## javax.media.j3d
Class Alpha

    java.lang.Object
      javax.media.j3d.SceneGraphObject
          javax.media.j3d.NodeComponent
              javax.media.j3d.Alpha

    public class Alpha

extends NodeComponent

The alpha NodeComponent object provides common methods for converting a time value into an alpha value (a value in the range 0 to 1). The Alpha object is effectively a function of time that generates alpha values in the range [0,1] when sampled: f(t) = [0,1]. A primary use of the Alpha object is to provide alpha values for Interpolator behaviors. The function f(t) and the characteristics of the Alpha object are determined by user-definable parameters:

`loopCount` -- This is the number of times to run this Alpha; a value of -1 specifies that the Alpha loops indefinitely.

`triggerTime` -- This is the time in milliseconds since the start time that this object first triggers. If (startTime + triggerTime >= currentTime) then the Alpha object starts running.

`phaseDelayDuration` -- This is an additional number of milliseconds to wait after triggerTime before actually starting this Alpha.

`mode` -- This can be set to INCREASING_ENABLE, DECREASING_ENABLE, or the Or'ed value of the two. INCREASING_ENABLE activates the increasing Alpha parameters listed below; DECREASING_ENABLE activates the decreasing Alpha parameters listed below.

Increasing Alpha parameters:

`increasingAlphaDuration` -- This is the period of time during which Alpha goes from zero to one.

`increasingAlphaRampDuration` -- This is the period of time during which the Alpha step size increases at the beginning of the increasingAlphaDuration and, correspondingly, decreases at the end of the increasingAlphaDuration. This parameter is clamped to half of increasingAlphaDuration. When this parameter is non-zero, one gets constant acceleration while it is in effect; constant positive acceleration at the beginning of the ramp and constant negative acceleration at the end of the ramp. If this parameter is zero, then the effective velocity of the Alpha value is constant and the acceleration is zero (ie, a linearly increasing alpha ramp).

`alphaAtOneDuration` -- This is the period of time that Alpha stays at one.

Decreasing Alpha parameters:

`decreasingAlphaDuration` -- This is the period of time during which Alpha goes from one to zero.

`decreasingAlphaRampDuration` -- This is the period of time during which the Alpha step size increases at the beginning of the decreasingAlphaDuration and, correspondingly, decreases at the end of the decreasingAlphaDuration. This parameter is clamped to half of decreasingAlphaDuration. When this parameter is non-zero, one gets constant acceleration while it is in effect; constant positive acceleration at the beginning of the ramp and constant negative acceleration at the end of the ramp. If this parameter is zero, the effective velocity of the Alpha value is constant and the acceleration is zero (i.e., a linearly-decreasing alpha ramp).

`alphaAtZeroDuration` -- This is the period of time that Alpha stays at zero.

See Also:
  `Interpolator`

Field Summary
`static int` `DECREASING_ENABLE` Specifies that the decreasing component of the alpha is used
`static int` `INCREASING_ENABLE` Specifies that the increasing component of the alpha is used.

Constructor Summary
`Alpha()` Constructs an Alpha object with default parameters.
`Alpha(int loopCount, int mode, long triggerTime, long phaseDelayDuration, long increasingAlphaDuration, long increasingAlphaRampDuration, long alphaAtOneDuration, long decreasingAlphaDuration, long decreasingAlphaRampDuration, long alphaAtZeroDuration)` This constructor takes all of the Alpha user-definable parameters.
`Alpha(int loopCount, long increasingAlphaDuration)` This constructor takes only the loopCount and increasingAlphaDuration as parameters and assigns the default values to all of the other parameters.
`Alpha(int loopCount, long triggerTime, long phaseDelayDuration, long increasingAlphaDuration, long increasingAlphaRampDuration, long alphaAtOneDuration)` Constructs a new Alpha object that assumes that the mode is INCREASING_ENABLE.

Method Summary
`boolean` `finished()` Query to test if this alpha object is past its activity window, that is, if it has finished looping.
`long` `getAlphaAtOneDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's alphaAtOneDuration.
`long` `getAlphaAtZeroDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's alphaAtZeroDuration.
`long` `getDecreasingAlphaDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's decreasingAlphaDuration.
`long` `getDecreasingAlphaRampDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's decreasingAlphaRampDuration.
`long` `getIncreasingAlphaDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's increasingAlphaDuration.
`long` `getIncreasingAlphaRampDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's increasingAlphaRampDuration.
`int` `getLoopCount()` Retrieves this alpha's loopCount.
`int` `getMode()` Retrieves this alpha's mode.
`long` `getPauseTime()` Returns the time at which this alpha was paused.
`long` `getPhaseDelayDuration()` Retrieves this alpha's phaseDelayDuration.
`long` `getStartTime()` Retrieves this alpha's startTime, the base for all relative time specifications; the default value for startTime is the system start time.
`long` `getTriggerTime()` Retrieves this alpha's triggerTime.
`boolean` `isPaused()` Returns true if this alpha object is paused.
`void` `pause()` Pauses this alpha object.
`void` `pause(long time)` Pauses this alpha object as of the specified time.
`void` `resume()` Resumes this alpha object.
`void` `resume(long time)` Resumes this alpha object as of the specified time.
`void` `setAlphaAtOneDuration(long alphaAtOneDuration)` Set this alpha object's alphaAtOneDuration to the specified value.
`void` `setAlphaAtZeroDuration(long alphaAtZeroDuration)` Set this alpha object's alphaAtZeroDuration to the specified value.
`void` `setDecreasingAlphaDuration(long decreasingAlphaDuration)` Set this alpha's decreasingAlphaDuration to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setDecreasingAlphaRampDuration(long decreasingAlphaRampDuration)` Set this alpha's decreasingAlphaRampDuration to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setIncreasingAlphaDuration(long increasingAlphaDuration)` Set this alpha's increasingAlphaDuration to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setIncreasingAlphaRampDuration(long increasingAlphaRampDuration)` Set this alpha's increasingAlphaRampDuration to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setLoopCount(int loopCount)` Set this alpha's loopCount to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setMode(int mode)` Set this alpha's mode to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setPhaseDelayDuration(long phaseDelayDuration)` Set this alpha's phaseDelayDuration to that specified in the argument.
`void` `setStartTime(long startTime)` Sets this alpha's startTime to that specified in the argument; startTime sets the base (or zero) for all relative time computations; the default value for startTime is the system start time.
`void` `setTriggerTime(long triggerTime)` Set this alpha's triggerTime to that specified in the argument.
`float` `value()` This method returns a value between 0.0 and 1.0 inclusive, based on the current time and the time-to-alpha parameters established for this alpha.
`float` `value(long atTime)` This method returns a value between 0.0 and 1.0 inclusive, based on the specified time and the time-to-alpha parameters established for this alpha.

Methods inherited from class javax.media.j3d.NodeComponent
`cloneNodeComponent, cloneNodeComponent, duplicateNodeComponent, duplicateNodeComponent, getDuplicateOnCloneTree, setDuplicateOnCloneTree`

Methods inherited from class javax.media.j3d.SceneGraphObject
`clearCapability, clearCapabilityIsFrequent, duplicateSceneGraphObject, getCapability, getCapabilityIsFrequent, getName, getUserData, isCompiled, isLive, setCapability, setCapabilityIsFrequent, setName, setUserData, toString, updateNodeReferences`

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
`clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

Field Detail

### INCREASING_ENABLE

    public static final int INCREASING_ENABLE

  Specifies that the increasing component of the alpha is used.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### DECREASING_ENABLE

    public static final int DECREASING_ENABLE

  Specifies that the decreasing component of the alpha is used

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

Constructor Detail

### Alpha

    public Alpha()

  Constructs an Alpha object with default parameters. The default values are as follows:
  loopCount : -1
  mode : INCREASING_ENABLE
  startTime : system start time
  triggerTime : 0
  phaseDelayDuration : 0
  increasingAlphaDuration : 1000
  increasingAlphaRampDuration : 0
  alphaAtOneDuration : 0
  decreasingAlphaDuration : 0
  decreasingAlphaRampDuration : 0
  alphaAtZeroDuration : 0
  isPaused : false
  pauseTime : 0

### Alpha

    public Alpha(int loopCount,
                 int mode,
                 long triggerTime,
                 long phaseDelayDuration,
                 long increasingAlphaDuration,
                 long increasingAlphaRampDuration,
                 long alphaAtOneDuration,
                 long decreasingAlphaDuration,
                 long decreasingAlphaRampDuration,
                 long alphaAtZeroDuration)

  This constructor takes all of the Alpha user-definable parameters.

  Parameters:
    `loopCount` - number of times to run this alpha; a value of -1 specifies that the alpha loops indefinitely
    `mode` - indicates whether the increasing alpha parameters or the decreasing alpha parameters or both are active. This parameter accepts the following values, INCREASING_ENABLE or DECREASING_ENABLE, which may be ORed together to specify that both are active. The increasing alpha parameters are increasingAlphaDuration, increasingAlphaRampDuration, and alphaAtOneDuration. The decreasing alpha parameters are decreasingAlphaDuration, decreasingAlphaRampDuration, and alphaAtZeroDuration.
    `triggerTime` - time in milliseconds since the start time that this object first triggers
    `phaseDelayDuration` - number of milliseconds to wait after triggerTime before actually starting this alpha
    `increasingAlphaDuration` - period of time during which alpha goes from zero to one
    `increasingAlphaRampDuration` - period of time during which the alpha step size increases at the beginning of the increasingAlphaDuration and, correspondingly, decreases at the end of the increasingAlphaDuration. This value is clamped to half of increasingAlphaDuration. NOTE: a value of zero means that the alpha step size remains constant during the entire increasingAlphaDuration.
    `alphaAtOneDuration` - period of time that alpha stays at one
    `decreasingAlphaDuration` - period of time during which alpha goes from one to zero
    `decreasingAlphaRampDuration` - period of time during which the alpha step size increases at the beginning of the decreasingAlphaDuration and, correspondingly, decreases at the end of the decreasingAlphaDuration. This value is clamped to half of decreasingAlphaDuration. NOTE: a value of zero means that the alpha step size remains constant during the entire decreasingAlphaDuration.
    `alphaAtZeroDuration` - period of time that alpha stays at zero

### Alpha

    public Alpha(int loopCount,
                 long triggerTime,
                 long phaseDelayDuration,
                 long increasingAlphaDuration,
                 long increasingAlphaRampDuration,
                 long alphaAtOneDuration)

  Constructs a new Alpha object that assumes that the mode is INCREASING_ENABLE.

  Parameters:
    `loopCount` - number of times to run this alpha; a value of -1 specifies that the alpha loops indefinitely.
    `triggerTime` - time in milliseconds since the start time that this object first triggers
    `phaseDelayDuration` - number of milliseconds to wait after triggerTime before actually starting this alpha
    `increasingAlphaDuration` - period of time during which alpha goes from zero to one
    `increasingAlphaRampDuration` - period of time during which the alpha step size increases at the beginning of the increasingAlphaDuration and, correspondingly, decreases at the end of the increasingAlphaDuration. This value is clamped to half of increasingAlphaDuration. NOTE: a value of zero means that the alpha step size remains constant during the entire increasingAlphaDuration.
    `alphaAtOneDuration` - period of time that alpha stays at one

### Alpha

    public Alpha(int loopCount,
                 long increasingAlphaDuration)

  This constructor takes only the loopCount and increasingAlphaDuration as parameters and assigns the default values to all of the other parameters.

  Parameters:
    `loopCount` - number of times to run this alpha; a value of -1 specifies that the alpha loops indefinitely
    `increasingAlphaDuration` - period of time during which alpha goes from zero to one

Method Detail

### pause

    public void pause()

  Pauses this alpha object. The current system time when this method is called will be used in place of the actual current time when calculating subsequent alpha values. This has the effect of freezing the interpolator at the time the method is called.

  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### pause

    public void pause(long time)

  Pauses this alpha object as of the specified time. The specified time will be used in place of the actual current time when calculating subsequent alpha values. This has the effect of freezing the interpolator at the specified time. Note that specifying a time in the future (that is, a time greater than System.currentTimeMillis()) will cause the alpha to immediately advance to that point before pausing. Similarly, specifying a time in the past (that is, a time less than System.currentTimeMillis()) will cause the alpha to immediately revert to that point before pausing.

  Parameters:
    `time` - the time at which to pause the alpha
  Throws:
    `java.lang.IllegalArgumentException` - if time <= 0
  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### resume

    public void resume()

  Resumes this alpha object. If the alpha object was paused, the difference between the current time and the pause time will be used to adjust the startTime of this alpha. The equation is as follows:
  `startTime += System.currentTimeMillis() - pauseTime`
  Since the alpha object is no longer paused, this has the effect of resuming the interpolator as of the current time. If the alpha object is not paused when this method is called, then this method does nothing--the start time is not adjusted in this case.

  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### resume

    public void resume(long time)

  Resumes this alpha object as of the specified time. If the alpha object was paused, the difference between the specified time and the pause time will be used to adjust the startTime of this alpha. The equation is as follows:
  `startTime += time - pauseTime`
  Since the alpha object is no longer paused, this has the effect of resuming the interpolator as of the specified time. If the alpha object is not paused when this method is called, then this method does nothing--the start time is not adjusted in this case.

  Parameters:
    `time` - the time at which to resume the alpha
  Throws:
    `java.lang.IllegalArgumentException` - if time <= 0
  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### isPaused

    public boolean isPaused()

  Returns true if this alpha object is paused.

  Returns:
    true if this alpha object is paused, false otherwise
  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### getPauseTime

    public long getPauseTime()

  Returns the time at which this alpha was paused.

  Returns:
    the pause time; returns 0 if this alpha is not paused
  Since:
    Java 3D 1.3

### value

    public float value()

  This method returns a value between 0.0 and 1.0 inclusive, based on the current time and the time-to-alpha parameters established for this alpha. If this alpha object is paused, the value will be based on the pause time rather than the current time. This method will return the starting alpha value if the alpha has not yet started (that is, if the current time is less than startTime + triggerTime + phaseDelayDuration). This method will return the ending alpha value if the alpha has finished (that is, if the loop count has expired).

  Returns:
    a value between 0.0 and 1.0 based on the current time

### value

    public float value(long atTime)

  This method returns a value between 0.0 and 1.0 inclusive, based on the specified time and the time-to-alpha parameters established for this alpha. This method will return the starting alpha value if the alpha has not yet started (that is, if the specified time is less than startTime + triggerTime + phaseDelayDuration). This method will return the ending alpha value if the alpha has finished (that is, if the loop count has expired).

  Parameters:
    `atTime` - The time for which we wish to compute alpha
  Returns:
    a value between 0.0 and 1.0 based on the specified time

### getStartTime

    public long getStartTime()

  Retrieves this alpha's startTime, the base for all relative time specifications; the default value for startTime is the system start time.

  Returns:
    this alpha's startTime.

### setStartTime

    public void setStartTime(long startTime)

  Sets this alpha's startTime to that specified in the argument; startTime sets the base (or zero) for all relative time computations; the default value for startTime is the system start time.

  Parameters:
    `startTime` - the new startTime value

### getLoopCount

    public int getLoopCount()

  Retrieves this alpha's loopCount.

  Returns:
    this alpha's loopCount.

### setLoopCount

    public void setLoopCount(int loopCount)

  Set this alpha's loopCount to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `loopCount` - the new loopCount value

### getMode

    public int getMode()

  Retrieves this alpha's mode.

  Returns:
    this alpha's mode: any combination of INCREASING_ENABLE and DECREASING_ENABLE

### setMode

    public void setMode(int mode)

  Set this alpha's mode to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `mode` - indicates whether the increasing alpha parameters or the decreasing alpha parameters or both are active. This parameter accepts the following values, INCREASING_ENABLE or DECREASING_ENABLE, which may be ORed together to specify that both are active. The increasing alpha parameters are increasingAlphaDuration, increasingAlphaRampDuration, and alphaAtOneDuration. The decreasing alpha parameters are decreasingAlphaDuration, decreasingAlphaRampDuration, and alphaAtZeroDuration.

### getTriggerTime

    public long getTriggerTime()

  Retrieves this alpha's triggerTime.

  Returns:
    this alpha's triggerTime.

### setTriggerTime

    public void setTriggerTime(long triggerTime)

  Set this alpha's triggerTime to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `triggerTime` - the new triggerTime

### getPhaseDelayDuration

    public long getPhaseDelayDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's phaseDelayDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's phaseDelayDuration.

### setPhaseDelayDuration

    public void setPhaseDelayDuration(long phaseDelayDuration)

  Set this alpha's phaseDelayDuration to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `phaseDelayDuration` - the new phaseDelayDuration

### getIncreasingAlphaDuration

    public long getIncreasingAlphaDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's increasingAlphaDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's increasingAlphaDuration.

### setIncreasingAlphaDuration

    public void setIncreasingAlphaDuration(long increasingAlphaDuration)

  Set this alpha's increasingAlphaDuration to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `increasingAlphaDuration` - the new increasingAlphaDuration

### getIncreasingAlphaRampDuration

    public long getIncreasingAlphaRampDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's increasingAlphaRampDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's increasingAlphaRampDuration.

### setIncreasingAlphaRampDuration

    public void setIncreasingAlphaRampDuration(long increasingAlphaRampDuration)

  Set this alpha's increasingAlphaRampDuration to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `increasingAlphaRampDuration` - the new increasingAlphaRampDuration

### getAlphaAtOneDuration

    public long getAlphaAtOneDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's alphaAtOneDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's alphaAtOneDuration.

### setAlphaAtOneDuration

    public void setAlphaAtOneDuration(long alphaAtOneDuration)

  Set this alpha object's alphaAtOneDuration to the specified value.

  Parameters:
    `alphaAtOneDuration` - the new alphaAtOneDuration

### getDecreasingAlphaDuration

    public long getDecreasingAlphaDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's decreasingAlphaDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's decreasingAlphaDuration.

### setDecreasingAlphaDuration

    public void setDecreasingAlphaDuration(long decreasingAlphaDuration)

  Set this alpha's decreasingAlphaDuration to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `decreasingAlphaDuration` - the new decreasingAlphaDuration

### getDecreasingAlphaRampDuration

    public long getDecreasingAlphaRampDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's decreasingAlphaRampDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's decreasingAlphaRampDuration.

### setDecreasingAlphaRampDuration

    public void setDecreasingAlphaRampDuration(long decreasingAlphaRampDuration)

  Set this alpha's decreasingAlphaRampDuration to that specified in the argument.

  Parameters:
    `decreasingAlphaRampDuration` - the new decreasingAlphaRampDuration

### getAlphaAtZeroDuration

    public long getAlphaAtZeroDuration()

  Retrieves this alpha's alphaAtZeroDuration.

  Returns:
    this alpha's alphaAtZeroDuration.

### setAlphaAtZeroDuration

    public void setAlphaAtZeroDuration(long alphaAtZeroDuration)

  Set this alpha object's alphaAtZeroDuration to the specified value.

  Parameters:
    `alphaAtZeroDuration` - the new alphaAtZeroDuration

### finished

    public boolean finished()

  Query to test if this alpha object is past its activity window, that is, if it has finished looping.

  Returns:
    true if no longer looping, false otherwise

Copyright 1996-2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Use is subject to license terms.