Annotations & Actions

[tai_ann2003]

Hello!

Does anyone know why Activ Studio will not allow us to connect actions to annotations? I have made plenty of home - made drawings, and I would like to connect them with sounds, turning pages, etc. I can't do it in 2.5 or 3.0 - whether in design or presentation mode... it can't be done. If there is a good reason why this can not be done, I would love to know - otherwise, I am going to put in that request for the "next" version of the software.

Thanks!!

Tai :D

[tomerf]

I don't know the answer to your question but was wondering if it would work to use the camera tool to create an object from your drawings? Something might be lost but you would be able to associate an action this way, right?

Tom

[brianksee]

I had the same problem. You might want to recommend this to the techs. A quick fix is to put a blank object over it and it will work. Thanks to whoever suggested this idea.

[Margaret Allen]

This has come up before.... its something in the way in which annotations are recognised (or not :eek: ) !!

BUT an annotation is "received" in such a way that it cannot have an action attached to it - even if you do request it :D

Maybe Nigel or one of his team could be less waffly as to why :rolleyes: :cool: ;) :confused: :o +wave+

[markrobinson]

A key reason is that annotation are - well... 'annotations'... and transitory - liable to be deleted, erased, etc.

Once they have actions attached they really are "interactive objects"... not annotations anymore.

One workround, already mentioned, is to capture it with the camera that then makes it into a 'picture object'.

Another is to group an object and an annotation together.. for example you may write a word such as Egypt with the pen then group that with a button object with a link attached (or a sound, etc.) That also mean... you can drag and drop the annotation and the the action will not activate.

By changing the groups layer it will also protect the annotation element somwhat from accidental deletion.

There may be some other technical responses on this issue - but it has been recorded as something to be investigated for potential inclusion in a future release of the software.

[Nigel Pearce]

Mark is right. Annotations are first and foremost designed for handwriting.

Some other reasons why actions are not available on annotations...

Write a few sentences on a flipchart page. You have effectively added hundreds of individual objects to the page. To cater for adding an action to each one would increase the size of the flipchart significantly and would slow down the load/save/redraw times.

Annotations tend to be very thin and therefore hit testing for the action would be a quite 'hit and miss' affair.

[mvining2451]

Can you tell my the purpose of annotations anyway?? I have copied and pasted them into my flipcharts, well, the ones that when you roll over an object, the object underneath it shows. Is this the same thing? I need a tutorial on Promethean vocabulary!
Marci

[davidlloyd]

I need a tutorial on Promethean vocabulary!
Marci
Hi Marci

The level one online training course is free: www.prometheanlearning.com

[tai_ann2003]

I really appreciate all the comments and tips. I really want to request this for future ActivStudio versions. The reason why I would like to not take a photo of the object to attach an action to it is because I have created many lessons where I have drawn out characters - like a hand drawn pig and farmer (see "Duck for President" I created on Promethean Planet's lesson)... and I want to be able to manipulate the way the annotations look while still having an action attached... and I want to be able to change the action to it. So - for example, on my flipchart "Duck for President," I wanted to be able to change the expression that Farmer Brown has on his face, plus I would like to connect different sounds with Farmer Brown... but because it is viewed as an annotation, then it is not allowed to have an action connected to it. Also, if I took a camera shot of it, then I would have 'white space' floating around Farmer Brown, when I really just want his image to be the only one viewed when I have other backgrounds.


Does that make sense? I appreciate the feedback from everyone. I just can't quite do what I would like to do - but I know that camera image would allow an action to connect to it... but the white space would drive a perfectionist like myself nuts!! :) :D

Thanks to everyone!
Tai

[mreitler]

I agree, I too would like to use my drawings the same way:D

[sundar]

This is new to me.

[smcclinton]

Hi Tai,

I'm new to the Promeathean Board myself. As an art teacher, I'd love any information on "How" to do everything. +wave+

So far this is really "Kool" and I'm now excited and eager to learn more

Sharon McClinton +wave+
Jo Mackey E.S.