DiyLightAnimation
Software => xlights => Topic started by: dowdybrown on November 16, 2012,
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I have put a copy of the xLights 2012c installer in my drop box. I am not posting it to SourceForge because I have not run an actual show with it yet, though I have done a lot of testing indoors. There are more features I want to add in short order, but I know show season is about to start, and I wanted to get this out there for those who need it.
- xLights is now a single integrated program. Prior versions were split into multiple files.
- There is a single list of channels in the testing module - so you can test all of your Etherdongle channels at once.
- As I have warned before, I have removed the ability to schedule LOR and Vixen files. You can now only schedule audio files, video files, and xLights sequences. You will have to go to the Converter tab to convert your sequences to xLights format.
- xLights can still send the LOR/D-Light protocol if you want to, but I would recommend using LOR and D-Light controllers in DMX mode. If you set up LOR or D-Light networks, pay attention to the new messages about how many channels you can drive at various baud rates.
- There is now more help available. Click on the info button in the upper left of the screen, or select Help > Content from the menu. The help displayed is specific to the tab you have open.
- The Converter has been enhanced such that it can also use xLights sequences and Conductor files as input. Thus, you can convert xLights sequences to Vixen to visually see the content (since there is no xLights sequence viewer yet). Or you can export your sequence in LSP to conductor format, then use the xLights Converter to convert it to an xLights sequence.
- When converting LOR sequences, the Converter now makes a distinction between LOR networks in your sequence, and DMX universes. For LOR networks, it uses the old channel mapping (everything is 16 channels). However, if you set things up in LOR as DMX universes, then the Converter module understands that and treats it as a 512 channel block.
- You can now set the last channel on E1.31 networks, which should make xLights compatible with SanDevices controllers (E680, E681)
- The xLights files containing your network and schedule information are fully compatible with the new version. However, I had to change the way test configurations are stored, so any test configurations saved with prior versions of xLights are not accessible in this version - but you can create and save new ones.
You can download version 2012c from here:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/50766638/xlights-setup-2012c.exe (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/50766638/xlights-setup-2012c.exe)
I hope you find it useful and that your show is a big success this year! I will try to fix any bugs found in short order.
Matt
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Sounds Awesome Matt
Thank you for all of your hard work
Rick R.
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Thanks for doing this, Matt!!
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Thank you Matt!!
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Thanks Matt!
I have been playing with this version all week and I can tell you it is a very nice change to the tool.
Again thanks for all your hard work Matt!
Frank
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Awesome!!!!
I will download it this weekend and give it a whirl!! My show starts in 7 days pending setup completion...
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2
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Thanks Matt for sharing AND thanks for all of your hard work! <res.
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Looks good. Well thought out changes. The understanding of DMX in LOR will make the Conductor much more usable for me.
Definitely not a show stopper, but once you enable "Output to Lights" the ability to modify the Lighting Networks ends (gray)
That makes perfect sense. But, when you uncheck "Output to Lights" it doesn't re-enable the the Lighting Networks without closing and restarting.
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Matt, when I converted some of my LOR S3 sequences from last year, I got error messages from most or all channels assigned to Universe 2 and 3. My sequences have no LOR networks defined at all. That was with "Single" LOR Sequence Mapping checked.
When I changed to Multi and converted the same sequences, I did not get those errors and they appear to have converted perfectly. I've been waiting for this feature because the older 2012b wouldn't give me a good Conductor file.
Is the behavior between Single and Multi mapping as you expected? Could you better explain the difference between them?
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Looks good. Well thought out changes. The understanding of DMX in LOR will make the Conductor much more usable for me.
Definitely not a show stopper, but once you enable "Output to Lights" the ability to modify the Lighting Networks ends (gray)
That makes perfect sense. But, when you uncheck "Output to Lights" it doesn't re-enable the the Lighting Networks without closing and restarting.
This is by design, although I debated about making it work they you expected. I will change it in the next release.
Matt
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Thanks Matt for the E68X feature. I had to modify the Xlights_network.xml file to use it in 'b'.
BTW: quick question, When I use the repeat feature, will it finish the current sequence or playlist? And does the the 'last' sequence play after the end of the schedule or within it?
LSP 2.5 with 4900+ channels
John
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will this version now let us set up DMX channels in LOR and have them work?
Mike
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will this version now let us set up DMX channels in LOR and have them work?
Mike
Yes
Sent from my LG-LS840 using Tapatalk 2
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BTW: quick question, When I use the repeat feature, will it finish the current sequence or playlist? And does the the 'last' sequence play after the end of the schedule or within it?
John
1-it will finish the current playlist first.
2-if you select to have the last item play once, that last item will play after the scheduled end time.
Matt
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Is the behavior between Single and Multi mapping as you expected? Could you better explain the difference between them?
Single is meant to indicate that all channels are in the "regular" network (in LOR parlance). I added this feature early on as a weak attempt to deal with LSP exports to LOR. Now with Frank's LSP to xLights converter, plus 2012c's ability to convert Conductor files, the "Single" network mode is no longer needed (if it ever was). I will remove it.
Good question!
Matt
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Can the new xlights allow the use of a std LOR rs485 USB adaptor to use LOR controllers in DMX mode? I'm pretty sure I did this last year using dmx as the protocol.
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Can the new xlights allow the use of a std LOR rs485 USB adaptor to use LOR controllers in DMX mode? I'm pretty sure I did this last year using dmx as the protocol.
Yes, you would select "Open DMX" as the type of network.
Matt
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Thanks!
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Matt is there a way to select which network to use?
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Matt is there a way to select which network to use?
xLights will use all of the networks you configure with the exception of usb dongles where the port is set to "not connected"
Matt
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xLights will use all of the networks you configure with the exception of usb dongles where the port is set to "not connected"
Matt
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Thanks Matt, but I was meaning the network within my PC. I have 2 network cards with a connection 1 and 2. I would like to set it to connection2 or multicast2
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Something I've noticed is when I try to close the program via File and Quit nothing happens.
Win xp system - amd processor.
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Didn't close for me that way (while it was outputting) - win 7 pro
Didn't close with output off and Lights Off.
The big X did close it though.
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Yes sorry big x worked for me too.
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I scheduled a playlist with the Output to Lights Box Checked. I saved the schedule and closed xLights. I restarted xLights and the playlist started on time and the audio played. However, the lights were not working. When I uncheck and then recheck the output to lights box the lights start responding. Running on an XP machine.
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I have noticed that if you close down Xlights and reopen the output box will be checked, but Xlights thinks it is not. If you uncheck and check again all is good.
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I think I see the logic error that might lead to this behavior. I'll take a quick shot at it since Matt is out of town this week.
I don't have time to test this right now but attached is a quick turn of what I think should solve this issue for you.
You can extract this zip file into your program files xlights directory. You may want to rename the existing xlights.exe or you can just reinstall the release version afterwards.
Frank
Removed the version of xLights I posted earlier.
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I can work with the WIN version but I'm guessing the Mac version won't be out until the WIN version has been fully checked and ready for Official release.
Side Note: I don't need it this year but hopefully there will be support for HLS files sometime just after the first of the year. It should be extremely easy to add the format since it's a flat compiled file. I'm guessing it's similar to an xLights sequence.
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Noticing that I can not delete play lists either.
Initial testing: crashes when the show starts but I think that was because the ether dongle wasn't present.
It's on the show machine now. Tonight will be the ultimate test!! I'll report my findings later.
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Confirmed...
Program crashes at beginning of show. Restart program and show starts. The problem then is the show starts but no output. I had to unchecked output to lights and recheck it. All has been fine since.
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I'm having the same thing here... the program crashes the moment the show is supposed to start. I start up the program again, and have to uncheck and then recheck the Output to Lights checkbox. Then, everything runs perfectly.
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I'm having the same thing here... the program crashes the moment the show is supposed to start. I start up the program again, and have to uncheck and then recheck the Output to Lights checkbox. Then, everything runs perfectly.
Thanks for the feedback! Sorry I have been on vacation the last week and haven't been able to respond. I have a fix for this issue, as well as the File > Close issue, and the Playlist > Delete issue. However, due to other code changes that are in progress, I can't release a new version quite yet. Hope to have something in another day or two.
Matt
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I have had the same problem. My workaround is to shut down xlights after the show, restart xlights, click on the setup tab, uncheck output to lights and then recheck.
The show started the next night..
John
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Is there a build of 2012c for OSX yet?
Thanks,
Alan
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Possible workaround option...
There have been times I haven't been home in order to re-start Xlights to keep my lights running. My power is on timers, and usually I'd just use the scheduler to kick in. As a temporary solution until this issue is resolved, I installed TeamViewer on my computer and on my smart phone.
TeamViewer is a FREE package which allows you to remote into your computer. I've used it already, and it was a great help. All I had to do was re-start Xlights after the crash remotely, and I was up and running. Whether I was there or not.
Just thought I'd share the suggestion for others who might be in the same situation.
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I have had the same problem. My workaround is to shut down xlights after the show, restart xlights, click on the setup tab, uncheck output to lights and then recheck.
The show started the next night..
John
Well, my workaround worked for 2 nights, but it didn't work last night.
I would use TeamViewer but my show computer is not connected to the internet.
John
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2012c Scheduler has some bugs like:
If you have already passed a start time the scheduler WILL NOT START.
If you stop the scheduler mid schedule it will not restart.
I even believe it has trouble running back to back shows. Don't have time to go back and check that for sure.
Otherwise I like the new interface layout.
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If you stop the scheduler mid schedule it will not restart.
This has always been the case. If you manually stop the show, you need to exit xLights and restart it. I agree with the other items you stated.
Matt