Beginning Pictures and Movies

Introduction

This usecase shows a user how to add pictures and movies to PowerPoint slides.

Save Screenshot

First off, start ParaView and open a data file that includes time displacement data.

• Start ParaView.
• File → Open. We will use the data can.exo for this usecase.
• Click Apply.
• Rotate and position the object. Notice the following (if ParaView buttons still use default settings):

Next, we need to move this image into PowerPoint. This is done by saving the screen image to a file, then reading that file back into Powerpoint (or any other program, such as Microsoft Word).

• File → Save Screenshot.
  • Save only selected view will save either the whole window, or the selected view.
  • Change the size of the output files. Note that ParaView can save files that are significantly larger than the current view. This is done in off screen memory.
  • Leave image quality as is.
  • Override Color Palette allows a user to change the background color - for instance, to white.
  • Stereo mode allows a user to save stereo images.
• OK
  • Save your images as .png or .jpg. .png is a cleaner format, but .jpg's may be smaller.
• Name and save the file. OK

In PowerPoint, add a new slide. Next, click Insert→ Picture→ From File…, and pick up the file that we saved in the previous paragraph. You can move the file anywhere you want by holding the left mouse button and dragging. You can resize the picture by grabbing one of the corners and dragging the picture smaller. The following picture is from a PowerPoint slide.

Save Animation

Now let’s make a movie. This movie will be a file capture of a normal animation. Position your data on the screen. Next, test run the animation by selecting Play, which is the right arrow, one of the animation buttons (at the top of the main window). Finally, select File→ Save Animation and then Save Animation. Select a file format, and click OK.

If you are making movies on one of the clusters, you can use option Disconnect before saving animation. This will allow a user to create movies after the user has closed ParaView client down, and possibly turned the client computer off.

In PowerPoint, add a new slide. Next, click “Insert/ Movies and Sounds/ Movie from File. Browse to the location of your movie, select your file and click OK. Decide if you want the slide show to be Automatic, or when clicked. Finally, remember that this file is NOT inserted into the PowerPoint slide. You will want this file to be on the computer – in the same location – as it was when you selected it.

A few notes on file formats for movies. You can make .avi files directly on Windows XP, Linux or Mac. If you are trying to make movies on Linux or Mac, or are making movies for a powerwall, use format .png or .jpg. Then, if you want .avi files for use with PowerPoint, convert these movies to .avi format as needed. One option is to use enve, which is available when downloading EnSight. Windows XP reads .avi files well, both using and not using PowerPoint. Linux is able to display either format if the correct video player is installed. One option is mplayer. mplayer is installed from .rpm files, which can be found on the net.

Acknowledgements

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.