Numbering light plot objects
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Command |
Workspace: Path |
Shortcut |
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Spotlight Numbering |
Design Suite: Entertainment Spotlight: Spotlight ConnectCAD: ConnectCAD > Drawing |
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N (Windows) Cmd+Shift+Option+N (Mac) |
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Mode |
Tool |
Tool set |
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Automatic Numbering
Automatic Numbering Preferences
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Various |
Various |
You can number objects as you insert them. The Automatic Numbering mode, available from the Tool bar for many of the Spotlight objects, allows those objects to be numbered as you place them.
You can also number existing objects. The Spotlight Numbering command numbers existing lighting devices, accessories, and several other objects such as focus points, hoists, cable runs—or any drawing object with a record attached. You can number the objects by unit number or by other parameters that automatically increment.
There are a few more ways to number lighting devices, accessories, and other Spotlight objects. You can number lighting devices by hanging position (see Numbering lighting devices by hanging position). To copy the unit number from lighting devices to their accessories, see Copying the unit number to all accessories.
Numbering objects at placement
Several objects can be automatically numbered at insertion.
To automatically number objects at placement:
Click the desired tool to place the objects.
Click Automatic Numbering Preferences on the Tool bar to open the Automatic Numbering Preferences dialog box, and set the numbering options. The available parameters depend on the object. See Automatic numbering parameters.
Click Automatic Numbering mode to toggle it on, and place the objects.
Numbering existing objects
The Spotlight Numbering command has two basic workflows for numbering existing objects. Automatic numbering is great for standard layouts where you can marquee-select the objects to number. If the selection involves more clicking, or drawing a marquee would be too complex, then manual numbering is recommended. A benefit of manual numbering is that you can change the numbering options midway through the process.
Automatic or manual numbering: Select objects in the drawing, and then set the parameters and number the objects.
Context menu commands can select lighting devices by certain criteria; see Selecting lighting devices. The Custom Selection command or Select Similar tool also can be used.
Manual numbering: With nothing pre-selected, specify the type of object to number and set the parameters, and then number the objects.
Multi-cell lighting devices have special numbering behavior. Preference settings determine which fields support individual cell values, and this affects the numbering; see Spotlight preferences: Lighting Devices: Parameters pane.
Automatic numbering: Fields that do not support individual cell values are numbered once for the entire device, and numbering continues with the next lighting device. For fields that do support cell values, the cells are numbered sequentially based on their index numbers before proceeding to the next device.
Manual numbering: Fields that support individual cell values can be numbered individually, but fields that do not support individual cells can only be numbered once per device.
To number existing light plot objects:
Do one of the following:
For automatic numbering, select the objects to be numbered.
For manual numbering, either select the objects or skip this step.
Select the command.
The Spotlight Numbering dialog box opens. See Automatic numbering parameters.
Specify the kind of object to be numbered, the record field(s) to be numbered, and the numbering parameters.
The Numbering Direction parameters are only available for pre-selected objects. If nothing was pre-selected, you'll have to number objects manually by clicking.
Click OK.
Do one of the following:
If numbering objects manually, click on the objects one by one. The data bar displays the information to be assigned to the next clicked object, so you can change it if needed; see Using the Data bar. To stop numbering, click the green check mark on the Tool bar, or double-click in an empty area of the drawing.
Shift-click to number an object without incrementing the value, so the next object can be numbered exactly the same way as the previous object.
If objects were pre-selected, and a Manual Numbering Direction was not chosen, the objects are automatically numbered.
Only the specified object type is numbered. If a limit has been set, the Spotlight Numbering dialog box reopens automatically when the limit is reached; modify the needed values and continue numbering.
After the numbering operation, the numbered objects are selected, to help you identify which items have been numbered. The Object Info palette updates to reflect the new numbering of each object.
Automatic numbering parameters
Whether accessed from the Automatic Numbering mode or the Spotlight Numbering command, the parameters are nearly identical. The Spotlight Numbering command has additional numbering direction parameters for selected objects.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
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Parameter |
Description |
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Numbering Set |
See Using saved sets to save and apply saved settings |
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Object |
Lists the plug-in objects and objects with a record in the file. Select the type of object to number; if numbering an object with a record, select the type of record from the list on the right. Only one type of object can be numbered at a time. |
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Available Fields/ Fields in Use |
Displays the fields available for autonumbering, and the fields to be used for autonumbering. Use the buttons to move items from one list to the other. Once the Fields in Use list is complete, select each row to specify its Numbering Options. > Adds one or more selected items to the Fields in Use list. The items are added to the end of the list. Alternatively, double-click an item to add it. >> Adds all the items displayed to the Fields in Use list. < Removes one or more selected items from the Fields in Use list. Alternatively, double-click an item to remove it. << Removes all the items from the Fields in Use list. |
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Numbering Options |
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Start |
Enter the starting number or letter |
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Prefix/Suffix |
Specify any numbering prefix or suffix |
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Apply the same numbering to all |
Keeps the same value (numeric or alphabetical) for the objects, without incrementing. The Increment by value is not available. |
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Automatically increment the numbering |
Sets the automatically incrementing value, which applies to numeric or alphabetical labels. For example, a Start of 2, Increment by value of 2, and Suffix of A numbers the objects as follows: 2A, 4A, 6A, and so on. |
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Increment by |
Sets the increment interval |
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Increment by DMX footprint (objects with DMX control only) |
Instead of specifying a constant increment value, the increment is based on the assigned DMX footprint (control channel values). When the Universe is full, the next universe is selected automatically. |
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Limit |
No Limit: Continues numbering objects until none remain. Restart at: Numbers objects until the set value is reached, and then restarts the numbering for the next object as specified in the options. Stop at: Sets the stopping point for numbering objects, opening the Spotlight Numbering or Automatic Numbering Preferences dialog box when the limit is reached. For example, you may wish to avoid going over 400 control channels per universe; set a limit so that the Spotlight Numbering or Automatic Numbering Preferences dialog box opens after the set number of objects have been numbered. Change the needed information, and then continue numbering. The Address field cannot go over 512. |
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Number of Units per Increment |
Sets the number of objects that receive the same set value before incrementing to the next value. For example, set the Circuit Number field to an Increment by value of 1 and the Number of Units per Increment to 5. A selection of ten lighting devices will number the first five with a Circuit Number of 1 and the next five with a Circuit Number of 2. |
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Prepend the system name before the prefix (hoists only, truss system required) |
Uses the name of the connected truss system as the prefix |
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Adds source distributor name before the prefix (cables only) |
Adds the name of the source distributor object (the distributor at the start of the cable) before the prefix. A > is added after the distributor ID. Select Apply the same numbering to all to use this option. |
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Adds breakout output ID before the prefix (cables only) |
Adds the number (ID) of the breakout output connection before the prefix, combining the breakout name and the output number for the cable ID. A - is added before the breakout output ID, and a > is added after it, if the source distributor is also displaying. Select Apply the same numbering to all to use this option. |
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Add target object ID after the suffix (cables only) |
For distributors, adds the name (ID) of the target distributor object (the distributor at the end of the cable) after the prefix. Intended for multi cables, this allows quick identification of the distributor where the cable is plugged in. The ID is preceded by a >. Adds the channel parameter for lighting devices. Adds the speaker ID for speakers. Adds the unit for video screens or other consumer target objects. Select Apply the same numbering to all to use this option. |
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Accessory Numbering (lighting devices only) |
Select how lighting accessories are numbered with the Spotlight Numbering command. Alternatively, use a context menu command to copy the lighting device unit number to all accessories; see Copying the unit number to all accessories. None: The accessory field is not numbered. Same as Lighting Device: The accessory field uses the same number as the lighting device (or the same number as the associated cell in a multi-cell device). Add Prefix and Suffix: The accessory field uses the same number as the lighting device (or the same number as the associated cell in a multi-cell device), but with the specified Prefix and Suffix added. Next Number: The accessory field uses the next number in the sequence set by the Numbering Options. |
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Numbering Direction (existing objects only) |
These parameters apply to preselected objects only, with the Spotlight Numbering command |
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Primary Direction |
The numbering direction is relative to the page; select the desired direction. Select Manual to number the objects by clicking, instead of automatically by selection. |
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Single click manual numbering for multi-cell |
For multi-cell lighting devices, automatically increments the numbering of each cell with a single click on the lighting device |
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Secondary Direction |
Available choices depend on the selection in Primary Direction; when numbering manually, this option is not available |
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Use zigzag pattern |
Uses the Primary Direction and Secondary Direction as the starting point for numbering, and then numbers the objects in a zigzag pattern
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Tolerance |
Specifies a tolerance distance for adjacent numbered objects to be considered "lined up" with each other for consecutive numbering |
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Multi-Cell Numbering (lighting devices only) |
Select the format for numbering multi-cell lighting devices. The Unit Number field must be selected for numbering. |
Copying the unit number to all accessories
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Command |
Path |
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Copy Unit Number to Accessories |
Context menu |
This command copies the Unit Number value from the selected lighting devices to their attached accessories. For multi-cell lighting devices, the unit number of each cell is copied to all accessories associated with that cell.
To apply the lighting device unit number to the accessories:
Select one or more lighting devices.
Select the command.
