The Follow Path action allows you to move an object along a path created using the Animation Path tool.
Note:
You must have at least one Animation Path on the current page for this action to work. For more information about this tool see, Using the Animation Path Tool.
Setting up the Follow Path action:
1. Add the Follow Path action to your trigger, as described in adding actions. The Follow Path tab will automatically appear when you add the action.
2. At the top of the Follow Path tab is the Object List. Click the name of the object in the list that you want to follow the animation path. By default This Object is selected (see note).
Note:
Only one object can be selected from the Object list. The default option This Object refers to the object in which this action has been placed – this option is useful if you want to copy this action to other objects that will follow the same path because you do not have to re-select the new object name from the list.
3. Click on the down arrow to the right of the Follow Path option to select the name of the animation path the specified object should follow.
Note:
If the list is empty, then the current page has no animation paths on it. This action requires an animation path to work, so you must create at least one animation path on the page in which this action is used.
4. Set the number of seconds in the Duration box the object should take to travel from the beginning to the end of the path. Use the spin buttons to increase or decrease the number of seconds in the box.
5. Use the Position options if you want to change the Start or End point the object will begin and end. By default the object will start at the beginning of the path (0%) and finish at the end of the path (100%). Use the spin buttons to increase or decrease the start and end position.
Note:
The direction the object will travel along the path is in the direction of the node pointers in the animation path. If you want to reverse the direction the object travels along the path simply change the Start position to 100% and the End position to 0%. Alternatively, you can start and end the object along any point of the path’ for example, to start halfway across the path set the Start position to 50%.
6. Use the Type option to set the way in which the object will follow the object. Select either the Relative or Absolute option. By default, Relative is selected.
7. Click on the …once option if you want the object to follow the animation path just once.
8. Click on the times box if you want to set a specific number of times the object should follow the animation path. Use the spin buttons to set a specific number of times.
9. Click on the …continuously option if you want the object to follow the path continuously.
Note:
Use the Stop Animation action if you want to stop an object following the path continuously.
10. Click on the Fixed or Aligned option to set the alignment of the object as it follows the animation path. By default, the Fixed option is selected.
11. Click on the down arrow to the right of the Speed Control option to select how the object will move along the path, e.g. at a regular pace or faster at the beginning or end of the path, and so on. By default, the Constant is selected.
12. Use the At End options to set the position of the object when it completes its movement along the path. There are three options: Stop, Return and Reset. By default, the Stop option is selected.
13. Use the Send "Synchronise to End" trigger if you want to start a Synchronise to Animation End trigger when the object reaches the end of the path.
14. Click on the Apply button to save your changes.
Note:
A Follow Path action is automatically added to an object when you create a Follow Path animation using the Animation Wizard. This allows you to change the options you created in the wizard by opening the object’s Actions dialog and changing the options in the Follow Path action.