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Unit 9: Working with Animation

containing the possible functions/interactions of a program, and the Flow Line, which shows the notes
actual links between the icons. These programs tend to be the slowest at runtime, because each
interaction carries with it all of its possible permutations. However, the higher end packages,
such as Authorware or Icon Author are extremely powerful and suffer least from runtime speed
problems.
Dynamic Linking Libraries for extending features

Advanced authoring programs can call on special features included in the windows Dynamic
Linking Libraries (DLLs). Many add-on boards and peripheral devices include specialized DLLs
upon installation. They can be called on for special functions that may not be available in the
authoring software program. Specialized programming languages such as C++ allow users to
create their own DLLs for enhanced functions.
supporting CD-roM or Laser Disc sources

Storing arrays of audio and video on hardware is often not practical to get the quality and speed
as might be desired. Authoring software allows full control of CD-drives to integrate audio, video
and computer files. Authoring programs support direct control of CD-ROM drives, video sources.
This is provided through the MCI command language.

Multimedia presentations that depend on large amounts of sound or video clips require excessive
amounts of hard disk space. The presentation system can be configured by having a CD-ROM
drive as the sound source and a laserdisc or DVD player as a video source. Both the pieces of
hardware are controlled by the authoring software in a seamless manner.
supporting video for Windows
Video stored on hard disk is sometimes the right media for your project. Authoring software has
the capability to support most multimedia elements like video for windows.
The latest version of Authorware Professional from Macromedia permits the loading of video
clips from video for windows and animation clips from Autodesk.
Hypertext

Words can be made into buttons that will take you to cross-reference in a program. Hypertext
capabilities can be used to link graphics, some animation and of course other text.

Hypertext programming interfaces allows users to select individual Hot Words on a screen, which
are then linked to additional pages and layers of text. The help system of windows is an example
of hypertext. Hypertext systems are useful when presenting and referencing large amounts of
textual information. Some hypertext authoring programs provide graphical links for animation,
sound and video as well as text.

Cross-platform Capability
Authoring software can even package a multimedia project to play on other computer types
with appropriate planning. This works successfully to broaden your potential audience. An
important consideration with authoring programs is their capability to be altered for presentations
on Macintosh or other hardware platforms. Some authoring programs are available on several
platforms and provide tools for transforming and converting files and programs from one to the
other.
run-time player for Distribution

Run-time software is often included in authoring software to explain the distribution of your
final product by packaging playback software with your content. Advanced authoring programs

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