Ravenger7Join Date: 2012-09-11
Post Count: 809 |
ROBLOX Studio is a program that allows users both free and paid to edit their placeswith a full suite of tools and script editing tools (superior to the Play Solo gear,) and allows them to be saved to the player's local machine, rather than only ROBLOX's server. 
ROBLOX would not be what it is today without the ROBLOX Studio. Every single tool in the studio is extremely versatile and can be applied to many purposes. Players must learn to use every single tool in the studio in order to create a successful place.
Using ROBLOX Studio
Note: This tutorial is not for the faint of mind! Prepare to read a lot!
Getting Started
ROBLOX Studio is located in the same directory you installed your standard ROBLOX program in. For this guide, you should have it open.
The Main Toolbar
In order to use a program, you must first learn to use the toolbars - ROBLOX Studio is no different. Main toolbars are toolbars that cannot be removed from the view of the ROBLOX Studio program. These toolbars do not contain any icons for buttons. The toolbar lists key shortcuts, if you ever forget any.
File
New Place - opens a new place
Open Place - opens an existing place on your computer. Browse to your place, click on it, then click "Open".
Close Place - closes the current open place.
Save - saves the current open place. If the place does not have a definite location on your computer, it will request for a location.
Save As - saves the current open place, but will always request for a location.
Publish to ROBLOX.. - After clicking this, choose a place to update. Your place on the ROBLOX site will then be identical to the area in your workspace.
Save Selection as model.. - Allows you to save the currently selected block(s) onto your computer. Requests for location.
Publish Selection as model - Allows you to publish the currently selected blocks as a free model on the ROBLOX website, or replace an existing model with your selection.
Print - prints what is displayed on your screen at a printer of your choice.
Print Preview - previews what is displayed on your screen.
Print Setup.. - Adjust the settings for your printing from ROBLOX.
Recently accessed places: Links to open your recently opened places.
Exit: Exits ROBLOX.
Edit:
Undo: Undos the previous action performed
Redos: Undos an undo
Cut: Removes the selected object and sets it as the object that will be pasted into the workspace by the "paste" button
Clone: Sets the selected object as the object that will be pasted into the workspace by the "paste" button
Paste: Pastes the cloned/cutted object into the Workspace
Clear: Deletes the selected object
Select All: Selects all objects in the place
Duplicate: Clones the selected object and pastes it at the same time.
Find and Replace (ADVANCED):
In order to use these, you must have a script open.
Find (Ctrl+F): Type a word into the box that appears when you click "find". The program will proceed to highlight all words that are identical to your input.
Find Next (F3) After the words have been highlighted, use this to browse through each highlighted word
Replace (Ctrl+H) Has two input spaces, one for the words to find and one for what to replace that word with.
Scripts (ADVANCED):
In order to use these, you must have a script open.
Display line numbers: Toggles whether you see numbers next to each script line.
Display Selection/Bookmarking Margin: Toggles the margin next to the numbers that allows you to select specific lines
Display Folding Margin: Togges the margin that shows the "hierarchy" for your functions in your script (blue dashes)
Add a marker: Adds a marker next to the selected line
Find next marker: Finds the next marker, goes in sequence from current position to end of script.
Find previous marker: Finds the previous marker, goes in sequence from current position to start of script.
View
Start Page: Opens up a window in your display that shows the ROBLOX Website.
Toolbar: (below)
Toolbar:
The toolbar is one of your most valuable assets in the ROBLOX Studio. The toolbar contains everything one needs, from a simple block to a complicated jet airplane. In order to use the toolbar, click the toolbar option, then click on the drop-down menu at the top of the toolbar. You can browse to which category, then which object you would like to select, then click on the object. The object will then appear in the workspace. In addition, clicking "Inventory" will have categories for publicly made models and decals, as well as models that you have made on your own.
Explorer: (below)
Explorer:
The Explorer is one of the most important tools in ROBLOX, especially when your place contains complex Hierarchy and multiple models. Upon opening the Explorer, one will find a toolbar that lists the hierarchy of the place. All objects in the place are usually stored within the Workspace. In order to "expand" an object's hierarchy, simply click on the "plus" icon next to it, and to "retract" an object's hierarchy, click on the "minus" icon next to an expanded object
Properties: (below)
Properties:
Opening this menu will allow you to view/edit the properties of the object you have selected, for example, if you select a brick, the menu will display the
color, material, reflectance value, and transparency value of the brick as well as other properties.
Output: (below)
Output (scripting:
For those of you scripters, the output menu will be where the results of your "print" commands will show up. If your script contains an error, the output menu will display the location of the error and what the error is.
The other options in this menu are for advanced users only and have no use for most ROBLOXian players.
Secondary Toolbars
These toolbars are not part of the main toolbar, but some share the same functions, and all are very important to the making of a place.
Some toolbars may not be available for you. Click "View", "Toolbars", then enable all of the toolbars.
Standard
This toolbar includes buttons that are vital to the making of any place, complicated or simple.
Tip: Clicking on an object selects it.
New Place, Open Place, Save Place
New Place (CTRL+N) - creates a new place and causes your screen to display that place.
Open Place (CTRL+O) - allows you to browse to a place on your computer, then open it. To open a place, click this button, browse to the folder your place is in on your computer, click on the place, and click "Open".
Save Place (CTRL+S) - allows you to save the place you currently have open.
Cut (CTRL+X) - Takes the selected object, removes it, and allows it to be pasted into your workspace infinitely (see below)
Copy (CTRL+C) - Takes the selected object and allows it to be pasted
Cut, Copy, and Paste
into your workspace infinitely
Paste (CTRL+V) - Must have copied or cutted before using - Takes the cutted/copied object and puts it into the workspace when clicked. Can be used infinitely after copying/cutting.
Undo (Ctrl+Z) - Undos the action you just performed. The drop-down menu does not serve any purpose
currently.
Redo (Ctrl+Y) - Redos the action you just performed. The drop-down menu does not server any purpose currently.
Group (Ctrl+G) - Allows you to group the selected objects and lock the grouping so they can all be selected and moved together at need
Ungroup (Ctrl+U) - Breaks the connection of a selected group of objects
Rotate (Ctrl+R) - Rotates the selected object on a vertical axis
Tilt (No Hotkey) - Rotates an the selected on a horizontal axis
Rotate, Tilt, Move up, Move down
Move up (No Hotkey) - Moves the selected object upwards
Move down (No Hotkey) - Moves the selected object down
Edit
This toolbar includes buttons that allow you to manipulate selected, physical objects. All of the following do not have hotkeys.
Drag - Clicking, holding, and dragging on a selected object with your mouse with this tool allows you to move the object. Clicking and holding on a selected o
Drag, Move, Resize
bject and pressing R rotates the object, and pressing T tilts the object.
Move - Applies a set of intangible handles to the selected object. Each handle can be dragged to move the object with extra precision. Each handle only controls one axis of the object.
Paint Bucket and Color Select
Resize - Applies a set of intangible handles to the selected object. Each handle can be dragged to resize the object with extra precision. Each handle only controls one axis of the object.
Lock - Disallows an object from being selected until the object is clicked again with the lock tool.
Lock and Anchor
Anchor - Disallows an object from being moved by an environmental force (The person editing the place is not an environmental force)
Paint Bucket - Select a color in the drop down menu, then click on a block to paint it that color!
Paint Bucket and Color Select
Color Select - Click on a block to select its color for your paint bucket!
Material Tool
Material Tool - Select a material in the drop down menu, then click on a block to make the block that material!
Smooth, Glue, Weld
Surface Tools
This is actually part of the Edit toolbar, but this part of the toolbar is so big it deserves its own sub-category.
Smooth - Applies the "smooth" surface to a facet of a block. The smooth surface does not secure a block to another block.
Glue - Applies the "glue" surface to a facet of a block. The glue surface joins a block to another but will break after a certain amount of stress is applied by a character or explosion unless anchored.
Weld - Applies the "weld" surface to a facet of a block. The weld surface joins a block to another and can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Stud, Inlet, Universal
Stud - Applies the "stud" surface to a facet of a block. The stud surface only joins to inlet surfaces. Joints can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Inlet - Applies the "inlet" surface to a facet of a block. The inlet surface only joins to stud surfaces. Joints can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Universal - Applies the "universal" surface to a facet of a block. The universal surface joins to both studs and inlets alike. Joints can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Hinge - Applies the "hinge" surface to a facet of a block. Anything on a hinge surface, except for glued or welded blocks, can rotate freely on the hinge until the joints are broken. Joints can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Hinge and Motor
Motor - Applies the "motor" surface to a facet of a block. Anything on a motor surface, except for glued or welded blocks, will constantly rotate on the motor until the joints are broken. Joints can only be broken by explosions unless anchored.
Auto-Join Tools
These tools don't actually automatically join blocks (as implied by the name) but they still are very nifty when it comes to modeling in smaller dimensions.
Move - Same as the drag tool, but with a grid measure.
Move, Rotate, Resize (special)
Rotate - Creates three handles on the selected part. Moving the handle will tilt the part on a certain axis.
Resize - Creates three handles on the selected part. Moving the handle will resize the part on a grid measure.
Grid 1 - Causes bricks to be manipulated by the aformentioned tools on a standard grid measure.
Grid .5 - Causes bricks to be manipulated by the aformentioned tools on a grid measure half the size of
Grid Sizes
standard.
Grid x - Causes bricks to be manipulated by the aformentioned tools freely without a grid measure.
Manual Joints - an option, where, when a block is put next to another block by the aformentioned tools, the block is joined to the other block.
Manual Joints, Toolbox
Toolbox - when clicked, a toolbox displaying free ROBLOX-employee made parts is shown. To access more parts, click the drop-down menu. To access player-made parts, click "Inventory" and select "Free Models" from the drop-down menu.
Camera
Most of these are self-explanatory, but some will need explanation.
Pan Left - Move your point of view left.
Pan Right - Move your point of view right.
Pan Left, Pan Right, Tilt Up
Tilt Up
Tilt Down
Tilt Down, Zoom In, Zoom Out
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Look at Object - Looks at selected object
Look at Object, Zoom Extents
Zoom Extents - Zooms all the way up into the selected object
Test
This toolbar contains tools that will allow you to test your place and how it behaves.
Play - Sets all blocks in your place into motion!
Pause - Pauses all blocks in your place.
Play, Pause, Revert
Revert - Reverses all blocks in your place back to what they were before you played.
Testing as a Player
Whether you have no scripts, or your entire place is scripted, you will want to test it within in the Studio so that you are able to catch and eliminate existing bugs in your game before you actually release your game to the public, thus heightening players' respect for you. Roblox Studio offers two different modes for testing, 1: Solo mode, 2: Server-Client mode. Here is a breakdown of each:
Solo Testing Mode
In order to access Solo Testing Mode (you must currently have your window on an open place) click Tools > Test > Play Solo {C}Solo Testing mode starts your currently-edited place as if you joined it in Solo mode. Note that most leaderboard scripts (or any script that requires the OnJoined or OnJoining event) will not work, or will break, since that function is not called. (Most likely a bug.)
Server-Client Mode
The Server-Client mode is the best, but slowest way to test your map. It will catch most, if not all Lua errors.
Starting Server-Client Mode
First, click Tools > Test > Start Server.
In order to add players to your server, click Tools > Test > Start Player.
Repeat step 2 as many times as you like.
After this, you will have several windows open. One will be the server, where you still have all the controls and functionality of ROBLOX studio, and the others will be "players" within the server that you can also control.
Publishing
Once you are done editing and testing your place, will you want to upload it to ROBLOX so other users can play it. Go to File -> Publish place to ROBLOX, then follow the steps to get it published. Depending on the size of your place, it may take about 15 - 30 seconds for it to get published. Once it says it's done, allow another minute for ROBLOX to generate the place icon. Your place is now uploaded to ROBLOX for users to play in. Enjoy! |