The first half of this presentation dealt with mapping a 3D scene onto a 2D surface which can be a computer screen, a projection screen or the retina of the eye. By doing so we preserve much of the feel of depth of the scene. Of course when we look at an picture we get only part of the feel… Read More... "3D-2D Perspective Mapping in Excel – part #2"
In computer graphics we often need to be able to display a three-dimensional image in two dimensions and preserve the perspective appearance. If we walk on a straight road, it appears that the road narrows with the distance. This is the perspective effect and it is a result of mapping a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface (i.e. a computer… Read More... "3D-2D Perspective Mapping in Excel – part #1"
Hello everyone, this is a tutorial in which a virtual Excel joystick controlled by mouse movements on a scatter chart has been demonstrated . While in operation, a macro updates the coordinates of the pointer in two spreadsheet cells. The two coordinates are then incorporated in formulas which limit the range of motion of the joystick. Just like a real… Read More... "A Virtual Joystick – How Can You Make That ? – tutorial"
Hi guys, here is the second part of a tutorial describing the matematical equations used in modeling a three-pendulum harmonograph (automatic drawing machine). It pertains to the second version of the model. This section describes the kinematic equations involved in the articulated linkage mechanism on the top of the table, the custom spreadsheet functions used in the model and some overall… Read More... "Modeling a Three-Pendulum Harmonograph – tutorial: part #2"
Hi Folks, there are many available built-in spreadsheet functions in Excel. Ocasionaly one might need to write a special custom function. This second short tutorial is an introduction to that. Creating a “Time Stamp” function is presented as a first example after which a concatenation function between a custom formatted date and a string (text) is introduced. This last function came about from… Read More... "Writing Excel User Defined Functions in VBA – part #2 – time stamping, concatenating date and text while maintaining the date format"
Hi guys, here is the first part of a tutorial describing the mathematical equations used in modeling a three-pendulum harmonograph (automatic drawing machine). It pertains to the second version of the model. This section refers only to the kinematic equations for the movement of three pendulums. A second section will be published later and it will describe the kinematic equations involved in… Read More... "Modeling a Three-Pendulum Harmonograph – tutorial: part #1"
Hi! Here is an improved (faster and cleaner) version of the harmonograph. The worksheet has three different areas, the physical machine (a photo of the machine build out of wood by Karl Sims), the virtual machine (which is a 2D chart with a top view of a model showing the three pendulum ends, the drawing table, and the linkage mechanism which connects pendulum #1,… Read More... "Three-Pendulum Harmonograph #2 – an improved version"
There are many available built-in spreadsheet functions in Excel. Occasionally one might need a very special custom function. This short tutorial is an introduction about how to write a user defined function which calculate the distance between two points in a Cartesian plane. The topic will be continued and custom functions will occasionally be used in future models. We’d love… Read More... "Writing Excel User Defined Functions in VBA – part #1 – the distance function"
Hi guys, here is the final part of tutorial about creating a digital clock in Excel. It is a good tutorial about general use of sprites in animation, especially the first half. Tell us your thoughts, George [sociallocker][/sociallocker] Building an Digital Clock in Excel – part #2 – a full digital clock model using the “digit” sprites by George Lungu… Read More... "Creating a Digital Clock #2 – sprite driver, timing macro and functions, full model"
Hello! Due to some incompatibility, I re-adjusted the old digital clock for the 2007 version of Excel. In Excel 2003 or earlier if you click on a chart point twice (with a certain delay between clicks) you can paste a picture and have the data point actually convert into that picture. In 2007 the same trick works but somehow the picture… Read More... "Digital Clock Model – an Excel 2007 adaptation"
Hi guys, this is part #1 of a tutorial showing how to generate sprites used in a digital clock model. Sprites are typically simplified images (usually two-dimensional) which are used to replace complex but remote 3D-objects in an image. When an object is far away from the viewer a three-dimensional representation is not necessary since the eye cannot see all the details,… Read More... "Creating a Digital Clock #1 – sprite generation"
Hi there, this is a better version of Pong, in which you play with a virtual opponent. It does not have a score board yet and the opponent is theoretically unbeatable. I will be improving it further. Excel 2007 is quite slow on this one. In order to get maximum speed out of Excel 2007 make sure you zoom in as much as… Read More... "Game of PONG #2"
Hi folks, this is a “practice box” for pong. The green button will “Start-Stop” the model and will also link the mouse to the bat (racket) for game control . The bat control is very smooth and quick and no mouse clicking is necessary. The red “Serve” button will shoot a new ball when you loose the old one (you don’t need to stop… Read More... "Game of Pong #1 – a dynamic training box with sound effects"