Quick Start

To start we will focus on adding a "node script" to a single object. Node scripts are scripts attached to a node on an object. Nodes are used in Strata 3D to control various "attributes" of an object. Attributes that can be scripted using nodes (as of this writing) include rotation, scale, position and offset. These nodes can be accessed, keyframed and scripted from within the Project Window.

Heartbeat Script

For this Quick Start tutorial we'll create a simple animation script that creates a "heartbeat" effect by scaling the object up and down.

Create a New Document

Start Strata 3D and create a new document. Draw a simple pyramid shape using the Pyramid tool found in the 3D Primitives section of the Tool palette, the fourth button from the top. Make a pyramid with a base about two inches square.

Open the Project Window

If it's not already open, go to the Windows menu of Strata 3D and select the Show Project Window command. You will see three entries in the Project Window: Grids and Guides, Environment, and Pyramid. Click on the arrow to the left of the Pyramid name to open up its properties. You will see several entries belonging to the Pyramid. Click on the arrow to the left of the Object Properties entry to expose the node attributes we are interested in.

Now click on the node attribute Script Editor button in the center section to the right of the Scale node. The Script Editor button is identified by the "=" (equals) icon, indicating the ability to develop formulas. Once you click on the scripting button the Script Editor dialog displays.

From the Elements pop-up button in the lower left, select the Heartbeat pre-made script. You see that the script is automatically inserted into the dialog. By default, the top section contains the Initialization for the script. The bottom section contains the Script Source. These sections, and the source for the Heartbeat script, will be covered in greater detail later in the next section, Basic Scripting Concepts. Now click the OK button to close the dialog.

To see the Heartbeat script in action, add some time to the Project Window by extending the right side time marker (the "cut-out point") to about one second. Now click on the Play button in the Project Window. You'll now see your pyramid object pulsating like a beating heart.

Congratulations, you've scripted your first object!