12.0 Setting Preferences

To change the various preferences, from Edit Menu, select "Preferences".

12.1 Appearance

• Playback Display Mode.  Affects how the editors update during simulated playback.  Smooth scrolling looks better if you have enough CPU behind it.   People with an LCD display, or a slow CPU, might find page scrolling looks better.
  

• Toolbar Text Labels.   If you don't like descriptive toolbar labels, turn them off here.
  

• Toolbar Tool Tips.   If you don't like the pop-up tip messages (giving longer descriptions), turn them off here.

• AIBO Preview 3D Model.   Affects the OpenGL motion editor preview & AIBO window, and controls rendering detail & shading.  If you are having problems with the preview, try turning one or both off & see if it helps.
  

• Link Editors.   The motion/led/sound editors selection bars & zooms will be linked, making editing easier.
  

12.2 Colors

You can change the colors of most areas of the editors.   The marker colors, highlights, background colors, motion data, wave data, MIDI notes, LED background, etc...  

Other colors such as toolbar background & frame & window color are specified by Windows (from the Windows Display Properties Dialog).

AIBO preview colors aren't change here.   Right-click on the preview, and select "Colors" from the pop-up menu.

12.3 File Associations

File associations configure Windows.   If you enable a file type, then double-clicking in Windows Explorer opens that file in Skitter.

• AIBO Workbooks (*.aib)
  
• AIBO Action Files (*.act)
  
• AIBO Motion Files (*.mtn)
  
• AIBO LED Files (*.led)
  
• MIDI Sequences (*.mid)
  
• Wave Sound File (*.wav)
  

12.4 File Directories

Skitter maintains four directory paths per AIBO model:  Action, Motion, LED, and Sound.   By default, the Motion/LED/Sound directories are relative to the action file.  ie:
   .\Motion\
   .\LED\
   .\Sound\

If you prefer storing everything in one file instead, use Aibo Workbooks (see next sections).

12.5 File Formats

• AIBO Action File Format.   Skitter can create AIBO Master Studio Version 1.0 or Version 1.1 compatible action files (*.act), or the new Aibo Workbook format (recommended).
  

• Version 1.0 only supports the ERS-210 (compatible with Master Studio v1.0)
  
• Version 1.1 supports all AIBO platforms.(compatible with Master Studio v1.1)
• AIBO Workbooks support all platforms also, but store everything within a single file (only works with Skitter)
  

• Always Create Backup Copies.   Backup files can be a life-saver, or an extreme annoyance.  Take your pick.
  

• Allow Background Saves.   Skitter performs background saves (to temporary filenames) periodically.  If your machine crashes for any reason, reopen the file you were editing,  and Skitter should find the recovery files & restore your edits.

12.6 Helper Tools

Command & arguments for the OdaBuild action compiler & Skitter's Aibo Mind Manager (SAMM).   You should not need to change these.   OdaBuild takes a directory of actions, and creates the various special files required by AIBO.   SAMM needs a memstick drive & action directory.

12.7 Memstick & WLAN

Specify the memory stick drive & AIBO's wireless LAN IP address from here.

12.8 MIDI Device

Change the MIDI output device & instrument used while editing in Skitter.   These fields are NOT used by AIBO.   The default most closely emulates AIBO and is recommended.

12.9 Wave Recording Change recording device (sound card) and selection sound source when recording in Wave Editor. Typically you'll use either the "Microphone", or an output "Mix" options.   However, the other options might be suitable in various situations. The volume indicates how much the recording signals are amplified.   A little goes a long way here.