Graphics

I've build a weather ticker using XMLs scraped from the web, Datalinq, and Playout Mode in the sequencer set to 'timed'. Sometimes we don't have the data and I'd like to automatically skip those items but unfornately when I use 'self.SceneDirector.stop()' the text doesn't appear but the scene still stays up for about 5 seconds before it moves on to the next item. How would I go about forcing the scene to end and move on to the next item?

My solution seems to be with the SceneDirector.PlayRange().

I slowed my ticker using SceneDirector.Speed and then had to turn on the 'PlayRange' checkbox and adjust the range in order for the ticker to work. I slowed the ticker by half but the length of each scene remained at about 5 seconds. Presumably I'd have to script the playrange(0,1) or something but it doesn't seem to work and also crashes expressions when it goes on to the next item.

#XPression

Could really use some help on this still. Nothing I try works. The scene will still play for it's entire length no matter what I script. I feel I have exhausted all options associated with the Scene Director and Animations Controllers.

Does anybody have a way to skip an item with missing data when the playout mode of a group is set to timed?

#XPression

You could try using a script to jump the scene director position to near the end of the scene director..

Something like:

Scene.SceneDirector.Position = Scene.SceneDirector.Length - 2

#XPression

I tried that and *the* scene still remained online for the full duration but I will try again when this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

#XPression

Okay, so I tested this out again and the problem continues. The result was no different from scenedirector.stop(), scenedirector.speed=5000, scenedirector.playrange(199,200) or any other idea for skipping the item.

I can use self.scenedirector.playrange(0,5) and I will see the first 5 frame play but the scene will remain online for the entire duration of the animation controller.

I've tried controlling the animation controller directly as well using the same commands. Same results except that myAnimController.playrange(0,5) does not seem to display the first 5 frames.

#XPression

Okay, I'm just going to declare that it's not possible. Timed Playout on a group in the sequencer will preserve the length of the animation controller of each scene and will not let you override the desired length of the scene with a script. You must manually change the range for each item under the Scene Control Tab.

#XPression