The Softdesk provides a custom user interface that allows numerous functions to be accessed and executed, in connection with the Input Assignment. A main focus is on controlling the functions with a touchscreen, thus creating a virtual control panel.
Overview
The Softdesk differs depending on the use case into two areas:
- the Softdesk itself for the live view
- the Softdesk Designer, with which the desired interface can be created and tested.
Description
The Softdesk is a feature of DMXControl 3 that allows users to create custom interfaces to control the software.
Softdesks are created in the Project Explorer and can be modified at any time. The signal control in the Softdesk is done via the Assign Inputs module.
Usage
The available Softdesks in the project can be accessed via the Softdesks entry in the Project Explorer. This can be done either by double-clicking the corresponding Softdesk or through the « Open Softdesk » entry in the context menu. Each Softdesk opens in its own window and can be freely positioned via the docking system.
Additionally, you can activate the fullscreen mode through the context menu in the Softdesk if it is undocked - i.e., displayed in a separate window. This hides
- the Windows taskbar
- each other Softdesk is displayed as a tab at the bottom of the screen, so switching between Softdesks is possible even in fullscreen mode.
Fullscreen mode can only be used once per screen, but you can distribute the Softdesks across multiple monitors connected to the PC and display them separately in fullscreen mode.
The positions and sizes of the individual Softdesks are also part of the window layout stored in the project and are restored when the project is loaded.
Controls
Within the Softdesk, various controls can be created, which can be assigned actions in the "Assign Inputs" module in different ways.
Most controls have so-called styles. The default style follows the selected theme of the GUI and changes if the theme is changed during the application's runtime. This feature is no longer available with custom styles. If a custom style is set, colors and fonts can be adjusted through the corresponding settings.
Display Elements
Controls that are meant for display only.
Box
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Image | Set as background image |
| Color | Set as background color |
Outputs
This control has no outputs.
Header
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Text | Set as displayed text |
| Color | Set as text color |
Outputs
This control has no outputs.
Signal Lamp
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Numeric value (double) | Set as brightness or on/off value |
| Binary value (boolean) | Set as on / off |
| Color | Used as lamp color |
Outputs
This control has no outputs.
Label
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Text | Used as displayed text |
Outputs
This control has no outputs.
Input Elements
Button
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Text | Used as displayed text on the button |
| boolean | Activates the button (if true) or deactivates it (if false). This requires the button to be a toggle button. |
| Color | Used as background color (BaseColor) of the button, and optionally as "OnColor". |
| ESceneListState (CueList-State) | RUNNING is considered as activated for a ToggleButton, STOPPED and PAUSED as deactivated. |
| SerializableBitmap (Bitmap) | Used as background image of the button. |
| double | Compared with "Value Activated" and "Value Deactivated" to determine the state of a ToggleButton. If the input matches "Value Deactivated," it will be deactivated; if it matches "Value Activated," it will be activated. |
Outputs
"Value activated" or "Value deactivated."
Color Bar
Presets
With this setting, color presets can be set.
Input
This control does not accept any data input.
Output
The color at the current position as System.Drawing.Color.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Clicking the Ctrl key will fade to the selected position.
Color Grid
This control generates a 3x3 grid for quickly setting 9 different colors with a mouse click.
Preset
This setting allows a preset of colors for the color grid to be loaded.
Input
This control does not accept data input.
Output
The color of the clicked field as System.Drawing.Color.
Cuelist Selector
This control shows a list of all existing cue lists in the project. The list is updated when the drop-down menu is opened. With the search feature, the names of cue lists can be searched for. The search is not case-sensitive.
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Text | An empty text causes a reset and shows all cue lists in the project. If a list of cue list IDs is passed (separated by a ';'), it will be used as a pre-filter, displaying only cue lists within that list.
This can be achieved, for example, with a CueListGroup-Node. |
Output
The ID of the selected cue list.
Device Selector
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Text | An empty text causes a reset and shows all devices in the project. If a list of device IDs is passed (separated by a ';'), it will be used as a pre-filter, showing only devices within that list.
This can be achieved, for example, with a Device Group-Node. |
Output
The ID of the selected device.
Position
Output
The currently selected position as PropertyType.Position. The position ranges from Minimum Pan: -90 Tilt: -90 to Maximum Pan: 90 Tilt: 90.
Slider
Properties
| Setting | Possible Parameters | Default Value | Description / Functionality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behavior | |||
| Minimum | Numeric value | 0 | The minimum value the slider should output. |
| Maximum | Numeric value | 100 | The maximum value the slider should output. |
| Value | Numeric value | None | The current value of the slider. This property is displayed when saving and loading, but should not be changed when setting up the Softdesk. |
| Pass through | True / False | False | Indicates whether the slider should forward a value (numeric) received via input assignment. If True, the input value is passed as output. If False, the display is only updated internally. |
| Use steps | True / False | False | Determines if the slider should make steps when used. This works in conjunction with the "Steps" setting. |
| Steps | Numeric value | 10 | The number of intermediate steps when using the slider (if "Use steps" = true). |
| Use mouse capture mode | True / False | True | When enabled, the mouse is captured even if it moves outside the slider when clicked. This allows you to control the slider while moving the mouse outside the slider. |
| Capture touch | True / False | True | Works like mouse capture mode but for touch input. |
| Visual Appearance of the Control | |||
| Style | Various entries | Default | Chooses a display style for the slider. Styles like Default, Custom/Rounded, and Slim gnob* are distinguished because they use different properties for rendering. |
| Base color | Colors from selection list RGB values |
Black | Color of the frame and display bar of the slider. |
| Gnob color | Colors from selection list RGB values |
White | When "Slim gnob" is selected, this sets the color of the slider knob. |
| Gnob height | Colors from selection list RGB values |
20 | When "Slim gnob" is selected, this sets the height of the displayed slider knob. |
| Middle bar color | Colors from selection list RGB values |
Transparent | Sets the color of the line in the middle of the slider (along the slide direction). Should be used with the "Slim gnob" style to mimic a fader. |
Inputs
| Input type | Usage |
|---|---|
| double (numeric value) | Set as the slider value. |
| Color | Set as the background color (Base color) of the slider. Only visible if a Custom style is enabled. |
Output
The current value as a double.
Multifunctional Controls
Cuelist Monitor
Inputs Requires an input list of cue list IDs to be displayed, in the format: ID1; ID2; ID3 Individual cue list IDs are also possible.
Clicking on a cue list will either start it (Go) or stop it (Stop).
Output
This control has no outputs.