AniMotion Software Library System Explanation


What will you find in this file :
        Info on how the system works, how to set it up in your programs, and
        what to do when this damn thing refuse to work.
        Note that it is a quick referance guide, so feel free to mail me
        questions if you some want more info, I'll add a FAQ section (none for
        the moment, since that's the first release.




1 - Structures
--------------

quickly, here's how is structured the AniMotion (AM):

        The AniMotion contains : 1 Sprite
                                 an array of moves
        The moves contains : an array of frames
        The frame contains : basic info on the frame attributes

2 - The way you uses this
-------------------------

Well, here's what you need to know :
        After setting up an AM, select the move you want it to use.
                function : AMSetMove(animotion, id_of_the_move);
        When drawing your world, just call AMDraw(animotion);
           this function will handle the animation jobby itself.

As you can see, to animate, you only use AMSetMove to select the move, and
AMDraw to draw the correct frame.

I hope that's sinple enough to be used by everyone (I think so), even if
setting up the AM is not as easy as using it (for the moment).


3 - Setting up the AM
---------------------

Actually, the AM needs to know : - where's your texture in video memory, so it
                                   can draw correctly the sprite
                                 - What are the moves, what frames are inside
                                   them, plus varous info enclosed in the AMB
                                   file. (see below).

4 - The AniMotion Binary file (AMB)
-----------------------------------

What's the AMB file ?

The AMB file is the file containing all the moves and frames info, in binary
format.
This file must be "compiled" from an AniMotion Text file (AMT) using the
ambuild tool (or amlbuild for long offset mode).


5 - The AniMotion Text file (AMT)
---------------------------------

What's the AMT file ?

The AMT file is the file containing all the moves and frames info, in text
format.
This is the one that is "compiled to create the AMB file.