Clarify details of exporting shows

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    I was wondering, whether MA could possibly clarify details related to exporting parts of a setup. The documentation is somewhat ambiguous or sparse, so I’d love if somebody could clarify the following:


    • Are custom fixtures (user created) stored as part of a show file, user profile or globally?
    • When I export a fixture type, are custom gobo images exported automatically? If not, what’s the best practice to make sure, that custom gobo images get transferred along with a fixture type when for example I take a show from onPC to the console?

    Fixture profiles you have built are local to the show file until you export them (whether to a USB stick or to the internal hard drive).


    Off the top of my head, I'm not sure about custom gobo images, whether the image itself is included or just the file path.

    I will have to check but I can be certain custom models (meshes) are not exported.


    However if you export to gdtf you should get all the elements, and if not easy to clean up in gdtf builder site. Then whenever you bring in a gdtf file to a new show all the bits will come with it (gobos, appearance, meshes).

    Yeah ... thru the efforts of going to GDTF, building my fixtures, I noticed a huge (!!) increase in the file size. Looking at the new fixture definition (coming from GDTF) in a text editor, all graphics seem to be encoded and included. So ralfrottmann, every aspect of your fixture will be included (even custom gobo's).
    You will thou be creative to create useful graphics. Alpha channels will become your best friend shortly.

    Quote from Ryan Kanarek

    Fixture profiles you have built are local to the show file until you export them (whether to a USB stick or to the internal hard drive).


    Off the top of my head, I'm not sure about custom gobo images, whether the image itself is included or just the file path.

    This might be a feature idea for MA Lighting: Introduce a "Package Show" command. Packs the show file along with all the assets needed to reload the show on a completely clean console. All images, logos, gobo images, etc. Right now, there's always a bit of uncertainty / ambiguity as to what gets exported and what needs manual transfer.

    But the fixture type are part of the show file. So loading the show file on a fresh console has not the need to include fixture types as external assests in order to process the show file correctly.

    Yes but more often than not it’s the need to import a single fixture into an existing show that a user has.


    It’s very rare someone is bringing a whole show with them, they most often have a need to merge in existing elements with new.

    I think, MA would do good in general, to reduce the ambiguity for this entire aspect of the experience. Right now, there's always a bit of uncertainty as to whether you've got all the assets you need once you move to a "fresh" console in a different venue.


    I'd love to see a "Package All" feature, where grandMA3 makes sure, the show file, the fixture types, all media files, images, gobo images, etc. end up on the memory stick, preferably neatly arranged in a folder for re-import. As the basic functionality is already there, this shouldn't be that big of an effort.

    +1 for specific "Export Everything" or "Package Show" option.
    I build shows at home with onPC and when i reload the show on the consolle (or another onPC) there is usually something missing or grayed out and i need to manually re-create or re-import ending up with duplicates.

    Quote from Rikurama

    I thinks there is an option for this on 1.7. its called something like export show media or something in The backup menu. Will check this soon I get to My pc.

    I just tried on 1.7
    Imported new images and saved with "Export Media" enabled to USB. Opened on other PC and only about half the images / appearences where there.
    Weirdly, non of the images are present on the USB drive but some got saved anyway (maybe saved in the showfile instead??)
    It's easy enough to Export everything manually... but it should be automatic.

    If you edit your Images, do you have the {Installed} option enabled, or disabled? If you have it disabled, the image will be saved with the show file and streamed across the network. If you have it enabled (meaning the image is "installed on the device's drive") then the image will not be saved with the show file or streamed across the network.

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