Editing Artist Help:Create a blank Cue

A client wished to create several cues and scenes which had only Serial messages in them. No fixture parameters were to be accessed.

You can only add Serial output System Commands to existing Cues or Scenes. Therefore you must create blank cues first. This you do from the Program Control window. 

=== To create a blank cue ===

* Select the cue list you wish to add the new cue to. 
* Click on 'New Cue'. The New Cue dialog will show no data being added. 
* Edit the name of this cue. 
* Click OK. 

This client also wanted Serial codes in a random chase. For this, you must create a Scene with the required number of blank steps.

=== To create a blank scene ===

* Select the scene group you wish to add the new scene to. 
* Click on 'New Scene'. The New Scene dialog will show no data being added. 
* Edit the name of this scene. 
* Click OK. 

=== To Add blank steps ===

The scene combo box should be displaying the name of the blank scene you just created. If not you must select it. 

* Click on 'New Step'. The New Step dialog will show no data being added. 
* Click OK. 
* Repeat this for the required number of steps. 

Now that the blank cue and scenes have been created the Serial output system commands (or any other system commands) can be added. This is achieved from the Navigator Tree views.

=== To add a System Command ===

* Right-click on the Cue to which to add the system command. 
* Select 'Add Embedded Command' to open the Command Wizard. 
* The first page will give no options. Click next>>. 
* Select the command. In this case 'Serial Output' and click Next>>. 
* Select the serial COM port to send the message out on. If none are shown you must see the help on the Communications Manager 
* Enter the message string to send. This will require knowledge of the serial device messages. Click Next>>. 
* Check the summary and click End. 

You can follow the same procedure for each of the steps in your scene. Be aware that if you set the chase speed too high when playing this chase it may cause a system blockage when sending out too many long serial messages.

In the client area now you can display the Cue list with your new cues in it and click on the Activate buttons to see the results. Likewise with the scenes.

If you then want to incorporate the scenes in to a new cue,

=== Adding a Scene to a New Cue ===

* Activate the scene and click 'New Cue'. The New Cue dialog will show that the scene is active. 
* Edit the Cue name. 
* Click OK. 

=== Adding a Scene to an Existing Cue ===

* Activate the scene. 
* From the client area right-click on the cue you wish to add the scene to. 
* Select 'Store Parameters'. The Add to Cue dialog will show the active scene. 
* Click OK.