Support Forum

It could be done. But would require Raph to Implement it into Freestyler.
The problem is the Server doesn't know the current channels value, and to produce a fade you need to know where to start from.

for example to fade to 10. you would send to your fixtures.
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 Which the server can do.
but if your fixture is already at 5 then the server would plunge you into darkness then fade up.
5.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10

Thanks for this app, it's great!

One thing I'd love to have though, is the numeric keypad that Zinman software has a screen shot of on their website, is this possible? My main interest is something that I can control each channel while hanging out in the catwalks, mostly for conventional fixtures.. I can to this with ch NN @ NN, but would be nice if it wasn't much work to get the keypad working?

Thanks again, it's a great app, and will already be helpful!

This feature is already available , You will need to download the latest server version. Check the front page of the post for a list of the commands.

I already have the command.. it's the GUI part that I'd love to see. Specifically the 2nd screen from the left on this page:

http://www.zinmansoftware.com/tcpIP.html

Im not sure if im understanding you correctly.
All the screens avaliable on the zinman FS can now handle.
The zinmann software doesn't come set up, you have to create your own screens.
in the terminal click edit, set a caption add the command and change the button colour.

Heres how i have set mine.

CH @ FULL OFF ALL
- ,
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 0
ABC SEND COMMAND C

Ah, I think that's the key.. Thanks!

Not sure if this is the right place to report this.

Just had the FreeStyler TCPIP Server crash on me sending ch 1/8 @ 100 as a command. Is that not allowed ?

Trying to use the same commands that I use on other console (hardware and software).

/ = thru
+ include
- exclude

so ch 1/8-4 @ DMX255 is send DMX value 255 to channels 1 to 8 but not 4

iv never use a professional desk so the commands were what i thought as best.

- thru
, include

if that's industry standard il change to those. like the idea of - exclude

so ch 1-4,8 @ DMX255 is send DMX value 255 to channels 1 to 4 and channel 8

il also look into the crash, iv tested for unrecognised commands but never used / or +

Yeah the way Lightfactory works and other consoles I have used (not all though) is as follows for sending values to channels.
/ = thru
+ = include
- = exclude


1/4+10/20-13 @ DMX 78 - this sends a value of 78 to channels 1 to 4 and 10 to 20 but not 13.
1/4+10/20-23 @ 50 - would send a value of 128 to those channels (50=50%).
1/4+10/20-23 @@ - this sets the channels to full on same as 100 or DMX 255.
1/4+10/20-23 @ ON - this sets the channels to full on same as 100 or DMX 255.
1/4+10/20-23 @ FULL - this sets the channels to full on same as 100 or DMX 255.
1/4+10/20-23 @ OFF - this sets the channels to zero.

1/4+10/30-23/26 @ 100 - this is slightly different in that it has an include of channels 10 to 30 but excluding channels 23 to 26.

If the value after the @ is greater than 100 it is assumed a DMX value, if <=100 it is assumed a %age unless the keyword DMX is used.

There are loads of others like adding fades to the end of the command line so 1/4+10/20-23 @ 100 FADE 5 - this will fade the channels from current value to 100% over 5 seconds. I know this is not possible via the remote as it has no idea of the existing values.
There is so much more, but most not applicable to controlling FreeStyler or fixtures in FreeStyler because Lightfactory works in a completly different way in that a channel is a fixture not a DMX channel, so you can do things like this 1+2+4+24/30-29 cyan @ 150 fade 2 which is fixtures 1, 2, 4 24 to 30 but not 29 make the colour CYAN and intensity to 150 fading over 2 seconds. CYAN can be replaced by all defined colours. You can say 1 GOBO2 @ 5 which is fixture 1 use the 5 gobo on gobo wheel 2 etc. etc. etc. As said a lot a not applicable to FreeStyler or from a remote.

If I can send DMX values to the channels I want in a simple command line from the remote using the / + - I would be very pleased. Otherwise I will just adapt to the way it is.

Keep up the good work Matt is is appreciated.

EDIT :- I can enter 1/8-4@100 in the command line within FreeStyler and it works correctly

right iv changed the code now so that it will
accept 1/4 instead of 1-4
will accept + instead of ,
it will now also accept - as well as -1/4

so this would now work.
1/4+10/20-13 @ 78 - this sends a value of 78 to channels 1 to 4 and 10 to 20 but not 13.

Left to do.
Use the -Values to apply a mask to the output
use the DMX command
if < 100 percentage if > DMX

ITS a WIP, so no upload as yet. Just to let you know what im up to.

Value < 100 is now a percentage.
DMX 100 is treated as value 100 (0-255)

Also applied to other commands such as master etc.

master @ 100 is master at 100%
master @ DMX 100 is master at 100 (0-255) or 40%

have updated commands to include,
@@ = 255
ON = 255
full = 255
off = 0

Iv left the original version on the main page.
Please test this, and ensure it is how you'd expect to use it.

Mattotone wrote:Iv left the original version on the main page.
Please test this, and ensure it is how you'd expect to use it.

Blimey, that was quick, now I have to do some work

Cheers will report back very soon.

The @ sign is not appearing in the server output if I do 1/8-4@100

I also had it crash as well, but forgot to see what was sent and received.

Got it to crash on ch 1 / 8 - 4 @ 255 that is with a space between each item. The @ sign appeared this time in the server output.

If I do 1/8-2/6 @ 255 it works.

If I do 1/8-4-6 @ 255 all channels @ 255 excpet channel 4. Channel 6 should not be on.

ch 1/8-2/6+4 @ 255 channels 1, 7 & 8 @ 255 rest off

ch 1/8-6 @ 255 all channels at 255. Channel 6 should not be 255.

I have to have ch at the beginning of the command to send, I can live with that.
I have to put a space either side of the @ sign.

What does the "button" commands refer too ?

mmax wrote:

The @ sign is not appearing in the server output if I do 1/8-4@100

You need to put a space before and behin the "@".

Yep discovered that

Right. Button was meant to be the overrides.
However when i added the replace ON with 255, this morning when the command buttON1 came through it replaced it with butt2551
so button has been changed to override.

The crashes should now be handled correctly when the string is not in the correct format.

If I do 1/8-4-6 @ 255 all channels @ 255 excpet channel 4. Channel 6 should not be on.
ch 1/8-6 @ 255 all channels at 255. Channel 6 should not be 255.

As for this i could not replicate but have a hint what this may be. It could be likely that channel 6 was already set to 255 when this command called.
It was decided that in an early beta, that if a channel isnt set to a value it should be left alone and not set to zero. It did used to reset any unset values to 0 but this played havoc with cues and overrides.
il toy with adding an extra command to the end to disable this feature.

ch 1/8-2/6+4 @ 255 channels 1, 7 & 8 @ 255 rest off
At the moment - subtraction has priority.
The software first applies all the added channels to a list then removes all the subtracted channels.

i could change it to.
add al the range additions first.
remove all the range subtractions, and single channel subtractions
add the single channel additions.

Mattotone wrote:Right. Button was meant to be the overrides.
However when i added the replace ON with 255, this morning when the command buttON1 came through it replaced it with butt2551
so button has been changed to override.

The crashes should now be handled correctly when the string is not in the correct format.

If I do 1/8-4-6 @ 255 all channels @ 255 excpet channel 4. Channel 6 should not be on.
ch 1/8-6 @ 255 all channels at 255. Channel 6 should not be 255.

As for this i could not replicate but have a hint what this may be. It could be likely that channel 6 was already set to 255 when this command called.
It was decided that in an early beta, that if a channel isnt set to a value it should be left alone and not set to zero. It did used to reset any unset values to 0 but this played havoc with cues and overrides.
il toy with adding an extra command to the end to disable this feature.

ch 1/8-2/6+4 @ 255 channels 1, 7 & 8 @ 255 rest off
At the moment - subtraction has priority.
The software first applies all the added channels to a list then removes all the subtracted channels.

i could change it to.
add al the range additions first.
remove all the range subtractions, and single channel subtractions
add the single channel additions.

Hi Matt,
It's all good work, but I don't think there should be any priority on it, it normally just goes from left to right as it finds things.
Thanks for explaining what the "Button" was for.
Not teaching you to suck eggs but could you not parse the whole string and remove the "command" before doing any replacement or only do replacement in parts of the string that can have stuff replaced ?

Fixed certain crashes due to incorrect string format
+ commands take priority over - commands, unless its a range. Where the - channels will be removed from the + range

Not teaching you to suck eggs but could you not parse the whole string and remove the "command" before doing any replacement or only do replacement in parts of the string that can have stuff replaced ?
Could do, and if i were to redo it i probably would. The original system didn't have a reason to do it it the other way, jst as it grew and more features were added it became a bit of a mess.
This is the same for priority system. Id never thought of having channels removed so didn't factor in for it, i may have to rewrite it if it becomes more of a problem.
How it currently works is using regular expressions to create two arrays one of + channels and then one of - channels.
it adds all the positive channels first, then removes all the negatives, and then has to re add any extra channels.
which is a long way round of doing it, and il hopefully clean it up when i get some time.

Much appreciated. Will try and destroy it some more ... hee hee hee

Nah just kidding.

Main page updated with new server and latest commands and bug fixes

mmax wrote:I want "-" for "thru" and "," for "include" back ...

They are not as used on most other consoles including the command line built into FS

To keep people happy. I'll add an option to set your own commands
The default will be the ones johnnybgood has recommended as these seem to be the most natural.

why so serious...?