3DLIVE 3.5 Release Notes

WEATHER CENTRAL, LLC ● +1 (608) 274-5789RELEASE NOTESv3.5October 27, 2009This product may be covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents5,270,820 6,335,765 7,250,952. Other patents pending.3D:LIVE 3.5 Release Notes910-1401 Charmany Drive, Suite 200 ● Madison, WI 53719Table of Contents1RELEASE SUMMARY (4)23D:LIVE RUNDOWN “QUICKMAP” ELEMENT (5)2.1S ETUP (5)2.2U SE (5)3SCENE LAUNCH ENHANCEMENTS (7)4MOVIE ELEMENT ENHANCEMENTS – 3D:LIVE RUNDOWN ONLY (8)4.1A UDIO FROM Q UICK T IME (8)4.2W INDOWS M EDIA F ILES (8)5GRID ADJUST (MODEL TWEAKING) (9)5.1S ETUP (9)6SCENE SCRIPT TEXT (11)6.1S ETUP (11)72D NAVIGATION IN 3D:LIVE (12)8CONSTANT SPEED / STRAIGHT PATH (14)9SPLINE SEGMENT CONTROL IN FRONTS, AIRMASSES, AND JETSTREAMS IN 3D:LIVE (15)10BACKWARDS ADVANCE IN 3D:LIVE RUNDOWN (16)10.1S ETUP AND U SE (16)11STREAMING VIDEO IN 3D:LIVE RUNDOWN (17)11.1S ETUP (17)12WIND ARROWS IN 3D:LIVE (18)12.1S ETUP (18)12.2D ISPLAY AS W IND V ECTORS (18)12.3D ISPLAY AS S TREAM L INES (19)13TIME LAPSE ENHANCEMENTS (21)13.1S ETUP FOR R OUTER I NTERFACE (21)13.2C APTURE IN R EAL T IME (21)14SCENE EDITOR (22)14.1S ETUP (22)15OTHER ENHANCEMENTS (23)15.1N EW B ING A TTRIBUTION W HEN U SING V IRTUAL E ARTH (23)15.216X9M ONITOR S UPPORT (23)15.3S CENE P ATH S AVED (23)15.4P ROMPT TO S AVE O NLY W HEN C HANGES ARE M ADE (23)16FIXES AND KNOWN ISSUES (25)16.1F IXES (25)16.2K NOWN I SSUES (25)1 Release SummaryYou have been making great suggestions throughout the years on how to improve the 3D:LIVE software line. We have been listening, and 3D:LIVE v3.5 will demonstrate how important your feedback is to us.The new “QuickMap” element in 3D:LIVE Rundown will vastly improve the workflow of getting important weather information to the air in a timely manner. No longer will you need to jump out of Rundown and into 3D:LIVE to create a new map. Simply use a scene with the QuickMap element, click and drag the map where you want it and use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out.The “Scene Launch” functionality has been updated to not only improve the on-air look, but also to improve your workflow. Define different flipbooks for different scene launch points. Force scene launch points to navigate to the map. Hate closing out of Rundown just to have scene launched scenes update? Now you can just click on “Refresh” and all of the scenes in that scene launch will update.The movie playback capabilities of Rundown have also been updated. If your QuickTime movies have embedded audio, Rundown will now allow that audio to be played back (an audio license for your DVS card is required). The movie element will now also playback Windows Media files. See Section 4 for further details.Don’t agree with the Adonis or MicroCast model output? Think that line of storms will actually hit at 4pm instead of 3pm, and be slightly further north? The contour element now has some simple tweaks that you can give the model data to make it better reflect your forecast.We’ve also made some key updates to the 3D:LIVE program. New in version 3.5 is the ability to create navigated 2D images and movies. We’ve also enhanced the front, jetstream and airmass layers by enabling you to edit the number of “Spline Segments” to create these elements as intricate or as basic as you wish.All layers now have motion options for “constant speed” and “linear path.” This will make it possible to move any object (including the camera and aim points) at a constant speed and/or linear path. This is great for animating fronts with Adonis data, or following a feature across the country with the camera.A big request has been adding the ability to go back to the previous scene in the Rundown. We’ve added that capability and details on that can be found in Section 10.Finally, in v3.1 we introduced “Wind Arrows” in Rundown and had a very positive response. We also had a lot of requests to bring that functionality to the 3D:LIVE program. We listened and have added a new “Wind Arrows” layer to 3D:LIVE.2 3D:LIVE Rundown “QuickMap” ElementYou now have the ability to define a map view directly in Rundown on the high resolution map database used in 3D:LIVE! We have created many new template scenes replacing the image background element with the new QuickMap element.Prerequisites:- 3D:LIVE Texture database- Will not run on the Dell 530 or 650 platforms for performance reasons2.1 SetupThe live.cfg will need to be modified to tell Rundown where the map database is. To do so:- Close all running applications- Navigate to E:\live\system\config- Openlive3d.cfg- Search for <path name=”terrainDirectory” value=- Note what the value equals- Close live3d.cfg and open live.cfg- Search for <path name=”terrainDirectory” value=- Ensure the value equals what was noted from live3d.cfg- Save the changes and close the file2.2 UseOpen Rundown and insert a new scene. Navigate to !Template Scenes. Note that in thedifferent folders within !Template Scenes there are new scenes with the name “QuickMap” at the beginning; insert one of these scenes. You should see a map in the preview screen. If you do not, contact the Weather Central Service Department at 608-276-4600 for assistance.With your mouse cursor in the preview windowclick and drag to move the map. Use the wheelmouse up and down to zoom in and out,respectively.There are two new scene elements, the camera and terrain .The terrain element will have no settings to change. Click on the camera element to edit its settings:**TIP** Click on Lock Camera to lock the camera view in place. This is helpful when attempting to add Telestration or any other feature where you are clicking in the preview window. The camera is always “locked” in Play mode.Move the slider in the Tilt area to give the map a 3-D perspective.The FOV (Field of View) determines how round or flat the map is. Values between 5 and 80 are acceptable.The Heading slider allows you to easily move your camera point around the aim point, changing the perspective of the view. Note that you only see this change when the Tilt is less than 90. Setting the Heading back to 0 will get your view back to north-south.3 Scene Launch EnhancementsThe Scene Launch element has been enhanced to allow different flipbooks for different launch points, navigated launch points, and a refresh button to update scenes loaded within the scene launcher.First load any Scene Launch scene.Check the box next to Navigated to force the scene launch point to navigate to the map. Check the box next to Billboard to stand the flipbook up; otherwise it will be flat on the ground.The “Interactive” and “Passive” flipbooks can now be changed per scene. Just click on a scene in the scene launch list in the upper-right and then click in Select Flipbook to define a different interactive and/or passive flipbook.If any of the scenes that will be launched have been updated with Rundown open, click on the Refresh button to update those scenes in the scene launcher. This prevents you from having to close and re-open the program for the scenes to update.4 Movie Element Enhancements – 3D:LIVE Rundown Only4.1 Audio from QuickTimeAudio from QuickTime movies can now play back in the Rundown application. This audio will be embedded in the video output signal. This requires an audio license for the DVS video outputcard.4.2 Windows Media FilesRundown will now play back certain Windows Media files, including the audio (if licensed foraudio as mentioned earlier). Due to the vast array of Windows Media codecs that are in the field, Weather Central cannot guarantee that every Windows Media file will play back in an acceptable manner and cannot support all codecs.5 Grid Adjust (model tweaking)In the contour layer in both 3D:LIVE and 3D:LIVE Rundown you now have the ability to tweak the contour data based on location, value, or time. This will allow you to make the Adonis (or any model) output match your forecast exactly.5.1 SetupIn both the 3D:LIVE contour layer and the 3D:LIVE Rundown contour element there will be a new tab/button for Grid Adjust.Grid Adjust in RundownGrid Adjust in 3D:LIVEThere are a couple of key things to know when adjusting the grid (contour) data:- any changes made affect the entire model run- changes made in 3D:LIVE may take a few seconds to show in the preview window (more time needed when displaying more data)Check Adjust Based on Distance to move the grid in any direction. This may be important if you think a certain feature may be further north/south/etc. than the model originally depicts.Check Adjust Based on Value or % to change the actual values of the grid.- Adjust based on value should only be used for items for which you would normally be able to show text (temperatures, dew points, etc).- Adjust based on % can also be used for the examples above, but this is where you’d go to tweak (for example) the predicted radar intensity. Too intense? Multiply by 80%. Too weak?Multiply by 110%.- Any time you adjust the grid based on value or % there is a chance you will go outside of the bounds of the currently selected colortable. In this case you will either need to change how much you’re adjusting the grid by or change the LUT/Transparency values.Check Adjust Based on Time to change the delay or advance the grid relative to the time.- Setting a negative value will delay the grid with respect to time. This would be used to have a feature that originally shows up at 4pm show up at 5pm by setting the delay/advance to -60 minutes.- Setting a positive value will advance the grid with respect to time. This would be used to have a feature that originally shows up at 4pm show up at 3pm by setting the delay/advance to 60 minutes.- Trying to use this feature in a scene with no clock layer will have no effect on the data.6 Scene Script TextAll scenes now allow you to enter information specific to that scene for others to see. This can be useful for leaving notes regarding a specific forecast or event. This information can also be combined into a master script which can be automatically sent to your newsroom system (details coming soon).6.1 SetupEach scene will now have a Script button.Click on the Script button to open the “Script Text” editor:Enter the desired information and click OK.This text will be saved with the scene and/or the show.7 2D Navigation in 3D:LIVEIt is now possible to create navigated 2D maps in 3D:LIVE.First, click on File and select the new option New 2D Earth Script.Notice in the preview window there is a rectangle with control points in the corners. The rectangle represents the bounds of the 2D view, and the size of the rectangle can be changed by clicking and dragging any of the outer control points. The smaller the box, the more “zoomed-in” of a view you will get.Also notice the inner yellow control point. This control point allows the entire 2D view to be moved.Certain layers will now have new shadow controls in the Key tab.The Distance will determine how far away the shadow is from the layer.You can add key frames to the “Camera2DLayer” and change the position/size of the 2D projection to make 2D animations. When you are ready to render, just select the appropriate rendering option from the Render pull down menu as you would with a 3D script.8 Constant Speed / Straight Path3D:LIVE can now animate items placed on the map (including the camera/aim) in a few different ways. There are a few key terms to understand regarding this new functionality:Eased: This describes motion that starts slowly, speeds up in the middle, and slows down at the end. This is how 3D:LIVE has traditionally animated objects across the screen.Constant: This describes motion that is the same speed from beginning to end.Splined: This describes motion between 3 points that is curved.Straight: This describes motion between 3 points that is straight (does not curve).In most non-data layers the layer tab will display a new dropdown selection menu for Motion.This will allow you to choose any combination of motion speed and path to suite your particular needs.9 Spline Segment Control in Fronts, Airmasses, and Jetstreams in 3D:LIVE Spline segments are the control points on fronts, airmasses, and jetsreams that allow you to tweak the shape, as well as the drawing precision of each element.Spine Segment Control PointsTo adjust the shape of the layer, click and drag on the yellow crosshairs.To add spline segment controls (for greater precision) or subtract controls (to easily draw large scale features), modify the spline segment control value. Values between 4-30 are accepted.10 Backwards Advance in 3D:LIVE Rundown3D:LIVE Rundown can now go back to the previous graphic in the rundown list.10.1 Setup and UseFirst, the “Scene Backup” must be enabled. To do this, open 3D:LIVE Rundown and click onTools – Enable Scene Backup.With this option enabled, holding down the “Series” button on the clicker for 2 seconds will force Rundown to go back to the previous slide.To change the default time:- Close Rundown and open E:\live\system\config\live.cfg- Search for the string SceneBackupTime="2"- Change the “2” to set the number of seconds to hold down the “Series” button to activate the scene backup- Save the changes and close the file11 Streaming Video in 3D:LIVE Rundown3D:LIVE Rundown now allows you to connect to streaming video in Windows Media format.11.1 SetupLoad any “video” scene, and you’ll see the new option “Use Streaming URL”Type in the address to the stream that you wish to display.A few things to keep in mind:Initial load time is dependent on network speed in your facility as well as at the streaming site.The media it’s connecting to has to be in a Windows Media format (streaming Flash, Quicktime, Axis Cameras, etc will not work in this element). The easiest way to determine ifit’s in a Windows Media format is to copy the link into Internet Explorer. If it opens up inWindows Media player it should play in 3D:LIVE Rundown.Poor quality streams will not play reliably.Weather Central cannot be held responsible for the contents of the streaming media that the user configures the system to display. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that they havepermission to rebroadcast any streaming media and that the content is appropriate forbroadcast use.12 Wind Arrows in 3D:LIVE3D:LIVE can now display wind arrows or streamlines to represent model forecasted winds.12.1 SetupLoad a 3D:LIVE earth script (2D or 3D).Click on Layer – Load Layer, select the Wind_Arrows folder and finally WindVector.lyr.Click on the wind vector layer in the layer list, and then on the Layer tab to reveal the setupoptions for this layer.The Data button is where the data selection occurs. **Remember to set the clock layerappropriately for the model data being used or you will not see any data.**The data can be shown as “Wind Vectors” (as :LIVE currently shows it) or as “Stream Lines”.Choose the method that you’d like by selecting from the pull down menu under the Stream Lines button (see arrow in picture above).12.2 Display as Wind VectorsIf showing as “Wind Vectors”, click on the Wind Vectors button to reveal the display options.The Row Spacing and Col Spacing determine the vertical and horizontal spacing between arrows.Click on the Color button to configure the color of the arrows being displayed. It is possible to apply a color table to the data by checking the Use Color Table box, defining a Low and High value, and clicking on Look up table to select a color table.Checking Fixed Length will force all of the arrows to be the same size.Opacity defines the opacity setting for the wind arrow color.Width defines how wide the arrows will be.Scale defines how long the arrows will be.Arrow Type allows the selection of one of three different arrowhead types (Barb, Hollow, or Solid).12.3 Display as Stream LinesIf showing as “Stream Lines” click on the Stream Lines button to reveal the display options.The Visible checkbox determines whether or not the stream lines and/or the arrows will be visible.The Row Spacing and Col Spacing determine the vertical and horizontal spacing between stream lines.Click on the Color button to configure the color of the streamlines/arrows being displayed. It is possible to apply a color table to the data by checking the Use Color Table box, defining a Low and High value, and clicking on Look up table to select a color table.Opacity defines the opacity setting for the streamline/arrow color.Width defines how wide streamline will be.In the Arrows section, select the type of arrow (barb, solid, point, ribbon, comet) that will follow the streamline.Set the size of the arrow with the Scale slider.Set the speed of the arrows on the streamline with the Speed slider.Set the frequency (number of) arrows with the Frequency slider.**TIP** One interesting effect with streamlines is to uncheck the Visible checkbox in the “Stream Lines” section and change the type of arrow in the ”Arrows” section to a ribbon or comet.Experiment with the various settings to get the look that best suites your needs.13 Time Lapse EnhancementsTime Lapse has been updated to be able to use any router that :LIVE uses. There is also an option to record in real time.13.1 Setup for Router InterfaceIf you are currently using a router other than the Panacea, Time Lapse can now be setup to use that same router.First open and then close timelapse.exe (this will update the configuration file), then navigate to E:\live\system\config\Open timelapse.cfg with notepad and search for this section:<VideoRouter RouterName="" RouterDestination="" RouterLevel="" RouterInitialSetting="1" /> Open live.cfg and look for the same section. Copy this section from live.cfg and enter intotimelapse.cfg. Open Time Lapse, and the same router ports that are available in :LIVE will now be available.13.2 Capture in Real TimeOpen Time Lapse.There is a new button labeled Full Rate. Clicking on this button will record the input in real time.**Be mindful of how much video is captured at full rate, as the file size will get big quickly.**14 Scene EditorThere is now a utility which will allow you to create a new scene based on Weather Central’s supported scene list. It will also allow you to edit existing scenes to add or remove scene elements as needed.14.1 SetupOpen the Scene Editor icon on the desktop.To start from scratch, highlight a background type from the column labeled Available Layers, then either double-click or click on the right arrows (>>) to add it into the Layers in Scene column,which represents the final scene. To remove an element from the Layers in Scene column, either double-click on it or click on the left arrows (<<) to remove it. The elements available in Available Layers will depend on what has already been added to the Layers in Scene. To edit an existing scene, click on Load and select the desired scene. When the changes are complete, click onSave or Save As.15 Other Enhancements15.1 New Bing Attribution When Using Virtual EarthIf you are using the Virtual Earth layer in 3D:LIVE, you’ll notice the existing “Virtual Earth”attribution will be replaced with the new “Bing” logo. Please update your images and movies to utilize the latest attribution from Microsoft if you currently use Virtual Earth.Old Virtual Earth LogoNew Bing Logo15.2 16x9 Monitor Support3D:LIVE Rundown can now be displayed on a 16x9 monitor set to a resolution up to 1680x1050.The preview screen size is dynamically set to maximize the available area.15.3 Scene Path SavedOnce a scene is saved in 3D:LIVE Rundown v3.5, it remembers it’s original location so that there is never a need to select “Save As” after making future modifications.15.4 Prompt to Save Only When Changes are MadeYou will only be prompted to save if the show or script has changed. For performance reasons this feature is enabled by default only on HP-model HD systems. If you’d still like to use thisfeature on a different platform, follow these instructions:- Close :LIVE and open E:\live\system\config\live.cfg- Search for the entry CheckShowChanges=- Change this line so it reads CheckShowChanges=”1”On the Dell Precision 650 and 670 platforms a delay of 5-45 seconds (possibly more for extremely large shows) between closing the application and getting a prompt to Save is nomal. Please note that if the show/script is displaying text data, and that text data has been updated since the show/script was last saved, you will be prompted to save.16 Fixes and Known Issues16.1 Fixes•Certain contour data from table data (Madis.txt, 7dayoutlook.txt) will no longer disappear after drawn in 3D:LIVE Rundown.•Numerous fixes for contour dropdown issues in Contour layer.•Selecting storm reports using MagicTrak will now select the most severe report (when there are multiple reports very close to each other).•Audio will now work in 720p (with appropriate licensing).16.2 Known Issues•Not all Windows Media codecs are tested, but the most recent codecs work.•Many new features may have performance issues on the Dell 530’s.。