A list of all the codes the textbox accepts can be found here:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 12 years ago

Very good ReflectionMap! Thank you!

LostBoyz, 12 years ago

If I wanted a 5:00 minute countdown, how would I initialize the timer to 5 minutes and start counting down? Could sometime happen (like text, etc.) when the counter reached 0:00?

Dick, 12 years ago

You can use the countdown code:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 12 years ago

Why don't you start a new show when the current 5 minute show ends? You can mix them in your NLE or else use BluffTiter's playlist.

michiel, 12 years ago

How do you format the countdown code?

works, but, if I try and change it in any way, the actual text displays instead of a countdown time.

Just using gives a display with thousandths of second displayed.

What if we need full seconds, or tenths of seconds?

IBMedia, 12 years ago

sorry the < countdown /> got removed

IBMedia, 12 years ago

I don't think that's possible with the current codes.

Maybe it works best when you write the documentation for the new codes that you would like to have. This way we know exactly what you want.

michiel, 12 years ago

Would it be possible to add an extra code for just seconds?

Maybe countdownsecs ?

I'm presuming that the formatting of the string is just one line of code, so that an extra conditional is pretty much it - although feature requests have a habit of expanding once you get started - I know that.

IBMedia, 12 years ago

IS there a file that can be edited to change the starting time and format of ?

Dick, 12 years ago

(con't)

the countdown code?

Dick, 12 years ago

Dick, I am sorry I do no understand your comments.

michiel, 12 years ago

Am I right that this 'real time clock' effect is only possible by runnning a BT show file on a PC?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

terrypin, 12 years ago

Yes. Only when played in realtime by BluffTitler the time is updated.

Exported video files keep on showing the recording time.

michiel, 12 years ago

Michiel,
When I use "countdown," it starts at 1 min. with min:sec:msec format. I would like to start at 5 min. with the min:sec format. I thought there might be an xml file that dictated the start time and format.

Dick, 12 years ago

Michiel - The answer to Dick's question wasn't cleared up for me. Is there a way, using the countdown code, to create a five minute countdown show, rather than one minute?

jmarkt, 12 years ago

I think that the countdown works from the beginning of the show to the end of the show, so the countdown period is determined by the length of your show.

If your show is 23 seconds long, it countdown from 23 seconds to 0

If your show is 5 minutes long, it countdown from 5 minutes to 0

IBMedia, 12 years ago

Jmarkt, You are correct in that the countdown starting value is determined by the show length -- duh, that makes sense! Thanks for the help. Now if I can find out how to eliminate the millisecond display, it would help. Also a mono-spaced font would look better in the countdown; it would stop the text jitter.

Dick, 12 years ago

THANKS, IBMedia! I get it.

jmarkt, 12 years ago

Setting kerning to "metric" helps stop much of the text jitter.

Dick, 12 years ago

Any way to drop milliseconds?

jmarkt, 12 years ago

Hi jmarkt

I asked about ability to drop milliseconds and Michiel said it's not currently possible.

I can see a lot of uses for a countdown within a show, but for feel it needs more options.

To make it more useful, there probably should be

1. Ability to format the time
2. Ability to set start point within show
3. Ability to set duration (from start point)

With those 3 features it would be great.

I know we can't get everything we ask for, but that would be nice to have.

IBMedia, 12 years ago

Agree, IMBMedia, especially Points 1 and 2; however, the BT Forum has one of the most responsive groups on the web, and Michiel is VERY accomodating - guess we just get spoiled!!!

jmarkt, 12 years ago

I just realized that we do not need al those separate minute, second and millisecond codes. With the WRITER property you can cut them out the output of the time and countdown codes!

michiel, 12 years ago

Hi Michiel

I just tried that and I was able to hide the milliseconds, but my text was very jittery.

I just used the slider of the Writer property to remove the milliseconds display.


Would you be able to do a quick example show of how you expect it to be used?

Thanks.

IBMedia, 12 years ago

Would the jittery effect be because I wasn't using a mono-spaced font?

IBMedia, 12 years ago

Maybe you have forgotten to switch to LEFT (1st dropdown below the textbox) or else to mark the NORMALIZE NUMERALS checkbox in the font dialog (F6)

michiel, 12 years ago

Setting kerning to "metric" helps stop much of the text jitter

Dick, 12 years ago

Metric kerning only works for well designed fonts.

Normalize numerals works for all fonts.

michiel, 12 years ago

Yes, I'd forgotten the LEFT.

I'd just tried on a random show, and the text was set to centre.

Sorry for troubling you.

IBMedia, 12 years ago

I should also have said "Thanks, Michiel"

Really, this is great - I have a few ideas for using the countdown, now that I cna avoid the milliseconds - thanks AGAIN.

IBMedia, 12 years ago

Yes, thanks, Michiel for this great show. Just one more (you heard that before!) little change: it would really be nice if leading zeros could be removed as they were encountered ;)

Dick, 12 years ago

Michiel, I bet you never imaged so much feedback on your original idea!!

Dick, 12 years ago

OOPS, imaged --> imagined

Dick, 12 years ago

I've tried to save a completed show as AVI, but the floor reflection in the final product only shows as white. I've used "uncompressed", "Save w/Transparency" as well as "Save Without Transparency", but nothing takes the white out.

Any suggestions??

jmarkt, 12 years ago

A wish for the future: (1) a countdown where the format (min:sec etc.) was selectable, (2) the position could be centered on the ":" to eliminate movement as left-hand digits decrease, and (3) where the left-most zeros were not visible (i.e., in a 2 minute countdown neither the zero in "02:" nor the ones in "00:" would show) Presently, the use of writer to remove un-wanted left and right digits is problematic as the countdown proceeds and any position (left, right, center) causes some movement of the entire numeric.
I know this may not be a high priority item -- just wishing out loud in case Michiel finds himself at a loss for something to do ;)

Dick, 12 years ago

Here's a bitmap font solution:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 12 years ago

About michiel

Michiel den Outer is the founder and lead coder of Outerspace Software. He lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

If he isn't busy improving BluffTitler, he is playing the piano or rides the Dutch dikes on his bikes.

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Contact michiel by using the comment form on this page or at info@outerspace-software.com

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