Overview of the Chalice Screen LayoutThis section provides you with an overview of the Chalice interface. ![]() 1 - Title BarThe Title bar displays the name of the current grail file. 2 - Main Menu BarThe Main Menu bar enables you to perform file management functions, such as opening and saving grail files and grouping and deleting nodes. It also enables you to set a variety of options and preferences to control the Chalice layout. The Help menu gives you access to Chalice online help features. For more detailed information about the function of each menu item, see chapter 10, "Main Menu Bar ," and chapter 11, "Setting Preferences ." 3 - Node Menu BarThe Node Menu bar enables you to select the type of node you wish to create. You then place the node in the workspace and assign parameters to control its function. For more information, see "Creating Node Networks " or refer to the individual node descriptions, which are grouped by category in the Node Reference chapters of this manual. 4 - Node PanelWhen you create a node, or select a node in a network (by clicking the node title bar), the Node Panel displays information related to the selected node. This information includes the node type, name, and a set of parameter tabs for the node. You set the parameters on the Node Panel to control the function of the node. Refer to chapter 6, "Node Panels and Parameters ," for details. To learn about the function and parameters specific to an individual node, refer to the individual node descriptions in the Node Reference section of this manual. 5 - Frame ControllerThe Frame Controller is a frame navigator for the tools that display or manipulate data in the currently active node, including the Node Panel, Frame Icon, Monitor, and STED. For basic information about operation of the Frame Controller, see "Previewing Node Output ." To control playback of animation, use the Monitor Flipbook controls instead. The Flipbook is described in chapter 8, "Monitors and Flipbooks ." 6 - Image BuffersChalice image buffers store image data for display in node monitors. By default, each time you open a node monitor the image is stored in the next available image buffer. When one of the image buffer buttons is depressed, it indicates that the corresponding buffer will be used to store the next image that is processed, or "cooked." You can click any button to specify that buffer as the one to use for the next cook. Chapter 8, "Monitors and Flipbooks ," explains how to use the image buffers. 7 - Radar MapThe Radar Map provides a macroscopic view of the entire grail network. When your network is larger than the visible workspace, a bounding rectangle appears in the Radar Map to designate the portion currently visible in the workspace. Click and drag this rectangle to center any part of the network in the workspace. The Radar Map also displays processing status: the node icons in the map flash yellow and green to indicate that data is being sent, received, or calculated. A red node icon indicates an error (click the info button on the actual node in the workspace to read the error message). 8 - Level IndicatorThe Level Indicator identifies the currently active level displayed in the workspace. For any new grail file you create, the Level Indicator will always read "/chalice/chalice1." The level indicator only becomes relevant if you group nodes. You have the option to "push into" the group, which means that Chalice will display the contents of that Group node in the workspace in place of the main network. The Level Indicator will change to display the complete pathname of the Group node, for example, "/chalice/chalice1/group1" (if the group is named "group1"). The process of Grouping Nodes is described in chapter 7, "Managing Large Networks ." 9 - Proxy InputThe Proxy Input menu is a global switch that enables you to set the proxy level to work in for the grail file as a whole. The Proxy Input level--Full, Medium, or Low--determines which resolution of an image input file is accessed by the network, assuming that lower resolution proxy files have been specified in one or more Disk Input nodes. For a complete description, refer to "Using Proxies in Chalice " in chapter 12, "I/O Nodes ." 10 - Cache MeterBy default, the cache meter displays the current RAM and Disk cache usage. Click on the meter menu to choose another meter display: RAM Usage, UI Heap, or Work Heap. (UI Heap and Work Heap refer to the fact that Chalice is a multiprocessed program and the two main processes are the UI process and the work process.) The menu also provides a command to "Flush All Caches." 11 - Abort ButtonChalice does not force you to wait until the current process is done if you need to stop it for any reason. Click the Abort button to stop the current process. The Abort button is associated with a process timer that displays elapsed time for the current processing operation. 12 - Custom MenuLocated at the right end of the Node Menu bar, the Custom menu provides you with convenient access to any node or group of nodes you designate. The custom nodes you create appear in a pulldown menu when you click and hold the Custom menu button. For more information, see "Creating Custom Networks " in chapter 7, "Managing Large Networks ." 13 - WorkspaceThe workspace is the large area on the right side of the screen in which you build your Chalice network. Once you select the type of node you desire from the Node Menu, you place it in the workspace and connect it to other nodes to form a network. The workspace contains all nodes in the current level (see the "Level Indicator" description for more information); however, node networks may be too large to view in their entirety without scrolling. Click and drag the workspace, or use the scroll bars, to navigate through large node networks. You can also use Zoom mode (Alt z) to view and navigate through complex grail files. For more information on using Zoom and other related features, refer to chapter 7, "Managing Large Networks ." 14 - Scroll BarsThe Scroll Bars enable you to scroll through the workspace of a large network. Alternatively, you can click and drag the workspace area in any direction. 15 - System Feedback AreaThe System Feedback area provides you with information related to file activities in a scrollable area at the bottom of the screen. |