• grandMA3 User Manual
    • About the manual
    • 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
      • 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 grandMA3 onPC
      • Windows installation
      • Optimize Windows
      • macOS installation
      • Optimize macOS
      • onPC Terminal App
      • onPC settings
    • Show File Handling
    • 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
      • 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
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
      • General keywords
        • ; [Semicolon]
        • / [Slash]
        • . [Dot]
        • .. [DotDot]
        • = [Equal]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • * [Asterisk]
        • % [Percent]
        • + [Plus]
        • Absolute
        • Acceleration
        • Action
        • ActivationGroup
        • Agenda
        • Align
        • AlignTransition
        • Appearance
        • Assign
        • At
        • Attribute
        • AutoCreate
        • Black
        • Blind
        • Block
        • BPM
        • Call
        • Camera
        • Capture
        • ChangeDestination
        • Channel
        • ChannelSet
        • Chat
        • ChatJoin
        • ChatLeave
        • Cleanup
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CommandDelay
        • Collect
        • Collection
        • Color
        • ColorDef
        • ColorTheme
        • Configuration
        • Console
        • Cook
        • Copy
        • Cue
        • CueAbs
        • CueDelay
        • CueFade
        • CueInDelay
        • CueInFade
        • CueOutDelay
        • CueOutFade
        • CueRel
        • CueUpdate
        • CurrentEnvironment
        • CurrentUser
        • CurrentUserProfile
        • Cut
        • DataPool
        • Deceleration
        • Decimal8
        • Decimal16
        • Decimal24
        • Default
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DeleteOtherVersions
        • DelGlobalVar
        • DelUserVar
        • Dismiss
        • Display
        • DMXLayer
        • DMXAddress
        • DMXReadout
        • DMXUniverse
        • DoubleSpeed
        • Down
        • DumpLog
        • Drive
        • Echo
        • Edit
        • EditSetting
        • Eject
        • Effect
        • EndIf
        • Environment
        • Exchange
        • Executor
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Extension
        • Fade
        • Fader
        • FaderMaster
        • FaderRate
        • FaderSpeed
        • FaderTemp
        • FaderTime
        • FaderX
        • FaderXA
        • FaderXB
        • FeatureGroup
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • FixtureClass
        • FixtureLayer
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flip
        • Flash
        • Fog
        • Font
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Gel
        • GetGlobalVar
        • GetUserVar
        • Go+
        • Go-
        • Goto
        • Grid
        • GridPos
        • Group
        • HalfSpeed
        • HardwareKey
        • Help
        • Helplua
        • Hex8
        • Hex16
        • Hex24
        • Highlight
        • Houselights
        • Hz
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Index
        • Insert
        • Integrate
        • Interface
        • Invert
        • Invite
        • IP
        • JoinSession
        • Key
        • Keyboard
        • KeyboardShortcuts
        • Knockin
        • Knockout
        • Label
        • Language
        • Layout
        • LearnSpeed
        • LeaveSession
        • Library
        • List
        • ListOwner
        • ListRef
        • Load
        • Loaded
        • LoadShow
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lowlight
        • Lua
        • LuaFile
        • Macro
        • MArker
        • Master
        • MAtricks
        • Measure
        • Media
        • MemInfo
        • Menu
        • Mesh
        • MessageCenter
        • Monitor
        • Move
        • Multipatch
        • MyRunningMacro
        • MyRunningPreset
        • MyRunningSequence
        • Natural
        • NDI
        • NewShow
        • NextY
        • NextZ
        • Next
        • Node
        • NonDim
        • Normal
        • Off
        • Offset
        • On
        • onPC
        • OSC
        • Oops
        • OutputLayer
        • Page
        • Part
        • Park
        • Paste
        • Patch
        • Pause
        • Percent
        • PercentFine
        • Phase
        • Physical
        • Plugin
        • Preset
        • PresetUpdate
        • Press
        • Preview
        • PreviousY
        • PreviousZ
        • Previous
        • Programmer
        • Property
        • PU
        • Pyro
        • Rate1
        • RDM
        • Readout
        • Reboot
        • Recast
        • Record
        • Relation
        • Relative
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • ReloadUI
        • Remote
        • RemoteHID
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • RenderQuality
        • Reset
        • Restart
        • Root
        • RTChannel
        • RunningMacro
        • RunningPreset
        • RunningSequence
        • RunningTimecode
        • SaveShow
        • ScreenConfig
        • ScreenContent
        • Scribble
        • Seconds
        • Select
        • Selection
        • SelFix
        • Sequence
        • SendMIDI
        • SendOSC
        • Set
        • SetGlobalVar
        • SetUserVar
        • Shuffle
        • Shutdown
        • SnapDelay
        • SoftwareImport
        • SoftwareUpdate
        • SoundChannel
        • Solo
        • SpecialExecutor
        • Speed
        • Speed1
        • Stage
        • Station
        • Step
        • Stomp
        • SwitchGma2Mode
        • Swop
        • Store
        • Temp
        • Texture
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • 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
        • Xkeys
        • Zero
      • Option keywords
        • /Active
        • /ActiveForSelected
        • /AddNewContent
        • /All
        • /AllForSelected
        • /Ask
        • /Auto
        • /CopyCueDst
        • /CopyCueScr
        • /CreateReferenceObject
        • /CreateSecondCue
        • /CueOnly
        • /Date
        • /Default
        • /DiscardChanges
        • /DMX
        • /Embed
        • /Enumerate
        • /File
        • /ForceGlobal
        • /GDTF
        • /Gaps
        • /Global
        • /GridMergeMode
        • /Indirect
        • /KeepActivation
        • /Look
        • /Merge
        • /NoConfirm
        • /OriginalContentOnly
        • /Overwrite
        • /Path
        • /Release
        • /Remove
        • /Screen
        • /Selective
        • /Universal
      • Extended command line syntax options
    • Windows, Views, and Menus
      • Add window
      • 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
        • Join a session
        • Leave a session
        • Invite to a session
        • Dismiss from session
        • Create a custom key
        • Session master selection
      • 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
      • Add multipatch fixtures
      • MVR
      • Live patch
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX universes
      • Remove fixtures from the show
      • Position fixtures in the 3D space
      • 3D
      • 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
      • Encoder resolution
      • Using the color picker
      • Gel pool
      • Selection bar
      • Align
      • Selection Grid
      • Smart view
      • General parent.child structure
    • Scribbles
      • Create scribbles
      • Edit scribbles
      • Assign scribbles
      • Delete scribbles
    • Images
      • Screenshots
    • Video
    • Appearances
      • Create appearances
      • Use appearances
      • Delete appearances
    • 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
      • Sequences 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
      • Edit macros
      • Assign macros to keys and buttons
      • Variables
      • Examples
    • Agenda
      • View modes
      • Create an agenda entry
      • Edit an agenda entry
      • Agenda toolbar
    • 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
    • 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
      • Functions - Object-Free API
        • BuildDetails
        • CloseUndo
        • Cmd
        • CmdIndirect
        • CmdIndirectWait
        • CmdObj
        • Confirm
        • CreateUndo
        • DataPool
        • DefaultDisplayPositions
        • DeskLocked
        • Echo
        • ErrEcho
        • ErrPrintf
        • Export
        • ExportCSV
        • ExportJson
        • FromAddr
        • GetPath
        • GetShowFileStatus
        • GetSubfixture
        • GetSubfixtureCount
        • HandleToStr
        • HandleToInt
        • HookObjectChange
        • HostOS
        • HostSubType
        • HostType
        • Import
        • IntToHandle
        • MasterPool
        • MessageBox
        • ObjectList
        • Patch
        • PopupInput
        • Printf
        • ProgrammerPart
        • ProgressBar
        • Pult
        • Root
        • SelectedSequence
        • Selection
        • SelectionCount
        • SelectionFirst
        • SelectionNext
        • SerialNumber
        • ShowData
        • StrToHandle
        • ShowSettings
        • TextInput
        • Timer
        • UserVariables
        • Version
      • Functions - Object API
        • Addr
        • AddrNative
        • Children
        • Dump
        • Export
        • HasActivePlayback
        • Import
        • ToAddr
    • Data Pools
    • System
      • Date and time
      • Clock
      • Desk lights
      • System information
      • System monitor
      • Info Window
    • Sound
      • Sound Window
    • Remote In and Out
      • DC remotes
      • MIDI remotes
      • DMX remotes
      • OSC
      • 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
      • Export fixture types
        • Export GDTF
    • File Management
      • SFTP connection
      • Import / Export Menu
      • Folder Structure
    • Shut down the System
    • Troubleshooting
      • Clean start
  • 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
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Version 1.8

Show File Handling

The Show File

The show file contains all the information that is related to the show including:

  • Patch
  • Fixture profiles
  • Cues
  • Timings
  • 3D information
  • Users and user profiles
Important:
Save the old show before loading or renaming a new one, to keep changes.

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:
To learn more about the folder structure of shows, demo shows, and backups read the topics File Management and Folder Structure.

All the management of the show files is handled in the Backup menu.

  • To access the Backup menu, press Menu.
  • Tap Backup.
 

The Backup menu is open.

Backup menu

Or use the Menu command, to call the Backup Menu.

Important:
A loaded show file is limited to use 10 GB of memory.
Important:
The size of all media pools in total, is limited to a maximum of 200 MB.
Important:
The show file name is limited to a maximum of 31 characters.
Important:
The show file name must not contain the following characters: \ " $ * ? ^ | / : < > `

To learn more about where to see the current occupation of memory, read the System Information topic.

 

Load a Show File

To load a show file:

  1. Open the Backup menu and tap Load.
  2. Select a show file and tap Load.

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


Backups and Demo Shows

To load a backup file or the demo show file:

  1. Open the Backup Menu and tap Load.
  2. Tap Shows to toggle between Shows, Backups, and Demo Shows.

Here it is possible to load a previously 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 possible to store 10 backup files from the same show file. A backup is automatically generated when saving a show file.
A backup file contains:

  • Showfile Name
  • Backup
  • Date and Time in UTC format
Backup Files

 

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.

Hint:
The order of connecting the USB drives to the console / onPC station determines the order of the drive numbers. 

In the upper right corner of the Backup menu, it is possible to select the drive you are working on.
To select the drive:

  1. Tap Internal and it toggles between the different drives connected or shows saved in older software versions.
  2. Tap and swipe right on the drive and a 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 backup menu displays the free disk space of the selected drive in the upper right corner of the menu:

Showing free disk space in percent and gigabyte

Quick Save

To save the show file quickly:

  • Press Menu and tap Quick Save.
  • Pressing quickly 2 x Menu also makes a Quick Save.

 

Auto Save

To save the show automatically in regular intervals, activate the Auto Save function. Tap Backup and AutoSave Interval.

Auto Save Interval

Select the desired Auto Save interval.

Select Auto Save

 

Save Show As

To save a show with another name, open the Backup Menu and tap Save As.Write the new name of the show file in the Name field. Tap Save as... and confirm pop-up window with Ok. The show file is saved by its new name.

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


Save To Internal

To select and change the internal/external drive to save a show file on:

  1. Tap Internal in the top right corner in the Backup Menu.
  2. The name of Save To Internal button will automatically adjust to the name of the drive.
  3. Tap Save To <Name of Drive> to save the show on the selected drive.

 

Save a show on an internal selected drive

 


 

Add a Description

To add a describtion to the show file at the top of the backup menu, an area allows you to enter and read the description of the loaded show file. Modifying or entering a description will only be applied to the show file when saving it afterwards.
To add another line, press Enter .

Show file name with description line
 

Show File History

To have a look at the show file history:

  1. Tap Load in the backup menu. Enable Show History in the bottom left corner.
  2. 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 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 option Enumerate Show File Name when Description Changes in the Backup Menu  provides an automatic increase of a 3-digit number, added to the end of the show file name if the description is changed when saving the show.

Show File name with automatic numbering

 

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.


 

New Show

  • To create a new empty show file, open the Backup Menu and tap New Show.
    A popup window appears. A automized file name is created like New Show-date-time.
  • Leave or rename the file name for the new show in the Name field. When the name is correct, tap Enter.
  • Create New Show popup window appears, tap New 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.

Delete a Show File

Open the Backup Menu and tap Delete. Tap the show file to delete. Tap Delete in the bottom right corner and the show file is deleted.


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"-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 may be put into a subfolder.
Hint:
Replace "x.x.x" with the grandMA3 onPC version number.

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, etc.) to the gma3_library folder, activate the Export Media on Show Save function. Tap Backup and Export Media on Show Save.

A show file with Export Media on Show Save

 


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