sub new
{
 my ($class,$widget,%args) = @_;
 my $obj = $class->SUPER::new($widget,%args);
 $obj->{'_MainWIndow_'} = $widget->MainWindow;
 if ($args{'-format'} eq 'gif')
  {
   my @images;
   local $@;
   while (1)
    {
     my $index = @images;
     $args{'-format'} = "gif -index $index";
     my $img;
     eval {local $SIG{'__DIE__'};  $img = $class->SUPER::new($widget,%args) };
     last if $@;
     push(@images,$img);
    }
   if (@images > 1)
    {
     $obj->add_frame(@images);
     $obj->{'_frame_index_'}  = 0;
    }
  }
 $obj->set_image( 0 );
 $obj->_get_gif_info;
 return $obj;
}

##</code><code>##

sub start_animation
{
 my ($obj,$period) = @_;
 my $frames = $obj->{'_frames_'};
 return unless $frames && @$frames;
 my $w = $obj->MainWindow;
 $obj->stop_animation;
 $obj->{'_period_'} = $period if $period;
 $obj->{'_NextId_'} = $w->repeat($obj->{'_period_'},[$obj,'next_image_in_animation']);
}