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    Heads-up displays (HUDs)

    Jeremy Linden

    HUD basics

    A heads-up display (HUD) is a two-dimensional user interface element that controls inworld elements, such as your avatar or animations. A HUD typically consists of a control panel with buttons that do certain things; you activate it by "wearing" it as you would an article of clothing. HUDs are created by Residents using LSL. For more information, see HUD.

    HUDs are used in many kinds of products where information needs to be directly communicated to you. Popular uses include:

    • Animation overrides - Click buttons to change how your avatar looks when moving.
    • Books - HUDs are useful for viewing info that may be tricky to camera-zoom in on.
    • Combat systems and games - See your health, stamina, experience points, and other relevant in-game info. An HUD can be a whole game experience, similar to casual gaming in a web browser. (In fact, with Shared Media, an HUD can show Flash-based games.)
    • Customizable attachments - Click color swatches to change your hair, clothes, shoes, or more exotic accessories like neko tail and ears. Make particle effects (like fire and smoke).
    • Multi-tools - Gadgets that consolidate various practical functions in one HUD.
    • Photo enhancements
    • Vehicles - Use HUDs to display features such as dashboards with speedometers, gear indicators, and distance traveled.
    • Location - Shows a GPS position indicating where you are on the sim with the X and Y location on a map.
    Tip: You can browse and buy many HUDs on the Second Life Marketplace

    Using HUDs

    After you get a HUD (and unpack it if necessary), it appears in your inventory, perhaps in a folder (with notecard instructions and a landmark to the store it came from).

    Right-click the HUD and select Wear to automatically attach it to the point the HUD creator set when they made it. If there are buttons, they may be labeled, and you can often safely explore by clicking them to see what they do.

    Note: Any Second Life object can be attached to any attachment point. However, attaching something as a HUD that is not designed as one may not be very useful. For example, attaching a house object may show up as a big, wood-textured square that obscures your field of view.

    Troubleshooting HUDs

    Moving your HUDs

    To move an HUD you're wearing:

    1. Right-click the HUD onscreen (not in your inventory) and select Edit.
    2. Drag the arrowheads to reposition the HUD.

    The HUD remembers its position the next time you log in. In some circumstances (like a sudden Viewer crash), the HUD may forget its position, so use this workaround in addition to the above:

    1. Right-click the HUD and select Detach.
    2. Find the HUD in your inventory, right-click it and select Wear.
    3. Reposition the HUD following the steps above.

    If wearing one HUD makes another disappear

    These HUDs are being worn on the same attachment point. To solve the problem:

    1. In your inventory, right-click one of the HUDs and select Attach To HUD. You will see the list of attachment points and, in brackets, which HUDs are currently attached to them. Select an attachment point that isn't already occupied.
    2. Reposition the HUD as desired using the steps above.

    Also, in Viewer 2.4 and newer, you can attach multiple objects to the same point.

    If you can't see your HUD

    Follow these steps to retrieve an off-screen HUD.

    1. Create a cube.
    2. Right-click the cube and select Put On > Attach HUD > Center.
    3. Move your scroll wheel down or hold Alt + left mouse button and drag your mouse cursor down. The screen reduces and anything offscreen becomes viewable.
    4. Locate the missing HUD and put it into edit mode by right-clicking on it and selecting Edit.
    5. Using the arrows that appear in edit mode, move the missing HUD back onto the screen.
    6. Scroll the mouse wheel or hold Alt + left mouse button and move the mouse up to bring it back to size.
    7. Right-click the cube you attached as a HUD and select Detach.

    If the HUD is hidden:

    1. Go to World > Show > Advanced menu.
    2. From the Advanced menu at the top of the Viewer window, select Highlighting and Visibility > Show HUD Attachments.

    Advanced usage

    For advanced information on using HUDs, see Creating HUDs.




    Edited by Jeremy Linden

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