Overview | Hierarchy Window | Render Order Window | KML Window | ArcGIS Window
Globe Manager - Hierarchy Window
The Hierarchy window is used to add central bodies, image and terrain items to a scenario. Image and terrain items can also be organized into sets. The base images of globes in the scenario can be deleted and changed in the Hierarchy window.
The Hierarchy window is also used to add terrain tilesets from a Terrain Server.
Hierarchy Tools
Properties
Displays the properties of terrain and imagery items.
Add Terrain Tilesets from a Terrain Server
To add terrain from the AGI Terrain Server or a custom terrain server:
- Right-click a central body on the Hierarchy tab, and select Configure Terrain Server...
- From the Terrain Services window, select either AGI Terrain Server or a Custom Terrain Server.
- Click the Tileset down arrow to select a tileset and click OK twice. The selected tileset is displayed in the Hierarchy tab and is enabled by default.
Add Terrain and Imagery
You can add imagery and terrain items to any central body using Add Terrain/Imagery (
). Select a central body in the Hierarchy list and click Add Terrain/Imagery. The Open Terrain and Imagery Data window will appear. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file(s). Select OK, and the items will appear in the Globe Manager and on the selected central body in the 3D Window.
Terrain and imagery items can also be added to the scenario by dragging and dropping the files from the file browser to the 3D Graphics window. The terrain and imagery files will automatically populate the Globe Manager where they can be managed.
The chunk imagery and terrain caches allow for an even distribution of memory among 3D windows which at times may cause multiple 3D windows to recalculate to mouse zooms/redraws in one window.
You can drag and drop a .jp2 file into the 3D Graphics windows. However, this file must be in a geographic WGS84 projection. If it is not, you need to convert this image to either a geographic WGS84 .jp2 or .pdttx file using the Imagery and Terrain Converter.
If you have edited an image using an image editor, you will have to delete that image from the directory and re-add it using the Add Terrain/Imagery button.
Items can also be added by right-clicking any item in the Hierarchy window, scrolling down, and selecting Add Terrain/Imagery... from the drop down menu. The Open Imagery/Terrain Data window will appear. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file(s). Select Open and the items will appear in the Globe Manager and on the globe in the 3D Graphics window.
When a terrain file (.pdtt) is added to the Globe Manager it is automatically added to the scenario's terrain properties page.
Add Set
Image and terrain items can be grouped together in sets as a way to manage them and turn them on and off together. To create a set, select Add Set (
). The Set Properties window appears. Name the set and, if needed, set the Minimum and Maximum Display Altitudes and the Start and End display times.
Sets can also be added by right-clicking any item in the Hierarchy window, scrolling down, and selecting Create Terrain/Imagery Set... from the drop down menu.
Add Terrain/Imagery to Set
Once a set has been created, you can right-click the set and select Add Terrain/Imagery to Set... from the drop down menu, or, with the set selected, select Add Terrain/Imagery. This will open the Open Imagery/Terrain Data window where you can choose from the available items.
Zoom To
The Zoom To button is used to move to a specific central body, image, or terrain item. Right-click the item in Globe Manager and select Zoom To from the drop down menu, or select the item and then select Zoom To (
).
Toggle Extents
Toggle Extents displays the range and borders of an item on a central body. By selecting an item and clicking Toggle Extents (
), or right-clicking an item and selecting Toggle Extents from the drop down menu the item will become highlighted allowing the user to observe the extent of the item. Using the Zoom To button before viewing extents is recommended. Click Toggle Extents, or right-click and scroll to Toggle Extents in the drop down menu to unhighlight the selected item. Any highlighted extents are automatically turned off when Globe Manager is closed. When multiple extents are shown the extent of the item selected in Globe Manager is highlighted in translucent green. All other extents are highlighted in translucent white.
Import Globe
Globe files (.glb) can be used to share globes. A .glb file can be imported into Globe Manager by selecting Import Globe File (
). Browse to the desired .glb file in the Open window that appears and select Open. Importing a globe will remove any sets and items in the current globe and cannot be undone.
By default all sets in an imported globe will have their visibility set to off when initially loaded. Select the checkbox next to a set name to display it in the 3D Graphics window.
Export Globe
A globe can be exported to a .glb file for sharing. Select Export Globe File (
). The Save As dialog will appear and allow you to save a .glb file. This .glb file can then be imported by other STK users.
Globe files (.glb) are text files that record what files are used in the globe and where they are located in relation to the local system. Imagery and terrain files are not saved as part of the .glb file. When sharing .glb files the receiving user must have access to the imagery and terrain files either on their system in the same directory structure as the original user or on the same network resources as the original user.
Add Central Body
Select Add Central Body (
) to reveal a drop-down list of available central bodies. Select from the drop-down list to add a central body to a scenario.
Context Sensitive Menus
Right-clicking items in the Globe Manager will display context sensitive menus. Listed below are those menu items and their descriptions.
| Hierarchy Window Menus | |
|---|---|
| Displayed on right mouse click when cursor is over blank space in the Hierarchy window. | |
| Menu Item | Description |
| Smooth | Blends neighboring pixels to soften the image. |
| Add Central Body | Add additional central bodies to a scenario. |
| Import All Globes... | Import globe data for all central bodies defined in a .glb file. Importing all globes will remove any sets and items in the replaced central bodies and cannot be undone. |
| Export All Globes... | Export a .glb file that contains globe data for all central bodies listed in the Globe Manager Hierarchy window. |
| Hide/Show Toolbar | Toggle the Hierarchy window toolbar off and on. |
| Help | Open Globe Manager help. |
| Central Body Menus | |
|---|---|
| Displayed on right mouse click when cursor is over a Central Body item in the Hierarchy window. | |
| Menu Item | Description |
| Zoom To | Zooms the view of the 3D Graphics Window to the selected object. |
| Label | Toggles the display of the object label on and off. |
| Texture | Toggles the display of all textures on the selected central body on and off. |
| Solar |
|
| Sunshine | Displays the Sun as if seeing it through glass or air. |
| Water Surface (Earth only) |
Displays the ocean surface giving the appearance of waves. |
| Base Color... | Select the base color for the selected central body. The base color will display when no base texture is selected or if the display of the base texture is turned off. |
| Set As Primary | Designate a central body as the primary central body. Associated central bodies will not be added to the Globe Manager hierarchy when selecting Set As Primary from the drop-down menu. |
| Add Terrain/Imagery... | Opens the Open Imagery/Terrain Data window. |
| Create Terrain/Imagery Set... | Opens the Set Properties window. Name the set and if needed set the Minimum and Maximum Display Altitudes and the Start and End display times. |
| Paste | Add copied terrain/imagery to the selected central body's set of terrain/imagery. |
| Change Base | Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file from the Pick Base Texture window. |
| Add Nightlights... | Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file from the Pick Nightlights Texture window. |
| Add Specular... | Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file from the Pick Specular Texture window. |
| Add Clouds... | Select a cloud file from the Open Cloud Data window. |
| Use Auto Clouds | Have STK automatically create a .cld index file and download time tagged cloud image files for the scenario time period from the AGI ftp site. |
| Import Globe | Browse to the desired .glb file in the Open window that appears and select Open. |
| Export Globe | The Save As dialog will appear and allow you to save a .glb file. |
| Delete | Delete the central body from Globe Manager. |
| Base Menus | |
|---|---|
| Displayed on right mouse click when cursor is over a Base item in the Hierarchy window. | |
| Menu Item | Description |
| Change Base... | Change the base texture on a central body. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file from the Pick Base Texture window. |
| Properties... | Displays the name, location, and extents of the selected texture. |
| Zoom To | Displays the selected item in the 3D Graphics window. |
| Toggle Extents | Displays or hides the extent of the borders of the selected item in the 3D Graphics window. |
| Delete | Deletes the selected base texture. |
| Set Menus | |
|---|---|
| Displayed on right mouse click when cursor is over a Set item in the Hierarchy window. | |
| Menu Item | Description |
| Add Terrain/Imagery to Set... | The Open Terrain and Imagery Data window will appear. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file(s). Select OK and the items will appear in the Globe Manager and on the selected central body in the 3D Window. |
| Properties | Displays the name, location, and extents of the selected item. The Lineage section displays the sets in which the item is included. The Visual Attributes section lets you set the translucency of the item as it appears in the 3D Graphics window. When displaying the properties of a JPEG 2000 image item (.JP2) the Visual Attributes section displays a Use Transparency Color checkbox. Select the checkbox and enter the RGB values of the color within the image that you want to be transparent. |
| Cut | Remove an item or set from the Hierarchy to the clipboard. |
| Copy | Copy an item or set to the clipboard. |
| Paste | Paste the previously cut or copied item or set. |
| Delete | Removes the selected item or set from the Hierarchy. When deleting a set you will be presented with a dialog that asks you to confirm the deletion. |
Managing Content in the Hierarchy Window
Sets and items in the Hierarchy window of Globe Manager display in alphabetical order.
Working with Items and Sets
Display/Hide Sets and Items
Sets and items can be displayed or hidden by toggling the checkbox next to each item. When checked, the set or item will display on the globe in the 3D Graphics window. When the box is unchecked the set or item will not display.
Moving Items In and Out of Sets
You can move items in and out of sets and between sets by selecting them and dragging them to their desired location. You can also right-click an item and scroll down the menu to Cut and then right-click a set and select Paste from the drop down menu to move an item between sets.
Moving items in the Hierarchy window can affect the render order of the moved items. If render order is important for your scenario be sure to double check the Render Order window to assure the images and terrain will display correctly.
Deleting Items and Sets
You can right-click an item or set and select Delete from the drop down menu to delete it from Globe Manager. When deleting a set you will be presented with a dialog that asks you to confirm the deletion.
Smooth
If selected, STK blends neighboring pixels to soften the image so that the image is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. You can right-click the open space in the Globe Manager to access the Global Properties.
Terrain and Imagery Properties
Item Properties
To display the properties of terrain and imagery items, right-click the item and scroll to and select Properties from the drop-down menu. The Item Properties window displays the name, location, and extents of the selected item. The Lineage section displays the sets in which the item is included. The Visual Attributes section lets you set the translucency of the item as it appears in the 3D Graphics window.
When displaying the properties of a JPEG 2000 image item (.JP2) the Visual Attributes section displays a Use Transparency Color checkbox. Select the checkbox and enter the RGB values of the color within the image that you want to be transparent.
Translucency settings are available when displaying the properties of a .JP2 image. Select Translucency and enter the desired percentage of translucency. Select Interpolate Translucency over Altitude to have translucency change based on altitude. Set the minimum and maximum altitudes and their associated translucencies.
The Lineage and Visual attributes section are not available for base, nightlight, or specular images.
Open Terrain and Imagery Data
The Open Terrain and Imagery Data window has the following characteristics:
Local Files
Select the Local Files button to select terrain and imagery that resides on your local machine and network.
When browsing for terrain and imagery, you can copy/paste or type the name of the filename into the filepath field.
The File Find directory path will automatically be used in the list of places Globe Manager searches for terrain and imagery.
Path
You can select all previously used directories or a specific previously-used directory from the Path dropdown. You can also use the browse button (
) to bring up a file selection dialog to choose the directory containing the files to be used.
When the Path is selected the available imagery and terrain items are displayed in the item list showing their Name, Type, Latitudes, and Longitudes. Individual items can be selected by clicking them. Items will become highlighted when selected.
Selected
Selected items are listed in the Selected field.
Filter by Type
Use the Filter by Type drop-down list to select from the supported file types. Only files of the type selected will be displayed. Select All Supported Types to show all available file types.
Options
Select the arrow bar on the right side of the dialog to expand the Options section. Use the Columns and Options check boxes to turn the available columns and options on or off. Select the arrow bar again to close the Options section.
Filter Tools
Select the arrow bar on the bottom of the dialog to expand the Filter Tools section. The Filter Tools allow you to display items that meet specific criteria. Select the Filter On check box to turn on filtering. Select from the available properties and operators and enter or select the filter value. Click Apply Filter to filter the available files.
An Advanced... option is available from the Property drop down. When selected it displays the Advanced Filter Parameters window that allows for multiple search criteria to be entered and saved. Use the Add and Remove buttons to create and delete filter parameters. Drop downs will only display available properties, operators and values. Select Apply Filter to apply the advanced filter parameters.
Select the arrow bar again to close the Filter Tools section.
Primary Central Body
When a scenario is created with the New Scenario Wizard Globe Manager will automatically include in the hierarchy those central bodies associated with the primary central body. For example, when Europa is selected as the primary central body, the Sun, Jupiter, Io, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa will populate the Globe Manager Hierarchy window.
Add Central Body
Use the Add Central Body () button to add additional central bodies to a scenario. Click the button and select from the list of available central bodies.
Set as Primary
Right-click a central body in the Globe Manager and select Set as Primary from the drop-down menu to designate it as the primary central body. Associated central bodies will not be added to the Globe Manager hierarchy when selecting Set as Primary from the drop-down menu.
Working with Textures
Change Base Texture
To change the base texture on a central body right-click any central body or central body base texture in the Globe Manager window and select Change Base... from the drop-down menu. The Pick Base Texture window appears. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file.
Compressed texture files, such as JPEG 2000 textures, are slower to load than uncompressed texture files.
Microsoft Bing™ Maps
When a scenario is created a Bing map is added to the Hierarchy by default and is set to display in the 3D Graphics window at a maximum altitude of 300km. Click the Bing Maps toolbar on the 3D Graphics Window to select from the four available maps and to set map visibility.
Figure 1: Bing Maps Toolbar
Microsoft Bing Maps is a geospatial mapping platform produced by Microsoft. STK can use Microsoft Bing Maps imagery as a background globe image. To use Microsoft Bing Maps imagery right-click Earth in the Globe Manager and select Change Base... Select a Microsoft Bing Maps option. The default server is virtualearth.net.
The Microsoft Bing Maps option is also available on the STK toolbar. If you do not see this toolbar, click View -> Toolbars and select Microsoft Bing Maps. You will be able to select an Aerial, Hill Shade, Hybrid, or Road image that will be placed on the 3D Globe in the 3D Graphics window.
The Microsoft Bing Maps option will use the proxy information defined in the Online Preferences.
Add Nightlights Texture
To add a nightlight texture to a central body, right-click any central body in the Globe Manager window and select Add Nightlights... from the drop-down menu. The Pick Nightlights Texture window appears. Select the Location Type, the Location Path and the desired file.
To change the nightlight texture on a globe, right-click any central body with a nightlight texture or a nightlight texture and select Change Nightlights... from the pop out menu.
Add Specular Texture
To add a specular texture to a central body right-click any central body in the Globe Manager window and select Add Specular... from the drop-down menu. The Pick Specular Texture window appears. Select the Location Type, the Location Path, and the desired file.
To change the specular texture on a central body, right-click any specular texture and select Change Specular... from the pop out menu.
Delete Texture
Base, Nightlight and Specular textures can be deleted by right-clicking the texture and selecting Delete.
Working with Clouds
Add Clouds
To add cloud data, right-click the Earth in the Globe Manager Hierarchy window and select Add Clouds... from the pop out menu. Select a cloud file from the Open Cloud Data window.
Change Clouds
To change cloud data, right-click the Earth or the current cloud file in the Globe Manager Hierarchy window and select Change Clouds... from the pop out menu. Select a cloud file from the Open Cloud Data window.
Clouds will only display on the Earth if the Earth is displayed.
Cloud index files contain a time-ordered list of images to be shown over the globe. A cloud file consists of a list of one or more image files that together cover the globe or the area specified by the .pos file. Cloud image files end in a .clds or .pgm extension.
To associate a .pos file (position file) with a cloud file, giving you the ability to create a cloud file for a specific region, place the .pos file in the same directory as the cloud file.
Use Auto Clouds
Right-click the Earth and select Use Auto Clouds to have STK automatically create a .cld index file and download time tagged cloud image files for the scenario time period from the AGI ftp site. The files are downloaded to <STK all users area>\STKData\VO\Clouds.
Any time the scenario time is updated, STK will update the cloud data based upon the new scenario time interval.
Cloud Properties Panel
Cloud properties information can be found on the Cloud Properties page.
Delete Cloud
Cloud layers can be deleted by right-clicking the cloud texture and selecting Delete.
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