The Slideshow tab in the Properties dialog box will only appear in the dialog for Slideshow objects. This tab allows you to add a series of image files displayed in turn. It can be used simply for displaying a series of pictures or it can be used for animation by replaying the frames of a cartoon.
Note:
In the former case, remember each frame of the slideshow could be controlled by pressing a key or by using the Play Slideshow action instead of playing the slideshow automatically. In the latter case, remember that the smaller the area being animated, the better, so it may pay to only animate parts of an object.
Click on the Add button to add an image or a selection of images to the Slideshow image list. The Windows Open File dialog box will appear, which allows you to locate the file or files you want. Keep on using the Add button until you have added all your images.
Note:
You can select more than one object in the Open File dialog box – see selecting multiple objects. Once you have added your images you can select multiple objects in the Slideshow image list as well.
Images are displayed in the order they will be played on screen. You can re-order the list by selecting a file in the Slideshow image list and pressing the Up or Down button to move its position in the list. If you add the wrong file, select the file in the Slideshow image list, then click the Remove button.
Click on the All Files option if you want Opus to create a slideshow from all the files in a particular directory at the time when the finished publication is run. This will replace the Slideshow image list with an All image files in the directory box. Click on the Browse button to open the Windows Open File dialog box and select the directory where the image files are held.
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This is useful, for example, for creating a simple generic picture viewer by creating a generic slideshow, which automatically views all the pictures from a Photo CD. You can then change the CD for another Photo CD, as long as the images are in the same place, the slideshow will now display these. It might also be used to provide a generic slideshow where a third party will edit the pictures the slideshow should contain.
Tip:
With the All Files option you can also type in a variable into the box. The variable must contain a valid pathname to a folder containing the images you want to display as well as a filename of the graphics to display e.g. T:\Images\*.jpg. You can use your own Publication variables or the System variables in the box – or even combine System and Publication variables e.g.
<SYSTEM_PUBLICATION_DIR>\<Folder>\*.*
Also note that variables must be typed in the box surrounded by chevrons.
In order to update the All Files list after a variable has changed you must call the script function UpdateFiles() on the affected slideshow object. No parameters required. If the slideshow is in progress it will stop and it's position will be reset.
All of the options described below are used whether you chose to use the Slideshow image list or All Files methods of adding images.
Select an image or a series of images to set the time the slide (image) will be displayed on the screen. Use the spin buttons beside the Slide Timing box to increase or decrease the timing as required.
Note:
All files in a directory will display for the same time length. If you added individual images, then each image selected will display for the same time length. If you want different times for each image, then select one image at a time and then set the Slide Timing for it.
Select an image or a series of images to specify a transition effect with which the image will be drawn on the screen. Use the Transitions panel to specify your transition effect.
Note:
The options in the Transitions panel are the same as those available in the Transitions tab in all objects Properties dialog box.
Set the number of times that you want to play the slideshow in the Play panel.
Click on the Random option in the Play panel to play the slides in the slideshow randomly each time it is run. This option can be used whether you set the slideshow to play once, a set number of times or continuously.
Note:
The Random option is often used in rolling promotional presentations to present a series of highlights at exhibitions, or in shop windows or foyers.
Select one of the display options to specify how the slideshow will display the images (centred, tiled etc.).
Note:
The display options are the same as those available in the Image tab in all objects Properties dialog box.
Click on the Transparent option, if you want to ignore one of the colours in the image and let the background show through. Use the colour slider beneath the Colour box to increase the range of that particular colour that will be ignored.
If you want the slideshow to be self-starting when it appears on a page, click on the Auto Start option.
Note:
If you do not use this option, the slideshow will not start until a Play Slideshow action is triggered.
Click on the Apply button to save your changes.