The Graphical User Interface (GUI) in DMXControl 3 is the part of the software responsible for user interaction. It provides graphical control elements and visualizes various inputs to, for example, add new Devices to the project, program Cues and Cuelists, and operate a show using different control elements.
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| Figure 1: Interface after first launch |
Overview
The DMXControl 3 interface features a modular Panel Concept, meaning all panels can be arranged flexibly according to your preferences. DMXControl automatically saves the last interface configuration and restores it upon restarting the software. Additionally, a configuration can be loaded from a project file.
Key Features
Control Elements
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| Figure 2: View of the six different areas |
As shown in Figure 2, the default interface is divided into six areas, each offering different functions. These areas are briefly explained below.
Main Menu with Status Area
The main menu provides access to all DMXControl 3 modules. Here, you can create, load, and save projects and access DMXControl 3 settings. On the right side of this area, useful information such as a laptop's battery status and DMXControl 3's theoretical load is displayed as a red bar. This bar indicates the number of DMX values calculated per second.
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The actual load depends on the hardware configuration. More powerful systems may generate significantly more than the default 10,000 DMX values per second. Monitoring the Windows Task Manager can provide a better understanding of the system load. |
Main Window
The main window is where most module panels appear when opened. This area provides the necessary space to display modules with extensive functionality. The default view displays the Project Explorer. The main window is also the only area where the tabs for switching between panels are located at the top.
Quick Access Bar
The quick access bar offers frequently used functions, such as a [Save] button, a button to toggle the Blackout on and off, and quick access to key modules like the Project Explorer or the Stage View. Along with the menu bar, the quick access bar is the only area that cannot be hidden or modified.
Control Window
In the default view, this area contains several Panels for adjusting basic device functions. This includes the shutter, brightness, strobe function, color, gobo, and position. Functions unsupported by a device are grayed out.
Device Control
The Device Control window provides comprehensive control. In addition to the basic functions, all other device-specific properties can be adjusted here. Only the functions actually supported by a device are displayed in a tabular format.
Effects and Filters
The Effects and Filters window offers various 1D and 2D effects to create dynamic effects and movements with just a few clicks, especially for Device Groups.
Usage
Changing the Language
DMXControl 3 allows switching between English and German. To change the language to German, open the GUI settings via « Settings »⇒ « Application Settings »⇒ « GUI », and set the Language entry to "de-DE". After restarting the GUI (without stopping the kernel), the German interface will be loaded.
If DMXControl 3 is installed on a PC for the first time, the GUI will automatically start in German if the operating system's default language is also set to German.
Customizing the Color Theme
The interface and all associated windows are available in two different color themes: the light default theme and a dark theme. You can switch between these themes at any time through the GUI settings by changing the Theme entry. The available options are "Default" and "Dark".
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Saving Layouts
For a detailed explanation, see Panel Concept.
Links and References
Video Tutorials
On our YouTube-Kanal channel, you can find the following videos on this topic: