General Notes

Existing Limitations

Limitation

Some preferences and/or hot keys from previous versions may be lost when Version 9.0 is installed.

Some or all of your customized hotkey definitions may not survive the installation of Version 9.0. Some of the definitions may disappear, or all of the definitions may be replaced by the default hotkey definitions.

Workaround

To re-install your customized hotkey definitions, manually copy the .scm files from $HOME/.Alias/Prefs.1 down into .Alias/Prefs.2. This restores shelves, hot keys, and other preferences.

Limitation

Adjust Clipping Plane has limitations in Y-up mode.

In the Y-up and interactive modes, the near clipping plane cannot be adjusted to a value greater than 50 units. It will not move past this value.

Limitation

Using the Alt modifier key to initiate grid snap opens the window manager popup menu.

By default, the supported window managers map Alt-right mouse button to display the window manager popup menu. This conflicts with Alias's use of Alt-right mouse button for constrain grid snapping.

Workaround

The mapping of Alt-right mouse button to display the window manager popup menu is disabled in the Alias .4Dwmrc file.

Limitation

A shelf icon edited in Xpaint cannot be saved when the numlock key is ON.

Workaround

Toggle the numlock key OFF (this key is on the keypad on the right side of the keyboard). When numlock is on, there is a green light above the numlock key.

Limitation

File > Export > Screen does not save correctly.

Save screen will not correctly save different editor windows. This depends upon what state Alias is in, i.e. either toggle shade, toggle smooth or not, and what editor windows are open. Save screen will only work for editor windows that are in the same color mode as Alias.

Workaround

Use your system's screen capture program rather than wrl.

Limitation

Object Edit > Edit comment will not allow Alias to update the screen.

Open a user-defined editor in Alias. If you move the editor window, Alias will not refresh until you exit the editor, nor will Alias respond to the mouse or keyboard until the editor is closed.

Limitation

In the file browser, the quick rendered thumbnail image may be lost or incorrect.

Specifically, if you select the Quick render button (under the icon representing a wire file) when you are saving the file, then you get a confirmation window asking if you want to overwrite the file you are saving, the quick rendered image for the thumbnail will be lost.

Workaround

Make sure that the confirmation window does not appear over the thumbnail image. To do this, select the save button on far left side.

Limitation

AliasBrowserPrefs overrides setenv ALIAS_PROJECT.

ALIAS_PROJECT is read from AliasBrowserPrefs on startup of Alias.

If you attempt to set this with "setenv ALIAS_PROJECT <project>" this will be overridden by the values in AliasBrowserPrefs when you launch Alias.

Workaround

For batch mode use the -p flag:



Alias -B -W -p<project> -SDL -s<output> <input>

Limitation

If tool palette and shelf entries are very slow to click on.

Workaround

Either:

Set the click speed to Slow to slow down the response time on the tool palette and shelf. Alias uses the double click time to process mouse down operations on the palette and shelf.

: In the SGI system toolbox, select Desktop > Customize > Mouse.

Set the Click speed to Fast in the system window.

Limitation

O2 colormap management conflicts with snapshot

When running Alias and snapshot at the same time, the two applications have colormap conflicts that cause the application that does not have focus to turn black. With the focus on the snapshot window, the main Alias modeling window is black, making it difficult to create screen grabs.

Workaround

Select toggle shade or toggle smooth so the Alias modeling window is an RGB window rather than a colormap window.

Limitation

ImageVision based programs provided with early versions of IRIX 6.2 cannot read Alias pix files.

Workaround

In order to read Alias pix files with programs that use the ImageVision library such as imgworks, you need a newer version of ImageVision than originally shipped with IRIX 6.2. You can get the correct version of ImageVision on the IRIX 6.2 Applications CD, which is available to all customers who have SGI support. Customers in North America should call 1-800- 800-4SGI (1-800-800-4744) for more information.

Limitation

The help provided for some plug-ins tells you to press Ctrl-Shift-Alt and click on the plug-in icon to view help. This instruction is incorrect; an icon is added to your shelf instead.

Disclaimer

In the directory $ALIAS_LOCATION/ODS/ , there are a number of pre-compiled plug-ins and source code examples. These plug-ins and source code examples are provided to you on an "AS-IS" basis.

You are free to make use of these plug-ins and source code example;, however Alias|Wavefront does not provide any support in connection with them.

Alias|Wavefront makes no warranties, express, implied, or arising by custom or trade usage, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, specifically disclaims any implied warranties of title, noninfringement or of fitness for a particular purpose to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) Alias|Wavefront's liability in contract, tort or otherwise arising out of or in connection with the plug-ins or source code shall not exceed the purchase price paid by the customer for the plug-ins or source code examples, and (ii) in no event shall Alias|Wavefront be liable for any punitive damages or lost profits or other special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including any damages resulting from loss of business arising out of or in connection with the performance of the plug-ins or source code examples, even if Alias|Wavefront has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The customer shall indemnify Alias|Wavefront and hold it harmless from and against any loss, claim or damage to any person arising out of the customer's use of the plug-ins or source code examples.

Please send questions or comments regarding the documentation to:

[email protected]