grandMA3 User Manual
- Introduction
  - About the manual
  - Symbols used in the manual
- Device Overview
  - grandMA3 consoles
  - grandMA3 replay unit
  - grandMA3 processing units
  - grandMA3 nodes
  - grandMA3 onPC command wing
  - grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
  - Screen Allocation
  - Keyboard shortcuts
  - Keys
    - . [Dot]
    - <<< [GoFastBackward] | Black
    - >>> [GoFastForward] | Flash
    - - [Minus]
    - + [Plus]
    - / [Slash] | * [Asterisk/Multiply]
    - At
    - Assign
    - Align
    - Blind
    - Clear
    - Channel
    - Copy
    - 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
    - Dual encoders
    - Level wheel
    - Grand Master
    - Executor elements
    - Custom section
    - Master section
- 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 mouse and USB keyboard
  - Connect DMX
  - Connect Audio In
  - Connect SMPTE (LTC)
  - Connect Ethernet
  - Connect DC Remote In
  - Connect grandMA3 extension
  - Turn on the console the first time
- grandMA3 onPC
  - System requirements grandMA3 onPC
  - Windows installation
  - Optimize Windows
  - macOS installation
  - Optimize macOS
- Show File Management
- Workspace
  - User interface
    - Configuration of displays
    - Desk lock
    - User-defined area
    - Command line
    - Control bar
    - View bar
    - Tables in general
    - Trackpad window
  - Gestures
  - Command section
  - Master controls
  - Playback controls
  - Displays in grandMA3 onPC
  - Encoder bar
    - Feature group control bar
    - Encoder toolbar
  - Calculator
  - Colors
    - System
    - Markers
    - Color theme
  - Icons
- Command Syntax and Keywords
  - General syntax rules
    - Object keywords
    - Function keywords
    - Helping keywords
  - All keywords
    - / [Slash]
    - . [Dot]
    - .. [DotDot]
    - = [Equal]
    - <<< [GoFastBackward]
    - >>> [GoFastForward]
    - - [Minus]
    - * [Asterisk]
    - % [Percent]
    - + [Plus]
    - Absolute
    - Acceleration
    - Action
    - ActivationGroup
    - Align
    - AlignTransition
    - Appearance
    - Assign
    - At
    - Attribute
    - Black
    - Blind
    - Block
    - BPM
    - Camera
    - Call
    - ChangeDestination
    - Channel
    - ChannelSet
    - Chat
    - Clear
    - ClearActive
    - ClearAll
    - ClearSelection
    - Clone
    - CmdDelay
    - ColorTheme
    - ColorThemeLibrary
    - Configuration
    - Console
    - Copy
    - Cue
    - CueDelay
    - CueFade
    - CueInDelay
    - CueInFade
    - CueOutDelay
    - CueOutFade
    - CurrentUser
    - CurrentUserProfile
    - Cut
    - DataPool
    - Deceleration
    - Decimal8
    - Decimal24
    - Default
    - Delay
    - Delete
    - DelGlobalVar
    - DelUserVar
    - Dismiss
    - Display
    - DMXAddress
    - DMXReadout
    - DMXUniverse
    - Down
    - Drive
    - Echo
    - Edit
    - EditOption
    - Eject
    - Effect
    - EndIf
    - Exchange
    - Executor
    - Export
    - Extract
    - Extension
    - Fade
    - FaderMaster
    - FaderRate
    - FaderSpeed
    - FaderTemp
    - FaderX
    - FeatureGroup
    - Filter
    - Fix
    - Fixture
    - FixtureType
    - FixtureTypeLibrary
    - Flip
    - Flash
    - Fog
    - Font
    - Freeze
    - Full
    - GDTFLibrary
    - Gel
    - GetGlobalVar
    - GetUserVar
    - Global
    - Go+
    - Go-
    - Goto
    - Grid
    - Group
    - Help
    - Hex8
    - Hex24
    - Highlight
    - Houselights
    - Hz
    - If
    - IfOutput
    - Image
    - Import
    - Index
    - Insert
    - Integrate
    - Interface
    - Invert
    - Invite
    - IP
    - Join
    - Keyboard
    - KeyboardShortcuts
    - Knockin
    - Label
    - Language
    - Layout
    - LearnRate
    - LearnSpeed
    - Leave
    - Library
    - List
    - ListOwner
    - ListRef
    - Load
    - Loaded
    - LoadShow
    - Lock
    - Login
    - Logout
    - Lowlight
    - Lua
    - Macro
    - MacroLibrary
    - Master
    - MAtricks
    - MAtricksPool
    - Media
    - Menu
    - MenuLibrary
    - Move
    - MyRunningMacro
    - MyRunningSequence
    - NewShow
    - Next
    - Node
    - NonDim
    - Normal
    - Off
    - On
    - OnPC
    - OSC
    - Oops
    - Page
    - Part
    - Park
    - Paste
    - Patch
    - Pause
    - Percent
    - PercentFine
    - Phase
    - Physical
    - Plugin
    - PluginLibrary
    - Preset
    - Press
    - Preview
    - Previous
    - Programmer
    - Property
    - PU
    - Pyro
    - Rate1
    - Readout
    - Reboot
    - Recast
    - Relative
    - Release
    - ReloadPlugins
    - ReloadUI
    - Remote
    - RemoteCommand
    - Remove
    - Reset
    - Restart
    - Root
    - RTChannel
    - RunningMacro
    - RunningSequence
    - SaveShow
    - ScreenConfig
    - ScreenContent
    - Scribble
    - Seconds
    - Select
    - Selection
    - SelFix
    - Sequence
    - SendOSC
    - Set
    - SetGlobalVar
    - SetUserVar
    - Shutdown
    - SnapDelay
    - Shuffle
    - SoundChannel
    - Solo
    - SpecialExec
    - Speed
    - Speed1
    - Stage
    - Station
    - Step
    - StepCreator
    - StepRecipe
    - Stomp
    - Store
    - Temp
    - Thru
    - Timecode
    - Toggle
    - Top
    - Transition
    - Unblock
    - Unlock
    - Unpark
    - Unpress
    - Up
    - Update
    - User1
    - User2
    - User
    - UserProfile
    - Version
    - View
    - ViewButton
    - Width
    - World
    - Zero
- Windows, Views, and Menus
  - Add windows
  - Rearrange
  - Store and recall views
  - Remove windows from a screen
  - Window settings
  - Menus
  - Change menu locations
  - Pool windows
    - Create pool object
    - 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
    - Leave a session
    - Invite to a session
    - Dismiss from session
    - Create a custom key
  - Web remote
- 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
- Patch and Fixture Setup
  - What are fixtures
  - Add fixtures to the show
  - MVR
  - Live patch
  - DMX sheet
  - DMX universes
  - Remove fixtures from the show
  - Position fixtures in the 3D space
  - 3D Window
  - Camera Pool
  - Stages
  - Classes and Layers
  - Attribute definitions
    - Activation group
    - Feature group
- Operate Fixtures
  - What is the programmer
  - Fixture sheet
  - Using the color picker
  - Selection bar
  - Align
  - Selection Grid
  - Smart view
- Scribbles
  - Create scribbles
  - Edit scribbles
  - Assign scribbles
  - Delete scribbles
- Images
  - Screenshots
- Appearance
  - Create appearances
  - Use appearances
  - Delete appearances
- Groups
  - Create groups
  - Edit groups
  - Delete groups
  - Group masters
- Presets
  - Preset pools
  - Create presets
  - Assign input filter
  - Edit presets
  - Update presets
  - Preset pool settings
  - Embedded presets
  - Store values of multi steps
  - Delete 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
- Cues and Sequences
  - What is tracking
  - Look at cues and sequences
  - Sequence settings
  - Store cues
  - Update cues
  - Store options and preferences
  - Play back cues
  - Move in black
  - Cue timing
  - Renumber cues
- Executors
  - Assign object to an executor
  - Executor configurations
  - Running playbacks
- Masters
  - Selected masters
  - Grand masters
    - Time Control
  - Speed masters
  - Playback masters
- Phasers
  - Step bar
  - Phaser editor
  - Create sinus dimmer phaser
  - Create circle phaser
  - Create circle phaser around position
  - Create color rainbow phaser
  - Step creator
- Macros
  - Create macros
  - Edit macros
  - Assign macros to keys and buttons
- Timecode
  - Record a timecode show
  - Edit a timecode show
  - Timecode settings
  - Toggle view mode
  - What are timecode slots
- Layouts
  - Create a layout
  - Layout pool settings
  - Edit layout
  - Layout view settings
  - Edit layout view
  - Edit layout elements
- Plugins
  - What is Lua
- Data Pools
- System
  - Date and time
  - Clock
  - System information
- Control Other MA Devices
- Update the Software
  - Update grandMA3 consoles
  - Update grandMA3 xPort Nodes
  - Update grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
  - Network update
- Fixture Types
  - Import fixture types
    - Import GDTF
  - Build fixture types
    - Insert fixture types
    - Insert DMX modes
    - Insert geometries
    - Insert models
    - Link models to geometries
    - Link DMX modes to geometries
  - Export fixture types
    - Export GDTF
grandMA3 Quick Manual consoles
grandMA3 Quick Manual processing
grandMA3 Quick Manual nodes
grandMA3 Quick Manual DIN-Rail
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing XT
grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing
Release Notes

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Version 1.2

Show File Management

Table of contents of this topic

hide

Select the Drive
The Show File
New Show
Load a Show File
Save a Show File
Quick Save
Save Show As
Delete a Show File
Backup Files and Demo Shows
Load a Show File during startup

All the management of the show files is handled in the Backup menu. To access the Backup menu, press Menu, and tap Backup. This opens the Backup menu which could look like this:

The Backup menu can also be called by the command line with the Menu command.

User name[fixture]> Menu "Backup"

Important:
The size of a show file is limited to 10GB when it is loaded.

Select the Drive

The show files are stored on the internal drive or a USB stick. The internal drive is Drive 1 and the USB stick is Drive 2. If more than one USB stick is connected the order of the connection selects the drive number. That means that the latest connected drive has the highest number. When a USB stick is disconnected, the drive numbers can change.

In the upper right corner of the Backup menu, it is possible to select the drive you are working on. Tap on Drive 1 Internal and it toggles between the different drives connected or shows saved in older software versions. Tap and swipe right on the drive and a little pop-up opens with the different opportunities.

The drive can also be selected by the command line.

User nameFixture]> Select Drive 2

Hint:
Saving a show on a USB stick automatically saves the show on the internal drive as well.

The Show File

The show file contains all the information that is related to the show. That means the patch, fixture profiles, cues, timing, the 3D information, etc. The show file also contains the User and User Profile.

Important:
Remember to save the old show before loading or renaming a new one.

A show file software version can only be moved forward. A show saved on a USB stick that was programmed in a previous version can be loaded in a newer version. If the show is then re-saved on the stick in this new version, it cannot be taken back to the old software. If this is important, then it is needed to load the show and save it with a new name. Then the old version is not saved as the new version and it can still be accessed by an older version.

Hint:
On a grandMA3 onPC the show file as default is located in c:\ProgramData\MALightingTechnology\gma3_xx\onPC\Shows

New Show

To create a new empty show file, tap New Show.
A new show is created with an automized file name like New Show-date-time.
To rename the show file, open the Backup menu again.
Enter a file name for the new show in the Name field. When the name is correct, tap Save Show.

To create a new show by the command line, use the LoadShow keyword.

Hint:
It is possible to use local letters in the filename, like æ, õ, and ä.

Load a Show File

Open the Backup menu and tap the show file needed. Tap Load Show and the selected show file appears.

To load a show by the command line, use the LoadShow keyword.

Save a Show File

Open the Backup menu and tap Save Show. The show file is saved with the current name.

To save a show by the command line, use the SaveShow keyword.

Quick Save

It is possible to make a quick save of the show file. Press Menu and tap Quick Save. Pressing 2 x Menu also makes a Quick Backup.

Save Show As

To save a show with another name, open the Backup Menu and write the new name of the show file in the Name field. Tap Save Show and the show file is saved by its new name.

Delete a Show File

Open the Backup Menu and tap the show file to delete. Tap Delete Show and the show file is deleted.

Backup Files and Demo Shows

Open the Backup Menu and tap Shows. This toggles between shows, backups, and demo shows. Here it is possible to load a previous saved backup or a demo show. It is not possible to save or create a new show file in the backup or demo show folder. It is also impossible to delete demo shows.

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_xx\bin\app_system.exe" HOSTTYPE=onPC SHOW="startshow.show"
"C:\Program Files\MALightingTechnology\gma3_xx\bin\app_system.exe" HOSTTYPE=onPC RUNPLUGIN="startplugin.xml"-x
- x 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 maybe 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.