[Prev] [TOC] [Next]

Customizing WebSpace

There are many ways you can customize the settings in WebSpace to suit your preferences and use the full potential of WebSpace. See the following sections:

Adjusting the Viewing Speed

When you're viewing a scene, WebSpace picks a speed to display the scene based upon its size and scale. Or if the author has defined a speed when creating the scene, WebSpace displays it at that speed. This is the default speed.

If you find the speed is too fast or too slow, you can adjust it by selecting "Move Faster" or "Move Slower" from the View menu. For example, walking at 5 miles per hour through a small scene might be a reasonable speed. If you are walking through a very large scene, however, you might want to increase the walking speed.

See also "Optimizing Navigation of a Scene" and "Displaying the Scene at Different Levels of Detail."

Shortcut: To move the scene faster, press <Ctrl> while pressing K. To move the scene slower, press <Ctrl> while pressing J.

Looking at a Scene From Different Viewpoints

The Viewpoints menu contains a list of viewpoints from which you view a scene. There is one default viewpoint, "Entry View," or whatever name the author has defined as the entry view. If the author has defined other viewpoints for the scene, they are listed under the Viewpoints menu. For example, a building might have viewpoints such as Approach, Inside, and Closeup.

When you choose "Entry View," the initial view of the scene is displayed. This is the same as clicking the Home button on the toolbar.

Setting a Home Scene

You can set and save a Home Scene using the "Preferences" command on the Options menu. If you specify a Home Scene, each time you open WebSpace without specifying a file, your new Home Scene is displayed. If no Home Scene is specified, WebSpace provides a default Home Scene.

Once you've set your Home Scene, you can get to it by clicking the Home Scene button shown in Figure 1-13, or by choosing "Home" from the Go menu. Step-by-step instructions follow.

[IMAGE]

Figure 1-13 : The Home Scene button

  1. Choose "Preferences" from the Options menu.

    The dialog box shown in Figure 1-14 appears.

    [IMAGE]

    Figure 1-14 : The WebSpace Preferences Dialog Box

  2. Place the cursor in the Home Scene type-in field, double-click to select the default name, and type in a new name.

  3. Click the OK button.

Reverting to the WebSpace Default Home Scene

Follow these steps to revert to the WebSpace default Home Scene.

  1. Choose "Preferences" from the Options menu.

    The Preferences dialog box appears.

  2. Place the cursor in the Home Scene type-in field, double-click to select the name, and click the "Defaults" button.

  3. Click the "OK" button.

Optimizing Navigation of a Scene

If you're viewing a very complex scene in WebSpace and navigation through the scene appears to be slow, you can select "Optimize Frame Rate" from the Options menu. Then, while you're moving, WebSpace removes some of the detail of the scene. Once you stop moving, full detail is restored.

If you're viewing a scene where image quality is more important to you than speed of movement, choose "Optimize Image Quality" from the Options menu.

You can save the option you chose by selecting "Save Options" from the Options menu.

Displaying the Scene at Different Levels of Detail

By default, the Examiner and Walk Viewers display the scene in full detail or in the level of detail specified by the author. If you're viewing a complex scene with many textures, consider choosing a lower level of detail for faster interaction with the objects.

You can save the option you choose by selecting "Save Options" from the Options menu.

Displaying or Hiding the Dashboard Controls

By default, when you run WebSpace, you see dashboard controls in the lower portion of the window.

In the Walk Viewer, you see the Seek tool and the Joystick, Tilt Knob, and Arrow Pad controls. In the Examiner Viewer, you see the Seek tool and the Trackball, Arrow Pad, and Thumbwheel controls. You use these controls to move around the scene or to manipulate the object.

If you choose to use mouse and keyboard controls instead, you can hide the dashboard. Choose "Show Dashboard" from the Options menu. The checkmark next to the command disappears. You can save the option you choose by selecting "Save Options" from the Options menu.

For information on mouse and keyboard controls, see "Keyboard Shortcuts for Menu Commands."


[Prev] [TOC] [Next]