Spatial Links Viewed as Pipes

Spatial Link Pipe View

Have implemented a new option for spatial links which makes them display
like pipes without the complicated attribute handling of using pipes.

The basic idea is that the spatial link gets divided into a number of
sections. Each section can have its colour set as an item moves through
the pipe. In addition to the section colours, separate "activity animation"
can occue for non-idle sections, to graphically illustrate material flow.
Since multiple items can exist in a spatial link, multiple coloured
"bands" can simultaneously animate down the "pipe".

Usage:

In the options of a spatial link, turn on "Pipe Display Mode"

The Edit menu will now contain 2 new entries:

Pipe Display Settings

This contains constant pipe parameters such as width, section count,
and activity update settings. This menu also appears for standard pipes.

Pipe Parameters

This enables 3 dynamic attributes to be defined for the spatial link pipe:

Section Colour

The colour each section of the pipe will be set to as the item moves
through it

Activity Colour

The activity animation colour (used for the entire pipe) to use

Run Control

The activity speed and direction, eg: 1 is forward, 0 is stoppped,
-2 is reverse double speed etc.

These parameters are looked up whenever an item enters the spatial link,
moves between sections of the pipe or leaves the spatial link. A section
gets its colour set at the instant the item leaves it.

By dynamically changing these parameters as the item moves therough the
pipe, some very interesting effects are possible.

Of all the parameters, the section count is the most important. IT
determines how many graphical bins the pipe will be split into. The more
bins, the smoother the animation but the more FEC events will be
scheduled as the item moves through the spatial link, slowing the model
down. This slowdown occurs if the pipe is visible or not.

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idkbase note 127