• grandMA2 User Manual
    • New in the Manual
    • Introduction
      • About this manual
      • System requirements grandMA2 onPC
      • Installation of grandMA2 onPC
      • Help from MA technical support
    • Safety Information
      • Symbols used
      • Intended use
      • Dangers caused by electric current
      • General safety instructions
    • Device Overview
      • grandMA2 console
      • grandMA2 replay unit (RPU)
      • grandMA2 fader wing
      • MA onPC command wing
      • MA onPC fader wing
    • System Overview
      • Standalone systems
      • Network systems
        • What is the replay unit (RPU)
        • What is the network processing unit (NPU)
        • What is the MA video processing unit (VPU)
        • What is the network dimmer processor (NDP)
        • What is MA 3D
        • What are the MA nodes
      • Parameters vs. DMX channels
      • Parameter expansion
      • Big systems
      • Media systems and CITP
    • First Steps
      • Unpack the device
      • Check scope of delivery
      • Position the device
      • Connect power
      • Connect desk lamps
      • Connect external screens
      • Connect USB mouse and USB keyboad
      • Connect DMX
      • Connect sound
      • Connect SMPTE (LTC)
      • Connect Ethernet
      • Connect analog remote control
      • Connect grandMA2 fader wing
      • Setup your PC
      • Turn on the console the first time
    • Keys & Buttons on the Console
      • Key overview
      • >>> [GoFastForward]
      • <<< [GoFastBack]
      • . [Dot]
      • Align
      • Assign
      • At
      • Backg [Background]
      • Backup
      • Blind
      • Bt Pg +
      • Bt Pg -
      • B.O. [Blackout]
      • Channel
      • Ch Pg +
      • Ch Pg -
      • Clear
      • Copy
      • Cue
      • Del [Delete]
      • Down
      • Edit
      • Effect
      • [Encoder]
      • Esc
      • Exec [Executor]
      • Executor Buttons
      • Fd Pg +
      • Fd Pg -
      • Fix
      • Fixture
      • Freeze
      • Full
      • Go + [small]
      • Go + [large]
      • Go - [small]
      • Go - [large]
      • Goto
      • Group
      • Help
      • Highlt [Highlight]
      • If
      • Keyboard
      • Learn
      • List
      • MA
      • Macro
      • [Minus] -
      • Mouse
      • Move
      • Next
      • [Numeric]
      • Off
      • On
      • Oops
      • Page
      • Pause [small]
      • Pause [large]
      • Please
      • [Plus] +
      • Preset
      • Prev [Previous]
      • Prvw [Preview]
      • Select
      • Sequ [Sequence]
      • Set
      • Setup
      • Solo
      • Store
      • Temp
      • Thru
      • Time
      • Top
      • Tools
      • Up
      • Update
      • User 1
      • User 2
      • View
      • U1 - U4
      • V1 - V10
      • X1 - X20
    • Workspace
      • User interface
        • Screen layout
        • User-defined area
        • Command line
        • X-Key labels
        • View buttons
        • Master section
        • Time control
      • Encoder bar
        • Preset control bar
        • Encoder toolbar
      • Encoder settings
      • Command wing bar
      • Command section
      • Mini executor bar
      • Work with views
      • Touch gestures
      • Calculator
      • Info
      • Oops and undo
      • Colors
        • System
        • Marker
        • Cue
      • Text indicators and symbols
      • Icons
      • Keyboard shortcuts
        • Turn on or turn off the keyboard shortcuts
        • Edit keyboard shortcuts
        • Add or delete keyboard shortcuts
        • Export or import keyboard shortcuts
    • Windows in General
      • Create and manage basic windows
      • Clear the screen or delete windows
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
        • Helping keywords
        • Object keywords
        • Function keywords
      • All keywords
        • Special characters
        • <<< [GoFastBack]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • + [Plus]
        • AddUserVar
        • AddVar
        • Agenda
        • Alert
        • Align
        • AlignFaderModules
        • All
        • AllButtonExecutors
        • AllChaseExecutors
        • AllFaderExecutors
        • AllRows
        • AllSequExecutors
        • And
        • Appearance
        • Asterisk *
        • Assign
        • At
        • At @
        • Attribute
        • AutoCreate
        • Backup
        • Black
        • Blackout
        • BlackScreen
        • Blind
        • BlindEdit
        • Block
        • ButtonPage
        • Call
        • Camera
        • ChangeDest
        • Channel
        • ChannelFader
        • ChannelLink
        • ChannelPage
        • Chat
        • CircularCopy
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CmdDelay
        • CmdHelp
        • Copy
        • CrashLogCopy
        • CrashLogDelete
        • CrashLogList
        • Crossfade
        • CrossfadeA
        • CrossfadeB
        • Cue
        • Cut
        • Default
        • DefGoBack
        • DefGoForward
        • DefGoPause
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DeleteShow
        • DisconnectStation
        • Dmx
        • Dollar $
        • DmxUniverse
        • Dot .
        • DoubleRate
        • DoubleSpeed
        • Down
        • DropControl
        • Edit
        • Effect
        • EffectAttack
        • EffectBPM
        • EffectDecay
        • EffectDelay
        • EffectFade
        • EffectForm
        • EffectHigh
        • EffectHZ
        • EffectID
        • EffectLow
        • EffectPhase
        • EffectSec
        • EffectSpeedGroup
        • EffectWidth
        • Empty
        • EndIf
        • EndSession
        • Escape
        • ExecButton1
        • ExecButton2
        • ExecButton3
        • Executor
        • Exit
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Fade
        • FadePath
        • Fader
        • FaderPage
        • Feature
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flash
        • FlashGo
        • FlashOn
        • Flip
        • Form
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • FullHighlight
        • Gel
        • Go
        • GoBack
        • Goto
        • Group
        • HalfRate
        • HalfSpeed
        • Help
        • Highlight
        • IdentifyFaderModule
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Info
        • Insert
        • Interleave
        • Invert
        • InviteStation
        • Item3D
        • JoinSession
        • Kill
        • Label
        • Layer
        • Layout
        • Learn
        • LeaveSession
        • List
        • ListEffectLibrary
        • ListFaderModules
        • ListLibrary
        • ListMacroLibrary
        • ListOops
        • ListOwner
        • ListPluginLibrary
        • ListShows
        • ListUpdate
        • ListUserVar
        • ListVar
        • Load
        • LoadNext
        • LoadPrev
        • LoadShow
        • Locate
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lua
        • Macro
        • ManualXFade
        • Mask
        • Master
        • MasterFade
        • MAtricks
        • MAtricksBlocks
        • MAtricksFilter
        • MAtricksGroups
        • MAtricksInterleave
        • MAtricksReset
        • MAtricksWings
        • MediaServer
        • Menu
        • Message
        • Messages
        • MidiControl
        • MidiNote
        • MidiProgram
        • Model
        • Move
        • Move3D
        • NetworkInfo
        • NetworkNodeInfo
        • NetworkNodeUpdate
        • NetworkSpeedTest
        • NewShow
        • Next
        • NextRow
        • Normal
        • Off
        • On
        • Oops
        • Or
        • OutDelay
        • OutFade
        • Page
        • Parentheses ( )
        • Park
        • Part
        • Paste
        • Pause
        • Plugin
        • PMArea
        • Preset
        • PresetType
        • Preview
        • PreviewEdit
        • PreviewExecutor
        • Previous
        • PrevRow
        • Profile
        • Protocol
        • PSR
        • PSRList
        • PSRPrepare
        • Quotation marks " "
        • Rate
        • Rate1
        • RdmAutomatch
        • RdmAutopatch
        • RdmFixtureType
        • RdmInfo
        • RdmList
        • RdmSetParameter
        • RdmSetpatch
        • RdmUnmatch
        • Reboot
        • Record
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • Remote
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • RemoveIndividuals
        • Replace
        • ResetDmxSelection
        • ResetGuid
        • Restart
        • Root
        • Rotate3D
        • SaveShow
        • Screen
        • Search
        • SearchResult
        • Select
        • SelectDrive
        • Selection
        • SelFix
        • Semicolon ;
        • Sequence
        • SetHostname
        • SetIP
        • SetNetworkSpeed
        • Setup
        • SetUserVar
        • SetVar
        • ShuffleSelection
        • ShuffleValues
        • Shutdown
        • SnapPercent
        • Slash /
        • Solo
        • SpecialMaster
        • Square brackets [ ]
        • Speed
        • StepFade
        • StepInFade
        • StepOutFade
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • StoreLook
        • Surface
        • Swop
        • SwopGo
        • SwopOn
        • SyncEffects
        • TakeControl
        • Telnet
        • Temp
        • TempFader
        • Thru
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • Timer
        • ToFull
        • Toggle
        • Tools
        • Top
        • ToZero
        • Unblock
        • Unlock
        • Unpark
        • Up
        • Update
        • UpdateFirmware
        • UpdateSoftware
        • UpdateThumbnails
        • User
        • UserProfile
        • Value
        • Version
        • View
        • ViewButton
        • ViewPage
        • WebRemoteProgOnly
        • With
        • World
        • Zero
      • Work with lists
        • Object list
        • Selection list
        • Executor list
        • Attribute list
        • Station list
    • Using the Backup Menu
      • New show
      • Load show
      • Save show
      • Save show as...
      • Delete shows
      • Using a USB stick
      • Setting up a file server
      • Partial show read
      • ASCII show read
      • Save as grandMA3
    • Single User and Multi User Systems
      • The difference between a single user and a multi user system
      • Create user profiles and users
      • User settings
      • Login
    • Networking
      • What is networking
      • Set the IP address in the console
      • Set the IP address in the onPC
      • Using DHCP in MA devices
      • Session control
        • How to create a session
        • Protecting the session and station
        • Adding devices to the session
        • How to end or leave a session
        • Session collision
      • Getting DMX in and out of the system
        • Setting up DMX ports on MA devices
        • Network DMX protocols
        • What affects my DMX output?
      • Using CITP
        • Streaming CITP
        • Thumbnail exchange
      • PosiStageNet (PSN)
      • FTP connection to console and NPU
    • Patching, DMX, and Fixture Setup
      • What are channels & fixtures
        • Attributes
        • DMX break
      • What is 3D and stage setup
      • Adding fixtures to the show
      • Delete fixtures from the show
      • Working with layers
      • Multipatching
      • Live patching
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX testing
      • DMX and parameter lists
      • Universe pool
      • Stage view
      • Virtual 3D cameras
      • Position fixtures in the 3D stage
      • Auto calibrate fixture positions
    • Basic Fixture Types
      • What are attributes, features & preset types
      • ColorMix vs. MixColor
      • Different fixture types
        • Conventional
        • LED
        • Mirror
        • Moving lights
        • Media server
        • Virtual fixtures
    • Operate Fixtures
      • Channel sheet
      • Fixture sheet
      • Sheet options
        • Tools
        • Layer mask
        • Display
        • Title buttons
        • Assign executor
        • Mask (local)
      • Layers in sheets
        • Channel sheet and fixture sheet
        • Sequence content and sequence tracking sheet
      • What is the programmer
      • Encoder grouping
      • Using the color picker
      • Using the shaper dialog
      • Using the smart view
      • Edit a channel or fixture
    • Pools in General
      • Manage pool objects
      • Adjust pool options
      • Call modes
    • Groups
      • Create groups
      • Auto create groups
      • Using groups when programming
      • Choose copy method
      • Change specific group colors
      • Group masters
    • Presets
      • What are special modes
      • Preset pools
      • Preset pool "Dynamic"
      • Create presets
      • Preset pool options
      • Create preset reference
      • Auto create presets
      • Auto create additional presets
      • Embedded presets
      • Edit presets
      • Update presets
      • Delete presets
    • Cues and Sequences
      • What are cues and sequences
      • Looking at the cue sequence
      • Store cues
      • Store options and defaults
      • Cue timings
      • Renumber cues
      • Delete cues
      • Playing back cues
      • Looking at the cue content
      • Update cues
      • What is tracking
      • What is MIB
      • Sequence mini executor
      • Commands in cues
    • Executors
      • What are executors
      • Executors on the screens
      • Assign a function
      • Looking at the active executors
      • Common executor options
    • Advanced Sequence Functionality
      • Using different view sets in the sheets
      • Working with MIB
      • Using cue modes
      • Cue zero
      • Sequence info window
      • Looping cues
      • Cue path
    • Advanced Executor Functionality
      • Executor pages
      • Channel pages
      • Executor options
      • Masters window
      • Special masters
        • Default masters
        • Grand masters
        • Speed masters
        • Rate masters
        • Playback masters
    • Clone
      • Clone in user interface
      • Examples
      • Clone presets
    • Search and Replace
      • Search
      • Replace
    • Image Pool
      • Import images and videos
      • Image limitations & guidelines for symbols
      • Supported file formats
      • Delete images and videos
    • Layouts
      • Create a layout
      • Layout pool options
      • Edit layout
      • Layout view options
    • Worlds, Filters and Masks
      • What are worlds
      • Create worlds
      • Auto create worlds
      • Use worlds when programming
      • What are filters
      • Create filters
      • Use filters when programming
      • Use temporary filters
      • What are masks
      • Create masks
      • Use masks in the sheets
      • Apply worlds or filters to executors and sequences
    • MAtricks
      • MAtricks toolbar
      • MAtricks pool
      • MAtricks interleave
      • MAtricks blocks
      • MAtricks wings
      • MAtricks groups
    • Chasers
      • Create a chaser
      • Chaser settings
      • Chaser mini executor
    • Effects
      • Use predefined effects
      • Use template and selective effects
      • Create an effect in the programmer
      • Create an effect that uses presets
      • Create effect forms
      • Pool options
      • Effects in a cue
      • Assign effect to executor
      • Live edit an effect
      • Running effects
      • Update effects
      • Delete effects
    • Bitmap Fixture
      • Import bitmap fixture
      • Apply bitmap fixture in the layout
      • Control bitmap fixture
      • Edit bitmap fixture
      • Example
      • Priorities for bitmap effects
      • Disable bitmap for fixtures
    • XYZ
      • XYZ vs. pan/tilt
      • XYZ and pan/tilt in cues and sequences
      • Use stage markers
      • Link objects to stage markers in MA 3D
    • Remote Controlling the System
      • Remote input
      • MIDI show control (MSC)
      • Web remote
      • Telnet remote
      • Decimal – hex table
    • Timecode
      • What is timecode and timecode shows
      • Record a timecode show
      • Edit a timecode show
      • Playing back a timecode show
      • Organize the show with multiple timecode shows
    • Timer
      • Timer pool
      • Timer pool options
    • Agenda
      • What is agenda
      • Create an appointment in the agenda
    • Macros
      • What are macros
      • Manually create a macro
        • Use variables
        • Create pop-ups
        • Conditional expressions
        • Macro timing
      • Record a macro
      • Edit a macro
      • Command line interaction
      • Assign a macro to a key
      • Example macros
    • Plugins
      • What is Lua
      • Edit plugins
    • Partial Show Read
      • What is partial show read (PSR)
      • How to do a PSR
    • RDM
      • Turn RDM on
      • Match RDM devices
      • Auto patch RDM devices
      • Work with RDM parameters
      • Work with RDM sensors
      • Configure RDM notifications
      • Use the RDM sheet
      • Unmatch RDM devices
      • Splitters and mergers that support RDM
      • Turn RDM off
      • RDM specific keywords
    • DMX Profiles
    • Other System Tools
      • Message center
      • Help
      • Clock
      • Sound input window
      • VPU pixel mapper view
      • Network dimmer
        • Views
        • Errors
        • Readout
        • Edit properties of a rack
        • Edit a module
      • Desk status
      • Performance window
      • System monitor
    • Export and Import
      • Export by using command line
      • Export by using user interface
      • Import by using command line
      • Import by using user interface
      • Import predefined objects
    • Update the Software
      • Update via setup
      • Format a USB stick for Linux
      • Update or factory reset via boot menu
      • Restart from Linux
    • Advanced Fixture Types
      • Anatomy of a fixture type
        • Module manager
        • Instance manager
        • Wheel manager
      • Attribute & Encoder Grouping
    • grandMA2 onPC Details
    • Control the MA NDPs
      • Add the MA NDPs
      • Configure the MA NDPs
      • Delete the MA NDPs
    • Control the MA Network Switch
      • Add MA Network Switch
      • Change IP address
      • Enable DHCP client
      • Change hostname
      • Change switch ID
      • Configure ports
      • Edit groups
      • Edit presets
      • Edit LAGs
      • Mirror ports
      • Work with the switch configuration
      • Disable SNMP
      • Change password
      • Update firmware
      • Reset to factory defaults
      • Delete MA Network Switch
    • Control the MA xPort Nodes
      • Add the MA xPort Nodes
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes in the console
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes in a browser
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes as splitters or mergers
      • Delete the MA xPort Nodes
    • Console Settings
      • Adjust the intensity of desk lights
      • Change screen options
      • Local settings
      • Wing & monitor setup
      • Date & time
    • Shut Down the System
    • Error Messages
    • Technical Data
    • Glossary
  • grandMA3 Mode2
  • grandMA2 Quick Start Guide
  • grandMA2 Quick Manual onPC solutions
  • MA 3D
  • MA VPU
  • Release Notes
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Version 3.8

What are macros

Macros are commands stored in a pool object.

The commands can be simple, very complex, and everything in between.

This makes programming faster and more convenient. This allows you to do trivial or complex operations by a push of a button.

Macros are stored in the Macro Pool but can be assigned to physical keys. The macro pool is shared between all Users in the show file. This means that if user number 1 is storing a macro on pool object number ten then it will also be available for User number 2 as macro number ten.

If you do not know about pools, then please read the Pools in General topic

Macro Pool

The Macro pool could look like this:

Macro Pool - pool style

This is what it looks like in the pool style. It can be changed in the options to Sheet Style. Then it looks like this:

Macro Pool - sheet style

Read the Manually create a macro topic to learn more about creating macros.

Running Macros

You can run the macros by tapping them in the pool, using the keys, or using the command line. For example, press Macro 5 Please to run macro number 5. Type macro 5 followed by Enter/Please to run it from the command line. Read more details about the macro command in the Macro keyword topic.

Macros can also be assigned to Executors, X Keys, or View buttons. To learn more please read the Assign a macro to a button topic.

Advanced macros

Macros can be advanced. This means that you can make macros that present a pop-up asking for user input, calculations, conditional macros lines, and user-definable or system-wide variables.

Since the grandMA2 is a command line driven software, you can do almost anything with macros.

Please read the Manually create a macro topic and the subtopics for more about advanced macros.

If you need even more advanced access to the system behind the grandMA2 then you can use the grandMA2 Plugins. They allow for LUA scripts to be used to interact with the software. This is for the very advanced users. Read more about this in the Plugins section.

Timed or triggered macro lines

Macros can run as fast as possible, where a macro with multiple lines will run the commands in each line as fast as possible. But they can also be timed so there is a delay between the execution of the next macro line. This can be a good idea if the command is something that might take a little while for the software to execute. For instance, if a macro line is storing 1000 cues. It does not take the macro a long time to run the command, but the software might need half a second to actually to it. Then if the next macro line jumps to cue number 999, then you need to delay this macro line - the software needs to create the cues before you can jump to it.

A third option is a macro line that waits until it is triggered again by a user.

Read more about these options in the Macro timing topic.

Import and Export

Macros can also be imported and exported. You can import macros stored on a USB stick or from the predefined macros in the software. Read more in the Export and Import section to learn more about how to export and import.

Learn how to write macros

Macros are basically lines of text. The lines are executed as command line input for processing by the grandMA2 software. The power of macros is based on the power of the command line. If something can be done using the command line then a macro can do it.

To learn macros, you need to learn the grandMA2 command line syntax. This is described in details in the Command Syntax and Keywords section.

Sitting down and learn everything about the grandMA2 syntax and keywords is a very big task. The easier way to begin to understand how it works is to always have a Command line Feedback window visible on one of your screens:

Command Line Feedback window

Most of your actions on the console will result in an entry in this window and will be listed as "Executing", "Realtime", or "Macro".

[time] : Executing : Channel 1 At 50
[time] : Realtime : Go Executor 1.8
[time] : Macro : SaveShow

You do not have to worry about these three different classifications. This indicates the source of the processed command. Executing means that you have executed a command by pressing keys or other normal user input. Realtime means that the command originated from your pushing executor buttons and has been processed with a high priority. Macro means that the command is originating from some direct key press (like double-tapping the Backup key), or a macro.

If it comes from a macro in the macro pool, then it also writes the macro number and the line number that executed the command.

If the commands come from a command in a cue, then it displays the sequence and cue number. This makes it easy to identify where the command comes from.


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