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Tutorial:
Entels

An entel (short for entourage element) can be pretty much anything. You can also import custom entels; that is discussed in the Reference section, starting with About Entels. Here you will create one kind, and change it to another.

Start

• Start with the results of the tutorial "Roads."

Use that particular tutorial so that the DTM will cover a small enough area so that you can easily see the entel which you will create, and so that there'll be a road to drive on.

• Ensure that the 2D window is in front.

Only in the 2D view can objects be created or selected with the mouse.

Create an entel

• Select the Entel Tool (the red tool depicting a person and a tree).

• Click within the DTM.

• Select the Selection Tool so as not to inadvertently create additional entels.

You may have to wait a few seconds until the entel geometry and texture are read from disk.

• Maneuver around in the 2D and 3D views.

Note that in the 2D view an icon moves up the screen until it reaches the hull (edge) of the DTM, then it returns back to where it was created and starts moving again. You should see a person (the default entel) walking on the DTM in the 3D view.

Edit an entel

• Choose Doc > Animation.

This menu item toggles animation on and off.

• Double-click the entel in the 2D view.

This will open the Info Panel for the selected entel. You have to aim well: the tip of the arrow should be in the middle of the icon. You could also select the entel, then choose Window > Info Panel. On Windows you may have to click in the Info Panel to bring it to the front.

• In the Info Panel, in the pop-up menu (drop-down list) marked Kind, choose Car.

This will change the person into a car. Again, you may have to wait for the model to be loaded.

• Choose Doc > Animation.

This will turn animation back on. Turning animation off can make it easier to select an entel, especially if it is moving quickly.

Hit the road

Select the entel, if it is not already selected.

Open the Info Panel for the entel again (either with the menu, keyboard shortcut, or double-clicking).

• In the Info Panel, in the pop-up menu (drop-down list) marked Route, choose "Follow poly".

• In the Info Panel, in the cell marked "Follow poly #", enter the number 1.

The poly which you created is the only poly in this document, and was assigned the number 1. If there were more polys, you'd have to check that you are entering the correct number.

• In the cell marked "Speed", change the value to 30.0.

This is not necessary, but gives more interesting results.

• Close the Info Panel.

Note that the car is now driving back and forth along the road.

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