KeyFrameInterpolator Class Reference

A keyFrame Catmull-Rom Frame interpolator. More...

## Signals

void | interpolated ()
void | endReached ()

## Public Member Functions

| KeyFrameInterpolator (Frame *fr=NULL)
virtual | ~KeyFrameInterpolator ()

## Path creation

void | addKeyFrame (const Frame &frame)
void | addKeyFrame (const Frame &frame, qreal time)
void | addKeyFrame (const Frame *const frame)
void | addKeyFrame (const Frame *const frame, qreal time)
void | deletePath ()

## Associated Frame

Frame * | frame () const
void | setFrame (Frame *const frame)

## Path parameters

Frame | keyFrame (int index) const
qreal | keyFrameTime (int index) const
int | numberOfKeyFrames () const
qreal | duration () const
qreal | firstTime () const
qreal | lastTime () const

## Interpolation parameters

qreal | interpolationTime () const
qreal | interpolationSpeed () const
int | interpolationPeriod () const
bool | loopInterpolation () const
void | setInterpolationTime (qreal time)
void | setInterpolationSpeed (qreal speed)
void | setInterpolationPeriod (int period)
void | setLoopInterpolation (bool loop=true)

## Interpolation

bool | interpolationIsStarted () const
void | startInterpolation (int period=-1)
void | stopInterpolation ()
void | resetInterpolation ()
void | toggleInterpolation ()
virtual void | interpolateAtTime (qreal time)

## Path drawing

virtual void | drawPath (int mask=1, int nbFrames=6, qreal scale=1.0)

## XML representation

virtual QDomElement | domElement (const QString &name, QDomDocument &document) const
virtual void | initFromDOMElement (const QDomElement &element)

## Detailed Description

A keyFrame Catmull-Rom Frame interpolator.

A KeyFrameInterpolator holds keyFrames (that define a path) and a pointer to a Frame of your application (which will be interpolated). When the user startInterpolation(), the KeyFrameInterpolator regularly updates the frame() position and orientation along the path.

Here is a typical utilization example (see also the keyFrames example):

init()
{
// The KeyFrameInterpolator kfi is given the Frame that it will drive over time.
kfi = new KeyFrameInterpolator( new Frame() );
kfi->addKeyFrame( Frame( Vec(1,0,0), Quaternion() ) );
kfi->addKeyFrame( new Frame( Vec(2,1,0), Quaternion() ) );
// ...and so on for all the keyFrames.
// Ask for a display update after each update of the KeyFrameInterpolator
connect(kfi, SIGNAL(interpolated()), SLOT(update()));
kfi->startInterpolation();
}
draw()
{
glPushMatrix();
glMultMatrixd( kfi->frame()->matrix() );
// Draw your object here. Its position and orientation are interpolated.
glPopMatrix();
}

The keyFrames are defined by a Frame and a time, expressed in seconds. The Frame can be provided as a const reference or as a pointer to a Frame (see the addKeyFrame() methods). In the latter case, the path will automatically be updated when the Frame is modified (using the Frame::modified() signal).

The time has to be monotonously increasing over keyFrames. When interpolationSpeed() equals 1.0 (default value), these times correspond to actual user's seconds during interpolation (provided that your main loop is fast enough). The interpolation is then real-time: the keyFrames will be reached at their keyFrameTime().

### Interpolation details

When the user startInterpolation(), a timer is started which will update the frame()'s position and orientation every interpolationPeriod() milliseconds. This update increases the interpolationTime() by interpolationPeriod() * interpolationSpeed() milliseconds.

Note that this mechanism ensures that the number of interpolation steps is constant and equal to the total path duration() divided by the interpolationPeriod() * interpolationSpeed(). This is especially useful for benchmarking or movie creation (constant number of snapshots).

During the interpolation, the KeyFrameInterpolator emits an interpolated() signal, which will usually be connected to the QGLViewer::update() slot. The interpolation is stopped when interpolationTime() is greater than the lastTime() (unless loopInterpolation() is `true`) and the endReached() signal is then emitted.

Note that a Camera has Camera::keyFrameInterpolator(), that can be used to drive the Camera along a path, or to restore a saved position (a path made of a single keyFrame). Press Alt+Fx to define a new keyFrame for path x. Pressing Fx plays/pauses path interpolation. See QGLViewer::pathKey() and the keyboard page for details.

Attention
  If a Constraint is attached to the frame() (see Frame::constraint()), it should be deactivated before interpolationIsStarted(), otherwise the interpolated motion (computed as if there was no constraint) will probably be erroneous.

### Retrieving interpolated values

This code defines a KeyFrameInterpolator, and displays the positions that will be followed by the frame() along the path:

KeyFrameInterpolator kfi( new Frame() );
// calls to kfi.addKeyFrame() to define the path.
const qreal deltaTime = 0.04; // output a position every deltaTime seconds
for (qreal time=kfi.firstTime(); time<=kfi.lastTime(); time += deltaTime)
{
kfi.interpolateAtTime(time);
cout << "t=" << time << "\tpos=" << kfi.frame()->position() << endl;
}

You may want to temporally disconnect the `kfi` interpolated() signal from the QGLViewer::update() slot before calling this code.

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

KeyFrameInterpolator | ( | Frame * | frame = `NULL` | ) |

Creates a KeyFrameInterpolator, with `frame` as associated frame().

The frame() can be set or changed using setFrame().

interpolationTime(), interpolationSpeed() and interpolationPeriod() are set to their default values.

~KeyFrameInterpolator | ( |  | ) |

virtual

Virtual destructor. Clears the keyFrame path.

## Member Function Documentation

void addKeyFrame | ( | const Frame & | frame | ) |

slot

Appends a new keyFrame to the path.

Same as addKeyFrame(const Frame& frame, qreal), except that the keyFrameTime() is automatically set to previous keyFrameTime() plus one second (or 0.0 if there is no previous keyFrame).

void addKeyFrame | ( | const Frame & | frame,
|  | qreal | time
| ) |  |

slot

Appends a new keyFrame to the path, with its associated `time` (in seconds).

The path will use the current `frame` state. If you want the path to change when `frame` is modified, you need to pass a pointer to the Frame instead (see addKeyFrame(const Frame*, qreal)).

The keyFrameTime() have to be monotonously increasing over keyFrames.

void addKeyFrame | ( | const Frame *const | frame | ) |

slot

Appends a new keyFrame to the path.

Same as addKeyFrame(const Frame* frame, qreal), except that the keyFrameTime() is set to the previous keyFrameTime() plus one second (or 0.0 if there is no previous keyFrame).

void addKeyFrame | ( | const Frame *const | frame,
|  | qreal | time
| ) |  |

slot

Appends a new keyFrame to the path, with its associated `time` (in seconds).

The keyFrame is given as a pointer to a Frame, which will be connected to the KeyFrameInterpolator: when `frame` is modified, the KeyFrameInterpolator path is updated accordingly. This allows for dynamic paths, where keyFrame can be edited, even during the interpolation. See the keyFrames example for an illustration.

`NULL` `frame` pointers are silently ignored. The keyFrameTime() has to be monotonously increasing over keyFrames.

Use addKeyFrame(const Frame&, qreal) to add keyFrame by values.

void deletePath | ( |  | ) |

slot

Removes all keyFrames from the path. The numberOfKeyFrames() is set to 0.

QDomElement domElement | ( | const QString & | name,
|  | QDomDocument & | document
| ) |  | const

virtual

Returns an XML `QDomElement` that represents the KeyFrameInterpolator.

The resulting QDomElement holds the KeyFrameInterpolator parameters as well as the path keyFrames (if the keyFrame is defined by a pointer to a Frame, use its current value).

`name` is the name of the QDomElement tag. `doc` is the `QDomDocument` factory used to create QDomElement.

Use initFromDOMElement() to restore the ManipulatedFrame state from the resulting QDomElement.

See Vec::domElement() for a complete example. See also Quaternion::domElement(), Camera::domElement()...

Note that the Camera::keyFrameInterpolator() are automatically saved by QGLViewer::saveStateToFile() when a QGLViewer is closed.

void drawPath | ( | int | mask = `1`,
|  | int | nbFrames = `6`,
|  | qreal | scale = `1.0`
| ) |  |

virtual

Draws the path used to interpolate the frame().

`mask` controls what is drawn: if (mask & 1) (default), the position path is drawn. If (mask & 2), a camera representation is regularly drawn and if (mask & 4), an oriented axis is regularly drawn. Examples:

drawPath(); // Simply draws the interpolation path
drawPath(3); // Draws path and cameras
drawPath(5); // Draws path and axis

In the case where camera or axis is drawn, `nbFrames` controls the number of objects (axis or camera) drawn between two successive keyFrames. When `nbFrames=1`, only the path KeyFrames are drawn. `nbFrames=2` also draws the intermediate orientation, etc. The maximum value is 30. `nbFrames` should divide 30 so that an object is drawn for each KeyFrame. Default value is 6.

`scale` (default=1.0) controls the scaling of the camera and axis drawing. A value of QGLViewer::sceneRadius() should give good results.

See the keyFrames example for an illustration.

The color of the path is the current `glColor()`.

Attention
  The OpenGL state is modified by this method: GL_LIGHTING is disabled and line width set to 2. Use this code to preserve your current OpenGL state:
  glPushAttrib(GL_ALL_ATTRIB_BITS);
  drawPathModifyGLState(mask, nbFrames, scale);
  glPopAttrib();

qreal duration | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the duration of the KeyFrameInterpolator path, expressed in seconds.

Simply corresponds to lastTime() - firstTime(). Returns 0.0 if the path has less than 2 keyFrames. See also keyFrameTime().

void endReached | ( |  | ) |

signal

This signal is emitted when the interpolation reaches the first (when interpolationSpeed() is negative) or the last keyFrame.

When loopInterpolation() is `true`, interpolationTime() is reset and the interpolation continues. It otherwise stops.

qreal firstTime | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the time corresponding to the first keyFrame, expressed in seconds.

Returns 0.0 if the path is empty. See also lastTime(), duration() and keyFrameTime().

Frame* frame | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the associated Frame and that is interpolated by the KeyFrameInterpolator.

When interpolationIsStarted(), this Frame's position and orientation will regularly be updated by a timer, so that they follow the KeyFrameInterpolator path.

Set using setFrame() or with the KeyFrameInterpolator constructor.

void initFromDOMElement | ( | const QDomElement & | element | ) |

virtual

Restores the KeyFrameInterpolator state from a `QDomElement` created by domElement().

Note that the frame() pointer is not included in the domElement(): you need to setFrame() after this method to attach a Frame to the KeyFrameInterpolator.

See Vec::initFromDOMElement() for a complete code example.

See also Camera::initFromDOMElement() and Frame::initFromDOMElement().

void interpolateAtTime | ( | qreal | time | ) |

virtual slot

Interpolate frame() at time `time` (expressed in seconds). interpolationTime() is set to `time` and frame() is set accordingly.

If you simply want to change interpolationTime() but not the frame() state, use setInterpolationTime() instead.

Emits the interpolated() signal and makes the frame() emit the Frame::interpolated() signal.

void interpolated | ( |  | ) |

signal

This signal is emitted whenever the frame() state is interpolated.

The emission of this signal triggers the synchronous emission of the frame() Frame::interpolated() signal, which may also be useful.

This signal should especially be connected to your QGLViewer::update() slot, so that the display is updated after every update of the KeyFrameInterpolator frame():

connect(myKeyFrameInterpolator, SIGNAL(interpolated()), SLOT(update()));

Use the QGLViewer::QGLViewerPool() to connect the signal to all the viewers.

Note that the QGLViewer::camera() Camera::keyFrameInterpolator() created using QGLViewer::pathKey() have their interpolated() signals automatically connected to the QGLViewer::update() slot.

bool interpolationIsStarted | ( |  | ) | const

Returns `true` when the interpolation is being performed. Use startInterpolation(), stopInterpolation() or toggleInterpolation() to modify this state.

int interpolationPeriod | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the current interpolation period, expressed in milliseconds.

The update of the frame() state will be done by a timer at this period when interpolationIsStarted().

This period (multiplied by interpolationSpeed()) is added to the interpolationTime() at each update, and the frame() state is modified accordingly (see interpolateAtTime()). Default value is 40 milliseconds.

qreal interpolationSpeed | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the current interpolation speed.

Default value is 1.0, which means keyFrameTime() will be matched during the interpolation (provided that your main loop is fast enough).

A negative value will result in a reverse interpolation of the keyFrames. See also interpolationPeriod().

qreal interpolationTime | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the current interpolation time (in seconds) along the KeyFrameInterpolator path.

This time is regularly updated when interpolationIsStarted(). Can be set directly with setInterpolationTime() or interpolateAtTime().

Frame keyFrame | ( | int | index | ) | const

Returns the Frame associated with the keyFrame at index `index`.

See also keyFrameTime(). `index` has to be in the range 0..numberOfKeyFrames()-1.

Note
  If this keyFrame was defined using a pointer to a Frame (see addKeyFrame(const Frame* const)), the current pointed Frame state is returned.

qreal keyFrameTime | ( | int | index | ) | const

Returns the time corresponding to the `index` keyFrame.

See also keyFrame(). `index` has to be in the range 0..numberOfKeyFrames()-1.

qreal lastTime | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the time corresponding to the last keyFrame, expressed in seconds.

Returns 0.0 if the path is empty. See also firstTime(), duration() and keyFrameTime().

bool loopInterpolation | ( |  | ) | const

Returns `true` when the interpolation is played in an infinite loop.

When `false` (default), the interpolation stops when interpolationTime() reaches firstTime() (with negative interpolationSpeed()) or lastTime().

interpolationTime() is otherwise reset to firstTime() (+ interpolationTime() - lastTime()) (and inversely for negative interpolationSpeed()) and interpolation continues.

In both cases, the endReached() signal is emitted.

int numberOfKeyFrames | ( |  | ) | const

Returns the number of keyFrames used by the interpolation. Use addKeyFrame() to add new keyFrames.

void resetInterpolation | ( |  | ) |

slot

Stops the interpolation and resets interpolationTime() to the firstTime().

If desired, call interpolateAtTime() after this method to actually move the frame() to firstTime().

void setFrame | ( | Frame *const | frame | ) |

slot

Sets the frame() associated to the KeyFrameInterpolator.

void setInterpolationPeriod | ( | int | period | ) |

slot

Sets the interpolationPeriod().

void setInterpolationSpeed | ( | qreal | speed | ) |

slot

Sets the interpolationSpeed(). Negative or null values are allowed.

void setInterpolationTime | ( | qreal | time | ) |

slot

Sets the interpolationTime().

Attention
  The frame() state is not affected by this method. Use this function to define the starting time of a future interpolation (see startInterpolation()). Use interpolateAtTime() to actually interpolate at a given time.

void setLoopInterpolation | ( | bool | loop = `true` | ) |

slot

Sets the loopInterpolation() value.

void startInterpolation | ( | int | period = `-1` | ) |

slot

Starts the interpolation process.

A timer is started with an interpolationPeriod() period that updates the frame()'s position and orientation. interpolationIsStarted() will return `true` until stopInterpolation() or toggleInterpolation() is called.

If `period` is positive, it is set as the new interpolationPeriod(). The previous interpolationPeriod() is used otherwise (default).

If interpolationTime() is larger than lastTime(), interpolationTime() is reset to firstTime() before interpolation starts (and inversely for negative interpolationSpeed()).

Use setInterpolationTime() before calling this method to change the starting interpolationTime().

See the keyFrames example for an illustration.

You may also be interested in QGLViewer::animate() and QGLViewer::startAnimation().

Attention
  The keyFrames must be defined (see addKeyFrame()) before you startInterpolation(), or else the interpolation will naturally immediately stop.

void stopInterpolation | ( |  | ) |

slot

Stops an interpolation started with startInterpolation(). See interpolationIsStarted() and toggleInterpolation().

void toggleInterpolation | ( |  | ) |

slot

Calls startInterpolation() or stopInterpolation(), depending on interpolationIsStarted().