Exporting MVR files
Command |
Path |
Export MVR |
File > Export |
The Export MVR command allows lighting and scene designs created in Vectorworks to be exported to a lighting console or visualizer to program a show. The scene elements can be edited directly from a visualizer. These edits, including new objects, object movements, and modified fixture data, can then be merged with the Vectorworks drawing to update the scene. See Importing MVR for more information.
2D objects are not supported by MVR.
You can also export a file to .mvr and open it directly in the stand-alone previsualization program, Vision; see Exporting to Vision.
To export a .mvr file:
Select the command.
The Export MVR File dialog box opens.
Select the desired export options.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Settings |
Select which objects to export to the .mvr file. All objects in drawing exports all objects. Selected objects exports only the currently selected objects. Visible objects exports only the currently visible objects. |
Update GDTF files |
Updates existing GDTF files with the latest information from the GDTF share website, and/or downloads the appropriate GDTF file and assigns it to lighting devices that don't have one, prior to the export |
Sync GDTF files to |
Select how to update the files: Manufacturer uploaded data if available: Syncs only to GDTF data provided from manufacturers, ignoring user-uploaded files. The most recent data available (manufacturer or user uploaded): Syncs to the latest GDTF data, regardless of who provided it. |
Update only lighting devices without GDTF data |
When selected, processes only lighting devices that have no GDTF data currently assigned. GDTF files are downloaded and assigned to the lighting devices. When deselected, lighting devices (determined by the Settings selection) are checked, synced, and provided with GDTF data if necessary. |
Object Types |
Select which type(s) of objects to export to the .mvr file. The available objects depend on the contents of the drawing and the selected export options. A check mark to the left of each Object Type indicates that it will be exported; click in the Export column to remove a check mark. Count indicates how many objects of each type are present in the drawing. |
Fixture Types |
Lists the fixtures that will be exported to the .mvr file and displays an item count for each fixture type. The fixtures to export must have a specified fixture mode; see Selecting a fixture mode for details. |
Use legacy 3ds format |
Exports to MVR using the older 3ds file format, rather than glTF/glb. This can be useful if you have older workflows to support, but normally, this option is not recommended. |
Specify the export file name and destination.
Visualizer data mapping
When exporting a Vectorworks file to a lighting console or visualizer, the lighting device data is mapped to different fields, depending on the destination program. The mapping applies when exporting with the Export MVR command, and when exporting to Vision with the Send to Vision or Export ESC commands.
Vectorworks |
MVR |
Vision |
MA3 |
Instrument Type |
Name |
Not defined |
Name |
Channel |
FixtureID |
Name |
FID |
Unit Number |
Unit Number |
Unit Number |
Unit Number |
Universe/Address |
Address |
Universe/Channel |
Patch |
Other consoles or visualizer programs may map the MVR fields differently during import.