View source for Template:Namespace:A3D C2D Setting Window

====Stream====
The Stream portion of the settings dialogue allows you to control the data that is coming in such as Thread Priority and Thread Sleep Time.  

'''Thread Priority'''<br>
The code that acquires frames operates in a separate thread of execution (much like a separate program).  Each thread (or program) on a computer has a priority.  In fact, if you start the Windows task manager (right click the Task bar at the bottom of the screen) you'll see, under the processes tab, that you can view and set the "priority" of any program.  Normal Priority is usually fine for most threads (and programs).

[[Image: thread priority.png]]

'''Thread Sleep Time Preference'''<br>
The sleep time is how long the capture code waits (in milliseconds) before trying to acquire another frame. This gives other programs on the computer time to perform their tasks. As long as the sleep time is smaller than the camera frequency time (in milliseconds), everything should work. For example OptiTrack cameras running at 100 Hz is equal to 10 milliseconds (1000 / 100). So the thread sleep time should be less than 10 ideally. Values of 1 through 5 are good choices so as to reduce the chances of missing the occasional frame. 

If you set the thread priority to very high and the sleep time very low you will get the best capture performance, but the user interface (along with the rest of your computer) might become much less responsive. 

It is likely that these features will be either hidden or removed at some point as this level of user control is not that useful now that the frame acquisition code has been refined.

[[Image: threadsleep.png]]

====Display====
The display portion of the settings dialogue allows you to control the program outputs by personalizing the graphics.  

[[Image: Display settings.png]]

'''Text Size'''<br>
This allows you to change the text size for all writing in both the Settings dialog and in the main application window.  Text size may range between 8 and 16 with the default set at 8.

'''Redraw Rate'''<br>
The redraw rate controls at what frequency the graphics on the right hand side of the screen are redrawn.  The higher the redraw rate the smoother the movements in the graphics will appear.  However, drawing at higher rates takes more of the computer's processing time and, depending on the speed of the computer, may result in frames being dropped.  The redraw rate is limited to 1000Hz, for practical purposes the human eye cannot appreciate the difference of a redraw rate above 50 Hz.

'''Draw Empty Frames'''<br>
The draw empty frames checkbox tells the program that when the box is checked if there are no new frames when it is time for the graphics to redraw to leave the previous graphics on the screen.  If the box is not checked then if there is no new data then graphics will not be drawn.  Leaving the checkbox checked will result in smoother graphics however, you will have no visual indication that frames may be missing.

====Record====
The record portion of the settings dialogue controls record function which allows for signal when recordings begin and end as well as saving preferences.  

[[Image: Capture 2D record settings.png]]

'''Countdown'''<br>
The countdown option allows the user to implement a delay between when they push the Start Recording button and when the recording actually begins.  This allows a single user to move from the computer to the capture volume before the recording starts.

'''Beep During Countdown'''<br>
If the count down time is greater than 1 second than selecting the "beep during countdown box" will result in a beep each second as the countdown progresses. This allows a single user to know when the motion capture is starting if they are standing in the capture volume and are unable to see the computer screen.

'''Update Previews'''<br>
If the update previews checkbox is selected the computer will continue to redraw the graphics while the computer is recording.  If this box is selected on a slower computer you may risk dropping frames.  However, for fast computers this allows you to see the motions as they are being recorded.

'''Save Data as CSV'''<br>
The save data as CSV checkbox allows you to save a .csv (comma separated value) file for each motion capture.  The .csv file is a spread sheet that contains the values for the position (x and y coordinates), height, and width for each data point, during each frame, for each camera.  The .csv files can be opened in pograms such as open Office and Microsoft Excel.

'''Save Settings'''<br>
The save settings checkbox saves a separate .xml file for each motion capture that is recorded.  The .xml file contains the details of the settings for both the settings dialog and the main application window.

'''Beep After Save'''<br>
The beep after save checkbox gives a beep when the file has successfully been saved.  This allows a single user who is the capture volume to know that the recording has stopped even though they may not be able to see the computer screen.

====Save Options and Default====

'''Save Settings File'''<br>
This allows you to save the current settings as an .xml file in order to use them in the future.

'''Open Settings File'''<br>
This allows you to apply the settings that have been saved as an .xml file to the program.  As a result you can easily save and reapply settings for a particular project.

'''Defaults'''<br>
This resets all the settings options to their normal values.  Normal values are as follows:

Thread Priority: Normal <br>
Thread Sleep: 10 ms <br>
Text Size: 8 pts <br>
Redraw Rate 30 Hz <br>
Draw Empty Frames: Off <br>
Countdown: 5 sec <br>
Beep During Countdown: On <br>
Update Previews: On <br>
Save Data as CSV: Off <br>
Save Settings: Off <br>
Beep After Save: On <br>