The “New” command closes the file you're working on and clears the scene. If you have changed the file you're working on, a dialog box pops up asking if you want to save the changes before closing the file. To save the changes, click Save; to erase the changes, click Discard; to cancel the operation, click Cancel.

The “Open” command opens an existing IRIS Annotator or Open Inventor file and replaces the current scene with the new file.

Select “Open” and the file browser appears. If you have changed the file you're working on, a dialog box pops up asking if you want to save the changes before opening another file. To save the changes click Save; to erase them click Discard; to cancel the operation, click Cancel.

The “Import Model...” command lets you insert 3D models into an existing scene. Choose “Import Model...” and the file browser appears. By default, you can import Open Inventor models and other IRIS Annotator files.

The “Import Note...” command lets you import existing image, audio, movie, text, or 3D files and use them as notes. This command is accessible only when you have selected a marker. See “Importing Notes” for step-by-step instructions.

This command is equivalent to the Import Note button on the Create Note toolbar and the “Import Note...” command on the Notes menu.

The “Save” command does just that—saves your IRIS Annotator file. If you are saving a file for the first time, and you haven't yet named it, the file browser appears.

By default, when you save a file, all of the notes you've created are stored as a part of that file. You can change this behavior so that notes are stored in separate files. See “Choosing How Notes Are Stored.” The viewer type, (Examiner or Walk Viewer), current camera view, and the background color are also saved.

The “Save As...” command lets you save a file using a new name. Choose this command and the file browser appears.

The “Save Model...” command lets you save a model without the accompanying annotations. When you choose this command, you save all the models in the scene. For instance, if your scene contains two models—an engine and a car—both models are saved into one file when you choose “Save Model...” See “Saving a Model Without Its Annotations” for step-by-step instructions.

When you save an IRIS Annotator file, you can either store the notes as part of the file or in separate files. You can change this behavior and have each note stored in a separate file. Choose “Make Existing Notes Inline” if you've previously stored the notes in separate files and want to collapse this structure and store the notes in the IRIS Annotator file instead. This setting becomes the default for that file; newly created notes are stored in the IRIS Annotator file.

To understand the differences between the two methods of storing notes, see “Choosing How Notes Are Stored.”

By default, when you create and save notes, the notes become a part of the IRIS Annotator file. Choose “Make Existing Notes External” if you want to extract the note data and store it in separate files instead. If you haven't saved the Annotator file yet, you'll be prompted to do so. To understand the differences between the two methods of storing notes, see “Choosing How Notes Are Stored.” This setting becomes the default for that file; newly created notes are stored in separate files.

The “Mail...” command lets you mail the open IRIS Annotator file to someone else. For this feature to work, you must have installed Media Mail, Silicon Graphics bundled mail tool. In addition, if you haven't saved the Annotator file yet, you'll be prompted to do so. See “Mailing IRIS Annotator Files” for details.

The “Quit” command closes the file you're working on and quits from IRIS Annotator. If you have changed the file you're working on, a dialog box pops up asking if you want to save the changes before quitting. To save the changes, click Save; to erase them, click Discard; to cancel the operation, click Cancel.

By default, when you open Annotator without a file, Annotator is in Edit mode and you can import, create, position, and modify objects.

If you want to only view the annotations, you can use the View Only mode by clicking “Edit” in the Edit menu. The checkmark disappears and the title bar says View Only. In View Only mode, most menu commands and tools become inaccessible and behavior changes.

To exit View Only mode, select “Edit” in the Edit menu again. A checkmark appears next to the command.

If you start Annotator with a file, it starts up in View Only mode.

The “Undo” command lets you undo the changes you make. For example, suppose you delete a marker and then decide you want to use that marker. Select “Undo” and the marker is restored. You can choose “Undo” multiple times to reverse a sequence of changes.

Most actions can be reversed using the “Undo” command. Simple actions, like choosing “Show Floors,” can't be reversed using “Undo.” You need to choose “Show Floors” again to reverse the setting. In addition, the list of actions you can undo is purged once you save a file or open a new file.

The “Redo” command works with the “Undo” command. For example, suppose you delete a marker, then choose “Undo.” The marker reappears. Choose “Redo” and the marker disappears again.

The “Cut” command removes the selected model, marker, or note and places it in a buffer. Use the “Paste” command to restore objects that you've cut from the scene.

The “Copy” command makes a copy of the selected model, marker, or note and places the copy in a buffer. Use the “Paste” command to paste the copy into the scene.

Choose the “Paste” command after you've used the “Cut” or “Copy” command.

The “Delete” command lets you delete the selected model, marker, or note. See “Deleting 3D Models,” “Deleting Markers,” and “Deleting Notes” for details. Deleting a model also deletes any arrows or pins attached to the model. Deleting a marker also deletes any notes attached to the marker.

Many 3D models are complex objects that have been constructed from a hierarchy of smaller shapes or building blocks. By default, when you click the left mouse button, you select the entire model, not one of its building blocks. To select the highest or lowest building block automatically, without traversing the hierarchy of the model, use the “Select Highest” and “Select Lowest” commands. To select the building blocks between the lowest and the highest, use the “Select Parent” and “Select Child” commands. See “The “Select Parent” and “Select Child” Commands.”

For example, suppose you have a model of a car. By default, when you click on the door handle, you select the entire car. Choose “Select Lowest” and the lowest building block in the hierarchy is selected, for example, the door handle. Choose “Select Highest” again and the entire car is selected.

See also “Selecting a Portion of the 3D Model” and “Selecting a Portion of the Model: An Illustration.”

Many 3D models are complex objects that have been constructed from a hierarchy of smaller shapes or building blocks. By default, when you click the left mouse button, you select the entire model, not one of its building blocks. To select one of the building blocks, use the “Select Parent” and “Select Child” commands. These commands let you traverse the hierarchy of the model.

For example, suppose you have a model of a car. By default, when you click on the door handle, you select the entire car. Choose “Select Child” and the car door is selected. Choose “Select Child” again and the door handle is selected. At that point, choose “Select Parent” and the door is selected again.

See also “Selecting a Portion of the 3D Model” and “Selecting a Portion of the Model: An Illustration.”

The “View All” command changes the view so the entire scene is centered in the viewing area. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the View All tool in the toolbar. See Figure 2-1.

The “View Selection” command changes the view so the selected model is in the center of the viewing area.

The “View Home” command lets you return to a particular view. By default, the home view is equivalent to the initial view when you opened the file. To create a custom view, use the “Set Home” command.

This command is equivalent to the button shown in Figure 2-2.

The “Set Home” command lets you choose a custom view and easily return to it using the “View Home” command. See also “Setting a Home View.”

This command is equivalent to the button shown in Figure 2-3.

The “View Front” command lets you look at the front of a scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera in front of an object.

The “View Back” command provides you with a rear view of the scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera behind an object.

The “View Left” command lets you look at the left side of the scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera to the left of an object.

The “View Right” command lets you look at the right side of the scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera to the right of an object.

The “View Top” command lets you look down upon the scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera above an object.

The “View Bottom” command lets you look up at a scene. When you choose this command, imagine that you have positioned a camera below an object.

Photographers switch camera lenses to take different types of pictures. They might use a telephoto lens to take close-up shots with little or no perspective, or a wide angle lens to take panoramic shots with a great deal of perspective. You can use one of the Lens commands to achieve a similar affect.

The “Examiner Viewer” lets you change the view of the model by rotating around the object. See “Interactively Changing the View Using the Examiner Viewer” for step-by-step instructions.

When you save the file, the Viewer type you have selected is also saved. When you later open the file, the model is shown in the Viewer you were in when you saved the file.

The “Walk Viewer” Command lets you change the view by “walking through” the 3D model, while maintaining a constant “eye level.” You can also stop and look around the scene.

You might want to use the Walk Viewer if you're viewing architectural or other models that you want to view from the inside. See “Interactively Changing the View Using the Walk Viewer” for step-by-step instructions.

When you save the file, the Viewer type you have selected is also saved. When you later open the file, the model is shown in the Viewer you were in when you saved the file.

A model can appear opaque or transparent depending on its material. By default, IRIS Annotator uses a low-quality transparency setting. The result: models move and rotate quickly but they look rough. Choose “Nice Transparency” to improve the appearance.

By default, the viewing area is black. To change to a different color, use the “Edit Bgd Color...” command. This opens a Color Editor from which you can choose a new color. For step-by-step instructions, see “Changing the Background Color.”

By default, when you open IRIS Annotator, you see a large gray rectangle in the viewing area. This rectangle represents a floor. You can use it to help position models in the scene. To hide the floor, choose “Show Floor” from the Floor menu. When a checkmark appears next to the command, the floor is visible; when the checkmark is missing, the floor is hidden.

As you import models and move them around within the viewing area, the floor automatically expands to make room for the new or newly positioned models. However, when you delete models or move them closer together, the floor does not automatically shrink. Choose “Fit Floor to Scene” to resize the floor so it's just slightly larger than the scene.

By default, when you select a model, it casts a shadow onto the floor. You can use the shadow to determine where the 3D model is located in comparison to other models in the scene. In addition, you can move a model by dragging its shadow. Choose “No Shadow” if you do not want the shadow to appear for selected models.

When you select a model, it casts a shadow onto the floor. By default, you see a shadow of the bounding box that appears around the selected model. If you have selected “No Shadow” or “Object Shadow” and want to revert back to the default behavior, choose “Bounding Box Shadow.”

When you select a model, it casts a shadow onto the floor. By default, you see a shadow of the bounding box that appears around the selected model. Choose “Object Shadow” if you want to cast a shadow of the selected model rather than a shadow of the bounding box.

The “Play Notes” command lets you play all of the notes in sequence that are attached to the selected marker. Choosing “Play Notes” is equivalent to clicking the triangular Play Marker button shown in Figure 2-4.

The “Solid Arrow” command lets you create one of the four types of markers. Choose the command, then place the cursor over a model in the viewing area. When the wireframe arrow turns red, click to place the marker. Choosing “Solid Arrow” is equivalent to clicking the button shown in Figure 2-5.

See also “Using Arrow and Pin Markers.”

The “Line Arrow” command lets you create a marker that resembles a hand-drawn arrow. Choose the command, then place the cursor over a model in the viewing area. When the wireframe arrow turns red, click to place the marker. Choosing “Line Arrow” is equivalent to clicking the button shown in Figure 2-6.

See also “Using Arrow and Pin Markers.”

The “Pin” command lets you create a marker that resembles a straight pin. Choose the command, then place the cursor over a model in the viewing area. When the wireframe pin turns red, click to place the marker. Choosing “Pin” is equivalent to clicking the button shown in Figure 2-7.

See also “Using Arrow and Pin Markers.”

The “Bullet” command lets you create a marker that is not attached to a particular model in the scene. Choose the command, then place the cursor in the viewing area. Click the left mouse button to place the marker. Choosing the “Bullet” command is equivalent to clicking the button shown in Figure 2-8.

The “Auto Size” command tells IRIS Annotator to pick a default size for the arrows and pins you create. This size can vary from one file to another; it's based on the size of the model to which the marker is being attached. Once you've created a marker, you can resize it by following the instructions in “Resizing Markers.” The last size you pick is then the default size for the next marker you create.

IRIS Annotator automatically sizes arrow and pin markers according to the size of the object they're being attached to. For example, if you import a large model, it gets large arrows. By default, if you resize a marker, the next marker you create will be the new size.

The “Marker List & Player” command opens the window shown in Figure 2-9. It lists each marker in the file and provides controls for playing these markers. In addition, it lets you rearrange markers in the list so that they play in a particular order.

The “Play” command lets you play the selected note.

The “Playback Options...” command opens the window shown in Figure 2-10. It has the following controls:

The “Edit Media...” command lets you replace the content of a selected note. For example, suppose you have added a note that changes the camera view. You decide that the view you selected isn't quite right. Select the note, then choose “Edit Media...” and you can change the view. See also “Replacing or Editing Notes.”

Most of the note commands let you create and display a particular type of media—image, movie, 3D model, and more. When you play the notes, each item is displayed in an appropriate way. The “Camera View...” command lets you modify the view of the IRIS Annotator scene. You choose the command, then change the view. This lets you adjust the scene automatically so the user is looking at it from a particular viewpoint. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Create Camera View button shown in Figure 2-11. See also “Changing the Camera View With Notes.”

The “Image...” command lets you create an image and include it as a note. You can either take a snapshot of something on the screen or, if you have a video camera attached, take a picture using the camera. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Capture Image Note button shown in Figure 2-12. See “Creating Images” for step-by-step instructions.

The “Sound...” command lets you record a sound and include it as a note. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Record Sound Note button shown in Figure 2-13. See “Creating Sound Notes” for step-by-step instructions.

The “Movie...” command lets you record a movie and include it as a note. This command is accessible only if your system has video capabilities. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Record Movie Note button shown in Figure 2-14. See “Creating Movies” for step-by-step instructions.

The “Text...” command lets you type a text message and include it as a note. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Type Text Note button shown in Figure 2-15. See “Creating Text Notes” for step-by-step instructions.

The “3D Object...” command lets you include another 3D model or IRIS Annotator file as a note. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Create 3D Object button shown in Figure 2-16. See “Creating 3D Notes” for step-by-step instructions.

The “World Wide Web Link...” command lets you create a link to a World Wide Web document. Choosing this command is equivalent to clicking the Create World Wide Web Link button shown in Figure 2-17. See “Creating World Wide Web Link Notes”for step-by-step instructions.

As part of an annotation, you might want to open another application. For instance, you might want to display a Showcase document. The “System Call...” command lets you do just this. Choosing it is equivalent to clicking the Create System Call button shown in Figure 2-18. See also “Running Another Application With Notes.”

The “Import Note...” command lets you use existing image, audio, movie, ASCII text, or 3D files as notes. Choose this command and the file browser appears. This command is equivalent to the button shown in Figure 2-19.

By default, when you create and save a note, it's stored as a part of the IRIS Annotator file. You can change this behavior and have each note stored in a separate file. Choose “Inline” if the selected note is stored in a separate file and you decide that you want to store that note in the IRIS Annotator file instead.

To understand the differences between the two methods of storing notes, see “Choosing How Notes Are Stored.”

By default, when you create and save a note, it becomes a part of the IRIS Annotator file. Choose “In External File” if you want to extract the note data for the selected note and store it in a separate file. To understand the differences between the two methods of storing notes, see “Choosing How Notes Are Stored.”

The order in which you create notes is the order in which they appear and play back. You can change this order using the “Shift Left” and “Shift Right” commands. Select a note, then choose “Shift Left.” The selected note is moved in front of the preceding note.

The order in which you create notes is the order in which they appear and play back. You can change this order using the “Shift Left” and “Shift Right” commands. Select a note, then choose “Shift Right.” The selected note is moved behind the next note.

The “Material Palette” command opens a material palette. You can use this palette to change the material of a selected model or marker. Figure 2-20 shows the material palette. The Palettes menu is displayed to show the many palettes from which you can choose.

Figure 2-20 shows the many material palettes that IRIS Annotator provides. In addition to selecting from one of these palettes, you can create a custom palette or modify one of the existing materials. See also “The Material Palette.”

The “Texture” command opens the Texture Editor. You can use this editor to apply a texture to a selected model and to specify how you want the texture applied to the model. Figure 2-21 shows the Texture Editor. The Palettes menu is displayed to show the many palettes from which you can choose.

In addition to selecting from one of these palettes, you can create a custom palette or modify one of the existing textures. See also “The Texture Editor.”

The viewer controls appear in a toolbar along the right edge of the window. The table below shows each tool and provides a brief description of its purpose. Note that the camera tool is available only if you're using the Examiner Viewer.

The IRIS Annotator logo, shown in Figure 2-22, appears along the right edge of the window, beneath the Appearance toolbar. Click the logo and you're connected to the IRIS Annotator home page on the World Wide Web.

To display the Viewer pop-up menu, place the cursor over the viewing area, then press the right mouse button. You see the following menu entries:

To display the Examiner Viewer Preference Sheet, you must have “Examiner Viewer” selected in the View menu. Place the cursor over the viewing area, press the right mouse button, and choose “Preferences...”. You see the following entries:

The rotation thumbwheels appear in the lower left corner of the window. Use the thumbwheel labeled “Rotx” to spin the scene around the horizontal axis; use the thumbwheel labeled “Roty” to spin around the vertical axis.

To display the Walk Viewer Preference Sheet, you must have “Walk Viewer” selected in the View menu. Place the cursor over the viewing area, press the right mouse button, and choose “Preferences...”. You see the following entries:

The rotation thumbwheels appear in the lower left corner of the window. Use the thumbwheel labeled “H” (for height) to move the scene up and down. Use the thumbwheel labeled “Tilt” to tilt the scene, for example, to look at the ceiling or floor of a building. Use the thumbwheel labeled “Pan” to move to the left or right of the scene.

If you want a closer view of the models you're annotating, you can use the Zoom slider or the Dolly thumbwheel. Similarly, you can use these controls if you want to view the models from a distance.

When you use the Dolly thumbwheel, you move the camera closer to or farther from the models. Drag the thumbwheel up to make the models appear smaller; drag the thumbwheel down to make the models appear larger.

Using the Zoom slider is comparable to changing the lens on a camera. The models appear smaller or larger because the viewing angle of the lens is different. Move the slider to the left, and the models appear larger. Move the slider to the right, and the models appear smaller.

The right side of the window shows a color wheel. Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to move the selection box within the wheel. The slider at the bottom of the window changes color. The leftmost edge shows the color black; the rightmost edge shows the color underneath the cursor.

By default, the slider is positioned in the leftmost position, which results in the color black. As you move the cursor to the right, the left square at the top of the window changes color; so does the background of the viewing area. You can store this color in the right square by clicking the left arrow. You can then select another color in the color wheel. To return to the first color, click the right arrow. The double-sided arrow toggles between the two squares.

The Edit menu contains “Copy” and “Paste” commands and several commands that change the behavior of the Color Editor.

By default, the Color Editor displays one slider—the slider for setting the intensity value. You use this to make a color darker or lighter. You can choose to hide this slider or display additional sliders.

The main portion of the window displays a palette of materials. In the title bar, you see the palette's name. For instance, initially, the title bar says “artdeco.” That's the name of the palette that appears by default.

Click a sphere to select that material. The selected model or marker changes to that material. Double-click a sphere to edit the material in the palette. The Material Editor appears. When you edit a material in this way, you change the material that's in the installed palette. Choose “Material Editor” from Annotator's Appearance menu if you want to change the material on the selected model or create a new material. See also “The Material Editor.”

The arrows in the lower left and right corners of the window let you move from one palette to another.

You can create new palettes and customize existing palettes. Commands on the File menu help you do that.

Use the commands on the Edit menu to cut, copy, and paste materials. You can copy and paste material between palettes as well as between a selected model and the palette.

This menu provides a list of the material palettes installed on your system. Entries for palettes that you create appear at the bottom of the menu. “Next” and “Previous” let you page through the palettes.

You can create a custom material palette. To do so:

You may import a model whose material is not available in any of the default material palettes. If this happens, you can add the material to a palette by doing the following:

You might open the Material Editor for one of several reasons—to change the material of the selected model or marker, to create a new material, or to modify a material that's part of an existing palette. The following text lists each reason and explains how you would open the Material Editor in each case.

The Edit menu contains four commands:

The Material Editor contains six sliders. Each slider affects the material by controlling how it reacts to light and, in most cases, the reflected color of the light. The list below explains each slider. You will probably need to experiment a bit to get the look that you want.

Figure 2-29 shows the Texture Editor. If you have a model selected, you see it in the upper portion of the editor. Click a square to select a texture. The model in the editor changes to that texture. Click Accept; the selected model in the main window changes to the texture you chose.

The arrows in the lower left and right corners of the window let you move from one palette to another. See “The Edit Menu on the Texture Editor” and “Creating a Custom Texture Palette.”

You can create new palettes and customize existing palettes. Commands on the File menu help you do that.

This menu provides a list of the texture palettes installed on your system, plus entries for palettes that you've created, which appear at the bottom of the menu. “Next” and “Previous” let you page through the palettes.

You can create a custom texture palette. To do so: