Main Menu BarThe Chalice Main Menu Bar provides access to commands and options for working with grail files and the nodes that compose them. The Chalice Main Menu bar includes: File MenuThe File menu commands allow you to load and save grail files or movie files or to quit Chalice. (See also "Working with Grail Files " in chapter 5, "Building Chalice Networks .") New ( alt n)This command creates a new untitled grail file. A notifier panel will give you the option to save or discard changes to the currently open file. Open ... ( alt o)This command opens a "Load from:" dialog that enables you to open an existing grail file. Merge ... ( alt a)This command opens a "Load from:" dialog box that enables you to select a grail file to merge with the currently open file. The merge operation copies the contents of the selected file and places them in the current file, with all connections intact.
Save ( alt s)This command opens a "Save to:" dialog box that enables you to save a new, untitled grail file to disk. For previously saved grail files, this command saves the current version of the open grail file. Save As ... ( alt S)This command opens a "Save to:" dialog box that enables you to key in a new name for the current grail file and save it to disk. Save Selected As ... ( alt E)This command opens an "Export to:" dialog box that enables you to save all currently selected nodes to a new grail file. Revert ... ( alt R)This command opens a "Load from:" dialog box that enables you to revert to a previously autosaved version of the currently open file. The names of autosaved files are based on the name of the current file, and include the date, time, and count of the autosave to enable you to select the autosave version you want to use. The date format is mmddyyyy (note that it is year-2000 compliant), followed by the time of the autosave (hhmmss). Refer to the "Autosave Preferences " section of chapter 11 for a description of the Autosave panel, which enables you to change various default settings. Play FRP Movie File ...This command opens a dialog box that enables you to select a Chalice FRP file for playback in a flipbook. FRP files are created when you save a flipbook to disk, or when you output images in FRP format. The Play Movie Files dialog box works like any other Chalice file chooser dialog. You navigate to the directory containing the .FRP file you want to play and double-click on the filename. Chalice will bring up a monitor flipbook with the file loaded into it. MRU File ListThe File menu contains a list of up to four of the most recently used grail files. As a shortcut, you can select a file from this list to open, rather than using the Open command and going through the "Load from:" dialog box to locate the file. Quit Chalice ( alt q)This command quits Chalice. A notifier panel enables you to save or discard the current version of the open file before quitting or to cancel the Quit command. Edit MenuThe Edit menu enables you to cut, copy, paste, clone, and delete the selected node or nodes in the workspace. To select more than one node at a time:
The Edit menu also enables you to access dialogs to edit global variables, change the contents of the Custom node menu, access the STED channel editor window, or to search for nodes by name. Cut ( alt x)This command removes all selected nodes from the workspace and places them in the Chalice clipboard, a special buffer used for the Cut, Copy, and Paste operations. Connections among the selected nodes are retained when they are cut; however, all external connections--connections to non-selected nodes--are lost. Copy ( alt c)This command creates a copy of all selected nodes and places them in the Chalice clipboard, a special buffer used for the Cut, Copy, and Paste operations. The copied nodes retain any connections they have to each other; however, all external connections are lost. Paste ( alt v)This command places the contents of the Chalice clipboard in the workspace. The clipboard is a buffer containing all nodes selected during the last (most recent) Cut or Copy operation. All nodes in the workspace must have unique names; therefore, Chalice will append a digit to the name of a pasted node, if necessary. For example, if a node named "color" is copied and pasted, Chalice will name the pasted node "color1" (unless, of course, a node named "color1" already exists; in that case Chalice will increment the number by the first available digit that creates a unique name, such as "color2"). Clone ( alt C)This command copies all selected nodes and places them in the workspace. Unlike nodes created by a Copy operation, cloned nodes retain all the external inputs of the nodes from which they were created.
Select All Nodes ( alt A)This command selects all nodes in the workspace. Delete Node(s) ( del )This command deletes the currently selected node or nodes. You can undo this command by using the "Undo Delete" command. Undo Delete ( alt u)This command restores the most-recently deleted node (or nodes, if you deleted multiple nodes simultaneously) to the workspace. Delete All ... ( alt D)This command deletes all nodes from the workspace. A notifier panel will ask you to confirm or cancel the operation. You can use "Undo Delete" to restore all the nodes, or use the "Revert" command in the File menu to restore an earlier version of the file, if available. Delete All removes all nodes from the current level of the workspace only. However, this means that at the top level (/chalice/chalice1), the entire contents of the grail file is deleted. On the other hand, if this operation is performed at a lower level (/chalice/chalice1/group1, e.g.), that is, if you have pushed into a network node, all the nodes at that level (inside that network node) are deleted. STED (Channel Editor) ( alt e)This command opens a Space-Time Editor (STED) window that enables you to edit channel and temporal data. Only previously edited channels are available for loading and editing. You can also open STED windows using STED buttons in specific node parameter panels. For more information, refer to chapter 9, "Space-Time Editor (STED) ." Edit Global Variables ...This command opens a window that contains a list of global variables, each of which associates a name and a value. The Globals window is used to create new global variables or to change the values of existing global variables. For more information, refer to "Setting Global Variables " in chapter 6, "Node Panels and Parameters ." Search Node(s) ...This command opens a panel that enables you to search for nodes by name using literal strings or cshell regular expressions. The Search command is especially helpful when working with large, complex node networks. For more information about how to get full use out of the Chalice search function, refer to "Finding Nodes Fast " in chapter 7, "Managing Large Networks ." Custom Networks ...This command opens a window that lists all items currently available in the Custom node menu, and enables you to add custom networks to or delete them from the list. For more information about creating and using custom networks, see "Creating Custom Networks " in chapter 7. Group MenuThe Group menu allows you to collapse nodes into a group, represented by a single group-node icon, as described in the Grouping Nodes section of chapter 7, "Managing Large Networks ." Group ( alt g)The Group command replaces all selected nodes with a Group node, which contains the selected nodes. The Group node retains any input and output connections to nodes outside the group. Ungroup ( alt G)This command "ungroups" a selected Group node; that is, the Group node is replaced by whatever nodes it contained. All internal connections (connections among the nodes in the Group node) and external connections (connections to nodes outside the group) are retained after the Ungroup operation. If necessary, Chalice will append a digit to the names of nodes after ungrouping to ensure that all nodes in the current workspace have unique names. Push In ( alt + )This command allows you to view and manipulate the contents of a selected Group node. In effect, the Push In command takes you "down" one level. The workspace and Radar Map views change to display the nodes contained in the Network node you have pushed into.
Pull Out ( alt -)This command pulls you out of the current Group node view by taking you "up" one level. Layout MenuThe Layout menu enables you to specify a number of display options for the workspace, such as how connections between nodes are drawn, whether to operate in zoom mode, or whether to enable audio. These settings affect the entire existing layout, as well as any new nodes that are created. This menu also provides commands to control the display of selected nodes in the layout, such as to hide or show node icons. If a menu item is checked, it is enabled. Monitors to Front ( alt w)This command is useful on IRIX systems in those instances when monitor windows become hidden behind the Chalice main interface. Invoke "Monitors to Front" to bring all open monitors, as well as other Chalice windows such as preference panels, to the front of the interface. Update All Icons ( alt U)This command will instruct Chalice to update the thumbnail view of the node image for every applicable node in the workspace (that is, for every node with its frame icon displayed). Every node that is displaying an image which does not reflect the current node data will have a red box drawn around the frame icon. This box disappears once the icon image is updated. Show Icons of Selected Nodes ( alt N)This command turns on, or shows, the frame icon display of every node currently selected. Hide Icons of Selected Nodes ( alt H)This command turns off, or hides, the frame icon display for all currently selected nodes.
Change Size of Selected NodesThis command enables you to set all selected nodes to a specific size: Small, Medium, or Large. (To change the size of any new nodes you create, reset the default node size in the Node Preferences panel, which is described in chapter 11, "Setting Preferences .") Double Buffer (IRIX Only)Check this box to turn on double buffering for smoother display of nodes on workstations running IRIX. (Uncheck this option to turn double-buffering off.) The default state is "on." Link Straight ( alt l)Check this box to redraw the connecting links between nodes as straight lines. (Uncheck to redraw the links using right angles, which is the default.) Full Layout ( alt f)Check this box to expand the viewable workspace. The node panel, radar view, and all other interface items below the menu bars will disappear and the workspace will expand to fill the screen. (Uncheck to return to the default layout.) Zoom Layout ( alt z)This command puts the workspace into zoom mode to provide a macroscopic view of the grail network. The Zoom command is especially useful when working with large grail networks that cannot otherwise be viewed in their entirety at one time. In zoom mode, each node is represented as a simplified icon labeled with the node name (but if you zoom out far enough, the node name will disappear). Use the mouse to control the zoom function as follows:
SoundsThis box, which is checked (on) by default, turns on audio prompts and system alerts to notify you of monitor updates, errors, etc. New Layout (Cannot Undo!)This command rearranges nodes in the workspace into a grid based on node hierarchy. It places the Exec node (if one exists) in the upper-right corner of the workspace. All upstream nodes are arranged in columns based on node and connection types. You cannot undo this command. Be certain that you want Chalice to rearrange your layout before you issue this command. You can always drag nodes back to their original location; however, with a large, complex layout, this can be time-consuming. You can also revert to the last autosaved version of the file; see "Revert" in the File Menu . Preferences MenuThe Preferences menu enables you to access a series of panels to change the default settings for the following:
The Preferences menu also provides options for workspace display as well as buffering options in node monitors, which are described in the following paragraphs. Continuous UpdatesThis option modifies the operation of two display update functions: Icon Auto Update and Monitor Auto Update. When the Continuous Updates box is checked, Chalice recalculates and updates the affected displays continuously, after each modification or user action. For instance, if you are viewing a monitor with Monitor Auto Update on, and you use a tuner to adjust a node parameter, the Continuous Updates option will update the display not only after each change to the parameter setting, but also during each incremental move of the tuner, without waiting for you to release the mouse button.
Follow Cooks ( alt F)With this box checked, Chalice will scroll the workspace view automatically to follow the progress of the current "cook" operation across the grail network. Follow Cooks is initiated when validating or executing a network from the Exec node, as well as when the cook button is pressed in a monitor window. Buffer Auto Increment ( alt I)Chalice has multiple buffers for storing images that are displayed in node monitors. This option, which is checked by default, specifies that each new image that is processed for display be stored in the next buffer in line, rather than overwriting the contents of the last buffer used. For more information about image buffers, see chapter 8, "Monitors and Flipbooks ." Buffer Persistence ( alt P)The Buffer Persistence option specifies that an image remain stored in a buffer, even when it is not currently being referenced; that is, when it is not currently being displayed in a node monitor. This enables you to access the contents of the buffer again without re-cooking the image. However, this option uses more memory and the default state is unchecked (off). Admin MenuThe Admin menu enables you to obtain licensing information, change cache settings, and to rescan your storage device to verify all Disk Input node data. Show My License Info ...This command displays a panel of information about the license used for the current copy of Chalice you are running on your workstation. Show Network License Info ...This command displays a panel of information about the licenses currently being used and currently available on your network. Cache Settings ...This command is used to access the Cache Settings panel, which enables you to control how much RAM and disk space are allotted to Chalice for caching. Chalice will run much faster when caching is used effectively, because it enables the software to store computations for reuse rather than recomputing data every time it is requested. For an overview, refer to "Memory Usage in Chalice " in chapter 4. ![]() Chalice can cache image data in RAM or on your hard disk. RAM caching is the first choice, because it is significantly faster. If Chalice runs out of RAM, it will then resort to disk caching. If both RAM and disk storage are exhausted, the data will have to be recomputed the next time it is requested. During the execution of a final render, Chalice attempts to cache only the data needed to complete the render successfully without recomputing, because final renders are typically higher resolution and therefore more memory intensive. If Chalice runs out of both RAM and disk cache space during the execution of a final render, it will cease to render the shot and you will have to reset the RAM and disk cache values in the Cache Options panel to complete it. RAM CacheThe RAM Cache parameters display the total RAM available on your system, and enable you to change the default value for how many megabytes of that total should be reserved for the operating system. The remaining RAM is displayed in a pair of data entry fields, which you can change using either megabytes or a percentage of the total remaining RAM. Disk CacheThis Disk Cache parameters indicate the amount of disk space, in megabytes, that Chalice can assume is available for caching. The specified disk space must be available on the disk to which the environment variable CHALICE_TMPDIR points. If that variable has not been set, Chalice will check the TEMP or TMP variable. Flush All CachesPress this button to flush all data from all the caches for all nodes, after which all image data will have to be recomputed. Rescan All Disk Input NodesThis command will verify all input sequences (both full resolution and proxy resolution files) specified in every Disk Input node in the current grail file. This is essentially the same disk rescanning operation that is performed to update individual input sequences when you press the "Rescan Disk" button for a file in a Disk Input node. The Rescan All command saves you from having to press every Rescan Disk button in every Disk Input node by hand, however, Rescan All may take a very long time to process, depending on the number of inputs to the grail file. Help MenuThe Help menu provides access to the Chalice help systems and enables you to report problems with the Chalice software or documentation. Online Manual ( alt h)This command accesses the Chalice Online Help System, an online version of the Chalice User Guide. Use the extensive hyperlinked contents and index to help you find the information you need.
Writing Plug-ins ...This command accesses extensive documentation for Chalice plug-in developers. Like the General help, the Plug-in help is in html format. Help TagsCheck this option to turn on the "Help Tag" feature, which displays context-specific help text in popup displays when you move the cursor over certain parameter buttons and other program features. The Help Tag option is selected by default. Version ( alt V)This command displays the current version number of Chalice in the System Feedback area at the bottom of the Chalice interface.
Report Problems ( alt p)This command opens a window in which you can report problems you may encounter while using Chalice. Fill in the information as indicated in the reporting window. Save and exit the window when you are done and Chalice will automatically email the information to Silicon Grail. Exit without saving to cancel.
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