Chars per second slider doesn't work as expected

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manlyghostcake
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:16 pm

Chars per second slider doesn't work as expected

Post by manlyghostcake »

Hello!

I'm currently having trouble with the "chars per second" slider. I may have misunderstood something about the feature. As far as I understand, it changes the subtitle speed, right?
It doesn't seem to do anything. No matter what value I put it to, it doesn't change the speed one bit.
Did I miss anything?
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Tony Li
Posts: 22059
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: Chars per second slider doesn't work as expected

Post by Tony Li »

Hi,

The Dialogue Manager GameObject's Display Settings > Subtitle Settings > Subtitle Chars Per Second and Min Subtitle Seconds generally control how long the subtitle appears onscreen, but it does not affect the typewriter speed. (I'll provide more details at the end of this reply.)

If you want to control the speed at which the subtitle's typewriter effect types out characters, drill down into the dialogue UI and inspect the NPC Subtitle Line. For example, in the Hierarchy you may need to go to Dialogue Manager > Canvas > Generic Unity UI Dialogue UI > Dialogue Panel > NPC Subtitle Panel > NPC Subtitle Line. This GameObject has a Unity UI Typewriter Effect component. Adjust its Characters Per Second value to adjust the typewriter speed.


Details:
More accurately, a dialogue entry node's subtitle stays onscreen while its Sequence is running. If the node's Sequence field is blank, it will use the Dialogue Manager's Display Settings > Camera Settings > Default Sequence.

The Dialogue Manager's Subtitle Chars Per Second and Min Subtitle Seconds actually determine the value of the special sequencer keyword "{{end}}". If the subtitle text is 90 characters long, and Subtitle Chars Per Second is 30, then {{end}} will be 3 seconds (90 / 30 = 3) -- or the value of Min Subtitle Seconds, whichever is larger.

The initial value of the Dialogue Manager's Default Sequence is: Delay({{end}}). This makes the sequence last for the value of {{end}} (e.g., 3 seconds).

It's completely independent of the typewriter effect. If your typewriter's Characters Per Second is faster, then the typewriter effect will finish well before the subtitle disappears. If your typewriter's Characters Per Second is slower, then the typewriter effect won't be done typing before the subtitle disappears.
manlyghostcake
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:16 pm

Re: Chars per second slider doesn't work as expected

Post by manlyghostcake »

I got it.
It's buried pretty deep in the hierarchy, so I didn't find right away :D
Thanks for the details. Works as expected now.
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Tony Li
Posts: 22059
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: Chars per second slider doesn't work as expected

Post by Tony Li »

Glad to help!
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