Ready… GO

Ever notice how some Views have different colors on the ViewButtons? ViewButtons with a red background are actually Macros. If you’ve taken the grandMA training course at ACT Lighting, then you’ve already used at least one. In our training showfile, there is a ViewButton that affects one of the external monitors- causing that screen to toggle between 2 pre-recorded Views. A common question is how to set this up.

First, let me explain what is actually stored here. The Viewbutton is assigned to trigger 1 particular Macro in our show. That particular Macro fires a View and then triggers the assignment of a second Macro. That second Macro then appears on the same ViewButton. When fired, this second Macro opens a different View, and then immediately assigns the original Macro back to the ViewButton. Sound confusing? Think of it like this: The first time you hit ViewButton 18, the Executor Window is opened on your external monitor. The next time you hit that same ViewButton 18, the Tracking Sheet will open on the external monitor. This one ViewButton actually toggles between multiple Views instead of just one. In our showfile, it swaps between two Views, but you can set up as many as you like.

Here’s how to do it: Let’s assume that you have already recorded two Views on your console. Next, we need to make two Macros.

In your 1st Macro (let’s call this Macro 1), set the following lines:

Line 1: View X
Line 2: Assign Macro 2 Viewbtn 18

In your 2nd Macro (let’s call this Macro 2) set the following lines:

Line 1: View Y
Line 2: Assign Macro 1 Viewbtn 18

In each Macro, the first line will open the View of your choice, and the second line will swap the Macro assigned to the ViewButton. Of course, substitute your preferred number of Viewbtn in your syntax and ASSIGN the correct View numbers for X and Y. Don’t worry about timing the Macro: these lines can be performed without a delay.

Assigning a Macro to a Viewbutton:
1. Hit ASSIGN followed by the ViewButton you wish to store to
2. In the “Viewbutton Assign Options” window that will pop up, select MACRO
3. The “Select Macro” window will open, allowing you to select any of the Macros stored in your showfile.

**Tip: Technically, since each of these Macros contains a ViewButton assignment command, that would take care of the ViewButton assignment.

Keep in mind that you can assign any Macro to any ViewButton – it doesn’t have to be a Macro related to Views or toggles. If there’s a certain Macro you use a lot, consider putting it on a ViewButton and thus giving yourself a one push hard-key access. I love hard keys.

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Tags: grandMA programming, tips, Training

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 10:56 am and is filed under MA Series 1 Consoles, Quick Tip Tuesday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.