Visual Thought User's Guide
[TOC] [Prev] [Next] [Index]
Chapter 17
Adding Attachments
You can attach a variety of different types of files to objects in your diagram. Visual Thought attachments provide ways to annotate your drawings with sounds and images. You can also use attachments to run arbitrary programs or link Visual Thought documents together.
All attachments are set through the Attachments panel of the Inspector.
To an object in a Visual Thought drawing, you can attach:
- A File Attachment
A file attachment is an arbitrary file. Such a file can be a Visual Thought document, or any other type of file, such as a spreadsheet or word processor document, a PostScript file, etc.
When a file attachment is "activated," the linked file is run by a process described later.
- An Image
Attaching an image file to a shape displays the image within the perimeter of the shape. Images can only be attached to shapes, not connections. Image files must be in one of the following formats: GIF, XWD, Sun Raster, PBM, PGM, PPM, or XBM formats.
- A Sound
You can either record and edit your own sounds or read sound files in the Sun 8-bit, monaural .au format for playback.
Attachment Buttons
Once a file or sound attachment is attached to an object, a small attachment button appears in the diagram next to the object. (An image attachment does not generate a button.)
When a user clicks on the button, the file is activated. Each type of button causes a different action to occur when it is pressed. Each type is discussed below.
Attaching Files
For more information on file typing, see the appendix entitled "File Typing" on page 263.
When an arbitrary file is attached to an object via the Attachment subpanel, the object displays an Attachment button. Clicking this button, or clicking the Activate button in the Inspector Attachments panel will run the application that can run that kind of file. That is, Visual Thought will attempt to find the "type" of the file ("file typing"). If it succeeds, it will also find the executable that uses the file, and it will run that executable with the file as an argument.
Attaching Images
You can attach images directly to a shape using the Image subpanel of the Inspector Attachments panel.
Only shapes can have image attachments.
Attaching Sounds
The Sound Attachment panel and the Sound Editor are discussed in "Add a Sound to an Object" on page 156.
When a sound is attached to an object, the object displays a sound button. Clicking the sound button plays the sound. You can also perform all sound functions with the sound editor. Both shapes and connections may have sound attachments.
Examples of Adding Attachments
The examples below illustrate how to add an attachment, an image and a sound file to an object.
Adding an Attachment to an Object
In this example, add as an attachment and preview an EPS file.
Adding an Image to an Object
The image will be displayed inside the perimeter of the object.
Add a Sound to an Object
A small Sound button will appear next to the object.
Using the Sound Editor
Visual Thought allows you to record and edit your sound files by using the Sound Editor.
To record sounds in Visual Thought, you must have a microphone attached to your machine. A common problem with microphones, by the way, is dead batteries. Be sure yours are working.
To display a sound file in the Sound Editor,
The sound file you have opened is displayed in the Sound Editor.
Edit Sounds in the Sound Editor
Once you have loaded a file into the Sound Editor, you can edit sounds using the standard Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear and Duplicate commands.
You can also record your own sounds using the Sound Editor.
The 2 sliders change the horizontal and vertical scale of the sound. The scroll bar scrolls the sound.
Visual Thought User's Guide
[TOC] [Prev] [Next] [Index]
webmaster@confluent.com
¨ 1997 Confluent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Examples... menu item) is a good example of the use of this technique.