August 1997
Microsoft Corporation
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The Microsoft Agent Merlin Character is a copyrighted work of Microsoft Corporation. You may use the character subject to the terms of the End User License Agreement for Microsoft Agent.
Merlin supports the animations listed in the table below. Refer to Programming the Microsoft Agent Server Interface and Programming the Microsoft Agent Control for information on how to call the character's animations.
If accessing these character animations using the HTTP protocol and the control's Get or server's Prepare method, consider how you will download them. Instead of downloading all the animations at once, you may want to retrieve the Showing and Speaking state animations first. This will allow you to display the character quickly and have it speak while bringing down other animations asynchronously. In addition, to ensure that character and animation data load successfully, use the RequestComplete event. If a load request fails, you can retry loading the data or display an appropriate message.
| Animation | Return Animation | Supports Speaking | Assigned to State | Description |
| Acknowledge | None | No | None | Nods head |
| Alert | AlertReturn | Yes | Listening | Straightens and raises eyebrows |
| AlertReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Announce | AnnounceReturn | Yes | None | Raises trumpet and plays |
| AnnounceReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Blink | None | No | IdlingLevel1 | Blinks eyes |
| Confused | ConfusedReturn | Yes | None | Scratches head |
| ConfusedReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Congratulate | CongratulateReturn | Yes | None | Displays trophy |
| CongratulateReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Congratulate_2 | PleasedReturn | Yes | None | Applauds |
| Decline | DeclineReturn | Yes | None | Raises hands and shakes head |
| DeclineReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| DoMagic1 | None | Yes | None | Raises magic wand |
| DoMagic2 | DoMagicReturn | No | None | Lowers wand, clouds appear |
| DoMagicReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| DontRecognize | DontRecognizeReturn | Yes | None | Holds hand to ear |
| DontRecognizeReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Explain | ExplainReturn | Yes | None | Extends arms to side |
| ExplainReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GestureDown | GestureDownReturn | Yes | GesturingDown | Gestures down |
| GestureDownReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GestureLeft | GestureLeftReturn | Yes | GesturingLeft | Gestures left |
| GestureLeftReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GestureRight | GestureRightReturn | Yes | GesturingRight | Gestures right |
| GestureRightReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GestureUp | GestureUpReturn | Yes | GesturingUp | Gestures up |
| GestureUpReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GetAttention | GetAttentionReturn | Yes | None | Leans forward and knocks |
| GetAttentionReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| GlanceDown | None | No | None | Looks down briefly |
| GlanceLeft | None | No | None | Looks left briefly |
| GlanceRight | None | No | None | Looks right briefly |
| GlanceUp | None | No | None | Looks up briefly |
| Greet | GreetReturn | Yes | None | Bows |
| GreetReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Hear_1 | None | No | Hearing | Ears extend |
| Hear_2 | None | No | Hearing | Tilts head left |
| Hear_3 | None | No | Hearing | Turns head left |
| Hear_4 | None | No | Hearing | Turns head right |
| Hide | None | No | Hiding | Disappears under cap |
| Idle1_1 | None | No | IdlingLevel1 | Takes breath |
| Idle1_2 | None | No | IdlingLevel1 | Glances left and blinks |
| Idle1_3 | None | No | IdlingLevel1 | Glances right |
| Idle1_4 | None | No | IdlingLevel1 | Glances up to the right and blinks |
| Idle2_1 | None | No | IdlingLevel2 | Looks at wand and blinks |
| Idle2_2 | None | No | IdlingLevel2 | Holds hands and blinks |
| Idle3_1 | Idle3_1Return | No | IdlingLevel3 | Falls asleep |
| Idle3_1Return | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Idle3_2 | None | No | IdlingLevel3 | Yawns |
| LookDown | None | No | None | Looks down |
| LookDownBlink | None | No | None | Blinks looking down |
| LookDownReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| LookLeft | None | No | None | Looks left |
| LookLeftBlink | None | No | None | Blinks looking left |
| LookLeftReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| LookRight | None | No | None | Looks right |
| LookRightBlink | None | No | None | Blinks looking right |
| LookRightReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| LookUp | None | No | None | Looks up |
| LookUpBlink | None | No | None | Blinks looking up |
| LookUpReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| MoveDown | MoveDownReturn | No | MovingDown | Flies down |
| MoveDownReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| MoveLeft | MoveLeftReturn | No | MovingLeft | Flies left |
| MoveLeftReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| MoveRight | MoveRightReturn | No | MovingRight | Flies right |
| MoveRightReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| MoveUp | MoveUpReturn | No | MovingUp | Flies up |
| MoveUpReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Pleased | PleasedReturn | Yes | None | Smiles and holds hands together |
| PleasedReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Processing | ProcessingReturn | No | None | Stirs caldron (*looping animation) |
| ProcessingReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Read | None | Yes | None | Opens book, reads and looks up |
| ReadContinued | None | Yes | None | Reads and looks up |
| ReadReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Reading | ReadingReturn | No | None | Reads (*looping animation) |
| ReadingReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| RestPose | None | Yes | Speaking | Neutral position |
| Sad | SadReturn | Yes | None | Sad expression |
| SadReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Searching | SearchingReturn | No | None | Looks into crystal ball (*looping animation) |
| SearchingReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Show | None | No | Showing | Appears out of cap |
| StartListening | StartListeningReturn | Yes | None | Puts hand to ear |
| StartListeningReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| StopListening | StopListeningReturn | Yes | None | Puts hands to ears |
| StopListeningReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Suggest | SuggestReturn | Yes | None | Displays light bulb |
| SuggestReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Surprised | SurprisedReturn | Yes | None | Looks surprised |
| SurprisedReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Think | ThinkReturn | Yes | None | Looks up with hand on chin |
| ThinkReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Uncertain | UncertainReturn | Yes | None | Leans forward and raises eyebrow |
| UncertainReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Wave | WaveReturn | Yes | None | Waves |
| WaveReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Write | None | Yes | None | Opens book, writes and looks up |
| WriteContinued | None | Yes | None | Writes and looks up |
| WriteReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
| Writing | WritingReturn | No | None | Writes (*looping animation) |
| WritingReturn | None | No | None | Returns to neutral position |
* If you play a looping animation, you must use Stop to clear it before other animations in the character's queue will play.