Edit

Microsoft Agent Animations for Merlin Character

  • Article

[Microsoft Agent is deprecated as of Windows 7, and may be unavailable in subsequent versions of Windows.]

The Microsoft Agent Merlin Character is a copyrighted work of Microsoft Corporation.

Merlin supports the animations listed in the table below. Refer to Programming the Microsoft Agent Server Interface and Programming the Microsoft Agent Control for information on how to call the character's animations.

If accessing these character animations using the HTTP protocol and the control's Get or server's Prepare method, consider how you will download them. Instead of downloading all the animations at once, you may want to retrieve the Showing and Speaking state animations first. This will enable you to display the character quickly and have it speak while bringing down other animations asynchronously. In addition, to ensure that character and animation data load successfully, use the RequestComplete event. If a load request fails, you can retry loading the data or display an appropriate message.

If an animation's Return animation is defined using Exit branches, you do not need to call it explicitly; Agent automatically plays the Return animation before the next animation. However, if a Return animation is listed, you must call the animation using the Play method before another animation to provide a smooth transition. If no Return animation is listed, the animation typically ends without needing a transitional animation.

The character file includes sound effects for some animations as noted in the following table. Sound effects play only if this option is enabled in the Microsoft Agent property sheet. You can also disable sound effects in your application.

Animation Return Animation Supports Speaking Sound Effects Assigned to State Description
Acknowledge None No No None Nods head
Alert Yes, using Exit branches Yes No Listening Straightens and raises eyebrows
Announce Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Raises trumpet and plays
Blink None No No IdlingLevel1 IdlingLevel2
 Blinks eyes
Confused Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Scratches head
Congratulate Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Displays trophy
Congratulate_2 Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Applauds
Decline Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Raises hands and shakes head
DoMagic1 None Yes No None Raises magic wand
DoMagic2 Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Lowers wand, clouds appear
DontRecognize Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Holds hand to ear
Explain Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Extends arms to side
GestureDown Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingDown Gestures down
GestureLeft Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingLeft Gestures left
GestureRight Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingRight Gestures right
GestureUp Yes, using Exit branches Yes No GesturingUp Gestures up
GetAttention GetAttentionReturn Yes Yes None Leans forward and knocks
GetAttentionContinued GetAttentionReturn Yes Yes None Leaning forward, knocks again
GetAttentionReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
Greet Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Bows
Hearing_1 None No No Hearing Ears extend (*looping animation)
Hearing_2 None No No Hearing Tilts head left (*looping animation)
Hearing_3 None No No Hearing Turns head left (*looping animation)
Hearing_4 None No No Hearing Turns head right (*looping animation)
Hide None No Yes Hiding Disappears under cap
Idle1_1 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1 IdlingLevel2
 Takes breath
Idle1_2 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1 IdlingLevel2
 Glances left and blinks
Idle1_3 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1 IdlingLevel2
 Glances right
Idle1_4 Yes, using Exit branches No No IdlingLevel1 IdlingLevel2
 Glances up to the right and blinks
Idle2_1 None No No IdlingLevel2 Looks at wand and blinks
Idle2_2 None No No IdlingLevel2 Holds hands and blinks
Idle3_1 None No Yes IdlingLevel3 Yawns
Idle3_2 Yes, using Exit branches No Yes IdlingLevel3 Falls asleep (*looping animation)
LookDown LookDownReturn No No None Looks down
LookDownBlink LookDownReturn No No None Blinks looking down
LookDownReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookLeft LookLeftReturn No No None Looks left
LookLeftBlink LookLeftReturn No No None Blinks looking left
LookLeftReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookRight LookRightReturn No No None Looks right
LookRightBlink LookRightReturn No No None Blinks looking right
LookRightReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
LookUp LookUpReturn No No None Looks up
LookUpBlink LookUpReturn No No None Blinks looking up
LookUpReturn None No No None Returns to neutral position
MoveDown Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingDown Flies down
MoveLeft Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingLeft Flies left
MoveRight Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingRight Flies right
MoveUp Yes, using Exit branches No Yes MovingUp Flies up
Pleased Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Smiles and holds hands together
Process No No Yes None Stirs caldron
Processing Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Stirs caldron (*looping animation)
Read ReadReturn Yes Yes None Opens book, reads and looks up
ReadContinued ReadReturn Yes Yes None Reads and looks up
ReadReturn None No Yes None Returns to neutral position
Reading Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Reads (*looping animation)
RestPose None Yes No Speaking Neutral position
Sad Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Sad expression
Search No No Yes None Looks into crystal ball
Searching Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Looks into crystal ball (*looping animation)
Show None No Yes Showing Appears out of cap
StartListening Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Puts hand to ear
StopListening Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Puts hands over ears
Suggest Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Displays lightbulb
Surprised Yes, using Exit branches Yes Yes None Looks surprised
Think Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Looks up with hand on chin
Thinking No No No None Looks up with hand on chin (*looping animation)
Uncertain Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Leans forward and raises eyebrow
Wave Yes, using Exit branches Yes No None Waves
Write WriteReturn Yes Yes None Opens book, writes and looks up
WriteContinued WriteReturn Yes Yes None Writes and looks up
WriteReturn None No Yes None Returns to neutral position
Writing Yes, using Exit branches No Yes None Writes (*looping animation)

* If you play a looping animation, you must use Stop to clear it before other animations in the character's queue will play.