First, the snapplot program has a frame= keyword, whose value is the filename (more properly the base of the filename) of the saved bitmap of the current image on the screen. The format of this bitmap is system and yapp interface dependent, i.e. it depends on which version of snapplot is used. In other words: make sure you use the right compiled version of snapplot, and check your local documentation. It's name may even be as obscure as sp, snapplot_sv or so, but it may also be hidden under the official snapplot name itself.
There should then exist a program which manipulates and plays the frame (-raster) files back at a high enough rate to call it a movie. This is normally achieved by putting the frames into memory, with preferably a memory bitmapped display device or a fast screen-loader. On a SUN workstation the local format used is rasterfile(5), and public domain programs such as movie(1NEMO) and movietool(1NEMO) can be used to re-display and manipulate frame files. A disadvantage with movie is that one has to be outside of suntools, though this may well be worthwile, because of the large number of options in the menu of movie. With the in-house written clone of movie, called movie_sv, it is possible to display frame files from within suntools. The menu of movie_sv is not as sophisticated, and the number of frames which fit in memory is not as large, but the advantage of doing it from within suntools is sometimes more important. By choosing a smaller size of the rasterfile this last disadvantage can even be circumvented. yapp=256 is the default. The normal procedure5.6 to create frames and display them within suntools is:
17% sp snap.out frame=movie1
18% movie_sv frame=movie1
Combining the bodytrans(3NEMO) capabilities of snapplot with movie, it is also possible to look at the 3D structure of an N-body system. The program makepath and shell script utility 3dmovie generate various 'flyby's or 'fly-around's to get an idea of the 3D structure of a system, though this is mainly intended for batch use, is cumbersome in interactive mode and better methods are available though (see below).
The current movie programs for SUN workstations can only handle black and white rasterfiles. check if this is a bug or a feature. ** also some bug when running within openwindows **
Another making movies: one can also use a fancy snapplot_cg version, and record image by image on a high quality recording device, or interface with a genlock5.7 device, or make slides.