assigning buttons to specific groups

[Bigtoddy]

OK, so I have several groups of lights that I like to use onstage. During live performances, I regularly use "Next color""previous color""Random Strobe" etc. I select a group then use the particular button, which I have hotkeyed, to change. Changeing groups on the fly is a little cumbersome, because selecting 1 group doesn't turn off the previous groups selected, so there is always a time lag. And also, I would like to change different groups simultaneously, differently. I have 2 possibly solutions, and I don't know if either is possible or if I am just missing something.
The first would be the ability to deselect all other fixtures when you select a particular group. That way, switching to a group is one button push, not multiple.
The second, I would like the ability to assign things like "Next color" to be group specific. I have 4 main groups, I would like to set it up so I can have 4 separate buttons (Next Color Group A, Next Color Group B, etc)
I think I could do a workaround using some kind of macro keyboard, but that just seems a little convoluted and not the right way to do it, but I'm having a hard time doing it directly using FS.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Partyman]

I think you are trying to do light programming "On the fly". You will be MUCH better served if you create sequences that do exactly what you want. In a sequence you can not only activate but deactivate other effects all in one step.

Rusty