Using the track and sample inspectors

The track inspectors and sample inspectors are the foundations for building interactivity into your QuickTime movies. It is within these various track and sample inspectors that you edit, set properties, select filter effects, create sprite actions, and control layout parameters. You can also very easily layout your movie in the Layout tab view. When you place a track in the TimeLine Window, typically each track has a Sample track attached to it, but not every one does. In addition, each track and sample have a corresponding inspector.

For example, place a Text track in the track list area of the TimeLine Window. Click on the Text track and you'll see its corresponding Text Track Inspector. You can set properties, position the Text track, and choose the Mode, the way in which the text will be displayed in the movie.

Now notice that the Text track has an arrow next to it. When you click the arrow, the track expands to reveal a Sample track. (The Sample track is dimmed at this point because you have to create it and its content.) The Sample track will contain the properties and actions that belong to the Text track. In other words, the Text track is a type of placeholder, while the Sample track contains the actual content of the track.

In the Text Sample Inspector, for example, enter the text you want to add to your movie, apply actions to the text, align the text, set properties, and control the layout of the text.

Editing QuickTime Movies > About the interactive QuickTime editing tools > Using the track and sample inspectors