Import
Options
FocusTrack can currently import showfiles from Strand
consoles once they have been processed using Strand's
Showport utility, and files exported from ETC Eos and
MA grandMA consoles. When a file is imported,
FocusTrack will figure out which lights are used (ie.
actually come on) in which preset focus groups in
which cues during the show. If you re-import a newer
version of the same show, FocusTrack can also figure
out what's changed between the two showfiles - which
focus positions have been altered, which cues have
been added, which have been deleted and so on.
FocusTrack has a number of import options that alter
the way a showfile is imported, with slightly
different options available for each console type:
Min Intensity:
This is the minimum intensity that FocusTrack counts
as 'on' For example, you may use 5% as a pre-heat
level for lights. If you don't want the cue where the
light comes to 5% to count as 'on', set the Min
Intensity to 6%.
Start Cue / End Cue:
You can specify a cue range for FocusTrack to
process. This means that you can exclude rig check
cues or other older or temporary cues stored in the
showfile.
Ignore Hard Values:
'Hard' values are attributes set to particular levels
rather than to preset focus groups - so if a light
was set to position pan 27, tilt 54 that is a hard
value for pan/tilt. Normally FocusTrack will import
these values and show them as positions in brackets -
(27, 54). You can choose to have FocusTrack ignore
and not show hard values by ticking this box.
Process Pan/Tilt Only:
FocusTrack normally processes all attributes for
lights. With this information it can show you how a
light is set in a particular cue (in red, in star
gobo) as well as it's position; it also lets you use
RigTrack to list the gobos, colours and so on that a
light uses during a show.
If you don't need this functionality you can tell
FocusTrack to only process pan/tilt information,
which will speed up the import process, particularly
on older, slower computers.
Delete outdated Attributes:
Strand showfiles still contain information about some
attributes that are no longer used - for example, the
old .57/.59 attributes that used to be used for fine
pan/tilt. Ticking this box will delete this outdated
information from FocusTrack and stop it cluttering up
your screen.
Import Console Patch:
FocusTrack can import the patch from the console into
RigTrack, giving you an up-to-date record of the
current show patch (including details such as
pan/tilt inversion on moving lights). This import
will 'merge' with an existing RigTrack (preserving
any other information you might have added about the
rig or imported from programs such as Lightwright)
but will replace the current patch data in RigTrack.
Once you've chosen your options hit MAKE/UPDATE
FOCUSTRACK to import the showfile. The first time you
do this for a new show, make sure you clear
FocusTrack. Once you've done that you can keep
re-importing updated versions of the showfile, with
FocusTrack updating the show information (and
flagging new, changed or cut focuses) as appropriate.