User Manual



The easiest way to learn how to use the JAnimation Tool is by using it.
You could probably figure out everything by yourself.



Introduction

The JAnimation Tool is a Windows program designed to facilitate the creation of Java animation banners and presentations, using the JAN protocol.
JAN is a very simple and compact way of defining animation on text and keyboard characters within Java applets.


The basics

Each animation sequence is written in JAN, and is made out of layers.
Each layer has its own text, and a set of animation directions (where & when it should move, its colors, etc...).
The order of the layers will determine which Layer "covers" the other when two layers overlap at a certain time during the animation.
In addition to the layers, each animation sequence contains some general information for the entire JAnimation (like the background color, for example).
Working with layers allows you to easily change elements in you JAnimation or adjust existing ones to your needs.


Using the JAnimation Tool


  • Defining General Information

    Defining the general properties of your JAnimation is done on the "GENERAL" tab.
    The following elements are definable:

    - Background Color -
    Click on the color pallet to choose your preferred Background Color.
    The chosen color will be shown on the right side of the pallet.

    - Minimum Animation Time -
    Here you should enter the minimum time (in seconds) for the animation sequence to take place.
    The animation will keep showing until this time is over, even if your advertisement GIF has already been loaded. Entering the Value 0 will cause the animation to stop when the GIF is loaded.

    - Loop Time - In the event that your GIF JAnimation takes more time to be loaded (due to a bad connection), you can enter here the time (in seconds) after which the animation sequence should restart itself.
    If you don't wish for the animation to loop back at all, uncheck the box on the left.


  • Controlling Layers

    The "LAYERS" tab gives you control over the layers you use in your animation.
    Take notice that until you have at least one layer in your project, the JAnimation Tool's "NEXT" tabs won't work. You must start your project by creating at least one layer.
    Each layer can be given a different name so that you can easily identify it later on.

    - Adding A (new) Layer -
    Enter the name for the new layer in the text box and click on "ADD". The new layer's name will appear in the layers list (on the left) and it will be selected as the "CURRENT LAYER". The current Layer is the one you are working on. You can find out what the current layer is any time by looking at the black Label on the bottom.

    - Changing The Current Layer -
    If you have more than one layer in your JAnimation, and you want to work on a different one, all you have to do is selecting it from the list. The desired layer will become the current one.
    TIP: the "NEXT" and "PREVIOUS" buttons on the bottom switch between layers quickly without using the "LAYERS" tab.

    - Layers Order -
    As mentioned above, when layers overlap one covers the other (The higher layer on the layers list covers all the layers below).
    You can change the layers order by using the "UP" and "DOWN" buttons (after selecting a layer).

    - Copying A Layer -
    If you want to create a copy of a layer, select it and press "CLONE". A new identical layer will be added.
    It will be named [OLD NAME]-2.

    - Deleting A Layer -
    Select a layer and press "DELETE" to delete a layer.

    - Changing A Layer's Name -
    Select the layer and press "RENAME". A text box will appear. Type in the new name and click on "ENTER".


  • Text

    Setting the text to be displayed on the current layer is done from the "TEXT" tab.

    - Entering A Word -
    Type in the text in the "WORD" text box.

    - Setting The Font -
    Select the desired font from the font list.

    - Setting The Text Color -
    Click on the desired color in the pallet.
    The selected color will appear in the square on the right.

    - Setting The Font Style -
    Check the box next to the desired style (Plain / Bold / Italic).


  • Moving The Text Around

    The text in each layer can only move in a straight line.
    The movement line for the current layer is determined in the "LOCATION" tab.
    Each layer has a line stretching from its starting point to the ending point.
    The white rectangle is the only part of the screen that will be visible in the final animation sequence.
    The points mark the lower left corner of the text.

    - Defining The Movement Line Of A New Layer -
    Drag the line around in order to set the text's movement.
    A green square represents the starting point, and a red square represents the ending point.

    - Editing The Movement Line For The Current Layer -
    The current layer is drawn in a yellow line, while the other layers are drawn in white.
    Click and drag the starting point (green) or the ending point (red) to move them around.

    - Editing The Movement Line Of A Different Layer -
    In order to edit another movement line, you must first select its layer as the "CURRENT LAYER". to do this, use the "LAYERS" tab, or the "NEXT" and "PREV" buttons.


  • Controlling The Size Of The Text

    Each layer's text can also change font size while moving.
    controlling the size is done from the "SIZE" tab.

    - Setting The Initial Size -
    Set the initial size by entering a value in the "START SIZE" field.

    - Setting The Final Size -
    Set the final size by entering a value in the "END SIZE" field.


  • Timing The Different Layers

    The timing tab lets you visually control the time frame for each layer's movement.

    - Setting JAnimation Length -
    Click and drag to draw a yellow line on the part of the scale (measured in seconds) in which you want the layer to move.
    Note that a shorter time line will cause the movement to become slower, and a longer line will make it faster.

    - Setting Text Behavior After Movement -
    You can determine whether the current layer's text should disappear when done moving, or if it should stay visible.
    To make the layers text disappear when done, uncheck the "STAY VISIBLE" box.


  • Viewing Your Work (And Saving It)

    The view panel allows you to view the animation you created.

    - Viewing Your Animation Sequence -
    Click on the "PREVIEW" button.

    - Saving A JAnimation Sequence To Your Hard Disk -
    click the "SAVE" button to save the animation sequence as a *.SAP file on your Hard Disk.



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