Groups; Creating 3D Text - MACROMEDIA DIRECTOR MX-USING DIRECTOR MX Use Manual

Groups

Groups are collections of models and other objects that are formally associated with one another.
These associations can be created in your 3D modeling software or with Lingo. Each 3D cast
member has a default group called world, which is the cast member.
Groups simplify the rotation and translation of models by letting all members of a group move
together with a single command. A group has a name, a transform, and a parent, and can also
have children. It has no other properties.
The following commands and properties can be used to perform basic group operations:
Command
group.count
( )
group name
[ ]
group index
( )
newGroup name
deleteGroup
( )
name
deleteGroup
[ ]
index

Creating 3D text

To create 3D text, you first create 2D text, and then you convert the text to 3D.
To create 3D text:
Select Window > Text to open the text editor.
1
Select the desired font, size, style, and alignment.
2
Most standard fonts work well with 3D text. You might need to experiment to get
specific results.
Enter the text. (You can edit the text after you've entered it.)
3
Drag the text cast member onto the Stage.
4
You can either drag the cast member from the Cast window or drag the Drag Cast Member
button next to the Name text box in the Text window.
Click the Property Inspector button in the Director toolbar.
5
Click the Text tab in the Property inspector.
6
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Function
Returns the number of group objects included in
the cast member.
Returns the group named name.
Returns the group at the designated position in the
index. The index number can change if groups are
added or deleted.
Creates a new group and adds it to the group object
list.
Deletes the group named name. Lingo references
to this group persist but can do nothing.
Deletes the group with the given index number.
Lingo references to this group persist but can
do nothing.
Returns
Integer.
Returns the group object named
name if it exists. Returns void if the
object does not exist.
Returns the group object at that
index number if it exists. Returns
void if the object does not exist at
that index number.
Returns a new group object with a
unique name. If the name isn't
unique, returns a Lingo error.
TRUE (1) if the group named name
exists. FALSE (0) if the group
named name doesn't exist.
TRUE (1) if the group with this
index number exists. FALSE (0) if
the group with this index number
doesn't exist.