Control center DMXC2: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:25, 6 February 2024

	Control center DMXC2

Installation

Graphical view

Contents
Chapter 1: Foreword Chapter 2: Introduction Chapter 3: Installation Chapter 4: Control center Chapter 5: Graphical view Chapter 6: Devices Chapter 7: Output plugins Chapter 8: Channel overview Chapter 9: Scenes Chapter 10: Cue list Chapter 11: Chasers tool Chapter 12: Submaster Chapter 13: Master	Chapter 14: Sound analyzer Chapter 15: BeatTool Chapter 16: Command Box Chapter 17: Audioplayer Chapter 18: Timecode player Chapter 19: Textbook Chapter 20: Command line Chapter 21: Scheduler Chapter 22: Motion cue Editor Chapter 23: Shape editor Chapter 24: PDA remote control Chapter 25: Keyboard control Chapter 26: Joystick control	Chapter 27: MIDI remote control Chapter 28: DMXIn remote control Chapter 29: Program settings Chapter 30: Plugins Chapter 31: Pack And Go Function Chapter 32: DDF basic Appendix 1: Glossary Appendix 2: Command overview

Overview

Picture 1: DMXControl
Program icon

Once DMXControl starts by double clicking the program icon, (see figure 1) DMXControl's control center opens (see figure 2). This window give the operator easy access to all the main modules, tools and configurations of DMXControl. In addition, other configuration setting are available with the menu items « File » « Window » « Configuration » and « ? ».

There is also a status line which displays the path and the file of the loaded project and also the approximate load of DMX Control's internal message system on the lower window edge window. In addition, the date, the current system time and the version number are also shown.

Picture 2: The control center of DMXControl

to open, save and quit your show (menu « File »)
to access your tools from DMXControl (menu « Window »)
to setup your system (menu « Settings »)
to access support functions (menu « ? »)

Control elements

The FILE Menu

The standard Windows items are located in the FILE menu.

Menue item	Shortcut	Description
New project...	n.a.	Start a new project.
Open project...	n.a.	Open an existing project.
Save project	CTRL+S	Overwrites the currently selected project.
Save project as...	n.a.	Save the project in a selected directory.
Pack & Go...	n.a.	Archiving a complete project, e.g. to move it to a new or second computer. (see chapter 31)
Exit	n.a.	Quits DMXControl and displays the usual safety and exit queries.

The WINDOW Menu

The 'Window' menu includes many important items to DMXControl, Any installed Plugins are also shown here.

First Section

Menu item	Shortcut	Description
Channel overview	n.a.	Opens the channel overview window. (see chapter 8)
Devices	n.a.	Opens the device window for managing your devices. (see chapter 6)
Graphical view	n.a.	Opens the graphical view. (see chapter 5)
Group selection	n.a.	Opens the group selection window. (see chapter 5)

Second Section

Menu item	Shortcut	Description
BeatTool	n.a.	Opens the BeatTool window for sound-to-light-control. (see chapter 15)
Command line	n.a.	Opens the command line window. (see chapter 20)
Command Box	n.a.	Opens the command box. (see chapter 16)
DMXIn remote control	n.a.	Opens the DMXIn remote control for activating the DMXIn remote control. (see chapter 28)
Joystick control	n.a.	Opens the window for setup of the joystick control. (see chapter 26)
Midi remote control	n.a.	Opens the Midi remote control for activating the Midi remote control. (see chapter 27)
Keyboard control	n.a.	Opens the Keyboard control window for activating the Keyboard control. (see chapter 25)
Master	n.a.	Opens the master window with the master fader. (see chapter 13)
PDA remote control	n.a.	Opens the window for PDA setup. (see chapter 24)
Scheduler	n.a.	Opens the scheduler window. (see chapter 21)

Third Section

Menu item	Shortcut	Description
Audio player	n.a.	Opens the audio player window. (see chapter 17)
Chasers Tool	n.a.	Opens the chasers tool window. (see chapter 11)
Cue List	n.a.	Opens the cue List window. (see chapter 10)
Sound analyzer	n.a.	Opens the sound analyzer window for sound-to-light setup. (see chapter 14)
Submaster	n.a.	Opens the submaster window. (see chapter 12)
Textbook	n.a.	Opens the textbook window. (see chapter 19)
Timecode player	n.a.	Opens the timecode player window. (see chapter 18)

Fourth Section

Menu item	Shortcut	Description
Show cue libary	STRG+B	Opens the cue libary window. (see chapter 9)
Edit view	STRG+E	Hides menu items for live operating.
Fetching all windows on the primary desktop.	n.a.	If you work with several monitors, it can happen on the return to the single monitor mode that windows are still on the now virtual monitor. With this function, you can get missing windows back to your primary monitor. It is premiss that the window is open.

The SETTINGS Menu

The menu items which serve the configuration of DMXControl and his modules are in the menu configuration.

Menue item	Shortcut	Description
Output plugins..	n.a.	Opens the window for setup and configure the output plugins. (see chapter 7)
Plugins..	n.a.	Opens the window for setup and configure the plugins for advance functions. (see chapter 30)
Program settings...	n.a.	Opens the program settings window. (see chapter 29)
Midi remote control...	n.a.	Opens the window for configure the Midi remote control. (see chapter 27)
DMX-In remote control...	n.a.	Opens the window for configure the DMX-In remote control. (see chapter 28)
Joystick control...	n.a.	Opens the window for configure the joystick control. (see chapter 26)
Keyboard control...	n.a.	Opens the window for configure the keyboard control. (see chapter 25)
Color lists...	n.a.	Opens the window for definition the color lists. (see chapter 6)
Gobo lists...	n.a.	Opens the window for definition the gobo lists. (see chapter 6)
Shape editor...	n.a.	Opens the window of the shape editor for the motion cue. (see chapter 23)
Englisch Deutsch	n.a.	Language selection for DMXControl.
Enable experimental tools	n.a.	If this menu item is select, then the program parts which weren't tested substantially yet and are in the beta stage still appear, too. No experimental program parts are integratedly in the 2.12 at the moment, only some of Plugins need this point so that they are shown in. (e. g. the Plugin BeatDetection)

The HELP "?" Menu

The menu items which help you with DMXControl's operation are in the menu Help.

Menu item	Shortcut	Description
Open PDF-manual	n.a.	This manual as PDF opens on the computer. The PDF manual is updated at regular intervals - a current version is on the home page for download and simply needs to be copied into the DMXControl contents directory.
Open online manual	n.a.	This manual as PDF opens on the computer. The PDF manual is updated at regular intervals - a current version is on home page for download and simply needs to be copied into the DMXControl contents directory. The English version of the PDF manual is not yet supported - please wait until the translation of the Wiki is finished.
DMXControl website	n.a.	Open the browser on the computer and call the DMXControl website.
DMXControl forum	n.a.	Opens your favorite browser on the computer and calls the DMXControl forum where you can receive online help from the community.
About	n.a.	Opens the About window, where you can see a variety of information. Important information includes the release and build number for bug descriptions on the bug tracker or the forum.
Show Debug Output	n.a.	Opens a window with information for debugging in case of bug tracking.

Other controls in the control center

Icon	Name	Description
	Blackout	Push this icon once, the DMX value output for all channels will be set to 0. The next push restores all DMX values back again.
	Freeze	Push this icon once, the output will freeze, this means that the last DMX values will distributed. Any change of DMX values during the freeze will not send to the output. There is also a second freeze button in the graphical view which only there has an effect.
	Audio playback	An audio cue which is running can be stopped early with this button or one of the 16 audio cues can be manipulated over the drop down menu.

General controls in DMXControl

Icon	Name	Description
	Add	The button adds is contained in almost all windows in DMXControl and is used for adding new Cues, lists and effects and so on.
	Delete	If there is a button add, there is also a button delete to purge entry.
	Copy	This button copy is placed in in several places and used to copy cues and effects.
	Rename	This button can be used to rename several entrys.
	Shift up	This button is used to drag entrys up in the list.
	Shift down	This button is used to drag entrys down in the list.
	Edit	This button is used to edit cues, effcts and lists in DMXControl.
	Reset	The reset button will set the DMX output from the window to default DMX output.
	Start	The button appears in all places where a sequence can be started from cues for the expiry the start.

Module commands

This module commands refers essentially to the button blackout and freeze.

Module: DMX-Output

Meaning from Device/Function and Channel

Device/Function	Description	Channel	Description
Blackout	The Blackout command refers to the Blackout icon in the control center and in the graphical view.	Toggle	The command Toggle inverted the momentary behaviour of the Blackout-Funktion.
		On	The command On activate the Blackout-Funktion.
		Off	The command Off deactivate the Blackout-Funktion.
Freeze	The Freeze command refers to the Freeze icon in the control center and in the graphical view.	Toggle	The command Toggle invertst the momentary behaviour of the Freeze-funktion.
		On	The command On activate the Freeze-funktion.
		Off	The command Off deactivate the Freeze-funktion.

Meaning of the Flags:

Flag	Meaning	Description
T	Toggle mode	The Flag »Toggle mode« result in the function's being set by the first call and being reset by the second call.
O	Used specified value	The Flag »Used specified value« result in the being assigned to the appropriate channel of the value in the openings' value. This value isn't DMX value 0 to 255 but a per cent value 0. 000 to 100. 000%
A	Ask for value	The Flag »Ask for value« result in the opening at call of the order of an input window in which the per cent value can be entered.
I	Ignore value 0	The Flag »Ignore value 0« result in the being ignored of a value of zero. Do you need at some orders to ensure a correct function.

Tip(s)

To be on the safe side, Projects should regularly be stored during the construction phase under another name (e.g. Yourproject 1,2,3,4,5 etc.). This process will allow you to go back to an older version if necessary. The experimental program items are only seen in the menu when the experimental tools are enabled in the SETTINGS menu.