The roll command performs a rotation of angle
(default 1°) around a specified axis (default y)
at each of a specified number of image update frames
(default forever;
can be halted with stop).
The commands roll and turn are the same
except for their default values of angle and frames.
See also:
cofr,
move,
zoom,
mousemode
,
making movies,
scripting independent rotation
The axis can be x, y, z or any of the other standard vector specifications. The angle can be positive or negative.
The rock option wags models back and forth around the specified axis with an amplitude of angle in each direction and N frames per cycle, continuing until all frames have elapsed. Like that of a pendulum, the movement is slower near the turnaround points 1/4 and 3/4 of the way through a cycle. See also: rock
The wobble option rotates models in a figure-eight motion with M frames per cycle, continuing until all frames have elapsed. The major rotation of the wobble is around axis with an amplitude of angle, and the minor rotation has an amplitude of angle multiplied by the wobbleAspect fraction (default 0.3). See also: wobble
The center default is the current center of rotation. Alternatively, the center can be given as x,y,z (three values separated by commas only), an atom-spec, or any of the other standard point specifications. If an atom-spec is used, the first model it contains will be used for reference frame pinning unless a coordinateSystem is also given.
A coordinateSystem can be specified by reference model number. If further motions are applied to an ongoing rotation, the center and axis will remain pinned relative to this reference model. If no reference model is given, axis coordinates will be interpreted in the screen coordinate system (X horizontal, Y vertical, Z in/out of screen) and center coordinates in the scene coordinate system.
The rotation applies to the specified models or atoms; if none are specified, the scene will be rotated as a whole. A movement of atoms cannot be undone except with a command that applies the opposite movement to the same atoms (not always easy to construct) or by reopening the original structure.
Commands continue to be processed while the requested motion is in progress. To pause command processing until the motion is finished, use the wait command. To halt an ongoing roll, use stop.