Read Me - Adobe® LiveMotion 2.0 ™
February 2002

Overview

This file contains last-minute product information, updates to the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0 documentation, and troubleshooting tips. Please utilize the Adobe User to User Forums (http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/main.html) to share thoughts, participate in discussions and interact with other LiveMotion 2.0 users.  This file includes the following sections:

:: Interoperability Between other Adobe Applications
:: Descriptions of  Default Automation Scripts
:: Descriptions of Default Live Tabs
:: Additional Keyboard Shortcuts
:: Note for Macintosh WebDAV users
:: Online Resources
:: Known Issues
:: Technical Support

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Interoperability Between other Adobe Applications

Using the LiveMotion 2.0 SWFRefParser Plug-in with Adobe GoLive“ 6.0
The SWFRefParser plug-in allows GoLive 6 to interpret URLs encoded in Flash‘ (.SWF) files exported from LiveMotion 2.0. To install the plug-in, follow these steps:

1) Install GoLive 6.0
2) Open the LiveMotion Extras/SWF Parser for GoLive 6/Put in GoLive 6 Plug-ins folder on the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0 CD.
3) Drag the SWFRefParser plug-in to the Adobe GoLive 6.0/Modules/Plugins folder on your hard drive.
4) Launch GoLive 6.0

SWFs generated from LiveMotion 2.0 will now display URL links in the In & Out Links palette in GoLive 6.0.

Using the LiveMotion 2.0 AMX export feature in Adobe After Effects“ 5.5
You can now easily integrate After Effects 5.5 projects with LiveMotion 2.0. To do this, export your After Effects 5.5 composition as an Adobe Motion Exchange (AMX) file (.AMX). Open the .AMX file in LiveMotion 2.0 to convert it to a .LIV file.

The AMX plug-in for After Effects 5.5 can be found on the LiveMotion 2.0 CD in the LiveMotion Extras folder.  To install the plug-in, follow these steps:

1) Install After Effects 5.5
2) Open the LiveMotion Extras/After Effects 5.5/Put in After Effects 5.5 Folder folder on the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0 CD.
3) Drag the ExportAMX and SVGExportCarbon plug-ins to the Adobe After Effects 5.5/Required folder on your hard drive.
4) Launch After Effects 5.5

You will now be able to export After Effects compositions to the AMX format.

Note: LiveMotion 2.0 will not accept pasted key frame data from After Effects.

Using Illustrator“ (.AI) files in LiveMotion 2.0:
Adobe Illustrator versions 9 & 10 use the PDF file format as the basis of their native file format (.AI). Using AI-native, or PDF files from Illustrator in LiveMotion 2.0 allows you to take advantage of the newest features available in Illustrator, such as transparency, layer effects, and the ability to convert nested layers to objects. EPS files made in Illustrator or other applications do not support these features.

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Descriptions of Default Automation Scripts

Below are brief descriptions of the Automation scripts installed with LiveMotion 2.0.  
To use these scripts, go to the Automation > Scripts menu and select the script you want to run.  You can add your own automation scripts to this menu by placing files into the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0:Automation:Scripts folder and then choosing Automation > Refresh.

To view or edit the scripts in the Automation Script Editor window, choose “Open...” from the File menu and navigate to the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0:Automation:Scripts folder.  You can then edit the scripts arguments and parameters.  

Animate On Path.js
This script creates a key frame animation where objects travel along a bezier curve path.  To use the script, create a path object and group it with other objects.  With the group selected, execute the script.  The objects will be animated in sequence along the path.  

Break Apart Words.js
This script takes a text object (point or box text) and converts the paragraph into words.  The words are created from converting the text object into individual characters and then regrouping them into words.

Convert All Into Objects.js
This script is a recursive function that will take any layered object (Photoshop PSD or Illustrator AI) and continually convert it into objects until only the individual layers remain.  This simplifies the task of having to repeatedly execute the Convert Into Objects command.

Draggable Object Maker.js
The script makes selected objects capable of supporting "drag-and-drop" in preview mode and SWF export.  

Effect - Dissipate Exit.js
This script creates a key frame animation where selected object spin and fades away.

Effect - Materialize Enter.js
This script creates a key frame animation where selected objects zoom in and fade up to full opacity.

Effect - Object Type On.js
This script creates a key frame animation where selected objects appear to be typed onto the screen. If arguments are not chosen or the argument is null (nothing picked) then the original opacity or position will be used.  This allows you to have static and animated type on effects.  

Effect - Spiral Enter.js
Effect - Spiral Exit.js
These scripts create a key frame animation where selected objects spiral into/out of the composition.

Effect - Zoom Enter.js
Effect - Zoom Exit.js
These scripts create a key frame animation where selected objects zoom into/out of the composition.

End Frames - Align.js
This script will take an array of objects and align their end frames in time. 

End Frames - Distribute.js
This script will take an array of objects and distribute them across the timeline according to their end frames.  This will not affect the duration of the objects.

End Frames - Stagger.js
This script will take an array of objects and stagger their end frames by a preset amount.

Star Maker.js
This script will create a star on the current composition.  If an object is selected it will be converted into a geometric object, then reshaped into a star.  Custom settings include the number of points, the inner and outer radius, and the angle of the arms.

Start Frames - Align.js
This script will take an array of objects and align their start frames in time. 

Start Frames - Distribute.js
This script will take an array of objects and distribute them across the timeline according to their start frames.  This will not affect the duration of the objects.

Start Frames - Stagger.js
This script will take an array of objects and stagger their start frames by a preset amount.

Stroke Fill Maker.js
This script adds a stroke to selected geometric objects. If the object is already an outline, it will convert it into a solid fill then add the stroke.

Time Align End to End.js
This script aligns the lifetimes of selected objects. To use this script, create some objects and give them a specific duration in the timeline.  With the objects selected, run the script. 

Descriptions of Default Live Tabs

Below are brief descriptions of the Live Tabs included with LiveMotion 2.0.  To use these Live Tabs, go to the Automation > Live Tabs menu and select the file you want to use.  The Live Tab will appear in a floating window.  You can add your own Live Tabs to this menu by placing files into the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0:Automation:Live Tabs folder and then choosing Automation > Refresh.

Basic Color Swatch.liv
Provides a selection of predefined colors, similar to the Swatches palette in Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Adobe applications.  Select an object and click on a color in the Live Tab.  The selected object will now be filled with this color.

Grid Maker.liv
Creates a grid in the active composition.  Set the pixel Width and Height for the cells of the grid and hit Enter.  The grid will appear as a path object in your composition.

Keyboard Codes.liv
Shows the Key and ASCII codes for keys pressed on the keyboard.

Slide Show Maker.liv
Loads in a directory of images and creates a slide show from them. Folder field syntax:  For PC:  C:/My Images/  For Mac: MyHDD:My Images

Star Tool.liv
Create a star object on the current composition.  If an object is selected it will be converted into a geometric object, then reshaped into a star.  This is a Live Tab version of the Star Maker.js automation script.

TextFX.liv
Creates complex animations for text objects.

Transform Tool.liv
Based on the Free Transform tool in Photoshop, this Live Tab lets you control the anchor point, scaling, skew, rotation angle, and aspect ratio of an object.

Web Safe Color Picker.liv
Selects and displays Hex values for web safe colors.

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Additional Keyboard Shortcuts Not Included in the LiveMotion 2.0 Documentation:

Cmd/Ctrl - 1: Show Movie Clip Navigator
Cmd/Ctrl - 2: Show Scripting Syntax Helper
Cmd/Ctrl - 3: Show Composition Browser
Cmd/Ctrl - 4: Show Automation Syntax Helper

Option/Alt - click on an object's Hide, Lock, or Shy icon in the timeline will not solo that attribute for the object.

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Note for Macintosh WebDAV users:

For Mac users, WebDAV servers may need to be excluded from Proxy settings when connecting to them from behind a firewall.

OS 9: Go to the Internet control panel and click the Advanced tab. Choose "Firewalls" from the left-hand row of icons. In the "Bypass Proxy Servers" field, type the host address for the WebDAV server you wish to connect to.

OS X: Open the System Preferences window and double-click "Network". From the "Show" menu choose your active network setting. Click the "Proxies" tab, and in the "Bypass proxy settings" field enter the host address for the WebDAV server you wish to connect to.

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Online Resources

www.adobe.com/livemotion
www.adobeXchange.com
www.adobe.com/support/forums/main.html
www.livemotioncentral.com
www.stylemotion.com
www.livemotionstudio.com
http://board.flashkit.com/board/forumdisplay.php?forumid=21

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Known Issues

Changing "Helpers" folder shortcuts:
The Edit Original and Preview In Browser features are enabled by automatically creating shortcuts/aliases when LiveMotion 2.0 is installed.  To add or remove an application as a helper manually, do the following:

1) Open the "Helpers" folder in the "Adobe LiveMotion 2.0" folder.
2) Open the appropriate sub-folder ("Graphics Editors" for bitmap applications, "Vector Editors" for vector applications, and “Preview In" for web browsers). 
3) Delete or add shortcuts/aliases for desired applications. 

Note: When LiveMotion 2.0 is installed, it scans your hard drive to see if Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are present. If they are, LiveMotion 2.0 automatically credits the helper shortcuts. If you install Photoshop or Illustrator after you’ve installed LiveMotion 2.0, you will need to follow the above steps to get the Edit Original feature to work correctly.

Note: At this time, LiveMotion 2.0 officially supports Adobe Photoshop“ and Adobe Illustrator for Edit Original applications.  While other applications may work, Adobe does not claim support for them. Use other applications at your own risk.

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Sound:

A streaming sound in LiveMotion 2.0 Preview mode may play back choppy:
Streaming sound playback in LiveMotion 2.0 Preview mode may not be smooth, but does accurately synchronize with visual elements in the timeline while playing. On export to SWF, a streaming sound will play back as expected.

Note: Playing a streaming sound in Edit mode using the timeline Play button will play the sound smoothly.

Keyframing a streaming sound:
Streaming sounds cannot have a pan or volume keyframe applied in LiveMotion 2.0. If these effects are desired, either employ the Sound object in Player Scripting to add volume and pan effects, or add these effects to the sound itself in an external sound editor, then place it in LiveMotion 2.0 and set it to streaming.

How many streaming sounds?
You may have as many streaming sounds as RAM permits, but only one streaming sound can exist per timeline. If you want more than one streaming sound for synchronization purposes, put the sound in its own movie clip group. 

Note:  A streaming sound in a movie clip group must be downloaded completely before it begins playing.

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Export:

Exporting outline text to SWF:
The SWF format doesn't support outline text natively.  To export outlined text to SWF, convert it to a path first using Object > Convert Into > Path.

Exporting to Animated GIF: 
Looping for Animated GIF export has changed in LiveMotion 2.0.  Use the Loop controls in the Export palette under the Animated GIF format to set how many loops you want when you export. The default setting is Forever: the loop may be set to None or Set Number at any time.

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Miscellaneous:

Backward Compatibility:
The text engine in LiveMotion 2.0 is entirely new, and LiveMotion 1.0 documents containing text will be converted into the new format when opened in LiveMotion 2.0. If the document contains many Text keyframes, LiveMotion 2.0 may require several seconds while this conversion takes place. Once saved in LiveMotion 2.0 format, the document should open quickly thereafter.

Testing Rollovers in Preview mode:
In Preview mode, rollover hit areas are always the object bounding box. When you export to SWF, if the shape is vector, its hit area will be the shape of the rollover object. If it is bitmap, the hit area will be the rollover’s bounding box, by default. To make the hit area of a bitmap rollover be the rollover shape, edit the name of one of its object layers by preceding it with an asterisk, e.g. *Layer 1.

Note: Rollover hit areas in AutoLayout export format are the entire rollover object slice.

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Scripting:

Using the onLoad handler of a parent movie clip group to address a child movie clip:
Due to architectural reasons, it is not possible to address a child movie clip from the parent movie clip group (including the composition) onLoad handler. Instead, make the parent movie clip group onLoad handler a function, then call the function from a child movie clip or a script keyframe within the movie clip group.

Using numeric arguments with goto methods:
In LiveMotion 2.0, goto an absolute frame number is not supported. This is because LiveMotion 2.0’s frame rate can be changed without affecting overall composition time, and going to a specific frame number would go to a different time depending on the composition or export frame rate. Always go to a label when using goto methods in Player Scripting, which helps -ensure that you go to the same point in timeline, regardless of frame rate.

Note: You can go to a relative frame number using the _currentframe property in an argument, or by nesting prevFrame/nextFrame() methods in a loop.

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Technical Support

Where Can I Get Technical Support?
Adobe CustomerFirst® offers person-to-person support directly from Adobe. Complimentary phone support is included with each product you purchase a license for and register, and additional Pay-As-You-Go options and annual support contracts are available to meet your ongoing support needs.   

For more information in U.S. and Canada, refer to the Adobe Direct Support Programs pages at <http://www.adobe.com/support/cfdetails.html>. 

For more information in the United Kingdom, refer to the Adobe Direct Support Programs pages at <http://www.adobe.uk/support/main.html>. 

For more information in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, refer to the Adobe Direct Support Programs pages at <http://www.adobe.com.au/support/main.html>.

For technical support in other countries, please visit our support pages at <http://www.adobe.com/support/intlsupport.html> to locate an Adobe Support Center near you.
Customer Support on Adobe Online
Adobe Online provides access to FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and troubleshooting information that provides solutions to common problems.  Explore the extensive customer support information on Adobe's World Wide Web site (<http://www.adobe.com>).  To access the Adobe Web site from GoLive, choose Help > Adobe Online or click the icon at the top of the toolbox.
Additional Customer Support Resources
Adobe Systems provides several forms of automated technical support.  For more information, refer to the Adobe technical support pages at <http://www.adobe.com/support/main.html>.
•  ReadMe Files:  See the ReadMe files installed with the program for information that became available when the product shipped.
•  Search the Support Knowledgebase:  Search our knowledgebase for of answers and browse the top issues lists at <http://www.adobe.com/support/database.html>.
•  Training:  Self-paced online lessons, training books and videos, Adobe Certified Training Providers, events and seminars to help you get the most from your Adobe products.
•  User to User Forums:  Share your Adobe product questions and experiences with other Adobe users.
•  Support Announcements via E-mail:  Stay current on the latest news from the Adobe User Forums community, and receive announcements about the latest technical how-tos, patches, and plug-ins for selected Adobe products.
•  Tutorials and Tips & Tricks:  Suggested workflows, underlying concepts, and step-by-step problem solving for Adobe products presented in a graphically rich format.  For more information, refer to the Adobe LiveMotion 2.0 Tutorials pages at <http://www.adobe.com/products/tips/LiveMotion 2.0.html>.

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Adobe, the Adobe logo, After Effects, CustomerFirst, GoLive, Illustrator, and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Apple, Macintosh, Mac, and Power Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Macromedia and Flash are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© 2002 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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