Text File

Create a text file object by clicking the  icon on the overlay toolbar.

 

When the object is selected its property grid is revealed on the left:

 

 

1.  Name – please enter a name for your object. This will identify this object on the layer list and will be easier to manage objects especially in a layout with many objects.

2.  Alignment – this value determines where the text file object anchors itself in the work area. For example, if you choose ‘Right’ then any change to the text value will adjust to the right side edge of the text object.

3.  File is … – there are two possible locations of the file relative to the player computer. If you choose ‘Send To Player’ then the file is uploaded to the player. Any changes to the file will have to be done locally and then uploaded to the player. If you choose ‘On Path’, you should choose a path that is accessible to the player. This way any changes to the file will automatically reflect on the player without the need for an upload.

4.  File Names – this will reflect the file path and names of the text file you choose for your text file object. To choose a file right click the text file object and select ‘Select File’.

5.  Left % – value entered positions the text object’s left edge equivalent to percentage value of the work area.

6.  Line Number – the value here represents the initial line number you want to display in the text file. This enables you to display a specific line number in a text file. If you have chosen to scroll the text file, this value represents the first line in the text file to scroll.

7.  Line Increment – this value instructs the Text File object to move to a new line number in the text file on each update (the interval for this is determined by ‘Update Interval’ mentioned below). The Text File object will move to the line number in the text file, ‘x’ lines away from the last line displayed where ‘x’ is the value of ‘Line Increment’. Leave the value at ‘0’ if you want the ticker to display the same line continuously.

8.  Scrolling – setting this value to ‘Yes’ will extend the text left and right edges to the edges of the work area by default if your ‘Width’ value is set to 100 %. You can change the Width value as mentioned below. The text will then scroll across the text object area from right to left.

9.  Scroll Duration – this value sets the scroll duration in seconds for the text string entered. This value determines how long it takes for the first character of the text string to enter the right edge of the text area and leave the left edge of the text area.

10. Text – enter the text string you would like to display here.

11. Top % – value entered positions the text object’s top edge equivalent to percentage value of the full height of the work area.

12. Update Interval – this value is the number of seconds that the Text File object counts down before updating the text from the file chosen. If the ‘Line Interval’ increment was set above ‘0’ as mentioned above, then the Text File object will display the next line indicated by this value.

13. Width % – this value is only valid when you have set your text to scrolling. Value entered for Width is proportional to a percentage of the work area.

 

Right clicking on the text icon brings up the following menu options:

 

 

1.  ‘Remove’ deletes the text object.

2.  ‘Select File’ will bring up a windows browse dialogue. Browse to your media folder and select a text file. The displayed text will now reflect the line in the text file represented by the value ‘Line Number’ in the properties grid.

3.  ‘Font’ will bring up a windows font dialogue. Use this to change the font properties of the text object.

4.  ‘Choose Color’ brings up the color chooser dialogue.

The text in the text object is changed to the chosen color.

5.  ‘Use Color’ changes the text in the object to the active color in the color block.

6.  ‘Choose Background Color’ brings up the color chooser. The background color of the text in the object will change to the chosen color.

7.  ‘Use Background Color’ will change the background color of the text in the object to the color in the active color block.

8.  ‘Use Transparent Background‘ will make the background of the text transparent.

9.  ‘Bring to Front’ brings the object to the top layer in the work area.

10. ‘Send to Back’ pushes the object to the bottom layer of the object stack. The object will occupy the layer just above the background.