Channels - Grid

Edward Updated by Edward

This view is the default installed setting. Each block controls one channel or fixture.

Channel (Dimmer) Details

Each block contains a channel number with a grey background, the current intensity level (if any) and 2 or 3 lines with information about the channel from the patch detail if specified. In the example above, information about the position, purpose and (gel) color are shown. Channels that are currently selected have a red border around the block.

Fixture Details

Each block contains a fixture number with a blue background, the current intensity level (if any), the fixture model and 2 or 3 lines with additional information, such as position, purpose and color. In the case of fixtures that have movement capability and/or color mixing capability, the information is dynamic rather than patch detail. Fixtures that are currently selected have a red border around the block.

Sub-fixture Details

Fixtures that have separate programmable sections will have a small dot displayed in the bottom left corner of the block. Clicking on that dot will expand the block showing the subchannels to the right of the main block. The fixture may be selected as a whole or any of its subchannels individually. The example above shows the details of a multicell LED strip light where each cell can be set to a different color.

For all blocks, the intensity value is color-coded as follows:

  • Increasing – Light Blue
  • Decreasing - Green
  • Tracked – Purple
  • Submaster Control - Yellow
  • Channel Control – White w/red background
  • Effect Control – White w/grey background
  • Parked – White w/grey background & white surround
  • Remote Control - White w/green background

Fixture Selection and Control Using a Pointing Device

If the view showing on the main display is “Classic”, “Expanded” or “Compact”, fixtures may be selected with a pointing device as follows:

  • Single Fixture – Move pointer to desired fixture and use the left-click button. If “Inclusive Selection Mode” is ON, additional fixtures can be added to the selection by clicking on them. If “Inclusive Selection Mode” is OFF, the same operation can be accomplished by holding down the <CTRL> key while clicking on the desired fixtures.
  • Block of Fixtures – A block of fixtures may be selected by holding down the left-click button and dragging the pointer over the desired block (both horizontally and vertically). The display background will show a selection box so you can see which fixtures are included. Releasing the left-click button will complete the selection. Multiple blocks can be selected by holding down the <CTRL> key while dragging.

Once a fixture or fixtures has/have been selected, the intensity can be adjusted by using the scroll wheel of the pointing device (if equipped) to incrementally increase or decrease the value(s). The size of the step can be set in System Properties > System Settings.

If your pointing device does not have a scroll wheel, the main display has a virtual wheel located in the upper right corner. The value can be adjusted by holding down the left-click button and moving the pointer in the desired direction (UP for increase, DOWN for decrease).

Quick Select Bar

The quick select bar provides an easy way to select fixtures based on groupings defined in some patch detail columns. These options are the same as the Select Window pulldown tabs “Positions”, “Purpose”, “Color” and “Fixture Type”.  Each grouping has a labelled header and can be collapsed if not needed. If more buttons are defined than will fit in the space allocated, a scroll bar will appear to the right of the list.

If the “Auto Filter” switch is set to ON, the grid will show only those fixtures that are in the chosen group. To restore the grid to all fixtures patched, set this switch to OFF.

Display fixture/complex timing

This feature displays timing information in the Classic view only and when selected will change the view to “Classic” automatically.

 

When cues are run, the display will show times set in the cue (such as Up, Down, Channel & Attribute) counting from their initial to final values and fixed times (such as delay) in bold.  The following screen shot shows some timing information as a result of running a cue:

Expanded (Verbose) View

When fixtures other than standard dimmers are patched (usually called intelligent fixtures), the sizes of the rectangles in the grid change to show the attributes of the fixtures and their current values.  For intelligent fixtures, a small picture of the instrument can be shown (user option). In some cases, the information will be graphical (like the color of an RGB LED fixture, for example).  An example of the expanded view of a show with a combination of standard and intelligent fixtures is shown below.

NEO Notes & Tips: In the Expanded view, standard dimmers have the label “Ch:” (Channel) and intelligent instruments have the label “Fix:” (Fixture). In this chapter, the terms channel and fixture will be used interchangeably.

By default, inactive fixtures have a grey background, active fixtures have a green background and selected fixtures have a blue background. These colors can be customized in System Properties>Appearance.

 

At the bottom of each active fixture block is a blue bar representing the current intensity level.

Color Table

This view can be used to see a quick status of all color fixtures in your plot.

Channel Formatting Menu

The top three options are radio buttons, i.e. only one can be set at a time.

View Fixtures Used in this Show - Normally, all patched channels/fixtures are shown. This option removes any channels/fixtures that don’t appear in any cues.

View Fixtures in the Current Cue - Similar to above, this option will remove any channels/fixtures that are not recorded in the current cue.

View Only Changed Fixtures - Show only those channels/fixtures that have been selected and/or have been changed since the current cue has been run.

Show Only Selected Fixtures (View) - This option is a pushbutton and when clicked will show only those channels/fixtures that have been selected. This control has no effect if no channels/fixtures have been selected. The display returns to its previous state when the selection has been cleared.

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Channels - Attributes

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