This is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for DYNAanimation. Each question is assigned with a reference number. Please specify this reference number when posting comments or questions with regard to a particular FAQ. Send your support requests to
1. Can I generate an AVI video of a DYNAanimation project?
2. Which graphics cards can be used for DYNAanimation?
3. Can I use the DYNAanimation Editor with dSPACE real-time boards?
4. Are there different product versions of DYNAanimation?
5. What can I do if DYNAanimation said "DU_DYNAANIMATION_FIO is not licensed"?
6. What can I do if Matlab said "??? Error using ==> actxserver Server creation failed. Invalid ProgID 'DYNAanimationCOM.DYNAanimationCOMinterface.2'"?
7. Can I use DYNAanimation per remote?
8. How can I use my own 3D objects?
9. What can I do if DYNAanimation does not animate my 3D objects?
10. How can I install DYNAanimation?
11. Can I see the animation in two or more screens?
12. Can I generate videos from simulation result data per remote?
1. Can I generate an AVI video of a DYNAanimation project?
Yes you can. DYNAanimation supports most of the installed video codecs.
We prefer to use the free video codec
XVid. There is a detailed description in the DYNAanimation user manual.
2. Which graphics cards can be used for DYNAanimation?
Be sure that the latest driver of your graphics adapter is installed. Mostly the latest driver can be loaded from the web site of the graphics card manufacturer (eg. ATI, Intel or NVIDIA).
The selection of a graphics card for DYNAanimation largely depends on the requirements of the specific application scenario.
TESIS DYNAware does not guarantee that DYNAanimation will run on computers with onboard graphic adapters or notebooks.
The reasons are:
- The specialized onboard graphics processing units often behave differently from high-end graphics cards.
- DYNAanimation has very high requirements with regard to graphic performance. The notebook must be equipped with OpenGL hardware acceleration and at least 32 MB of texture memory.
- Even if the technical specifications of these processing units match the formal requirements (OpenGL hardware acceleration, 32 MB RAM), drivers are often not stable enough to satisfy the requirements of CADlike applications.
3. Can I use the DYNAanimation Editor with dSPACE real-time boards?
Yes you can. To use for instance the DYNAanimation demo models with dSPACE real-time boards follow the below steps.
- Download and unzip the dSPACE demos to your current DYNAanimation work directory.
- Go to the menu "Simulation" in the Simulink model and select the option "Simulation Parameters". Alternatively press CTRL+E.
Select the option "Block reduction" and set the radio button to "off". - In the "Simulation Parameters" set the solver type to "fixed step".
- Copy the makefiles v4_engine_usr.mk and single_track_model_usr.mk to your current work directory.
- Select the sub-menu "Options" in the menu "Tools | Real-Time Workshop" of the Simulink model.
Click "Browse" and select the tlc file for your target platform (e.g. rti1005.tlc for DS1005). For this step, it is required that the dSPACE software (RTI or RTI MP) is installed. - Start the build processby choosing "Build model..." from the submenu "Tools | Real-Time Workshop" in the Simulink model. Alternatively press CTRL+B.
- Connect DYNAanimation to the dSPACE realtime board by changing the simulation platform in DYNAanimation to your dSPACE board. E.g. for DS1005 select "Extern ds1005" from the drop-down field at the left-bottom corner.
Activate the button "Connect to signal data" from the DYNAanimation control bar to receive simulation data.
4. Are there different product versions of DYNAanimation?
Yes. DYNAanimation supports two main product version. The DYNAanimation Viewer and the DYNAanimation Editor.
The free entry version DYNAanimation Viewer allows visualising Simulink simulation results using the supplied animation settings. Moreover, you can load and play existing scenes and results from other DYNAanimation runs.
With the full version DYNAanimation Editor you can create individual sceneries. You can also manipulate your model interactively via the game controller or from remote via the ActiveX interface.
See the
DYNAanimation product page for more Information.
5. What can I do if DYNAanimation said "DU_DYNAANIMATION_FIO is not licensed"?
In this case, DYNAanimation is configured with a wrong license file "license_dynaware.ini". You can adjust the license file via the option "File | Settings | Change license file".
6. What can I do if Matlab said "??? Error using ==> actxserver Server creation failed. Invalid ProgID 'DYNAanimationCOM.DYNAanimationCOMinterface.2'"?
DYNAanimation is realised as ActiveX control. Thereby, it is possible to integrate DYNAanimation in different simulation tools. If the above error occurs, DYNAanimation is not fully registered in Windows. Usually DYNAanimation is registered during the installation process.
To fix the problem you can register DYNAanimation manually:
- Open the DOS command window.
- Change to your product installation directory by typing cd [your-DYNAwareR33-directory]DYNAanimationbin.
- Execute regsvr32 DYNAanimationCOM.dll.
7. Can I use DYNAanimation from remote?
Yes you can. DYNAanimation supports AvtiveX for remote control.
8. How can I use my own 3D objects?
DYNAanimtion supports VRML 2.0 geometries. Most CAD or 3D tools can export 3D objects in this format.
9. What can I do if DYNAanimation does not animate my 3D objects?
Be sure that the latest driver of your graphics adapter is installed. Mostly the latest driver can be loaded from the web site of the graphics card manufacturer (eg. ATI, Intel or NVIDIA). Be sure that DirectX 9 or higher is installed.
10. How can I install DYNAanimation?
Please follow the instructions in the
DYNAanimation installation manual.
11. Can I see the animation in two or more screens?
Yes you can. DYNAanimation supports a feature to see the animation in two or more screens. The limiting factor is the number of screens which can be connected to your PC.
12. Can I generate videos from simulation result data from remote?
Yes you can. DYNAanimation supports ActiveX for remote control. The following example shows how to generate a video from remote:
% start DYNAanimation
actx = am_start(1);
% load result file
actx.LoadResults('[your work directory]dataanimationresultsdemo.dar');
% get video compression list (codec) list
actx.GetVideoCompressionList();
% this command returns all installed codecs, e.g.: 'Cinepak Codec by Radius', 'Intel 4:2:0 Video V2.50',
% 'Intel Indeo(R) Video R3.2', 'Intel Indeo® Video 4.5', 'Indeo® video 5.10', 'Intel IYUV Codec', 'Microsoft H.261 Video Codec',
% 'Microsoft H.263 Video Codec', 'Microsoft RLE', 'Microsoft Video 1', 'XviD MPEG-4 Codec'
% save AVI, % use e.g. XviD MPEG-4 Codec for video compression
actx.SaveAvi('[your work directory]dataanimationresultsdemo.avi', 'XviD MPEG-4 Codec', 0);
