What is TopHat, the SD-X content development suite?
TopHat is an integrated, component-based software tool that SDXI makes available to its clients. This tool allows users to develop and program their own SD-X enabled content. With TopHat, content developers map dot code assignments on art files, associate these codes with prepared audio content and available SD-X reader behaviors, and prepare the content for use in an application on the reader. The tool has a complete demo mode that allows users to mouse over mapped areas, hear the associated audio, and run the associated programmed behaviors.
TopHat uses audio content in .wav format. It guides the choice of programmed activities and aids users in building them through easy-to-navigate menus. Because TopHat works with PDFs made from InDesign and Illustrator files, it generates correctly sized, print-ready files for the mapped layers. Additionally the software provides administrative, maintenance, and reporting functions to help manage and document the process of developing an enabled project.
Using a set of standard drawing tools, a content developer outlines objects on an imported PDF. The area of the selected object automatically fills with dot codes. When the project is completed, TopHat creates a print file of these codes.
All SD-X enabled material has a Default mode. In this mode a content developer assigns single or multiple files or behaviors to coded object so that they render audio files, launch games, or exhibit other assigned behaviors.
TopHat includes menus to guide a content developer in creating behaviors, such as question and answer sequences.
During the enabling process, a content developer can use the Emulation mode to demo behaviors to catch errors, improve play patterns, or show a client how the product will work.