Layers Not Showing Up

Hi Kev

yep that's how it works - otherwise how would SL know which layer you want to show first.

You'll need to let SL know when you want the 'other' layer to display.  So you could have it triggered to show layer when timeline of base layer starts, or ends, or when users clicks a button or when media on the base completes - or put the layer information on the base slide.

In the rest of the world, layers are visible by default.  Its just so odd to be backwards from everything else.
Im assuming the point to that is to treat layers and its assets like grouped objects.  Can one manipulate the entire layer, such as move it around the screen or does that still need to be done on the individual object level?  Can i have a layer slide in and out and carry all of its objects around with it?

You can't move the layer. Objects on it cover the objects on the layers (including the base layer) below it. You can choose the order of the layers. (The last one opened is always on the top.) You can choose whether a layer hides all other layers or not. you can transition a layer in, but not out. In all things, the layer is a part of the slide, not its own separate slide.

Thats where it gets even more hinky.

If you have objects on a layer that have entrance animations, when you trigger the layer to be visible, the entrance animations play, but if you use a trigger to hide the layer, the layer just disappears and the exit animations dont get a chance to be played.   You have to do a work around and set a trigger for each object to have its state changed to hidden that you transitioned onto the stage with one trigger.  Then, a trigger needs to be set so when the last animation is complete, the layer itself is hidden.  I also need to put in a logic gate so when the buttons are transitioning out, they are not clickable in mid-transition.

It all seems bulky, or is this how its done and i need to get into that mindset?  I have a pretty extensive animation background and OOP using Flash and similar programs so this is very different.

This is how it is done in SL. Be prepared to have a very flexible mindset if you are going to use it. Like Churchill said about democracy, for experienced users, it is the worst program in the world, except for all of its competitors.

That being said, there is an easier way for the exit animation. Give each object an exit animation, and set the layer to hide when its timeline ends. The objects will transition out, and end their transition just as the timeline ends. If it has problems, you can set timelines on individual objects to expire 0.1 (or less) before the layer ends, but I've never had problems. I don't know if they capture clicks after the end animation starts, but that seems likely only with very long animations, anyway.

If the layer expires on user action, you need one other step. Set the layer to hide when the timeline ends, and pause the slide layer timeline before the longest exit animation needs to start. (For animations of .75 sec, set the layer timeline to 2 seconds, and pause it when it reaches 1.2 sec. Restart it when the user performs whatever action closes the layer. The entrance animations complete, the timeline pauses, the user acts, the timeline resumes, the objects animate out, the timeline ends, the layer hides.)

Thank you.  I will adjust my expectations as i explore the program.  Once i get my head wrapped around what the developer's were thinking, i should be able to satisfy the specific needs of the projects ill be working on.

I ran into the issue with the layer's objects executing the exit animation when not prompted and put in a trigger to pause the menu layer's timeline when it reaches the end.