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Microsoft Agent Animations for Genie Character


ActiveX® technology for interactive software agents

Microsoft Corporation

October 1998

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The Microsoft Agent Genie 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.

Genie 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 enable 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.

If an animation's Return animation is defined using Exit branches, you do not need to call it explicitly; Agent automatically plays the Return animation before the next animation. However, if a Return animation is listed, you must call the animation using the Play method before another animation to provide a smooth transition. If no Return animation is listed, the animation typically ends without needing a transitional animation.

The character file includes sound effects for some animations as noted in the following table. Sound effects play only if this option is enabled in the Microsoft Agent property sheet. You can also disable sound effects in your application.

Animation Return Animation Supports Speaking Sound Effects Assigned to State Description
Acknowledge None No No None Nods head
Alert Yes, using Exit branches Yes No Listening Straightens and raises eyebrows
Announce Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Raises hand
Blink None No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Blinks eyes
Confused Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Scratches head
Congratulate Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Applauds
Congratulate_2 Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Gives thumbs-up gesture
Decline Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Raises hands and shakes head
DoMagic1 None Yes No None Turns to side and raises hands
DoMagic2 Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Lowers hands, clouds appear
DontRecognize Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Holds hand to ear
Explain Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Extends arms to side
GestureDown Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingDown Gestures down
GestureLeft Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingLeft Gestures left
GestureRight Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingRight Gestures right
GestureUp Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingUp Gestures up
GetAttention GetAttentionReturn Yes No None Waves arms
GetAttentionContinued GetAttentionReturn Yes No None Waves arms again
GetAttentionReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
Greet Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Bows
Hearing_1 None No No Hearing Ears extend (*looping animation)
Hearing_2 None No No Hearing Tilts head left (*looping animation)
Hearing_3 None No No Hearing Turns head left (*looping animation)
Hearing_4 None No No Hearing Turns head right (*looping animation)
Hide None No Yes Hiding Disappears into smoke
Idle1_1 None No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Takes breath
Idle1_2 None No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Glances right and blinks
Idle1_3 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Glances left and blinks
Idle1_4 None No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Glances up to the right and blinks
Idle1_5 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Glances down and blinks
Idle1_6 None No No IdlingLevel1
IdlingLevel2
Glances up and blinks
Idle2_1 None No No IdlingLevel2 Wisp snakes
Idle2_2 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel2 Reveals scroll and reads
Idle2_3 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel2 Reveals scroll and writes
Idle3_1 None No Yes IdlingLevel3 Yawns
Idle3_2 Yes, using Exit branches No Yes IdlingLevel3 Falls asleep (*looping animation)
LookDown LookDownReturn No No None Looks down
LookDownBlink LookDownReturn No No None Blinks looking down
LookDownReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookLeft LookLeftReturn No No None Looks left
LookLeftBlink LookLeftReturn No No None Blinks looking left
LookLeftReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookRight LookRightReturn No No None Looks right
LookRightBlink LookRightReturn No No None Blinks looking right
LookRightReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookUp LookUpReturn No No None Looks up
LookUpBlink LookUpReturn No No None Blinks looking up
LookUpReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
MoveDown Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingDown Flies down
MoveLeft Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingLeft Flies left
MoveRight Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingRight Flies right
MoveUp Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingUp Flies up
Pleased Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Smiles and holds hands together
Process No No No None Spins into a cloud
Processing Yes, using Exit branches No No None Spins into a cloud (*looping animation)
Read ReadReturn Yes Yes None Reveals scroll, reads and looks up
ReadContinued ReadReturn Yes No None Reads and looks up
ReadReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
Reading Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Reveal scroll and reads (*looping animation)
RestPose None Yes No Speaking Neutral position
Sad Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Sad expression
Search No No No None Reveals binoculars and turns
Searching Yes, using Exit branches No No None Reveals binoculars and turns (*looping animation)
Show None No Yes Showing Appears out of smoke
StartListening Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Puts hand to ear
StopListening Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Puts hands over ears
Suggest Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Displays lightbulb
Surprised Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Looks surprised
Think Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Looks up with hand on chin
Thinking No No No None Looks up with hand on chin (*looping animation)
Uncertain Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Moves one hand to chin, other to hip, and raises right eyebrow
Wave Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Waves
Write WriteReturn Yes Yes None Reveals scroll, writes and looks up
WriteContinued WriteReturn Yes Yes None Writes and looks up
WriteReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
Writing Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Reveals scroll, writes (*looping animation)

* If you play a looping animation, you must use Stop to clear it before other animations in the character's queue will play.



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