grandMA3 User Manual
- About the Help
  - Open the help in the console
  - Open the help in the web
  - Open the help as pdf
  - Navigate in the help
- Device Overview
  - grandMA3 consoles
    - grandMA3 full-size
    - grandMA3 full-size CRV
    - grandMA3 light
    - grandMA3 light CRV
    - grandMA3 compact XT
    - grandMA3 compact
  - grandMA3 extension
  - grandMA3 replay unit
  - grandMA3 processing units
  - grandMA3 nodes
  - grandMA3 nodes DIN-Rail
  - grandMA3 I/O Node
  - grandMA3 I/O Node DIN-Rail
  - grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
  - grandMA3 onPC command wing
  - grandMA3 onPC fader wing
  - grandMA3 onPC rack-unit
  - Screen allocation
  - Keyboard shortcuts
    - Framework shortcuts
  - Keys
    - . [Dot]
    - <<< [GoFastBackward] | Black
    - >>> [GoFastForward] | Flash
    - - [Minus]
    - + [Plus]
    - / [Slash] | * [Asterisk/Multiply]
    - At
    - Assign
    - Align
    - Blind
    - Clear
    - Channel
    - Copy
    - Ctrl
    - Cue
    - Down
    - Delete
    - Esc
    - Edit
    - Freeze
    - Full
    - Fixture
    - Group
    - Goto
    - Go+ [large]
    - Go- [large]
    - Go+ | Temp
    - Go- | Top
    - Help
    - Highlt [Highlight]
    - If
    - Learn | Rate1
    - List
    - MA
    - Menu
    - Move
    - Next
    - Numeric keys | arrows
    - Oops
    - On
    - Off
    - Pause [large]
    - Pause | Fix
    - Page+
    - Page-
    - Please
    - Power
    - Preset
    - Prvw [Preview]
    - Prev [Previous]
    - Select
    - SelFix [SelectFixture]
    - Sequ [Sequence]
    - Set
    - Solo
    - Stomp
    - Store
    - Thru
    - Time
    - Up
    - Update
    - U1
    - U2
    - X1 | Clone
    - X2 | Link
    - X3 | Grid
    - X4 | Layout
    - X5 | Step
    - X6 | TC
    - X7 | View
    - X8 | DMX
    - X9
    - X10
    - X11
    - X12
    - X13 | Phaser
    - X14 | Macro
    - X15 | Page
    - X16 | Exec
    - Xkeys
  - Control elements
    - Command area
    - Master area
    - Custom area
    - Dual encoders
    - Level wheel
    - Grand master
    - Executor elements
  - Connector pin assignment
  - UPS battery
- System Overview
  - Standalone device
  - Locally networked devices
  - World server
  - Parameters
    - Calculate parameters
    - Expand the amount of parameters
- First Steps
  - Unpack the device
  - Check scope of delivery
  - Position the device
  - Connect power
  - Connect desk light
  - Connect external screens
  - Connect USB devices
  - Connect DMX
  - Connect Audio In
  - Connect MIDI
  - Connect LTC
  - Connect Ethernet
  - Connect DC Remote In
  - Connect grandMA3 extension
  - Connect grandMA3 fader wing
  - Turn on the device the first time
- grandMA3 onPC
  - System requirements
  - Windows™® installation
  - Optimize Windows™®
  - macOS® installation
  - Optimize macOS®
  - onPC Terminal App
  - onPC settings
- Show File Handling
  - Load show file
  - Save show file
  - New show file
  - Backup, demo and template show files
  - Organize show files
- Workspace
  - User interface
    - Configuration of displays
    - Desk lock
    - User-defined area
    - Command line
    - Control bar
    - View bar
    - Tables in general
    - Trackpad window
  - Gestures
  - Command area
  - Oops overlay
  - Master controls
  - Playback controls
  - Displays in grandMA3 onPC
  - Encoder bar
    - Feature group control bar
    - Encoder toolbar
  - Calculator
  - Playback bar
  - Command wing bar
  - Colors
    - System
    - Markers
    - Color theme
    - Compare tool
- Command Syntax and Keywords
  - Syntax rules
  - Parent child concept
  - General keywords
    - ; [Semicolon]
    - / [Slash]
    - . [Dot]
    - = [Equal]
    - <<< [GoFastBackward]
    - >>> [GoFastForward]
    - - [Minus]
    - * [Asterisk]
    - % [Percent]
    - + [Plus]
    - Absolute
    - Acceleration
    - Action
    - ActivationGroup
    - Agenda
    - Align
    - AlignTransition
    - Appearance
    - Assign
    - At
    - Attribute
    - AutoCreate
    - Black
    - Blind
    - Block
    - BPM
    - Call
    - CancelSoftwareUpdate
    - Camera
    - Capture
    - ChangeDestination
    - Channel
    - ChannelSet
    - Chat
    - ChatJoin
    - ChatLeave
    - CleanUp
    - Clear
    - ClearActive
    - ClearAll
    - ClearSelection
    - Clone
    - CommandDelay
    - Collect
    - Collection
    - Color
    - ColorDefinition
    - ColorTheme
    - Configuration
    - Console
    - Cook
    - Copy
    - Cue
    - CueAbsolute
    - CueDelay
    - CueFade
    - CueInDelay
    - CueInFade
    - CueOutDelay
    - CueOutFade
    - CueRelative
    - CueUpdate
    - CurrentEnvironment
    - CurrentUser
    - CurrentUserProfile
    - Cut
    - DataPool
    - Deceleration
    - Decimal8
    - Decimal16
    - Decimal24
    - Default
    - Delay
    - Delete
    - DeleteOtherVersions
    - DeleteGlobalVariable
    - DeleteUserVariable
    - Dismiss
    - Display
    - DMXAddress
    - DMXLayer
    - DMXReadout
    - DMXUniverse
    - DoubleSpeed
    - Down
    - DumpLog
    - Drive
    - DropOwnership
    - Echo
    - Edit
    - EditSetting
    - Eject
    - Effect
    - EncoderPage
    - EndIf
    - Environment
    - Exchange
    - Executor
    - Export
    - Extract
    - Extension
    - Fade
    - FaderCrossFade
    - FaderCrossFadeA
    - FaderCrossFadeB
    - FaderMaster
    - FaderRate
    - FaderSpeed
    - FaderTemp
    - FaderTime
    - FeatureGroup
    - Filter
    - Fix
    - FixtureClass
    - FixtureLayer
    - Fixture
    - FixtureType
    - Flip
    - Flash
    - Fog
    - Freeze
    - Full
    - Gel
    - GetGlobalVariable
    - GetUserVariable
    - Go+
    - Go-
    - Goto
    - Grid
    - GridPosition
    - Group
    - HalfSpeed
    - Help
    - HelpLua
    - Hex8
    - Hex16
    - Hex24
    - Highlight
    - Houselights
    - Hz
    - If
    - IfActive
    - IfOutput
    - IfProgrammer
    - Image
    - Import
    - Index
    - Insert
    - Integrate
    - Interface
    - Invert
    - Invite
    - IP
    - JoinSession
    - Key
    - Keyboard
    - KeyboardShortcut
    - Kill
    - KnockIn
    - KnockOut
    - Label
    - Layout
    - LearnSpeed
    - LeaveSession
    - Library
    - List
    - ListOwnership
    - ListReference
    - Load
    - Loaded
    - LoadShow
    - Lock
    - LogIn
    - LogOut
    - Lowlight
    - Lua
    - LuaFile
    - Macro
    - MArker
    - Master
    - MAtricks
    - Measure
    - Media
    - MemoryInfo
    - Menu
    - Mesh
    - Move
    - Multipatch
    - MyRunningMacro
    - MyRunningPreset
    - MyRunningSequence
    - MyRunningTimer
    - Natural
    - NDI
    - NewShow
    - Next
    - NextY
    - NextZ
    - NetworkNode
    - NonDim
    - Normal
    - Note
    - Off
    - Offset
    - On
    - onPC
    - OSC
    - Oops
    - OutputLayer
    - Page
    - Part
    - Park
    - Paste
    - Patch
    - Pause
    - Percent
    - PercentFine
    - Phase
    - Physical
    - Plugin
    - Preset
    - PresetUpdate
    - Press
    - Preview
    - Previous
    - PreviousY
    - PreviousZ
    - Programmer
    - Property
    - ProcessingUnit
    - Pyro
    - Quickey
    - Rate1
    - RDM
    - Readout
    - Reboot
    - Recast
    - Record
    - Relative
    - Release
    - ReloadAllPlugins
    - ReloadUI
    - Remote
    - RemoteHID
    - RemoteCommand
    - Remove
    - RenderQuality
    - Reset
    - Restart
    - Root
    - RealtimeChannel
    - RunningMacro
    - RunningPreset
    - RunningSequence
    - RunningTimecode
    - RunningTimer
    - SaveShow
    - ScreenConfiguration
    - ScreenContent
    - Scribble
    - Seconds
    - Select
    - Selection
    - SelectFixtures
    - Sequence
    - SendMIDI
    - SendOSC
    - Set
    - SetGlobalVariable
    - SetUserVariable
    - Shuffle
    - ShutDown
    - SnapDelay
    - SoftwareImport
    - SoftwareUpdate
    - SoundChannel
    - Solo
    - SpecialExecutor
    - Speed
    - Speed1
    - SpeedMaster
    - Stage
    - Station
    - StationSettings
    - Step
    - Stomp
    - Store
    - SwitchTograndMA2Software
    - SwitchTograndMA3Software
    - Swap
    - Temp
    - Thru
    - Time
    - Timecode
    - TimecodeSlot
    - Timer
    - Toggle
    - TopUp
    - Top
    - Transition
    - Type
    - UIChannel
    - UIGridSelection
    - Unblock
    - Universal
    - Unlock
    - Unpark
    - Unpress
    - Up
    - Update
    - UpdateContent
    - User1
    - User2
    - User
    - UserProfile
    - Video
    - Version
    - View
    - ViewButton
    - Width
    - World
    - Zero
  - Option keywords
    - /Active
    - /ActiveForSelected
    - /AddNewContent
    - /All
    - /AllForSelected
    - /Ask
    - /Auto
    - /CopyCueDestination
    - /CopyCueSource
    - /CreateReferenceObject
    - /CreateSecondCue
    - /CueOnly
    - /Date
    - /Default
    - /DiscardChanges
    - /DMX
    - /DMXProtocols
    - /Embed
    - /Enumerate
    - /File
    - /ForceGlobal
    - /GDTF
    - /Gaps
    - /Global
    - /GridMergeMode
    - /Indirect
    - /InputFilter
    - /KeepActivation
    - /LocalSettings
    - /Look
    - /MAtricks
    - /Merge
    - /MergeHighPriority
    - /MergeLowPriority
    - /MoveValues
    - /NoAutoClose
    - /NoConfirmation
    - /NoDependencies
    - /NoOops
    - /NoRefresh
    - /NoSave
    - /NoShowData
    - /NoSubfolders
    - /OriginalContentOnly
    - /Output
    - /OutputStations
    - /Overwrite
    - /PatchOffset
    - /Path
    - /PhaserData
    - /Programmer
    - /Release
    - /Remove
    - /Save
    - /Screen
    - /Selection
    - /Selective
    - /Single
    - /Tab
    - /Type
    - /Universal
    - /Wrap
  - Extended command line syntax options
- Windows, Views, and Menus
  - Add window
  - Rearrange
  - Store and recall views
  - Remove windows from a screen
  - Window settings
  - Title bar configuration
  - Menus
  - Change menu locations
  - Pool windows
    - Create pool objects
    - Label pool objects
    - Move pool objects
    - Insert pool objects
    - Copy pool objects
    - Lock and unlock pool objects
    - Delete pool objects
- Networking
  - Interfaces and IP
  - Session
    - Create a session
    - Join a session
    - Leave a session
    - Invite to a session
    - Dismiss from session
    - Create a custom key
    - Session master selection
  - Web remote
  - Network design
    - Protocol details
    - WLAN (WiFi)
  - Regulations and standards
- DMX In and Out
  - DMX port configuration
  - Ethernet DMX
    - Art-Net menu
    - sACN menu
    - Transmit DMX using Art-Net
- Single User and Multi User Systems
  - Create user
  - User settings
  - Object ownership
- Patch and Fixture Setup
  - What are fixtures
  - Add fixtures to the show
  - Add multipatch fixtures
  - MVR
  - Live patch
  - DMX sheet
  - DMX universes
  - Remove fixtures from the show
  - Position fixtures in the 3D space
  - 3D viewer
  - Render quality
  - Camera pool
  - Stages
  - Classes and layers
  - Attribute definitions
    - Activation group
    - Feature group
    - Deactivation group
  - Parameter list
  - DMX curves
- Operate Fixtures
  - Select fixtures
  - What is the programmer
  - Fixture sheet
    - Graphics
  - Encoder resolution
  - Using the color picker
  - Gel pool
  - Selection bar
  - Align
  - Selection Grid
  - SMArt view
- Scribbles
  - Create scribbles
  - Edit scribbles
  - Assign scribbles
  - Delete scribbles
- Images
  - Screenshots
- Video
- Meshes
- Gobos
- Symbols
  - Import symbols
  - Delete symbols
- Appearances
  - Create appearances
  - Use appearances
  - Delete appearances
- Notes
- Groups
  - Create groups
  - Edit groups
  - Delete groups
  - Group masters
- Presets
  - Preset pools
  - Create new presets
  - Recipe presets
  - Use preset
  - Edit or Update presets
- Worlds and Filters
  - At filter
  - Create a world
  - Create a filter
  - Use a world or filter
  - Delete a world
  - Delete a filter
- MAtricks and Shuffle
  - Blocks
  - Groups
  - Wings
  - Widths
  - Shuffle
  - Transform
- Cues and Sequences
  - What is tracking
    - Tracking distance
    - Break
  - Sequence sheet
  - Content sheet
  - Sequence settings
  - Store cues
  - Update cues
  - Copy cues
  - Cue recipes
  - Store settings and preferences
  - Play back cues
  - Move in black
  - Cue timing
  - Renumber cues
  - Delete cues
- Executors
  - Assign object to an executor
  - Executor configurations
  - Running playbacks
  - Special executors
- Masters
  - Selected masters
  - Grand masters
    - Time control
  - Speed masters
  - Playback masters
- Recipes
- Phasers
  - Phaser editor
  - Create sinus dimmer phaser
  - Create circle phaser
  - Create circle phaser around position
  - Create color rainbow phaser
- XYZ
  - Activating XYZ for fixture types
  - MArker fixture
- Macros
  - Create macros
  - Import macros
  - Edit macros
  - Assign macros to keys and buttons
  - Variables
  - Examples
- Agenda
  - View modes
  - Create an agenda entry
  - Edit an agenda entry
  - Agenda toolbar
- Timers
  - Stopwatch
  - Countdown
- Timecode
  - What are timecode slots
  - Timecode settings
  - Track groups
  - Time ranges and events
  - Toggle view mode
  - Record a timecode show
  - Record an external timecode show
  - Edit a timecode show
  - External sources
- Layouts
  - Create a layout
  - Assign multipatch fixtures
  - Edit layout
  - Layout view settings
  - Edit layout view
  - Edit layout elements
  - Layout encoder bar
- Plugins
  - What is Lua?
  - Handle
  - Interface functions
    - Progress bar
  - Variable functions
  - Functions - Object-Free API
    - AddonVars
    - BuildDetails
    - ClassExists
    - CloseAllOverlays
    - CloseUndo
    - Cmd
    - CmdIndirect
    - CmdIndirectWait
    - CmdObj
    - ConfigTable
    - Confirm
    - CreateUndo
    - CurrentEnvironment
    - CurrentExecPage
    - CurrentProfile
    - CurrentUser
    - DataPool
    - DefaultDisplayPositions
    - DelVar
    - DeskLocked
    - DeviceConfiguration
    - DrawPointer
    - Echo
    - ErrEcho
    - ErrPrintf
    - Export
    - ExportCSV
    - ExportJson
    - FromAddr
    - GetApiDescriptor
    - GetAttributeByUIChannel
    - GetAttributeCount
    - GetAttributeIndex
    - GetChannelFunction
    - GetChannelFunctionIndex
    - GetClassDerivationLevel
    - GetDisplayByIndex
    - GetDisplayCollect
    - GetDMXUniverse
    - GetDMXValue
    - GetExecutor
    - GetFocus
    - GetFocusDisplay
    - GetObjApiDescriptor
    - GetPath
    - GetPathSeparator
    - GetRTChannel
    - GetRTChannelCount
    - GetRTChannels
    - GetSample
    - GetSelectedAttribute
    - GetShowFileStatus
    - GetSubfixture
    - GetSubfixtureCount
    - GetTokenName
    - GetTokenNameByIndex
    - GetUIChannelCount
    - GetUIChannelIndex
    - GetUIChannels
    - GetVar
    - GlobalVars
    - HandleToInt
    - HandleToStr
    - HookObjectChange
    - HostOS
    - HostSubType
    - HostType
    - Import
    - IncProgress
    - IntToHandle
    - IsObjectValid
    - KeyboardObj
    - MasterPool
    - MessageBox
    - MouseObj
    - ObjectList
    - Patch
    - PopupInput
    - Printf
    - ProgrammerPart
    - Pult
    - ReleaseType
    - Root
    - SelectedSequence
    - Selection
    - SelectionCount
    - SelectionFirst
    - SelectionNext
    - SerialNumber
    - SetBlockInput
    - SetLED
    - SetProgress
    - SetProgressRange
    - SetProgressText
    - SetVar
    - ShowData
    - ShowSettings
    - StartProgress
    - StopProgress
    - StrToHandle
    - TextInput
    - Time
    - Timer
    - TouchObj
    - UserVars
    - Version
  - Functions - Object API
    - Addr
    - AddrNative
    - Children
    - Dump
    - Export
    - HasActivePlayback
    - Import
    - ToAddr
- Quickeys
  - Quickey editor
  - Use quickey pool objects
  - Example
- Data Pools
- System
  - Date and time
  - Clock
  - Desk lights
  - System information
  - System monitor
  - Info window
- Sound
- Remote In and Out
  - DC remotes
  - MIDI remotes
  - DMX remotes
  - OSC
    - Examples
    - TouchOSC
    - QLab
    - Open stage control
    - zactrack
    - Protocol viewer
  - PSN
  - MIDI
- RDM
- Control other MA Devices
  - grandMA3 nodes
  - MA network switch
  - RemoteHID
- Update the Software
  - Update grandMA3 consoles
  - Update grandMA3 Nodes
  - Update grandMA3 onPC windows hardware
  - Update grandMA3 viz-key
  - Network update
  - Delete update files
  - Troubleshooting
- Fixture Types
  - Import fixture types
    - Import GDTF
    - Conflicts in fixture types
  - Build fixture types
    - Insert fixture types
    - Insert DMXModes
    - Insert geometries
    - Insert models
    - Link models to geometries
    - Link DMX modes to geometries
    - Environmental fixture types
  - Export fixture types
- File Management
  - SFTP connection
  - Import / Export menu
  - Folder structure
- Shut Down the System
- Troubleshooting
  - Clean start
  - Update does not work
  - Station does not connect
  - Panic macro
- Glossary
grandMA3 Quick Start Guide
grandMA3 Quick Manual consoles
grandMA3 Quick Manual processing units
grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes
grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes DIN-Rail
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing XT
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC fader wing
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC rack-unit
grandMA3 Quick Manual viz-key
grandMA3 Quick Manual I/O Nodes
Release Notes

Hint:
New help version
The help version you selected belongs to an older software version. You may want to view the latest help version.

Version 1.9

Organize Show Files

Table of contents of this topic

hide

Show File History
Add a Description
Add Automatic Numbering
Load a Show File During Startup
Export Media on Show Save
grandMA2 to grandMA3 Show File Converter

Show File History

To show the show file history:

Tap Load in the backup menu. Enable Show History in the bottom left corner.
Select a show file. The history of the selected show file is displayed at the bottom of the backup menu.

When loading the show file, the history gives information regarding:

Dates, time and timezone
Used software version
Software type
Name

A new entry within the history will be entered, when the show file will be saved again and one of these criteria has changed:

Version
Type
Name
Time zone
Description

The newest entry is on top of the history list.

Show file name with description and time stamp

Add a Description

To add a description to the show file, use the description area at the top of the backup menu. To add another line, press Please.

Modifying or entering a description will only be applied to the show file when saving it afterwards.

Add Automatic Numbering

It is possible to add 3-digit numbers to the show file name.

In order to separate the show file name from the number, the user can add a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_) or any other character to separate the name from the numbers at the end of the show file name.

The setting Enumerate Show File Name when Description Changes in the Backup menu provides an automatic increase of a 3-digit number. The number will be added to the end of the show file name if the description is changed when saving the show.

If the original show file name is too long to add the number, the command line will return an error. In this case, the former show file name will be used again.
Enumerating a show file can also be called with the /Enumerate option.
For more information see /Enumerate option keyword.

Load a Show File During Startup

It is possible to specify a show file or a plugin that shall be loaded upon starting the onPC application.

To do so, add the SHOW or RUNPLUGIN parameter to the shortcut that launches the onPC application:

"C:\Program Files\MALightingTechnology\gma3_x.x.x\bin\app_system.exe" HOSTTYPE=onPC SHOW="startshow.show"
"C:\Program Files\MALightingTechnology\gma3_x.x.x\bin\app_system.exe" HOSTTYPE=onPC RUNPLUGIN=\"startplugin.xml\"-y
- x represents the grandMA3 version number.
- y represents the number of the Lua component inside the plugin, that shall be started, e.g., 1.
- It is not recommend to specify a path for the plugin although the plugin may be put into a subfolder.

In addition, the optional parameters NOLOAD and CLEANSTART are also available when starting onPC.

NOLOAD will not load the last show file but start with an empty show. Other device related configurations are kept.
CLEANSTART will reset device related configuration back to default and come up with an empty show file.

Hint:
Do not use spaces in a show file name when loading a show during the startup process.

Windows 11 properties are shown as an example for the load show process.

Export Media on Show Save

In order to save media files (e.g. images, videos) to the gma3_library folder, activate the Export Media on Show Save function. Tap Backup and Export Media on Show Save.

grandMA2 to grandMA3 Show File Converter

To learn more about how to convert show files from grandMA2 to grandMA3, see grandMA2 to grandMA3 Show File Converter.