Blast Authoring Tool Editor

The Blast Authoring Tool is a simple tool for viewing/editing/creating .Blast Assets .

User Interface

Blast Authoring Tool Quick Start Layout ————–

1 Viewport

2 Menu Bar

3 Tool Bar - The Toolbar has simulation, damage and other controls that are commonly used for iterating on a project scene wide .

4 Filter Properties - The Filter Properties allow you to filter different components of the blast asset such as depth chunks, bonds and all of the componentes of the blast asset.

5 Blast Scene Tree - The Blast Scene Tree displays a graph of meshes, chunks, and bonds for your blast asset. You can select components via the Blast Scene Tree.

6 Output Window - This window shows important information dependent on use.

7 Blast Tab - The Toolbar has animation controls and other controls that are commonly used for iterating on a project scene wide.

8 Damage Tab - The Toolbar has animation controls and other controls that are commonly used for iterating on a project scene wide.

9 Material Tab - The Toolbar has animation controls and other controls that are commonly used for iterating on a project scene wide.

10 Settings Tab - Environment The Toolbar has animation controls and other controls that are commonly used for iterating on a project scene wide.

Viewport

In the Viewport you can select, view, edit and damage all imported meshes.

Menu Bar

File

• Clear Scene - Resets Blast Authoring Tool Viewer to a blank scene. There are no references to any project files, material files, or texture files when a scene is cleared.
• Open FBX File - Launches a file dialog to allow the user to open an FBX file. Only one FBX can be loaded at a time. Opening an FBX file clears the current FBX file from the scene.
• Recents - Recents keeps track of previously opened FBX file. When used it will launch the open FBX dialogue.
• Exit - Closes the Blast Authoring Tool

Blast

• Undo - Undoes previous action.
• Redo - Does any undo action again.
• Open Project File - Launches a file dialog to allow the user to open a project file.
• Recents - Opens recently opened Project files.
• Save Project File - Saves the current project file.
• Save Project File As - Launches a file dialog to allow the user to save a project as a new file.

View

• Add Bookmark - Adds a camera bookmark from the cameras current position.
• Edit Bookmark - Launches dialog to edit all bookmarks.

Window

• Output - Toggles the Output Window on/off.
• Attribute Editor - Toggles the Attribute Editor on/off.

Help

• Documentation - Launches this help document.
• About - Launches a dialog with various information about HairWorks including the version and web links.

Tool Bar

• Open Blast Project - Launches a file dialog to allow the user to open a project file.

• Save Blast Project - Saves the current project file. If Export assets are checked they will be exported on Save.

• Export Blast Files - Exports the current checked project file exports. Only checked assets in Blast/File References/Export Assets are exported.

• Depth Preview - Displays current chunk depth.

• Full Coverage - Toggle shows all depth in the Blast Scene Tree.

• Selection Button - The Selection Button allows you to select objects in the Viewport.

• Rectangle Selection Button - Default selection button. Allows you to select with a rectangular marquis with left click drag.

• Circle Selection Button - Allows you to select with a circular marquis with left click drag.

• Polygon Selection Button - Allows you to select with a polygonal marquis with a sequential left click.

• Curve Selection Button - Allows you to select with a curve driven marquis with left click drag.

• Explosion Amount Button - Click the Explosion Amount Button and drag in the Viewport. To freeze the Explosion amount select the Select button.

• Move button - Currently disabled.

• Rotate button - Currently disabled.

• Global/Local Orientation - Currently disabled.

• Reset Simulation Button - Resets simulation.

• Toggle Simulate Button - Toggles playback of the simulation.

• Simualation Step Button - Steps the simulation forward 1 frame.

• Simualation Step Button - Steps the simulation forward 1 frame.

• Damage Button - Allows clickable damage in the Viewport Works in tandem with the Damage Tab.

• Throw Object Button - Throws object aimed at Blast object in the viewport per click.

• Drop Object Button - Drops Blast object in the viewport per click.

Filter Properties

The Blast Filters Window allows you to filter the fractured Blast Asset in a two step process. First you set you parameters of the filter then you click an Action. Yoo can select, view or hide as an action in the blast asset.

Filter Options

The following are a list of Filtering options in the Filter window.

Rule

• All Descendants
• All Parents

Depth

• All
• Depth 0
• Depth 1
• Depth 2
• Depth 3
• Depth 4
• Depth 5

Item Type

• All
• Chunk
• Suppot Chunk
• Static Support Chunk
• Bond
• World Bond

Operator

• Equal To
• Not Equal To

Filter Buttons

Preset

• Add Preset -Add a new Preset which starts by launching a select name dialog.

• Edit Selected Preset - Edit the name of the selected Preset.

• Delete Selected Preset - Delete the selected Preset.

• Save Preset - Save selected Preset.

Action

• Select - Select based on Filter Parameters.

• Show - Save selected Preset.

• Save Preset - Save selected Preset.

Blast Scene Tree

The Blast Scene Tree allows you to select, show and hide chunks in your Blast Object. You can set Support Chunks, World Support and Static Chunks here. This is a dockable window.

• Make Support - Make a chunk into a support chunk.
• Make Static Support - Make a chunk into a static support chunk. This chunk or chunks will be static and not destroyable.
• Remove Support - Remove support from a chunk.
• Add World - Add a world bond to a chunk. This bond can be destroyed with enough damage.
• Remove World - Remove World bond.

Icons

• Expand/Collapse - Toggle expands and collapses the Blast Scene Tree

• Blast Composite Asset

• Blast Asset

• Support Chunk

• Support Chunk World Support

• Chunk - just a chunk

• Chunk World Support

• Static Chunk

• Static Chunk World Support

• Bond

Chunk Options

Output Window

The output window displays important information depending on use. Information dependendent on user interaction.

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

• H - Show/Hide HUD gpu info.
• G - Show/Hide HUD asset stats.
• L + Left Mouse: Rotate active Light.
• Ctrl +O: Open project file.
• Ctrl + S: Saves project file.
• Ctrl + X: Toggles presentation mode on/off.
• Ctrl + space: Undo/Redo of last UI action.
• Right Arrow: Open next project in selected playlist.
• Left Arrow: Open previous project in selected playlist.

Maya Navigation

• Alt + Left Mouse: Rotate.
• Alt + Middle Mouse: Translate.
• Alt + Right Mouse: Zoom.

3dsMax Navigation

• Alt + Middle Mouse: Rotate.
• Middle Mouse: Translate.
• Middle Mouse Scroll Wheel: Zoom.

Game Pad Controls

Each button on the controller offers a different function, typically used for navigating Playlists in Demo Mode. The following controls are based on a Microsoft XBOX Controller layout.

• Right Bumper - Loads the next project in the selected Playlist.
• Left Bumper - Loads the previous project in the selected Playlist.
• B - Resets the animation to the start of the animation clip.
• Y - Switch the Viewer between Presentation view and the standard view.
• Left Analog Stick - Zoom in and out from the asset.
• Right Analog Stick - Rotate the camera.
• D-Pad Up - Show/Hide HUD gpu info.
• D-Pad Left - Show/Hide HUD asset stats.
• Left Trigger + Left Stick - Move the light located in the scene.