Moving Group Objects between Scenes
Position scaling also relates to groups of sounds. To see how this works, you’ll start by importing a flock of birds from a Scene you worked on earlier. Moving Objects between Scenes is a simple export/import process. You’ll leave the current Scaling Demo Scene open, while opening another Scene that contains the Objects you want to import.
- If it is on, turn off Orthographic Projection.
Switch back to the 16x16 Space.
In the main menu choose File > Open.
Navigate to your projects and choose Aviary Lesson 6 and open.
You see the Scene you worked on earlier. You’ll be bringing the flock of Sparrows from this Scene into the Scaling Demo Scene. - Select the Sparrows Object.
- In the Inspector Expand the Sparrows Group Object.
You can see that there are four Sparrow Objects that make-up this small flock. In the Canvas you should take note that the octahedron in the center represents the Sparrows parent group Object, the center of the flock that the other four bird positions are spread around. - Select the Sparrow 02 Object.
Notice the position scaling is set to inherit and that it’s currently set to scale, because the group parent is set to scale. In this scenario, you want the spacing relationship between the members of this group to remain constant, regardless of how big the Space might be that these birds are introduced to. - Select the Sparrows group and set the X,Y, and Z positions to not scale.
If the three child Objects contained within the Sparrows group are set to the default of inheriting their parent's position scaling, then they should now reflect that they are set to no scaling. - While here, verify that the Object group has no sizing. Turn off scaling with Space for Size & Shape.
Depending on your settings these might have adjusted while moving to a new sized Space. This will keep everything simple. - Look at Sparrows 01, 02, 03 and 04 and confirm that they are inheriting the no scale settingsfrom the parent in both size and position.
Now that you’ve confirmed the scaling settings for the group, you’re ready to export it. - Select the Sparrows Object, go to File > and choose Export Object.
You’re asked to save the exported Object as a file. - Name the Object Sparrows and save it to your desktop.
The .splnode file format provides a way for you to create libraries of objects and store them as entities that you can later import into other scenes you create.
Tip: Group all Objects to export a full Scene for use as a sub-Scene.
Importing an Object
You're now ready to import the Sparrows group Object you just saved into the Scaling Demo Scene.
- Switch back to the Scaling Demo Scene.
Any Objects you wish to import can be imported in the Object List. - Select the Scene Root and choose File > Import Object.
You see a dialogue window allowing you to select the Object file you intend to import. - Navigate to the Sparrows Object file, select it and click Import.
You see the Sparrows group appear in the Object List. You also see the various Objects that are part of the Sparrows group Object appear in the Canvas. Imported Objects are positioned at the Scene’s origin point. This is where the Sparrows’s group parent is positioned, and the three individual Sparrows Objects maintain their relative position to the group’s parent. - Depending on your preference, enable and disable the Connections in your Canvas Display Options.
It’s likely that your Sparrows are the same color as the Stream Near Object. - Recolor the Sparrows as you see fit.
If you recall, the Scene you imported the Sparrows from was originally created in a Space that was much smaller than the Space you’re working in now. The Sparrows retained their spacing relative to each other because you selected the No Scaling option before exporting the Object.
Note that these bird Objects are point source sounds with no Object size, so Object size scaling would have no impact regardless of how it is set.