Patch

Patch view

The Patch view is a graphical representation of the patch field. It is used for two purposes:

• To create and/or edit a patch for the lights, video, or moving scenery in your drawing.
• To monitor incoming DMX levels when using WYSIWYG Perform for simulation.

Working in the patch view

You can view one patch universe at a time. As you add new patch universes in either a spreadsheet view or a CAD drawing (using Quick Tools), their shortcuts are created automatically. You can also create new patch universes directly from the shortcut bar.

To create a new patch universe

1. Click the Patch layout tab.
2. Right-click in the patch shortcut area and choose New Patch.

Result: A dialog box appears, prompting for the type of universe that you want to create, and the name of the new universe.

3. Type the name of the patch universe. Patch universes can be named anything. For example, “A”, “Dimmers”, “Dim”, “Movers”, “Scrollers”, and so on.
4. Select the type of patch universe based on the type of console or system that you are using, either a DMX console or a motion control system.
5. Click OK.

Result: The patch shortcut appears in the Patch tab.

Tip: To quickly add 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 64, 128, or 256 DMX universes to your file, insert the appropriate Insertable into your file. For more information on Insertables, see To insert insertables into a file.

Notes:

• To change, delete, or modify a patch universe, right-click the shortcut icon for the universe that you want to change. Click on the command that you want to perform.
• To display the contents of a patch universe, click on the appropriate shortcut icon. The name of the universe is displayed at the top left corner of the Wireframe view.

Fixture patching methods

There are multiple ways to patch fixtures in WYSIWYG. The following section will guide you through some of the ways fixtures can be patched.

To patch fixtures in the patch view

1. Click and hold the desired fixture in the Wireframe view.
2. Drag the fixture to the desired patch location.
3. For re-patching, repeat the above steps, or click and drag the fixture’s patch information to the new location.

To unpatch fixtures in the patch view

1. Select the fixture by clicking on the first channel (start cell) for that fixture. It should become highlighted.
2. Right-click and choose Unpatch.

Result: The fixture is unpatched; the value in the patch field for that fixture is deleted.

To patch fixtures and assign spot IDs using Quick Tools

Using Quick Tools, fixtures can be patched and assigned spot IDs by clicking on their Wireframe view image. The first fixture clicked will be assigned the patch and ID as configured in Quick Tools. The next fixture clicked will be assigned the next available channel in the patch and the next fixture ID in the sequence until you are finished using Quick Tools.

1. In CAD mode, in Wireframe view, go to Tools > Quick Tools > Quick Tools. Alternately click the Quick Tools icon on the Tools toolbar.

The Quick Tools button.

Result: The Quick Fixture Tool window appears.

2. In the Quick Fixture Tool window, in the Control Data section, select the Spot checkbox.
3. In the Spot field, enter a number which will be the first fixture ID used in the sequence.
4. In the Control Data section, select the Patch checkbox.
5. In the Patch field, enter the universe and channel the first fixture will patching to, separated by a period.

Example: “A.1” would patch to universe A, chapter 1.

Note: The Custom Increment checkbox offers two options: Additional, where the increment is added at the end of each fixture patched; and Total, which is the total increment to the next fixture’s address.

6. Click Ok

Result: When a fixture is clicked on, it will be assigned a Universe and channel to operate on. The first fixture clicked will be assigned the to the channel number entered in Quick Tools. Subsequent fixtures clicked will be assigned the next sequential channel and Spot ID number.

7. Click on a fixture to patch it to a universe and channel. Clicking on each fixture that you want patched and assigned a spot ID.
8. To stop patching fixtures, right-click.
9. In the menu that appears, click Finish Quick Tools.

To patch fixtures and assign spot IDs using the data spreadsheet

In DATA mode, the Spreadsheet view has information on all fixtures created in the WYSIWYG project. Using the spreadsheet you can edit the patch information and Spot ID directly in the table.

1. In DATA mode, click on the Spreadsheet tab.
2. In the Columns section on the left side of the window, click All Data (Sortable).

Result: All fixture data are displayed in the spreadsheet.

3. In the Patch column, enter the appropriate patch information for each fixture.

Tip: You can use incremental data entry to assign sequential patch for a list of fixtures.

1. Select the series of fixtures you want to patch sequentially.
2. In the first cell, type “UniverseName.Starting Address+”.

Example: “F.1+”

4. In the Spot column, enter a unique Spot ID for each fixture.

Tip: You can use incremental data entry to enter sequential numerical values.

1. In the Spot column, select a series of fixtures.
2. Enter in the first cell type the starting value of the data, and then a plus sign (+).

Example: If the first Spot number in the selected fixtures is 101, enter “101+”, then press ENTER.

Result: The fixtures after the first cell will be assigned the next available value. This can be repeated as necessary. If this method is used to assign values, it is recommend that fixtures are first sorted so fixtures are organized. Fixtures can be sorted in order of position, or Unit # along a pipe/truss.

To patch the control of a video source

In WYSIWYG, you patch the control of a video source, not the actual video. This means that you can use the console device to control the progress of a live video stream or a video file by making the video play, pause, or rewind; you cannot use WYSIWYG to change different aspects of the video itself.

To control the video source, the DMX patch is allocated three channels. For details on controlling the video with the console device in LIVE mode, see To control a DMX patched video source with a console.

1. In the shortcut area, click the Patch tab.
2. Click the patch shortcut to which you have linked control of the video source.

Result: The video patch appears in the patch universe.

3. Open the console device that you have connected to the video DMX patch.
4. Using the console controls, set the appropriate levels for the three channels. For details, see To control a DMX patched video source with a console.

5. Save your settings.
6. In the Shaded tab of LIVE mode, you can now use the console device to control the progress of the video. For details, see To control a DMX patched video source with a console.

To patch a motion axis to a DMX console device

In WYSIWYG, you can patch a motion axis to which one or more objects has been attached, and then use a console device or a motion control system to control the progress of the objects along the axis.

You have the choice of patching the axis to either a DMX patch universe or a motion control universe, based on the type of console or system you will be using to move the objects. For details on patching the axis to a motion control universe, see To patch a motion axis to a motion control system.

To control the object’s movement with a DMX console device, the DMX patch is allocated two channels, one each for coarse and fine movement. The DMX value represents the object’s percentage of movement. For example, if it is at 0, then the object is at 0% of its range of motion; if it is at 100, then the object has moved 100% of its range of motion. For details on controlling the object with the console device in LIVE mode, see To control a DMX patched motion axis with a console.

Note: Before performing the following procedure, the motion axis must already be linked to the patch universe. For details, see To patch a motion axis to a DMX universe.

1. In the shortcut area, click the Patch tab.
2. Click the patch shortcut to which you have linked control of the moving object.

Result: The moving scenery patch appears in the patch universe.

3. Open the console device that you have connected to the DMX patch (for example, the Mini Console).
4. Using the console controls, move the slider of the first or second channel to advance the object to the desired position on the motion axis.

Note: The first channel is for coarse movement and can be used to advance the object quickly to any position along the entire path, from start to finish. The second channel is for fine movement. Its movement range is very slight and depends on the position that you have set on the first channel. For details, see To control a DMX patched motion axis with a console.

5. In the Shaded tab of LIVE mode, you can now use the console device to control the object’s movement along the axis. For details, see To control a DMX patched motion axis with a console.

To patch a motion axis to a motion control system

In WYSIWYG, you can patch a motion axis to which one or more objects has been attached, and then use a console device or a motion control system to control the progress of the objects along the axis.

You have the choice of patching the axis to either a DMX patch universe or a motion control universe, based on the type of console or system you will be using to move the objects. For details on patching the axis to a DMX patch universe, see To patch a motion axis to a DMX console device.

When controlling the object’s movement with a motion control system, the patch indicates the ID on the motion control system that corresponds to the WYSIWYG axis ID, the axis name, and the position of the object on its path. When connected to a system (or to WYSIWYG Motion Control Console), you can watch the object’s position change in patch view as it moves along its path.

Note: Before performing this procedure, the motion axis must already be linked to the patch universe. For details, see To patch a motion axis to a motion universe.

1. In the shortcut area, click the Patch tab.
2. Click the patch shortcut to which you have linked control of the moving object.

Result: The motion control patch appears in the patch universe.

3. Open the console device or motion control system that you have connected to the motion control patch (for example, the Motion Control Console, shown below).

4. If you are using WYSIWYG’S Motion Control Console, in the ID box, type the motion control ID that you selected when configuring the axis. If you are patching a Frame, enter the name of the frame.

Note: If you do not know the ID, right-click on the axis, and then click Properties. Click the Axis tab. The ID appears in the Motion Patch - ID box.

5. In the Length box, type the distance (in meters for linear axes, in degrees for rotational axes) that you want the object to travel along or around the axis. This can be the full length/angle of the axis, or only a portion of it if you do not want the object to travel along/around the full path. For linear axes, if you type a value that is longer than the actual axis, the object stops at the end of the physical axis.
6. Click the Linear or Rotational option button according to the type of motion axis that you are patching.
7. In the Mode area, select the type of movement for the object:

• Manual: Select this option if you want to specify the precise location of a static object on the motion axis. You can then use the position slider at the bottom of the window to adjust the position and control the movement of the object manually.
• Bounce: Select this option if you want the object to move forward and backward in a continuous loop along the motion axis.
• Forward: Select this option if you want the object to move forward along the axis from start to finish, and then start over again at the beginning in a continuous forward loop.
• Backward: Select this option if you want the object to move backwards along the axis from finish to start, and then begin over again in a continuous backwards loop.

8. If you have chosen any moving Mode value (that is, any value except Static), you can specify the length of time (in seconds) over which you want the full range of motion to take place. Type this value in the Duration box. The larger the number you type in this box, the slower the object moves.
9. Select New Axis if you are adding a linear or rotational frame. Select New Frame if you are adding a frame to the patch.
10. Click Save to save your settings.

Note:  If you make any changes to the axis settings and save the changes, you can revert to the previous settings by clicking Load.

11. To see the object moving along the axis, you must first ensure that the Motion Control Console or the motion control system that you are using is connected and that the patched axis is bound. For details, see To connect to a console and To control a motion-control patched motion axis with a motion control system.

Reading the patch

Each box in the patch universe represents one DMX channel. Fixtures are represented by colored bumps or bars that span the number of required DMX channels. The color of the bar is the same as the fixture’s CAD layer.

The number in the top left corner is the DMX address.

The spot number and fixture type are identified across the bottom of the box(es).

The fixture parameter controlled by each channel is identified in the center of the box.

If you are connected to a console and are receiving DMX signals, the incoming DMX levels are displayed in the top right corner of each box.

Reading the patch for streaming video sources

If you have patched a live video source or file, the patch appears as shown below:

Reading the patch for moving scenery

If you have patched a motion axis, the patch appears as shown below:

• For linear motion axes, the position of the object is reported in either metric or imperial units (for example, 16m).
• For rotational axes, the value is shown in degrees (for example, 42°).
• If the axis is unrecognized by the motion controller, then the object position is shown as a question mark (?).

Note: If the axis type is mismatched between that which you have drawn and the type that you choose in the Motion Control Console (for example, if the actual axis is linear, but you choose rotational in the Motion Control Console), then the cell in patch view turns to red.

Patch view properties

You can view and modify patch universe properties such as the name, display details, and tooltip information that is displayed in a patch universe.

To view the properties of a patch universe

1. Right-click on the patch pane, and then select View Options.

Result: The View Options dialog box appears.

Universe tab

Options on the Universe tab affect the binding/unbinding of the patch universe to a specific console or device output.

• ID: The name of the patch universe shortcut.
• Name: The full name of the patch universe or port ID.

Source: The lighting control console or device and port to which the patch universe is bound.

• Bind: Associates the patch universe to a console or device output. This applies only when a console or device has been inserted in the Device Manager.
• Unbind: Removes the association of the patch universe with the specified source.

Tip: You can open the Device Manager without having to change to LIVE mode by double-clicking on the AF shortcut on the Status bar.

Display tab

Options on the Display tab set properties such as the color of a patch universe.

• Updates per second: The frequency of updates from the console to the patch universe.
• Enable Tooltips: Select this checkbox to display information about the patch and the fixture when you hover over the start cell.
• UnPatched Color: The color of a cell in the patch universe that is not patched.
• Background Color: The color of the background of the patch view.
• Text Color: The color of the text that is displayed in the patch universe.
• Selected Color: The highlighted color of a selected fixture in the patch universe.
• Column Width Size: Adjust the slider to resize the patch universe cells to the desired width.

To change the width of the patch cells

You can adjust the width of the cells in DMX and Motion Control patch universes.

1. Right-click anywhere in the patch universe and choose View Options.
2. Click the Display tab.
3. Adjust the Column Width Size slider to the preferred size.
4. Click OK.

Wireframe Details tab

Options on the Wireframe Details tab define the information to be shown in the tooltips when tooltips are enabled.

• Use Document Defaults: Select this checkbox to reference the settings in Document Options (under the Options menu). Clear this checkbox and specify the tooltips that you want displayed.