This explains the behavior of Sympholight (SL) and SYMPL bridge Node (Node) since they exist.
This will be a long one and might cause some thinking, so better grab a coffee and some calm minutes ; )
Important facts:
- The Node identifies Universes by their INDEX. SL handles sorting of the Universes by NAME.
- The SYMPL bridge Node firmware precedes the INDEX with a ‘U’. It has nothing in common with the ‘U’ in SL UI list. (It was introduced, because if universes are created the standard way, then it will match.)
- SL, Universe list:
- On Show load, it is sorted by index.
- Upon any change (name change, add, remove), the list is sorted alphabetically.
Suggestions:
- File > New and (re)load the SL showfile.
-> now the Universe list in SL UI is sorted by Index. Simply count from
top (1) to bottom, increasing by 1 for each universe – regardless of its name.
-> This shall be the number which is
displayed in SYMPL bridge Node WebUI (the firmware simply precedes the index
with a ‘U’)
- Take note of the UI list in this by-index sorted state (screenshot)
-> that shall help to get the mapping of universe name to universe index
- You can also rename the Universes in SL now, to match the index.
- Attention: once any universe is renamed, the list will now be sorted alphabetically! Thus, you need to refer to the screenshot, to finish renaming.
Long-term solution idea (to be defined in detail with PM and R&D):
- Show Universe index in SL in the Universe properties
- Update Node FW, to change preceding character of universe from “U” to “Index”. To make it read “Index 1” instead of “U1”
- Update manuals, etc.
Example with a showfile just loaded.
In total we have 58 universes.
U28, U50, U51 and U52 are not existing in SL.
Means, this is the mapping:
|
Name in SL |
Universe Index |
offset |
|
U1 |
1 |
0 |
|
U2 |
2 |
0 |
|
… |
… |
0 |
|
U27 |
27 |
0 |
|
U29 |
28 |
-1 |
|
… |
… |
-1 |
|
U48 |
47 |
-1 |
|
U49 |
48 |
-1 |
|
U53 |
49 |
-4 |
|
… |
… |
-4 |
|
U62 |
58 |
-4 |
To make a brain teaser example:
- rename U62 to U28
-> SL will now sort the UI list alphabetically, so will sort this U28 to
position 28. Still U28 has index 58!
- save, File > New, reload the showfile
-> SL now sorts UI list by index, which shows U28 at index 58 (which is last position, as it was before when its name was U62)
ATTENTION:
If you add and/or delete universes, things may seem to get even more weird.
Same can happen when you switch between DMX/e:pix or change the universe size, because this can cause universes to be deleted or added.
Another example:
- You have a fesh showfile with U1, U2, …, U8
|
Name in SL |
Universe Index |
offset |
|
U1 |
1 |
0 |
|
U2 |
2 |
0 |
|
U3 |
3 |
0 |
|
U4 |
4 |
0 |
|
U5 |
5 |
0 |
|
U6 |
6 |
0 |
|
U7 |
7 |
0 |
|
U8 |
8 |
0 |
- Now delete U5.
-> The index of U6, U7, U8 now shifts by -1
|
Name in SL |
Universe Index |
offset |
|
U1 |
1 |
0 |
|
U2 |
2 |
0 |
|
U3 |
3 |
0 |
|
U4 |
4 |
0 |
|
U6 |
5 |
-1 |
|
U7 |
6 |
-1 |
|
U8 |
7 |
-1 |
- Now add a new universe (by drawing a new fixture matrix).
-> SL will create U5 (again), but index is at the end:
|
Name in SL |
Universe Index |
offset |
|
U1 |
1 |
0 |
|
U2 |
2 |
0 |
|
U3 |
3 |
0 |
|
U4 |
4 |
0 |
|
U6 |
5 |
-1 |
|
U7 |
6 |
-1 |
|
U8 |
7 |
-1 |
|
U5 |
8 |
+3 |
Please note that universes can be named arbitrary. Names like “floor”, “outdoor”, “roof” provide no hint about the index at all.