The animation.datatype is the super-class for any animation related classes.
This class is responsible for creating the controls, scaling, remapping and synchronization.
The ADTM_LOADNEWFORMATFRAME and ADTM_UNLOADNEWFORMATFRAME methods operate on
struct adtNewFormatFrame format messages. The adtNewFormatFrame message is an extension of the adtFrame message with additional fields, such as required for stereo sound playback. By default, animation.datatype will load and unload frames allocated by its subclasses using the compatible ADTM_LOADFRAME and ADTM_UNLOADFRAME methods. If your subclass needs to use the extended adtNewFormatFrame format messages, it must say so by providing a list of supported methods for animation.datatype to query through the OM_GET/DTA_Methods tag. If both ADTM_LOADNEWFORMATFRAME and ADTM_UNLOADNEWFORMATFRAME are among the methods supported by your subclass, you will receive adtNewFormatFrame format messages instead of the compatible adtFrame messages.
Please note that applications such as MultiView will query the methods supported by your class. Make sure that if you choose to implement support for the OM_GET/DTA_Methods tag the methods you return should also include the methods supported by your superclass. Otherwise, the user will be unable to use functions such as "Copy" or "Print".
Since the adtNewFormatFrame message format may be enhanced in future releases of animation.datatype, your subclass may access only structure members that are known to exist in the message. To find out which members are available, check the adtNewFormatFrame->alf_Size member; it contains the total length of the data structure (in bytes). Remember which message length you require, then act accordingly. Please keep in mind that the structure member adtNewFormatFrame->alf_Size does not exist in the compatible adtFrame message data structure.