Welcome to RayDance! Before you do anything else please make backup copies of the RayDance distribution disks then put the originals away for safekeeping. RayDance may be run either from floppies or from a hard disk. HD installation --------------- The HDInstall script (supplied on disk 1) will take care of moving the RayDance files to a location on your hard disk. HD installation using workbench ------------------------------- Drag the HDInstall icon to the location on your hard disk where you wish to install RayDance. Once copied to the proper location double click on the HDInstall icon and follow the prompts. A new drawer, RayDance1.0, will be created and all RayDance files will be placed in the new drawer (with the exception of RayDance.setup which should be placed in the s: directory). HD installation using the CLI ----------------------------- CD to the location on your hard disk where you wish to install RayDance. For example: CD dh0:graphics or CD work:3d/graphics Use the CLI execute command to invoke the HDInstall program. EXECUTE RayDance1.0:HDInstall and follow the prompts. A new drawer, RayDance1.0, will be created and all RayDance files will be placed in the new drawer. Installing RayDance on a floppy system -------------------------------------- Determine which RayDance executable to use. If you have an accelerated system (68020/68030 and 68881/68882) use RayDance (disk 1). If you have a 68000 (standard A500, A1000, or A2000) use RayDance.nofp (disk 4). o Format a floppy naming it RayDance1.0: o Copy either RayDance (disk 1) or RayDance.nofp (disk 4) to the new floppy. o Copy RayDance.floppy.setup (disk 1) to RayDance.setup on the new floppy. o Make two drawers, Tutorial and Scripts, and copy all the tutorial and script files to them (disk 1). Executing RayDance from a hard disk ----------------------------------- If you are using the workbench open the RayDance1.0 drawer and double click on the RayDance (or RayDance.nofp) icon. If you are using the CLI you must make sure there is enough stack space for RayDance. Type STACK to determine the existing stack size. If it is more than 25000 bytes you have enough. If it is less then type STACK 25000 to make the stack large enough. If RayDance is run with insufficient stack space it will display an error message then stop. Executing RayDance from floppies -------------------------------- Place the RayDance1.0: disk you created previously (with either the RayDance or RayDance.nofp executable on it) into a floppy drive. From work bench --------------- Open the RayDance program disk by double clicking on its icon. Then double click on the RayDance or RayDance.nofp icon to start RayDance. From the CLI ------------ Make sure that you have at least 25000 bytes of stack space then CD to the floppy with the RayDance executable. For example CD RayDance1.0: or CD RayDance1.0_nofp: or CD df0: Now type the name of the RayDance executable. For example RayDance or RayDance.nofp Disk swapping in a floppy based system -------------------------------------- When you execute scripts that import objects are read texture maps a system requester may appear prompting you to install disks. The texture maps required by the example scripts shipped with RayDance are located on disk 2 (RayDance_textures:). The objects required by the example scripts are located on disk 3 (RayDance_objects:). Rendering your first picture ---------------------------- Click on the Script: disk icon to bring up a file requestor. If you running from a hard disk select the tutorial drawer by clicking on Tutorial. Click on tutorial1.art (by convention, script file names have a .art suffix) then click the USE gadget (or double click on tutorial1.art). You may want to use a smaller picture size to reduce the time required for rendering. Use the Presets menu for this. A size of 160x100 is 4 times faster than 320x200. Click on the RENDER gadget. RayDance should now be processing the script, tutorial1.art. After a few moments the preview window should appear and RayDance will start generating your picture! While rendering is progressing you can use the windows menus to move between the command, message, and preview windows. RayDance automatically sets its priority at -1 so if you have sufficient memory you should have no problems multitasking. I suggest you now take the time to check out the manual (if you haven't done so already). The tutorial scripts are documented in the tutorial section (section 18). You may also want to get acquainted with the RayDance help system. Either select the HELP item in the Project menu or place the mouse pointer on the gadget or field you wish explained and press the HELP key. Software registration --------------------- Please take some time to fill in and mail your software registration card. Once your card is received you will be eligible for support plus you will receive notification of and substantial discounts on upgrades. Support ------- Before contacting Radiance Software with a problem please double check the manual to see if the answer is there. Problems with script files can sometimes be revealed by placing print statements in them to show the values of variables. Support is available three ways. (voice) (408) 270-1125 (bbs) (408) 270-4067 (portal) charlie mode comstock You will need to supply the following information to receive support: o The version, release date, and serial number of RayDance. Version # and release date are displayed in the ABOUT window. The serial number is printed on the distribution disks. I will need the following to be of assitance: o A description of your computer, cpu type and amount of memory. o A description of the problem. Try to include all necessary information (but be a brief as possible). The best way for me to find and fix problems will be if you can upload your script either to the Radiance Software bbs or email it to me on portal. This will allow me to see exactly what is going wrong.Log files can also provide very useful information. Radiance Software BBS --------------------- I will from time to time place example scripts on the bbs. If you have a neat script you would like to share with other RayDance users feel free to upload it (lharc compressed please!). Various support programs for RayDance will also show up on the BBS from time to time. Only registered users will be granted upload/download priviledges so get those software registration cards returned. Once you've returned your card dial in to the bbs as a new user. When your registration card is received your account will be activated. Low memory rendering -------------------- 3d graphics programs tend to use a lot of memory and RayDance is no exception. If you find that a script will proceed to the point where rendering of the picture starts but some time later you get an insufficient memory message try moving the picture file from ram disk to somewhere else. If you are really short on memory turning off the preview window will save about 100,000 bytes of ram (a 320x400 ham screen). Example pictures ---------------- HAM versions (converted from IFF24 to HAM with ADPro) of some pictures created by RayDance are located in the Pictures drawer on disk 4. Thanks and happy rendering! --------------------------- Thank you for buying RayDance. I hope that you will find it useful and that it will serve you well. I am always open for suggestions for future enhancements or for related products and I'm bursting at the seams to see what you can come up with. Charlie Comstock owner/programmer Radiance Software 2715 Klein Rd. San Jose, CA 95148