Fixture library could support several channel modes ?#339

Dear developpers,
I am a little amazed that we have to create one fixture per Channel Mode. For instance if you have a bar led Nicols 1810FC with 4 channel modes (9/27/72/82 channels), you have 4 fixtures in the library. It should be easier to have only one fixture with 4 configurations and select one on patching.
Moreover with LEDS we usualy have RGBW or RGBWW. When you select the fixture on the “programmer” and click on “color”, you get R/G/B on the 3 encoders and you have to switch to other tab to get cool white whereas there is an empty encoder on the first tab.

Is it mandatory to create/modify fixture library on the console or is it possible to create a software to generate fixture library easily : is the file format opened ? I saw it is a binary format and not text format (ie xml).
If you give me specifications I can write a software to simplify the editing.

If it is not possible I suggest to add “quick filters” in the fixture editor : for instance 5 buttons which are able to filter MOVING / COLOR / GOGO / MACRO / OTHERS, scrolling is a little tricky on this list.

To finish with, when you modify a fixture library, the show keeps the previous version of fixture, and we have remove all fixtures from this type and add them another time, it should be easier to have an update function. To simplify implementation, it is possible to prohibit update if the channel number has changed to keep the same patch…

Best regards,
Guillaume

There are already quickfilters for adding channels. You can use the feature group name, so if you type “Color” you should see channels like “Red”, “Green”, “Blue”, etc… For “Position” you see “Pan”, “Tilt” etc.
The quick workflow for creation is to create an empty module and simply click through add channel (with different functions and fine/course settings). Afterwards potentially move around fine channels according to dmx spec.

Dear Rosen, Thank you for your answer. Is the file format specifications is available to create fixture library on a computer and import onto the Lampy ?

And the first question : Does each feature support only one channel mode ? If I have a fixture with 4 channel modes I need to create 4 fixtures, is that right ?

If you have 4 fixture modes that behave very similar or have the same channels, you can just create one of the modes (e.g. the largest), then edit it as you would want it and save it in the show library. Once saved, click on edit again and change the Mode in the description tab. Remove and edit channels as you like. Then click save - as long as you changed any of the three parameters in Description (Type, Manufacturer, Mode) the edited fixture will be saved as a new fixture.
Same goes for the user library and you are not allowed to edit the factory library.

Our library format is json otherwise (the binary is just for transport).

Our library format is json otherwise (the binary is just for transport).

While this is correct, the format is only used “internally” and can not be altered by customers.

The external format during USB Import / Export is propriatary.

There would, in fact, be little use of having the different modes inside a fixture - you would most likely still end up re-doing large portions because the modes may differ a lot.

Of course, for some fixtures this may work well, but for the majority of fixtures it does not bring a big benefit that could’nt be archieved right now by other means.

As for the quick-filter buttons, I’d like you to make a seperate feature request here on Nolt.