Ready… GO

This week’s Quick Tip comes from an article previously published by Joe Cabrera, ACT Lighting’s Director of Software Support & Development.

When you would like to combine programming elements of 2 or more showfiles on your grandMA consoles, you’ll need to use a process called “Merging.”

What to start with…

First, you will need to have both shows on either the hard drive, a connected FTP server, or attached USB device. In the case of USB, the show must have been saved using the “Internal & USB” option, not Import/Export.

There is a certain amount of preparation that you’ll want to do before initializing the partial show read. Basically, the console is going to pay very close attention to Fixture/Channel numbers when reconciling the patch, as well as the numbers of all of the other objects (sequences, presets, et al.) that you will be importing. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that the objects you wish to add from the old show do not overlap any existing objects in your current show. Otherwise you will end up replacing data or merging values where you really don’t want them. The process is easy, simply take note of the objects you wish to import and, if the current show already has the same types of items with the same numbers, move them to an empty space. As an example: if you have already have a Sequence 1, and the sequence you want to import is also Sequence 1 (in the other show), you’ll need to move it to a different spot in the Sequence Pool to avoid merging the two sequences of cues together.

Once your shows are prepped, save a copy of your show with a different name. This way, if anything goes wrong, you’ll always have a known, good copy to go back to. Also, now is a good time to shut down, or at least leave, any network session you might be in.

The Merging Process

In the Backup menu, click Initialize. You will be presented with the same list of shows that you would normally be able to simply load from your chosen source. Pick the show that you have prepared for import.

The next window allows you to reconcile the patch between the two shows. All of the devices that show up in the list on the left represent the patch of the show you were sitting in before you hit Initialize. The list on the right is the patch of the show you chose to initialize. You will notice the rows are aligned based on fixture/channel numbers. For each row of devices, you will be able to select either the currently patched fixture or the one from the show you’ve initialized. Everything that is highlighted when you leave this window will become the patch of your newly merged show. By default, all of the devices on the left are highlighted (and none on the right), meaning that you will keep the patch you had loaded without switching any fixtures or adding anything extra to the patch. Most of the time, this is all you need to do. If you want to import all or some of the patch from the show you’ve initialized, simply click the devices you want in the right-hand column so that they become highlighted.

Once you are happy with the patch, click OK, Next in the bottom-right corner.

After a quick progression of dialog boxes flash by in a flurry of beeps, this will take you back to the Backup menu. You will notice that the Merge button is now available. Press it.

You will see the PSR (partial show read) menu. This is laid out in a cascading folder tree. Every item that has additional sub-items will have a box with a ‘+’ preceding the name. Using the screen encoder, you can highlight an item and tap. This will open that item to show its sub-items. For instance, tap on Partial Show Read at the top, then Presets, then Pan/Tilt. You will now see each of the individual Pan/Tilt presets in the show you initialized. Tapping the encoder while over an item that does not have a ‘+’ next to its name (or simply clicking the name of any item with the mouse or your finger) will highlight that item in green. Clicking on an item that has sub-items will select all of the sub-items. For example, clicking on the name for Sequence 1 will highlight all of the cues in the sequence.

Once you have highlighted all of the items you with to import, click Merge on the right side of the screen. The items that have been imported will be grayed out. You are free to import additional items if you so choose. When you are done, close the window.

This is another good time to save a copy of your show with a new name.

TIP: While Partial Show Read can bring Sequences, it does not automatically assign them to your executors. So, you will have to assign your sequences where you’d like them to appear.

Quick Tips are exactly what the name should imply. We’re adding these to our blog in an effort to help programmers and operators of all levels. If you’d like to suggest a Quick Tip, drop us a message on this blog, or on our Facebook page, or even via Twitter.

Tags: grandMA programming, tips, Training

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 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.