor system. There are approximately 20 monitors
scattered through the plant. The AV presentation consists primarily of a
continuous slide show of IFF pictures, with an infrequent anim now and
then. The 2000 is connected to the closed circuit system with a SuperGen
genlock, which acts strictly as an encoder.
Management wants a clock which is constantly visible above whatever is
currently being displayed on the monitor. I know this can be done because
I've used a clock called AFClock, which displays over all AV screens (even
anims!). But the clock is analog, too small, and very cheesy (plus the
docs are in German). I thought perhaps some sort of sprite based clock
would do the trick. I've tried a clock called MouseClock, which is tied to
the mouse pointer, but it vanishes after about 10 seconds, and is not
really suitable.
Thanks for your reply. If you could elaborate on your idea about the
screen interface, or if you have any further ideas, I would be very
grateful.
Doug Downing
Here you go, Doug… I got the ANSWER for you! If they don't mind
shelling out about $300, you can get a black box that will overlay the
time and/or date and/or 40 more characters of info on top of the video out
of your SuperGen. You can place this info anywhere on the screen. Sound
great? Check out MarkerTek catalog 95-1 page 61… Their number is (800)
522-2025. And, no I don't work for them.
-Steve
Doug,
>> I don't understand what you mean when you say "put a clock into
>> your screen interface". Do you mean the AmigaVision screen interface?
>> If so, how do you do this?
I have never done this and I haven't used ver. 1.xx of AV in years but my
guess is that you would create a loop that would:
1) Use the variable icon to put the time into a variable eg.
"TimeVar == CLOCK()"
where "TimeVar" is a user defined variable and could be any name. The
variable would be best to be global.
2) Then use the GFx icon. Enter the forms editor, create a text box,
double click on it to open the text info requestor, and click on the
VAR button and select the variable that you defined (eg. TimeVar).
Then create a loop so the time will be updated. This graphic will then be
displayed on top of any graphics that you display but as I said I probably
won't work with animations.
I haven't tested this but I hope it helps. If you need faster feedback
then send me CMail.
Andrew
ICAM — ActiveMedia Development / IICS "InforMedia" Newsletter Editor
Gliding in from Toronto on AutoPilot…