Visualizing the camera path while animating

Purpose
This add-in sample allows you to generate and visualize the trace back path the camera follows in a GlobeCamera animation. The path is created using three-dimensional (3D) graphic elements. The sample allows the placement of graphics (at the camera positions) as the number of graphic elements created per second or by setting the maximum number of elements created between keyframe positions. This is useful to visualize the camera's location at a time duration without playing or previewing the animation—for example, to generate the flight path of an animation you created by recording the navigation (using the Navigate tool, Fly tool, and so on). Also, the GlobeCamera keyframes have a different color than the intermediate camera positions.
There is also the option to generate graphics for the "Camera to target" direction at each of the camera positions. By visualizing this information, users can make changes to their keyframe attributes resulting in better and fine tuned animations.

How to use

See How to use ArcGIS samples for help on compiling, setting up the debugger, and running the sample. If the sample has associated data, you will find that the sample's zip file includes a "data" folder alongside the language folders. However, you will need to update the sample to point to the location of the data once you have extracted all the files.

  1. Start Visual Studio, open the solution, and build the project.
  2. Open the ArcGlobe application in design mode.
  3. Click the Customize menu and click Customize Mode. The Customize dialog box opens.
  4. Choose the Add-In Controls category.
  5. Drag the Visualize Camera Path command from the Command Items pane onto a toolbar.
  6. Run the application and create an animation.
  7. Click the command.
  8. Make your choices on the form and play the animation or generate the camera path.

VisualizeCameraPath.cs
(view code)
 Main implementation file.
VisualizeCameraPathForm.cs
(view code)
 Windows form class with the user interface of the tool.
Download the C# files
VisualizeCameraPath.vb
(view code)
 Main implementation file.
VisualizeCameraPathForm.vb
(view code)
 Windows form class with the user interface of the tool.
Download the VB.NET files

Download the files for all languages



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ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: 3D Analyst ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: 3D Analyst
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