The Animation tab provides the user with a graphical representation of the works performed by periods. It also allows users to perform various tasks, including, but not limited to:
Visualise the schedule.
Investigate issues.
Create new sequences.
Create JiT (Just in Time) delays, dependencies and destinations.
Review all the records and agents available for a task.
Sort data by activities and parcels.
Detailed description of the Animation tab parts see below.
Toolbar
Button | ||
|---|---|---|
Visibility Mode button |  | Graphics view mode. Change current viewing mode which affects how data is displayed in the viewport below. Click on the dropdown list to select "View All" or "View Selected" (based upon what is selected in Records (Left Hand Panel)). |
Labels display button |  | Click this button to enable/hide labels. Click on the dropdown list to open the Label Display Settings window, where you can set the visibility of labels, their colors, font, size, or flag “Hide labels for small or obscured blocks”. |
Selection |  | Left click and drag. |
Pan |  | Middle click and drag. |
Rotate |  | Right click and drag. |
Zoom |  | Scroll wheel. |
Zoom to Extents |  | Zooms to show extents of data. |
Grid |  | Places grid in Viewport. Only appears when in plan view. |
Place Drone button |  | Places a drone into the Viewport which can be flown around. <Q>, <E> keys: rotates drone; <A>, <W>, <S>, <D> keys: moves drone; <CTRL> key: lowers drone; Space bar: raises drone. |
Measure Distances button |  | Left click in Viewport to measure distances between items. |
Capture Screenshot button |  | Takes a screen shot of the Viewport and places it in the Clipboard. Use <Ctrl+V> to paste. Select a resolution required. |
Set Mining Direction arrow |  | Set the direct of block depletion in Animation. To set the direction for one block. Click on the block and drag arrow in the desired depletion direction. To set the direction for multiple blocks. Select desired blocks to apply direction, click on Set Mining Direction button and Enter Depletion Bearing. Note: Changing Mining Direction will not affect the order in which blocks or parcels are mined. |
Viewport
Activity Status
Hatchings are used to indicate the drilling and blasting status of the blocks.
Hatchings for untouched, drilled, and blasted shots
Blast State | Hatching |
|---|---|
Not Drilled | Striped hatching |
Drilling | Grid hatching |
Blasted | No hatching |
In addition, the grid hatching is colour-coded by activity.
Hole State | Hole Colour |
|---|---|
Hole not drilled | Clear |
Hole drilled | White |
Hole charged | Red |
The display settings for hole grids can be found in Setup > Production Mode Features > Feature Settings > Production Drilling.
Haul Routes
Haul routes for each digger are highlighted on the haul network.
Right Hand Panel
Records tab
Displays the Records tree for all items within the selected Record Subset.
Record Subset can be changed using the Record Subset field dropdown menu.
Tip: Use Record Subsets with Visibility Mode to change what records are displayed.
Tip: Double click on an item in the Records Tree to zoom to that location.
Agents tab
Lists all Agents within the selected Agents Subset.
Displays rate and location data for each agent at that instance in time.
Tip: Double click on an Agent to quickly zoom to its location.
Tip: Dragging an Agent from this panel onto a block in the Viewport, will create a new sequence and open the Sequence Painter.
Bottom Panel
The bottom panel is used to run animation in the Viewport section, as well as to select the exact time period for use in multiple panels and tabs.
Time Slider
Time slider is used to play and navigate through the animation.
Playback/Video speed and duration can be altered using the Options button.
Blast Duration can be used to slow down the animation during blasts to make firing locations easier to visualise.
Exports
Several different exports are available from the Viewport.
Export Type | Outputs |
|---|---|
Export Period Solids | Output separate for each period or cumulative solids for the end of each period |
Export Stage Plan at Current Time | Output as mined/dumped surface at the time based on the slider location |
Export Stage Plans for All Periods | Output multiple as mined/dumped surfaces for the end of each period |
Export Video | Outputs video of animation |
Export Polygons for All Periods | Output multiple as mined/dumped polygons for the end of each period |
Export Blocks for Conformance | Outputs conformance file to be used in Spatial Conformetrics or as Schedule Guidance in APS |
Display button
Click the Display button to expand the its dialog. In this window, you can set various display settings for individual components, such as Nodes, Roads, Dependencies, Current Block and Period.
Item | Options |
|---|---|
Nodes |  |
Roads |  Selected Road refers to the active haul roads being used at a selected time. |
Period Label |  |
Silhouettes |  Allows for improved visibility between blasts and dig blocks. |
Dependencies |  |
Agents |  |
JiT Delays
“Just in Time” Delays allow for an Activity on a specific block to be delayed.
To create a new Jit Delay, select one, or multiple blocks in the Viewport, right click and select a Delay set to add Jit Delay. If a Delay set does not already exist a new set will automatically be created.
Edit Activity, Start Time & End Time accordingly.
JiT Dependencies
“Just in Time” Dependencies allow for a custom dependency to be created between two activities on two specific blocks.
To create a new Jit Dependency, select 2 blocks in the Viewport, right click and select a Dependency set to add Jit Dependency.
Two dependency options will be given for each predecessor => successor combination.
If a Dependency set does not already exist a new set will automatically be created.
Edit Activities and Delays accordingly.
JiT Destinations
“Just in Time” Destinations allow for a parcel within a block to be sent to a specific destination.
To create a new Jit Destinations, select a dig block in the Viewport, right click to assign a Jit Destinations.
Each parcel contained within a block can be assigned to a different destination.
If the dig block has already been scheduled, the destination assigned by the optimizer will show in Associated Movements.
Sending material to a destination which is not allowed by Destination Rules will cause the schedule to stop.
Right Hand Panel
Data tab
The Data panel allows the user to organize the data being processed. The main panel area lists all related fields, displayed according to the selected blocks in the Viewport or in the Records panel. To the left of the name of each field there is a small triangle icon, clicking on which will reveal or hide the hierarchy of this level. Use this feature to simplify and filter the data you need to work with.
Data panel items
Data View Mode |  | Change current data viewing mode which affects how data is displayed in the grid below |
|---|---|---|
Activity field |  | Click to select required activity from the dropdown |
Parcel Subset field | 
| Click to select displayed parcel subsets from the dropdown |
Export button |  | More details on export options see here |
Reserves Legend tab
Allows different reserve legends to be selected for use in the Viewport.
Shows preconfigured shadings and hatching.
Dumps Legend tab
Allows different dump legends to be selected for use in the Viewport.
Layers tab
The Layers panel is a screen component found in all Alastri applications. This panel is also used to add / remove / arrange and perform other operations with layers and overlays. For a detailed description of the elements of the Layers panel and recommendations for its use, see here.
