Command Bar

The Command Bar controls how the Body Editor functions and has several different modes. The currently active mode will determine what types of actions can be performed at that moment. For example, one of the modes is "select body" which allows you to click on any rigid or functional body part in the Body Editor and that part will be selected (allowing you to manipulate the properties of that part). However, while in "select body" mode you will not be able to select on any joints that are a part of your organism (they will be drawn transparent). The purpose for this is to make it easier for you to manipulate the 3D body of the organism and separate the organism into logical groups (such as Bodies, Joints, and Receptive Fields). The rest of this page provides a more detailed description of the different parts of the Command Bar.

Figure 1: A view of the Command Bar

Select Bodies Mode

Select Bodies Mode is the default mode when you open the Body Editor. This mode draws all rigid and functional body parts solid (unless they have a transparency value) and allows only rigid and functional body parts to be selected. While in this mode all joint body parts will be drawn transparent and be non-selectable. Doing this makes it easier to select the body you want to manipulate and provides a logical separation of your organism.

Select Joints Mode

Since joints are typically hidden from view Joint Select Mode will draw all rigid and functional body parts transparent and make them non-selectable allowing you to select any joints that are a part of your organism. Doing this makes it easier to select the joint you want to manipulate and provides a logical separation of your organism. For example, if you have a two boxes connected to each other via a hinge joint, you would not be able to see the hinge joint. Switching to Joint Select Mode will draw the boxes transparent, allowing you to see through them, and allow you to see and select the hinge joint.

Add Bodies Mode

Add Bodies Mode allows you to add a body to the organism using the Default Body Part and Default Joint types.
To add a body to the organism, select the add bodies button. Then choose the type of body part and joint. Click on an existing body in the 3D Display to add the new body part to the selected part. If no bodies exist in the body plan when you click on black space a root body will be added (without a joint type). After you add the body the mode will switch to Select Bodies mode and the body you just added will be selected. This keeps you from inadvertently adding multiple bodies

Receptive Fields Mode

(description)

Mouse Sensitivity

Mouse Sensitivity controls how quick or slow the mouse moves in the 3D Display. For example, if you have a high value and rotate the organism, the view will rotate quickly. Whereas, if you had a lower value for mouse sensitivity and rotate your view the view will rotate slower. This allows for finer control when manipulating a body part via the mouse

Default Body Part Type

The Default Body Part Type is the type of body that will be added once you switch to add bodies mode. Currently there are 14 body part types to choose from that consist of rigid body part types and functional body part types (such as stomach and mouth). The following page has a detailed description of each Body Part Type

Default Joint Type

The Default Joint Type is the type of joint that the Default Body Part Type will be connected to it's parent body with when you add a new body. Only rigid body types can have a joint attachment to them. For example, you cannot attach a mouth body part type to a box via a hinge joint. There are currently 4 joint types that you can choose from: Ball-Socket, Hinge, Prismatic, and Static. The following page has a detailed description of each Joint Type