Bugs/operator errors GMA3onPC 1.5.2.3

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

Copying group:

When copying a group containing numbers in the name e.g 3001 thru 3010 to an empty group renames the newly created group to "3001 thru 3011. Relabeling the new group to "3001 thru 3010" is not possible. Commandline says OK: Label Group x.

When labeling it to a completly different name its fine: however when relabeling it to "3001 thru 3010"the new name becomes "3001 thru 3011". It looks like GMA3onPC won't accept double names in showfiles. When labeling two groups in an identical way there is a number placed behind the name e.g. A group named "Megapointe" will become "Megapointe#2" when copied which makes sense. but when i label a second group "Megapointe" it will be labeled "Megapointe#2"as wel. I would like to be able to have identical names in showfiles for groups which contain the same fixtures but when selection order is different.

Yes, currently it is not possible to have the same name for multiple objects in the same pool. At the moment, how the names are enumerated automatically depends on whether the name ends in a string (e.g. "Megapointe" or "3001thru3010") which gets a '#x' added (e.g. "Megapointe#2" or "3001thru3010#2"), or in a number (e.g. "Megapointe 1" or "3001 thru 3010") which increments the number (e.g. "Megapointe 2" or "3001 thru 3011").

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

Importing MVR files:

MVR file created in WYSIWYG R47. Data is transfered fine, no problems at all. FHowever fixture types are not working at all, Fixtures don't show up in 3D. Solution for now is to change fixturetypes from GDTF to GMA2 fixtures. Than everything works as expected.

I'm not familiar with the current MVR implementation in Wyg. Are you actually able to link the real, created GDTF files before exporting as MVR? Or does Wyg just create placeholder GDTF files (which is what Vectoroworks does if you haven't linked correct GDTF files)? If it creates placeholder GDTF files, then this is of course expected - they have all the data (e.g. patch and positioning), but don't have any other information about the fixture such as 3D model. Thus you would have to change fixture types from the placeholder to a real profile, whether from the grandMA3 tab, GDTF tab, GDTF-Share tab, etc.

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

Groups and align:

I had a behaviour, which might be intended but seems a bit strange to me: Situation: grid of moving lights 5 rows, 5 colums. I made a selection of 5 fixtures based on fixture ID's (1 thru 5)(first column on the left side) Stored a group. I dit this for the other 4 columns as wel. First 3 groups can be manipulated in all possible ways. putting them at a 55 degree angle and fan them out using Aling/ works perfect. The next two groups can't be fanned out/act as a block of 5. Delete the group and restore the group again fixes the problem. MAtricks was definitly not active.

Question: is the setup of MAtricks stored into groups as well?

Groups store your 3D selection arrangement, the same way grandMA2 groups stored your selection order. Thus if you have fixtures in the same selection grid coordinate or across the y- or z-axis when you store the group, recalling the group later will recall the fixtures in those same locations. And currently Align with the encoders only works across the x-axis. (Whereas the MAtricks Layer functions can work across any individual axis.)

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

Group at group:

When using syntax "Groupx at Group Y" over groups with identical amount of fixtures the values are not cloned correct: I have two groups containing 4 fixtures. I set the first group to the needed pan values ( -120, -110 ,-80, -70)

When using syntax "Group 2 at Group 1" a popup opens, i choose "High Priority" (because "Low Priority" doesn't do anything) now the fixtures from group 2 have these values ( -110, -80, -70, -70). The clone is not executed well, it won't take over the correct values from the original fixtures and applies the wrong values to the second group

Are you sure the two groups have the fixtures in the same selection arrangement?

For the MVR import from Wyg, Cast uses a placeholder as they don't have GDTF as a library structure or at this point believe they want to spend the time convertings there vast library to GDTF. (Time and money thing I assume)

So current means is to import the MVR and then replace the placeholders with a fixture profile. MA2 seems to be the goto as GDTF has 20 manufactures and only fixtures from last year or two. and MA3 fixtures are growing but still on the low side.

It would be nice if the import of MVR would allow you to change up a fixture much like the cloning a show or PSR was handled in MA2 world (haven't tried cloning in ma3 yet think it's more swap, copy and paste now anyhow)

GDTF has a long way to go. I say there is under a 1000 fixtures total in the GDTF world off there website compare to the 10,000+ fixtures in Wysiwyg. and I'm not sure how Vectorworks stocks their GDTF's, but assume it would be pulled from the site or internal converter which be nice if they as part of the GDTF original members to upload onto the GDTF website.

Having chats with Cast-soft about GDTF, At this point with no real catalogue of fixtures in GDTF to pull from and they don't see a need to jump on board yet. or any signs that it will become a goto item.

As I see it, I'm using other profiles anyhow as maybe one or two GDTF fixtures exist in the catalogue out of the 30 or 40 fixtures a larger production house stocks if any for a small production house. and no real way to make a GDTF fixture without being online.

As Ryan said the patching, positioning and layering content follows thru. only real thing I found was the sidedness of venues which I brought up with both Ryan and Cast as with the idea to treat the merging of fixture more of a step part to the import procedure like the cloning in MA2 world.

MVR is a great tool. GDTF no so sure.

re mvr, i am seeing similar behaviour in mvr from capture.

almost non of the ma3 library fixtures ma replaces the mvr fixtures with, work.
Instead i have to swap kinds using the ma2 library, and only then do they work. however 3d info is usually always retained

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

[...] MA3 [...] does not convert these fixtures automatically

Correct. How would it know to do this? You might have a mix of correct and placeholder GDTF files, but the placeholder files are still technically valid files. So it imports everything as-is. Then it's up to you to choose which fixtures need new profiles, and what profile to use, and so forth.

Quote from MarkvanderMeulen

Group at group:

When using syntax "Groupx at Group Y" over groups with identical amount of fixtures the values are not cloned correct: I have two groups containing 4 fixtures. I set the first group to the needed pan values ( -120, -110 ,-80, -70)

When using syntax "Group 2 at Group 1" a popup opens, i choose "High Priority" (because "Low Priority" doesn't do anything) now the fixtures from group 2 have these values ( -110, -80, -70, -70). The clone is not executed well, it won't take over the correct values from the original fixtures and applies the wrong values to the second group

Hi MArk
I would like share with you a simple image i create for the sintax "Fixture at Fixture " or in your case Group at group

I hope this can be usefull.