Loading an animation file

You can load an ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe animation file into any map, scene, or globe. However, when loading an animation into a new document, care must be taken to ensure that the animation applies to the document. If an animation track refers to an item that doesn't apply to the document, the track will not play. For example, if you've created an animation containing a track that refers to a certain layer in a document, that layer must be present in the new document and must be in the same location in the table of contents. Because a layer track refers to a layer by noting its ranking in the table of contents, the track may animate an incorrect layer or may not be enabled to play if the ranking in the new document's table of contents is different. In addition, if a track refers to a viewer that doesn't exist in the new document, that track will not play. If you've created a camera track in a document's extent and want to play it in a new document, make sure that the extent of the new 3D view is the same or your track might move the camera in an area where there is no data. This is because a camera track is defined in part by a document's extent.

1. If the Animation toolbar is not present in your application, click Customize on the main menu of the application, point to Toolbars, then click Animation.
2. Click the Animation drop-down menu and click Load Animation File.
3. Browse to the animation file you want to load.
4. Click Open.

   The animation is loaded in the application.

Tip:

• ArcMap animation files are appended with the .ama extension. ArcScene animation files are appended with the .asa extension. ArcGlobe animation files are appended with the .aga extension.
• Animation files reference layers by index. Reusing an animation file only works if you have the same layers (and in the same order) as in the document used to create the animation file.
• To use animations stored in a map, scene, or globe document, load the document with animation into ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe as you would any other document. Modify the name you give to animated documents to let others know that they contain animation.