Coverage-Analysis-Animator Preview

Use the Coverage-Analysis-Animator Preview to create animated pictures of the Coverage-Analysis view.

Access the "Animator Preview" window from the Coverage-Analysis view by clicking the menu button then the "Animator Preview" item. Alternatively you can use the "hot key" or "short cut" key combination of Ctrl-A as shown next to the "Animator Preview" menu item.

To create and view animated coverage-analysis predictions you must display a grid fields or grid squares type prediction set and select the desired prediction parameter before you access the "Animator Preview" window. The "Animator Preview" is a “modal” window meaning you must close the window before you can access controls elsewhere in WinCAP Wizard.

Briefly - in the Animator Preview Window you select the “frequency” you want for the prediction and then “check” each hour you want included in the animated picture. Additionally you can set the “delay” you prefer. The “delay” is the amount of time in milliseconds you want each hour or frame to remain in view before changing to the next frame.

See the screen capture below for the following description of the Animator-Preview window.

The Animator-Preview Toolbar -

#1 the toolbar provides three buttons:

Preview – the button used to create and show an animation - Warning: do not allow the Animator-Preview window to be over the map window "Bands Key" area - else it will appear in the picture.

Cancel – the button stops preview creation and clears the animation to display the step-by-step instructions Save Preview – the button allows you to save an animation. The Save Preview button is only enabled or available when an animation has been created and is available to be saved. The Save Preview function stores the folder where you save pictures and “offers you” that folder next time you access the "Animator Preview" window and save a picture. Additionally when you click the Save Preview button a file name is provided that attempts to briefly describe the picture file contents for easier recognition later. Change the provided file name any way you wish.

The Delay Control -

#2 The “Delay” or pause control sets the length of time in milliseconds that each frame will remain on screen before being replaced by the next frame. The delay control is “sticky” meaning your chosen setting is saved when you close the window and restored next time you access the Animator Preview. The default delay is 500 milliseconds and clicking the control - or using keyboard Page Up/Dn - changes the delay by 500 milliseconds for each click - the cursor Up/Dn keys change the delay in 50 millisecond steps - the delay range is 100 milliseconds to 3 seconds.

The “Select Frequency” Control -

#3 The “Select Frequency” control allows you to select the frequency to use from the current prediction. Only one frequency may be included in an animation. The select frequency control is filled with frequencies included in the current prediction. Additionally when you first access the Animator Preview window the frequency currently selected in the Coverage-Analysis view is pre-selected.

The Preview Area -

#4 this is the actual picture preview area. When the Animator Preview window is first accessed this area provides a list of simple step-by-step instructions for creating and saving an animation.

#5 The Animator Preview window provides both vertical and horizontal scroll bars when the window is too small to show the full picture. We suggest you drag the window – left click and drag the size grip in the lower right corner – to a size large enough to see the full picture instead of using scroll bars.

The “Select Hours to Include” Control -

#6 the “Select Hours to Include” control provides 24 check boxes labeled from hour 0000Z through 2300Z. To include a specific hour in an animation the check box labeled with the corresponding hour must be “checked”. Each included hour becomes a “frame” in the animated picture. Un-checked hours are not included in the animation. At least one hour must be checked before the Preview button will function. However a one “frame” picture will obviously not appear animated. The checked or un-checked state of each check box is saved when the Animator-Preview window is closed and restored next time the window is opened.

Convenience Buttons -

#7 the final area provides four buttons for your convenience in quickly managing the check boxes described in the “Select Hours to Include” control. The buttons are All – check all 24 hours – Even – check the even number hours – Odd – check the odd number hours – None – un-check all 24 hours.