Synoptic views allow you to quickly access commands and data related to a specific object or model. They are custom, image-based toolbars that let you work in a natural and intuitive manner. One of their chief advantages is that they always apply to their associated scene element, whether or not it is currently selected.
Synoptic views consist of a simple HTML image map stored as a separate file outside of the Softimage scene file. The HTML file is linked to a scene element by a Synoptic property. Clicking on a hotspot in the image either opens another synoptic view or runs a script. Using scripts, synoptic views let you accomplish anything in XS, but common uses include displaying custom properties, setting keys on predefined lists of parameter, selecting specific elements in a complicated hierarchy, controlling character rigs, and so on.
Synoptic views work on all platforms that are supported by Softimage. They are based on internal Softimage code, and do not depend on external applications such as Internet Explorer (like Net View does).
Synoptic views are attached to specific objects in your scene. This means that you can use a synoptic view to control an object even when that object is not selected.
Image Map versus Synoptic Property
A synoptic view consists of two distinct pieces:
• An image map, which is an external HTML file that references an image file, as well as defines hotspots and the actions to take when the hotspots are clicked.
• A synoptic property, which is a special property that is applied to an object in Softimage and associates the object with the image map.
This means that you can re-use the same image map on multiple objects in your scene. For example, you can have a single image map that you apply to control the character rigs of all models in your scene — each synoptic property affects only the object to which it is applied.
Although synoptic views use the HTML format to define image maps, only a tiny subset of HTML is supported. For this reason, it’s best to use the synoptic view editor to create and edit synoptic view files; if you use an external HTML editor, your synoptic view might not work in Softimage.
The Biped Rig and Quadruped Rig models available from the Get > Primitive > Model menu have synoptic properties applied in branch on the globalSRT controller. In addition, there is a simpler synoptic view available from Net View (Library > Other). You can study the associated files to learn more about synoptic views, or use them as a starting point for building your own.
Autodesk Softimage v7.5