LightFactory 2.23 Features

This page details all of the new features in version 2.23 of LightFactory

Version 2.23 is a free upgrade for all version 2 users

Multi universe DMX input merging

The system is now able to merge multiple incoming DMX streams into the output. The merging of the DMX can be done either HTP, Build or ITP (input takes precedence). DMX input merging can also be mixed between different protocols.

Within a merged universe each DMX channel can be enabled and disabled so that specific parts of the universe can be used.

Tracking Palettes

Tracking Palettes are related to the new DMX input feature. A tracking palette works the same as any other palette in the system however the attribute data associated with the palette is determined by incoming DMX data. Each Tracking Palette has an associated input patch to define the mapping between the received DMX data and the desk channels in the system.

When the Tracking Palette is applied to a channel (either live or in cue playback) then the live display will show the attributes assigned to that palette and the ML view will show the corresponding attributes values that are generated by DMX input.

Snapshots

Snapshots are a way to capture many playback settings so that they can be easily recalled at any time. A snapshot includes the following settings:

Currently selected cue list
Screen layout
Current selected pages (submasters, shortcuts, palettes etc.)
Cue List playback, submaster and shortcut assignments
FX Playback submaster and shortcut assignments
Playback button functions (Compact 10)
Shortcuts
Shortcut page settings

Snapshots can be grouped into “Set Lists” to manage grouping snapshots together. A “Set List” is a collection of snapshots and snapshots can easily be copied between Set Lists.

When not manually editing snapshots a simple button interface is available.

Each snapshot can also be assigned to shortcut for quick recall.

The following command syntax has been added to support the new Snapshots feature:

RECORD SNAPSHOT {number} [TEXT {snapshot name}] [SC {shortcut number}] - Create a new snapshot and capture the current system assignments. Snapshot number is optional.
UPDATE SNAPSHOT {number} - Update an existing snapshot with the current system assignments.
SNAPSHOT {number} - Apply the settings of the specified snapshot.
SNAPSHOT NEXT - Apply the next logical snapshot in the list. If no snapshot has previously been applied, then the first will be applied.
SNAPSHOT LAST - Apply the previous logical snapshot.
SNAPSHOT {number} TEXT {description} - Set the name/description of the specified snapshot.
SNAPSHOT {number} SC {number} - Set the shortcut of the specified snapshot. The shortcut can be used to apply the snapshot.
SETLIST {number} - Make the specified set list active. All snapshot commands will apply to the active set list.
SETLIST {number} TEXT {description} - Set the name/description of the specified set list.
SETLIST {number} SC {number} - Set the shortcut of the specified set list.

Lock cue list

For users who do not want to use the full user security feature a lock feature has been added to cue lists. This prevents a cue list from being accidentally changed. A locked cue list cannot be recorded to or updated.

New Sub Fixture Layouts

Defining Sub Fixture Layout

Previously the layout of sub fixtures in the fixture editor was limited to a ridged grid. This made it difficult to accurately describe the layout of nonlinear fixtures (circles etc). The new sub fixture editor in the fixture editor has a free form editor that allows the cells (sub fixtures) to be placed anywhere in a 2D space.

Multi cell fixtures on the magic sheet

When a multi cell (sub fixtures) fixture is placed on the magic sheet as a block (not symbol) then the defined layout will be shown. The layout defined in the fixture editor will be displayed with the corresponding sub fixture colour represented.

Each of the cells can be clicked on to select or deselect the sub fixtures. The layout can also be rotated to represent the orientation that matches how the fixture is hung.

New matrix definition editor

The matrix editor will no longer confine you to a fixed grid when setting up how fixtures are placed. This new system does not require the user to define the number of rows and columns before placing fixtures.

Several tools are available to layout fixtures in grid, lines and circles. If a multi cell fixture is placed onto the matrix then the system can automatically layout the cells as defined in the fixture editor, or the sub fixtures can be placed independently.

New Group/Submaster Options

The snap attributes feature (snap off zero / snap at full) can now be specified per attribute family.
When a submaster is set to zero the option to release control can now be defined per family. This allows some families of attributes to remain captured by the submaster while other are released.
Submasters and groups now support split fade times.

Learn Cue Timing

An option to "Learn cue timing (auto follow)" has been added to the cue list window to automatically set the follow time of cues using the GO function. This can also be temporally instantiated by holding down the FOLLOW key.

When this option is enabled the time between GOs will be automatically stored into the “Follow Time” field of the previous cue and the trigger set to “Auto Follow”.

Web Server Enhancements

Task Scheduler Editor

The task scheduler can now be accessed from the web server interface. The software will automatically add the schedule table to a page with the tag %SCHEDULE% on an empty line in the HTML.

The resulting scheduled task table will show the details of when the next time a task will run, when it was last run and what action it is set to perform. The tasks can also be enabled and disabled from this interface. A “Run Now” button will execute the task immediately and an “Edit” button can be clicked to open the task editor.

Cue Lists

A new tag (%CUELIST #%) can be added to a web page served by the software to display an interactive cue list. The cue list number can be specified after the “CUELIST” keyword to identify what cue list is displayed. Clicking on a cue in the resulting cue list display will run that cue.

Button Arrays

A new set of tags (%BUTTON_ARRAY_SHORTCUTS%, %BUTTON_ARRAY_GROUP%, %BUTTON_ARRAY_POSITION% etc) can be added to a web page to display a button array for various palette types and shortcuts.

An example of all the above web server improvements has been added to the default install. When the HTTP server is enabled on a system then this default set of web pages is loaded into the “HTTP Home” folder of the users Documents folder.

Support for HTML style sheets has also been added to the HTTP server.

Mobile & Desktop Patch Tool

An external application available on iOS, Android, Mac and PC will soon be released to do offline show patching. This tool will retrieve the patch from the system over a network connection and then store a copy of the patch locally. The app does not need to be connected to LF or NEO to make changes to the data. The patch information can be saved locally to remove the requirement of connecting to the system each time the user wants to edit it.

Once the changes have been finished the patch can be pushed back to LF or NEO and updated live. A new option in the “Network settings” tab of the System Properties will allow or prevent patch changes from the Patch Tool.

A patched channel can also be turned on or off (live control) from the interface. This does not require the app to be connected to the system but does require it to be running on the same network and UDP messaging enabled in the software.