7.5. Shape Attribute Animation

Shape attributes are common attributes for text and shape objects. Using shape attributes, you can create animations for objects at run time by configuring expression functions.

You can specify other expression functions as inputs for these functions. This gives you the flexibility to customize the attributes and create complex run time animations for objects.

Shape attribute Description Expression functions supported
Background fill Changes the background fill of an object at run time by using the supported functions in an expression.

  • CreateSolidFill

  • CreatePatternFill

  • CreateOneColorGradientFill

  • CreateTwoColorGradientFill
Foreground fill

Changes the foreground fill of an object at run time by using the supported functions in an expression.

Note: This attribute is used by fill animation to fill an object with another color.

  • CreateSolidFill

  • CreatePatternFill

  • CreateOneColorGradientFill

  • CreateTwoColorGradientFill
Fill mode

Changes the fill mode of an object at run time by using the CreateFillMode function in an expression.

Note: To use this attribute for an object, configure fill animation.

 CreateFillMode
Font Changes the font and its related properties for text and text button objects at run time by using the CreateFont function in an expression. CreateFont
Line Changes the line properties of an object at run time by using the CreateLine function in an expression. CreateLine
Blink rate

Changes the blink animation rate of an object at run time by using the CreateBlinkRate function in an expression.

Note: If an object does not have a blink animation, the CreateBlinkRate function creates a new blink animation.

 CreateBlinkRate
Blink fill

Changes the blink fill animation attribute of an object at run time by using the supported functions in an expression.

Note: If an object does not have a blink fill animation, the supported functions create a new blink fill animation.

  • CreateSolidFill

  • CreatePatternFill

  • CreateOneColorGradientFill

  • CreateTwoColorGradientFill
Blink line Changes the blink animation line attribute of an object at run time by using the CreateLine function in an expression. CreateLine

Creating animations using Shape Attributes

To create animations for objects at run time using shape attributes:

  1. Access CimEdit and create a shape or text object.
  2. Right-click the object and select Properties. The Properties - Object window appears.
  3. Select the Shape Attributes tab. The list of shape attributes appears.
    Note: The shape attributes that are not applicable to the object are disabled.

  4. For the shape attribute that you want to configure, select the Expression box, and then build the expression. For more information on building expressions, see 1. Build Expressions.
  5. Repeat this step for each shape attribute that you want to configure.
  6. Select Apply, and then select OK. The animations are applied to the object in run time.

Fallback for Shape Attributes

There are two scenarios for a shape attribute where a fallback occurs:

  1. Invalid expression: When an invalid expression is provided, the object is filled with black.
  2. Valid expression with invalid parameters: When a valid expression contains parameters that are incorrect or beyond the specified range, the object reverts to the manually set parameters.