General Questions
- Is Code3D really free? What’s the catch
- What are the system requirements for running Code3D
- How do I install Code3D?
- Do I need a hardware fingerprint or license key?
- I installed Code3D and it immediately crashes. What am i doing wrong?
General Scenario Questions
- Why does it take longer for some scenarios to load?
- Is there a limit to the number of hazards that can be placed in a scenario?
- Are larger scenarios (those with more objects or timeline markers) more likely to crash the program?
- How can I view lesson plans for the pre-built scenarios?
- How can I save information about scenarios I’ve created or view information on scenarios others have created?
- Is there a way to list out the scene markers with their associated times and properties from my scenario?
- When I save a scenario, there's no screenshot in the MyScenario's Preview window?
- How can I share my scenarios with other members of the community?
- Is there a way to lock a scenario so that it can not be edited by others?
- When I open a pre-saved or shared scenario the sounds/images will not play/appear, is there a reason why?
Getting Started Questions
- In the "New Code3D Project Box," that appears when i start Code3D, what is the difference between Terrains, Environments and Sample Scenes?
- What is the purpose of the green man in each scene?
- Can my students type their answers to the questions I've asked on screen using textboxes in Code3D?
Scenario Building Questions
- How do we add objects into the scene?
- Can I add my own objects to the scene?
- How do I add sounds to the scene? Are there any sounds that come with the program
- I am using the arrow keys on my keyboard (or WASD keys) and nothing is happening, why is this?
- Can I add my own photos?
- How do I add text boxes to the scenario?
- How do I set a saved camera?
- I saved a camera angle but it doesn't go out there when I'm in real-time?
- Is there a way to reset the camera in the builder to the defaul? Sometimes I lose myself in the environment.
- How do I get the free movement or snap-to-grid tools to appear in the editor mode?
- I am trying to move an object in my scene, but the tool bar does not appear below the object when I want to move!
- Can I select multiple objects at a time?
Timeline Questions
- How can I leave multiple objects visible on the timeline?
- Can I delete timeline markers
- I moved a object but it starts moving too early, what am I doing wrong?
- My buildings pop in after the scenario has started, what am I doing wrong?
Playback Questions
- I go into real-time playback but nothing happens. Why?
- How do I get the gas detector and other equipment to show up in playback?
Tips and Tricks
- Realism of Hazards
- Timeline Marker at the Scenario's End
- Hotkey at the start of the scenario
- Locking Objects
- Build entire background first
General Questions
- Is Code3D really free? What's the catch?
- What are the system requirements for running Code3D?
- Graphics card with at least 32 MB of video RAM
- 1.0 GHz processor
- 512 MB RAM
- Windows 2000, NT, XP, Vista or 7 (running at least 1024 x 768 resolution)
- At least 1 GB of hard drive space
- How do I install Code3D?
- Do I need a hardware fingerprint or license key?
- I installed Code3D and it immediately crashes. What am I doing wrong?
Yes, Code3D is free, there are no catches.
Code3D will perform adequately with the following system requirements:
For improved performance, we recommend a stand-alone graphics card with a minimum of 128 MB of video RAM and that you have the most recent video drivers installed from the manufacturers’ website.
To install Code3D you must create an account on the Code3D website and once logged in you can download and install the Code3D program and tutorials.
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Older versions of Code3D required hardware fingerprints and license keys to unlock the program on your computer. If your version of Code3D is providing a fingerprint and asking for a product key, then you should download the newest version from this website.
This happens on rare occasions. When it does happen, 99% of the time it is because you had a bad install and need to un-install and re-install Code3D, or because your video card drivers are out of date. You can obtain updated drivers for free and a Google search will explain how to update your drivers. If you update your video card drivers and still experience a problem, double check that your computer meets the minimum system requires. If it does, you may need to contact an IT professional for technical support.
General Scenario Questions
- Why does it take longer for some scenarios to load
- Is there a limit to the number of hazards that can be placed in a scenario?
- Are larger scenarios (those with more objects or timeline markers) more likely to crash the program?
- How can I view lesson plans for the pre-built scenarios?
- How can I save information about scenarios I've created or view information on scenarios others have created?
- Is there a way to list out the scene markers with their associated times and properties from my scenario?
- When I save a scenario, there’s no screenshot in the MyScenario’s Preview window?
- How can I share my scenarios with other members of the community?
- Is there a way to lock a scenario so that it can’t be edited by others?
- When I open a pre-saved or shared scenario the sounds/images will not play/appear, is there a reason why?
The more items you place into a scene, the longer it will take to load. This is especially true with hazards and trees, the more of these that you place into a scene the slower it will load and run in playback mode.
When you are building a scenario, we suggest using the buildings specifically designed for the background (library category – background buildings) into the areas of your scenario that could be considered scene filler. You would place them in the background, away from the scenario’s focus. These buildings are designed to be a lower resolution so that they will allow your scene to load faster but still appear that your environment is complete and realistic.
No, but the more hazards that you place in a single scenario, the slower the scenario will run, especially computers with 64 MB or less of video RAM. Instead of adding 2 or 3 small fires, add one large fire, or use the property window to add one small fire that grows into a larger fire over time.
We have not found this to be a problem. Scenarios with a lot of hazards or objects in the scene will cause the program to run slower than usual but we have not seen any problems with this type of behavior crashing the program.
If a scenario has a lesson plan, it will be available for download on the scenarios page of the Code3D website.
To view or save information about a scenario, open the scenario in Code3D. On the main menu bar at the top of the screen, select “file” then “info” and a box will appear where you can display or add information about a scenario’s author, contact information for the author and a description of the scenario.
Yes. When you create scene markers you can name them, assign hotkeys, sounds or images to the particular time point. All of this information is automatically saved in the scene marker guide. To get this information, open the scenario in Code3D, go to “file” on the main menu bar at the top of the screen, then select “Scene Marker Guide,” from the list. A box will appear with all of this information about your scene markers. To print this information, you will need to open a blank document and copy the information by selecting “copy to clipboard” and then pasting the information into your document. (ctrl +v on your keyboard is the paste shortcut.)
In order for a screen shot to appear in the MyScenario’s preview window, you must first save the scenario. (or open the scenario from a saved location) Once you have done this, make sure that the part of the scenario you’d like to show up in that window is currently front and center on your screen. When you are ready to take a screen shot, go to “file” on the main menu at the top of your screen and select “take screenshot.” Once you do this a box will appear and ask you to name the file, it should automatically be labeled with the same name and be saved in the same folder/directory as the scenario. Select “ok” to save. Your screenshot should now appear in the window of the MyScenarios preview pane.
In order for this to work, your screen shot and scenario file must be in the correct directory and have the same name. Both files should be saved in your computer’s Shared Documents - Code3D - MyScenarios folder.
Any scenario that you create can be easily shared with others!
You will need to save your file and export the file to your computer.
Make sure when you export it that you remember where it was saved to (tip: I always choose to save it to the desktop for easy sharing, then deleting.)
To export your file go to “file” in the top menu of your screen and then “export.” Follow the on-screen prompts. Once the file has been successfully exported, you will need to login to the Code3D website. Once logged in, you can upload scenarios and lesson plans directly to the website for others to download.
If you are planning to e-mail a scenario to someone, you’ll also want to export the scenario because doing this packages all the sounds, photos, screen shots, etc into one file. The more photos and sounds that you add, the larger the scene file will be. Once you have the scenario exported, you can attach the file to an e-mail and send it to the intended recipient.
No. Code3D is designed to allow users to tailor a scenario to their own specifications and teaching methods, however, you are only able to edit scenarios from the builder. Once in real-time playback, the scenario can’t be edited until the user presses the “esc” key to return to the builder mode.
If you are afraid that someone using the computer will mess-up or change one of your scenarios, always save a scenario to a back-up location, such as a CD or USB drive.
The person who built the scenario probably used files that weren’t saved in the Code3D folders on their computer but were saved in another location and Code3D couldn’t find those folders on your computer to save the sound or photo into. You can fix this pretty easily, you’ll need to open the scenario and go to the scene markers that have the broken files. You will need to change that path to the correct location of the file on your computer. This can most easily be done by simply using the “browse” button and finding the particular file on your computer. Once you’ve finished fixing the paths, your downloaded scenario should work just fine.
Getting Started Questions
- In the “New Code3D Project Box,” that appears when I start Code3D, what is the difference between Terrains, Environments and Sample Scenes?
- What is the purpose of the green man in each scene?
- Can my students type their answers to the questions I’ve asked on screen using the program?
Terrains are blank slates that allow you to build a completely customized training environment by placing your own buildings, roads, and scenery objects.
Pre-Built Environments have buildings and scenery objects on one of the terrains but you will still need to add people and hazards. This allows you to get started easier b/c the background buildings are already in place. You are able to edit these environments to suit your training needs.
Sample Scenes are scenarios that complete with buildings, events and hazards that change over time. Some of the sample scenes have lesson plans that are available on the Code3D Website as well as other scenarios that were built by other members of the Code3D community. All of the pre-built scenarios are editable so you are able to customize them to suit your specific training needs.
The green wire frame fire fighter represents your starting location in playback. Wherever he is, and whatever direction he is facing at any given point on the timeline, is where your 1st person view in real-time will be. This represents the player location.
This is currently not a feature of Code3D. In our experience, most of the training done with Code3D is interactive, in-front of the class training and students answer the questions orally so this was not included as a feature in Code3D.
Scenario Building Questions
- How do we add objects into the scene?
- Can I add my own objects to the scene?
- How do I add sounds to the scene? Are there any sounds that come with the program?
- I am using the arrow keys on my keyboard (or WASD keys) and I’m not able to move around the builder environment, what am I doing wrong?
- Can I add my own photos?
- How do I add text boxes to the scenario?
- How do I set a saved camera?
- I saved a camera angle but it doesn't go there when I'm in real-time?
- Is there a way to reset the camera in the builder to the default, sometimes I lose myself in the environment?
- How do I get the free movement or snap-to-grid tools to appear in the editor mode?
- I am trying to move an object in my scene, but the tool bar does not appear below the object I want to move!
- Can I select multiple objects at a time?
To add objects into the scene, click on the drop down menu in the library and select a category. Once you have found the object you want to add, simply click and drag it into the scene. The more complicated an object is, the longer it will take to appear on screen. Be patient, some objects may take a few seconds to show up.
With the exception of adding your own photos, you are unable to add any objects 2D or 3D into the scene or the library.
Yes, there is a sound library that comes with Code3D. You can add these and any other sounds to the scenario by using a scene event and “browsing” for a sound file on your computer. It should open up the Code3D sound library by default, but you can add them from other locations on your computer. You can also set how long the sound plays for in the same properties window.
Your computer is not focused on the scene, most likely you clicked on the property window, library or timeline and simply need to click inside the scene to set the program’s focus. Now you should be able to move around the scene easily.
Yes, you can use your own photos but they will remain 2D flat objects, they will not turn into 3D objects or buildings once you put them into the program. There are two ways to add photos into the scene. You can add them as a scene object or as a full-screen object.
Adding photos directly into the scene as objects
Select photos/pictures from the library drop down menu and add a photo flat into the scene. Using the properties window on the right hand side of your screen, upload the photo you would like to appear on the photo object. Using the properties window you can also scale the object to be very big or very small. If you need it to be bigger than the slider allows, you can type a larger number into the size box, if the number you entered is highlighted green that means it is unsaved. Hit enter on your keyboard and it will save the changes and un-highlight the text.
Adding 4 of them to form a box and putting photos on each side, you can create a house. You can also add signs to roads, buildings, etc. using this feature.
Adding pictures, logos or photos that you want to go full-screen during a scenario
This option is typically used as a title or instruction screen at the start of a scenario. You add these types of photos using the yellow scene events markers on the timeline. Once you’ve created a scene event, you can upload the photo from the properties window on the right hand side of your screen. When the scenario reaches that point in time, the scenario will automatically stop and show the photo until you hit spacebar to continue working through the scenario.
There are two ways to add text boxes to a scene; you can add them to an object itself (good for setting readings for a gas detector) or as on-screen objects that pause the scenario (good for discussion). Adding text to an object in the scene is handled through that object’s properties. The text can change at every timeline marker for that object. When you get close to this object in playback instructions will show up on screen telling you how to see the text.
To add a text box that pauses the scenario, you edit the text box properties of a yellow scene event. This will show up automatically at the chosen time point and the scenario will not resume until you hit spacebar.
You used scene events to set a saved camera angle. You position your camera view in the editor to the angle you would like saved at a particular point in time. Then you will create a scene event by clicking on the yellow diamond. Using the properties window on the right hand side of your screen you will click “set camera angle.” At any point you can go back into the scene marker and click “preview camera angle” to test the angle.
To view saved camera angles, you will need to hit the “tab” button on your keyboard while you are in playback mode. This will switch between your saved camera angles and your tactical on the ground camera view.
Yes. You can hit the “reset camera” button and it will move the camera back to the default view of the scene. The “reset camera” button is the red circle next to the play button on the top tool bar
The default position will be the position the camera was in the last time you saved or closed the scenario so the default camera will change but is a good way to get back to the center of the screen when you are lost in the environment.
To get the movement tools to show up, you must select an object at a timeline marker. There are two sets of movement tools that you can toggle between: free movement and snap-to-grid. The button is on the top toolbar and has a gridline. When it has a red outline, snap-to-grid is on, when the red outline is of you have free movement of the object.
If you are having trouble moving an object, your timeline is likely not at a marker. To move objects, you must either be at the very start of the scenario (time point zero) or at one of the markers that have been created for that object on the timeline.
No, Code3D doesn’t have multi-select, but using timeline markers and “eyeballing” the timeline objects so they stay on the timeline, you can line up a bunch of objects and activities to happen at the exact same time, because you can see that the timeline markers will line-up exactly.
Timeline Questions
- How can I leave multiple objects visible on the timeline?
- Can I delete timeline markers?
- I moved an object but it starts moving too early, what am I doing wrong?
- My buildings pop in after the scenario has started, what am I doing wrong?
By default, the timeline only shows the scene timeline and object that is currently selected. If you wish to have multiple objects visible on the timeline, you need to select the object you wish to keep on the timeline and click on the eyeball icon that is at the start of each row on the timeline with an object name. When the eye is open, the object will remain on the timeline for you to continue working with.
When objects names are left on the timeline, you can select that object by selecting the name on the timeline. This is especially helpful for hazards, very small objects, and crowded environments with lots of objects close together. In those situations objects are sometimes difficult to click on and selecting them from the timeline is easier.
Yes, you can but this action can not be undone. To delete a timeline marker, click the timeline marker until the properties window shows up. Then hit delete on your keyboard or click the trash can icon that is on the timeline itself.
This is a key framing issue. On the properties panel you’ll notice an arrow at the end of each line of properties. We call this arrow a key frame and we use key frames to ensure that changes in properties happen gradually because this makes them look more realistic.
When this arrow is highlighted red, it means that a property on that line has changed since you put the object into the scene. If the item is greyed out, it means that the property on that line is unchanged.
If you are changing different properties (for example color of a fire at the 1st timeline marker and size of the fire at the 2nd timeline marker) and you do not turn on the size key frame at the 1st timeline marker, the program thinks that the size starts to change at the first timeline marker and continues changing slowly until it reaches the 2nd timeline marker. To solve this problem, all you need to do is go to the timeline marker where you would like the change to start happening from, and click anywhere in the property box that you are triggering to start. The box will turn green and without changing any of the values inside the box, hit enter to save that value and turn the key framing on. Now your object should tween or move seamlessly between the two time points.
You added the building when the blue scrubber bar of the timeline was not at time point zero. You can click the object, select timeline point zero on the timeline and make the object visible in the properties window, but if you’ve moved the object at all since putting it into the scene, those changes won’t be backtracked to time point zero.
I’ve found it is easier to write down the minute/section of each time points for the object as well as the property values for that object at each marker, and then delete the object, and add it again at time point zero using the values form the values you wrote down. Then recreate all the other markers from your notes.
Timeline Questions
- I go into real-time playback but nothing happens. Why?
- How do I get the gas detector and other equipment to show up in playback?
In order to start the scenario, you have to hit the spacebar on your keyboard. Spacebar acts as your pause/play button and you can pause/play as often as you like.
Right click and a menu with a list of equipment will show up. None of the equipment is functional, but you can use object text boxes to set “readings” for various objects or areas of the scenario that can change over time. It is a good way to test to see if your students think to pull out the equipment and if they remember to take multiple readings during an on-screen event.
Tips and Tricks
- Realism of Hazards
- Timeline Marker at the Scenario’s End
- Hotkey at the start of the scenario
- Locking Objects
- Build entire background first.
To increase the realistic look of hazards, we suggest fading them in and out using the transparency bar. When you add something into the scene it pops in. If you insert a hazard into the scene and set the transparency property to zero and create another timeline marker with the transparency set at 100%, the hazard will appear more gradually and look more realistic. You should also make hazards disappear in the same way.
In real-time, the scenario will continue running to infinity until you stop the scenario. We’ve found it helpful to place a timeline marker at the end of the scenario with a text box that informs the class that the scenario has ended.
We suggest setting a hotkey at the start of the scenario using the scene marker. We have found that setting the start of the scenario to hot key #1 allows us to easily start the scenario over in real-time by simply pressing the #1 key at any point during the scenario. This is really great is you are planning to repeat the class several times a day.
When building your scenario, you have the ability to lock objects so you can’t accidentally select them and move them to new locations. This is really important when you are trying to select a small smoke target on the side of a house, more often than not; you are likely to select the house instead of the smoke. If you select the house, right click and lock it, then you won’t be able to accidentally move it without unlocking it. We tend to lock all of the background objects (trees, roads, signs, buildings, etc.) when we add them into the scene and get them into position. Then we’re not accidentally moving things around and that makes building scenarios go faster and easier.
Build the entire background before you start adding in hazards and moving the blue scrubber bar. If you don’t, chances are that you are going to add background details at timeline points that are not time point zero and they’ll pop in during the scenario and look awkward and sloppy.