Selection Grid

Fixtures can have information about their position in a 3D selection grid.

Each fixture is symbolized as a box using a space in the grid.

The grid is a way to organize the fixtures in relation to each other but not necessarily their position in the 3D Viewer. A useful tool for positioning fixtures in the selection grid according to their position in 3D space is called 3D view to Selection Grid. For more information about this tool, see 3D Viewer.

The grid is used when a range of values is applied. Fixtures positioned at the same X and Y axes but at different Z axis will apply the same value.

The following toggle buttons are located in the title bar:

• Auto Remove Offset: Removes the blank space between the beginning of the grid and the first fixture when it is enabled.
• Auto Remove Gaps: When enabled, removes the gaps in the fixture selection.
•  (Show Grid): Toggles the visibility of the grid.
• (Zoom to Fit): Resets the window to fit all the fixtures in the grid.

In the first example image below, the fixtures were selected using a group with the grid information, and then colors were assigned using the Align function in the color picker. The value range is applied from the lowest column to the highest column number in the selection grid.
At the top center of each box, the Fixture ID and custom Fixture IDs are displayed.
The number of selected fixtures is displayed in the title bar.

Grid Cursor

Fixtures are positioned based on the position of the grid cursor. The grid cursor is the blue cells in the grid.

The grid position 0/0/0 is marked with a white frame.

Various commands can move the grid cursor:

• Tapping the arrow keys of the keyboard.
• Pressing MA + 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 on the number block of grandMA3 hardware
• Tapping in the selection window (only selects at the 2D XY plane).
• Using the Grid keyword.

For example, moving the cursor to X position 3, Y position 2, and Z position 1, press the following keys:

MA + X3 | Grid 1 Thru 3 / 2 / 1 Please

The Z-axis can be omitted if it is 1.

Multiple Cells

The grid cursor can be more than one cell. A rectangular area of grid cells can be selected.

To select a range of cells:

• Use the Thru keyword and specifying the beginning cell and the ending cell.
  For example, press the following keys: MA + X3 | Grid 1 Thru 3 / 2 Please
• Press and hold Shift and move the grid cursor with the arrow keys to define the size of the rectangle.
• Press and hold Shift and tap the desired end point of the rectangle.

Selecting fixtures after defining the grid puts the fixtures in the area. If only one cell is selected, then the grid cursor moves to the following free cell in the X-axis and positions horizontally the fixtures from this location. Moving the grid cursor to one field "right" (positive X-axis) with every placed fixture.

The grid numbers cannot currently be negative.

Store the Grid

When the fixtures are positioned in a grid, it can be stored in groups, presets, or other objects using the grid information. Use any available store methods (buttons, screens, or any combination) to store the group, preset, or another object.

Read more about storing groups in the Create Groups topic or generally about groups in the Groups topic.

Read about storing presets in the Create Presets topic or, more generally, about presets in the Presets topic.

Read more about storing cues in the Store Cues topic or the cues and sequences section.

Adjust the Selection Grid

The grid can be rotated by pressing the window with a single finger and moving the finger around the screen. The same can be achieved by moving the mouse while having the left button pressed.

The grid can be zoomed using a pinch motion with two fingers on the touch screens. A scroll wheel on a mouse also zooms.

The grid can be moved around by touching the screen with two fingers and moving them around the screen. This can be done with a mouse by keeping the right mouse button pressed while moving the mouse.

Grid Tools

The Grid Tools are available on the left side of the Selection Grid window. They can be used to modify the selection of the current fixtures in the Selection Grid window.

•  Transpose: Interchanges the X and Y grid coordinates of every selected fixture.
•  Linearize Numerical: The currently selected fixtures are rearranged into a line starting at Grid 0/0/0. The new order of the fixtures is in ascending order by their Fixture IDs (and secondarily by the CIDs).
•  Linearize Left To Right, Top to Bottom: The currently selected fixtures are rearranged into a line starting at Grid 0/0/0. The new order of the fixtures is determined to work from left to right first and then from top to bottom, based on the current grid arrangement.
•  Linearize Top to Bottom, Left to Right: The currently selected fixtures are rearranged into a line starting at Grid 0/0/0. The new order of the fixtures is determined to work from top to bottom first and then from left to right, based on the current grid arrangement.
•  Rotate 90° clockwise: Rotates the currently selected fixtures by 90° in a clockwise direction along the XY plane.
•  Rotate 90° counterclockwise: Rotates the currently selected fixtures by 90° in a counterclockwise direction along the XY plane.
•  Mirror Grid at X-axis: Mirrors the fixtures in the grid along a vertical mirror line.
•  Mirror Grid at Y-axis: Mirrors the fixtures in the grid along a horizontal mirror line.
•  Center Alignment: When different numbers of fixtures are selected on different Y coordinates, they will be aligned together to their center on the X-axis.
•  Compress: Removes all gaps between fixtures and moves the selection to the left and up so that the selection starts at 0/0/0.

Use the Grid Keyword to trigger the grid tools from the command line.

Pressing and holding MA + X3 enters the Grid keyword into the command line.

These are the commands for each tool:

• Transpose: Grid 'Transpose'
• Linearize Numerical: Grid 'Linearize' 'Numerical'
• Linearize Left To Right, Top to Bottom: Grid 'Linearize' 'LeftToRight'
• Linearize Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Grid 'Linearize' 'TopToBottom'
• Rotate clockwise: Grid 'Rotate' 'Right'
• Rotate counterclockwise: Grid 'Rotate' 'Left'
• Mirror Grid at X-axis: Grid 'Flip' 'X'
• Mirror Grid at Y-axis: Grid 'Flip' 'Y'
• Center Alignment: Grid 'Align'
• Compress: Grid 'Compress'