///////////////////////////////// // XMAPEDIT QAV ANIMATION EDITOR [APR 17 2022] ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// XMP QAVEDIT is the tool for editing QAV files which contains the 2D world (screen) animation such as weapon or interface. This version can handle up to 4096 frames and' each of it may contain up to 8 layers that have it's own properties (tile number, zoom, palette and so on). Loading any map and then starting qavedit allows to edit animation directly in 3D Mode. It gives additional advantages such as reflecting shade or palookup that affects the whole animation appearance. Also note that ARTEDIT tool is fully available in QAVEDIT directly, so you can add new or remove images that is required for your animation. HOW TO USE: ================================================================== The following ways available to start: 1. Select QAV in the "Tools" section of the main menu. 2. Xmapedit is smart enough, so you can open QAV files directly from Windows explorer. 3. Launch xmapedit using command prompt. Example: "xmapedit bunfuse" opens bunfuse.qav for editing. You may also type qav file rffID, for example "xmapedit 21" will open bunfuse.qav for editing too. BRIEF INTERFACE DESCRIPTION: ================================================================== The first line in the status bar on the top related to current frame and it has the following properties: ------------------------------------------------------------------ FRAME - Shows the current and total number of frames. TRIGGER - Callback function ID that will be called once this frame reached. SOUND - Sound ID that will be played once this frame reached. PRIORITY - Sound priority. It must be unique for each different SOUND ID. TICKS PER FRAME - Each ticks is 1/120th of a second, and lower numbers mean faster playback. You can calculate frame rate by dividing TPF into 120. For example 12 TPF would result in 10 frames per second, and 5 TPF would result in 24 frames per second. The second line shows properties of the current layer: ------------------------------------------------------------------ LAYER - Shows the current and total number of layer (max. 8). TILE - A tile number. SHADE - Shade of the tile. PALETTE - Palette of the tile. ZOOM - Scale of the tile. ANGLE - Angle in Build Engine units (2048 = 360deg). X - X-coordinate on the screen relative to origin. Y - Y-coordinate on the screen relative to origin. The last line shows additional information: ------------------------------------------------------------------ If you switched in 3D Mode and start playing the animation a view section may appear in the left side of the hud. It contains the value of global shade and/or palette that currently affects the animation. These view effects depends on the sector you are in. If you don't see any - it simply means that there is no side effects and you see animation as intended. In the middle part of the screen is the filename you currently editing. If file loaded from inside RFF, it shows file ID in addition to name. The right part contains timer (see ticks per frame) and global animation origin type. GLOBAL ORIGIN NOTES: ================================================================== Be sure to select "Player origin" if you plan animation as weapon or something else that supposed to be in player hands. Select "Screen origin" if it must be played in the middle of the screen. It's important to use correct origin. Selecting wrong type may make animation invisible. KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS: ================================================================== GENERAL: --------------------------------------------------- [ESC] .................................. Quit editor / Stop playback. [F1] ................................... Start new animation. [F2] ................................... Save the animation. [CTRL] + [F2] .......................... Save the animation As. [F3] ................................... Load the animation from disk or RFF. [F4] ................................... Import animation from disk or RFF. [F11] .................................. Load previous existing qavID from the RFF. [F12] .................................. Load next existing qavID from the RFF. [F8] ................................... Change global origin type. [F10] .................................. Play the sound assigned to frame. [SPACE] ................................ Play the animation continuously. [SHIFT] + [SPACE] ...................... Play the animation once. - Hold [CTRL] and/or [ALT] to slowdown the speed. - Press [SPACE] again to pause playback. [1] or [2] ............................. Go backward / forward one frame. [HOME] ................................. Go to first frame. [END] .................................. Go to last frame. [G] .................................... Go to frame N. [TAB] .................................. Copy entire frame in clipboard. [PAD ENTER] ............................ Switch between edit modes (2D/3D). - Note that 3D mode available only if you load the map. FRAME EDITING: --------------------------------------------------- [-] or [+] ............................. Change ticks per frame by +1 / -1. [F9] ................................... Reverse frames order. [F] .................................... Set trigger ID for current frame. [R] .................................... Set sound priority. [S] .................................... Set sound ID for current frame. [CTRL] + [S] ........................... Set random sound range relatively. - This feature allows to play sounds in specified range. Example: Sound ID = 300, Range = 4 will select randomly 300,301,302 or 304 and play it. NBlood/Raze compatible. [ALT] + [INSERT] ....................... Insert new frame after current. [ALT] + [DELETE] ....................... Delete current frame. [ALT] + [ENTER] ........................ Paste entire frame from clipboard. TILE EDITING: --------------------------------------------------- [INSERT] ................................ Copy current tile to next frame. [DELETE] ................................ Delete current tile. [ENTER] ................................. Paste tile from the clipboard. [ALT] + [P] ............................. Select Palette via dialog. [LSHIFT] + [P] .......................... Change Palette by +1. [RSHIFT] + [P] .......................... Change Palette by -1. [V] ..................................... Select tile picture. [T] ..................................... Change translucency level. [X] ..................................... Toggle flip-X flag. [Y] ..................................... Toggle flip-Y flag. [SHIFT] + [PAGE DN] or [PAGE UP] ........ Draw tile up or down a layer. (2D), or [MOUSE1]. Change the tile position. - Hold [ALT] to call dialog. [<] or [>] .............................. Change tile angle. - Hold [CTRL] and/or [SHIFT] for finer steps. [PAD *] or [PAD /] ...................... Zoom In / Out tile. - Hold [CTRL] and/or [SHIFT] for finer steps. [PAD +] or [PAD -] ...................... Change tile shade by 1. - Hold [ALT] to call dialog. [PAD 0] ................................. Reset tile shade to 0. LAYER EDITING: --------------------------------------------------- [PAGE DN] or [PAGE UP] ................. Move up or down a layer. [CTRL] + [ENTER] ....................... Paste entire layer from clipboard. [CTRL] + [DEL] ......................... Delete layer.