Digital Workshop

I'm trying to create a volume control slide button (shaped like a sideways triangle) without using a script. In theory it seems simple, a button that slides from left to right. When I created it I put the button inside a frame and assigned the button the ability to be able to drag. In the editor this works great because it stays inside the frame. The problem is, once I view the page I can drag the button outside the frame. So far I've tried everything I can think of, but I can't get the button to stay inside the frame. As you can see there's a background with a hoizontal line that is in the frame too. The button would slide across the line. I'm pretty sure I can figure the rest out as far as the volume part. Does anyone know how to get this button to have the ability to slide back and forth, left to right and confine it to the inside of a frame?

One thing for sure... if Mack can't make it happen, it can't be done.

Denn,

You do not have any profile information... Opus version? Pub Type... System configuration? on and on.
In this case the problem is pretty basic I'm sure, but still it is a good courtesy to include the environment. Thanks.

True. But Fred is the master of getting things done without scripting.

Do a Search for 'slider'.
Here's one result: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3938&hilit=slider

If you need to eliminate scripting as a tool, I think this could be done with a Mouse-Down trigger and instead of allowing the Button to be 'draggable', use a Loop action that will move the Button object only on X-axis to the Mouse/Cursor position.

Good luck.

My apologizes, Sometimes when I so deep in trying to get something done I find myself still in the box as opposed to thinking outside the box.

Opus Ver. v7.01 Pro
OS: XP (SP3)
Memory: 1 gig
Processors: Intel 3.0 x 2
Dir X: 9.0 or better
Gigs and gigs of space


I always search before posting a question, but that doesn't mean I might have messed something. However, I did see the one you reffer to. In fact I refer to Mackavi in that post below...


I know many things, But code is NOT one of the things I know, and Mack did not say how, and that is what I'm looking to find out. How does one create this effect using non-scripted elements ?

I have solved the problem. It is NOT what I wanted and would appreciate anyone leaving advice on how to accomplish this in the way I wanted to originally... without scripting.


I went back and read through this post and found this and then opened up the basic gallery and found the "Linear_Slider_Volume". I used this and after about an hour I had it working, so for right now I will use it...

...but I will ad this, It would be nice if DW would have a tick box to give us an option to make an object stay inside a frame in the program like it does in the editor. (Something like... "Confine to frame") I can see where this would come in handy often.

You don't want to use scripting -- fair enough; but it might help if you explain why you can't or won't use scripting for what you are doing.

Paul

Denn,

Might be a good idea. You could achieve your purpose several ways... e.g., "constrain motion" to X-axis or to Y-axis could be made an option in the object's Drag & Drop properties. In any case, think it through and then put your suggestion to DW over in the Wishlist section.

On the original problem, my mind is waking up a bit. Besides what I suggested earlier, you could do something using standard Actions w/o scripting using the "Move object along Path" action. You would still need to decide the appropriate trigger (MouseDown?) and set-up your IF conditions or CASE conditions to manage movement left vs. right. Also again, probably a Loop is involved. All of this is available in the std Actions.

Paul,

That's a fair question, and the answer is that I don't have time to learn a new skill. I am a IT manager at a TV station and have a ton of stuff to do with that alone. I am also a Graphic Artist, Multimedia Designer, website designer, webmaster, user interface specification analyst, video editor, programmer and writer. I have one book published, one waiting in the wings, and I'm about three chapters away from ending my third, but I haven't had time to write anything in over a month. I am just too busy to have to learn a new skill and from what I see in scripting someone would have to really dedicate a lot of time to be efficient at it. I have been creating programs in Opus / Illumanates for around 15 years. I am already efficient at Opus with the exception of having to add scripts. I won't argue that knowing scripting would make me MUCH more efficient at Opus than I already am now, but once again… there's the time thing.

Having said all that, I have no problem with someone helping, but I don't want to have to rely on other people helping me all the time. One of the great things about Opus is that you can build 99% of the things you want to build without any scripting, in fact, I had already completed the program I was working on, but just wanted to add something extra… a simple slide volume control and if Opus would allow someone to confine an object inside a frame I wouldn't have needed any help.

Sorry for being long winded. I can type as fast as I can speak / think.

Before I had posted anything I tried doing everything you've mentioned and couldn't get it to work. Of course that doesn't mean that I didn't get something wrong and it didn't work. I suppose that I actually just gave up and asked for help. I did do as you suggested and used the OpusPro Basic Gallery Linear Slider object and got it to work, but I still believe that DW could easily fix this problem to prevent someone from doing a lot of scripting.

Thank BTW for mentioning the Linear Slider in the Basic Gallery. It works good, but if I could do it my way I could make it look better.

The solution to simulate this effect without code is as follows:

1. create master frame to hold all objects.
2. create arrow (inside master) that indicates where volume is at.
3. create divider frames (inside master), the more the better. IE if you master frame is 100px wide, create 10x10 frames next to each other - BUT more is better.

4. create a path the width of the master frame.
5. on each of the divider frames (#3) add an action that sets the arrow (#2) to the position on the path related to the dividers frame position within the master. IE 10% then 20% etc using a mouse over trigger.

If you need something like a mouse down to trigger, you'll need to introduce a set variable on the arrow and add IF statements to mouse over triggers of the divider frames.

The beauty of this method, is that you can also set over variables at the same time as setting the percentage of the path - such as a relative volume value.

Mack

Mack,
Thank you very much. Sorry about just now getting back, but it's a long story and I won't bore you with the details. I have just copied your answer and put it in my "HOW TO DO" book for Opus. It's a word document that I keep up with fixes on Opus problems that I've had. Trust me... your fixs are in that book more than anyone else's. I have gone to that document over and over on many projects. Thank you once again. I knew if you had a minute to sit down and type, you'd be able to figure it out.