Lighting patch and fixtures

The patch is the list of fixtures in your show: which type each one is, its mode, and the universe and address it listens on. You add fixtures from the Library, bring a whole rig in from an MVR file, or build a fixture type yourself in the Fixture editor. The Patch layout of the Lighting window holds everything on this page.

The Library

The Library panel lists every fixture type you can patch. Type in Search the Library (maker, name, mode or channels) and narrow the list with the filters: Source, Category, Maker, With 3D model and With thumbnail, sorted by Fewest channels or Most channels.

Each type comes from a source. When the same fixture is in more than one, the higher source comes first:

Library folders

Library folders… sets "The folders the Library lists fixture files from". Choose Add Folder…, then the folder's Source. "Every fixture file in these folders and their subfolders is listed in the Library, a higher source first." Stop listing this folder takes one off the list; its files stay where they are.

The online library

When your plan includes it, the Library also searches Cliqer's online fixture library as you type. Those rows read Downloads when added: the fixture file downloads the moment you patch it. You need to be signed in. The online library is on the Pro, Max, Ultra, Enterprise and Event Pass plans and the Free trial.

Add fixtures

Drag a type from the Library onto the Fixtures list or a universe, or right-click it and choose Add to Patch. To add several at once, pick the type and set them up in the Add fixtures panel:

Choose Add ("Add the fixtures set in Add"). Adding is one undo step.

The Fixtures list

The Fixtures list shows every fixture of the show, one row each:

A marked row has a problem, such as two fixtures on the same channels: "Fixtures {a} and {b} share channel {channel} of universe {universe}." Every edit is one undo step.

Right-click a fixture for Options, Select fixtures, Add, Remove, Select its group, Highlight, Park, Unpark, Store aim as offset, Duplicate, Exchange Fixture and Delete.

Fixture options

Options sets "Limits, speed limit, offsets, dimmer range and master of the selected fixtures":

Exchange a fixture

Exchange Fixture puts the selected fixtures on another type: "Put the selected fixtures on another type. Numbers, names, addresses and stage places stay". Values are kept per attribute, so exchanging back brings them back. Values the new mode has no channel for are named in a notice.

Duplicate and remove

Duplicate adds a copy of each selected fixture, named "{name} copy", on the next free number and address. Delete removes the selected fixtures; a type no fixture uses any more leaves the show.

Import fixture files

Import File… reads "a GDTF, grandMA2 XML or zip file to patch it". The file's type then waits in Add fixtures: pick its mode and choose Add.

MVR

MVR is the scene file Capture, grandMA and Vectorworks share.

• Import MVR… imports "an MVR scene: fixtures with their addresses, trusses, objects and groups". Fixtures are patched at their addresses and placed on the stage, with trusses, objects and their models. Video fixtures come in as projectors on the Stage. The import is one undo step.
• Export MVR… (in the More MVR menu) writes "this rig as an MVR scene for Capture, grandMA and Vectorworks": the fixtures with their patch, trusses, objects, video screens, projectors, each type's GDTF and the model files.

MVR-xchange

MVR-xchange… (in the More MVR menu) shares rigs over the network: "Share rigs with Capture, grandMA and Vectorworks on this network. Nothing is sent until you join."

1. Type a Group name and choose Join.
2. Send Rig offers this rig "to the stations in the group".
3. Get fetches a rig another station offers. Cliqer asks Add this rig to the Stage?: "Its fixtures, trusses and objects join what the Stage holds. Undo takes them back."
4. Leave ends it.

Bring in a show from another app

File > Import Show… also reads lighting shows:

• A Lightkey show (.lightkeyproj) becomes the patch, the sequences and playbacks, the presets in their folders, and a folder for each Live page of its cues, in one undo step. Its MIDI triggers come in as External Control bindings.
• A Capture show (.c2p) brings in its projectors, each in its place with its raster and a zoom fitted to its screen. See Lights on the Stage.

Import From Show

Import From Show… in the Library panel takes "sequences, presets, effects and groups from another show" made in Cliqer. Choose Choose Show… and pick what to bring. Each part says Comes along, Already here or No fixture here matches, and Fixtures not here lists the fixtures of that show this one does not have. "Playbacks, Live cards and timeline clips stay in that show."

A fixture from a manual

No file for a fixture? Cliqer can build one from its PDF manual. The row is under the Library's import keys and shows what it costs, for example "About 12 credits":

1. Choose Build from Manual... and pick the PDF. Cliqer shows "Reading the manual...". The AI reads the manual and the run is paid from your credits.
2. The draft opens to Check before saving: its Name, Maker and Mode, and each Channel with its Attribute, Fine channel, Default, Wheels and Ranges. Each row names the Page of the manual it came from. A row marked Not found in the manual reads: "This row's words were not found on that page, or the row was changed. Check it against the manual."
3. Choose Save to Library, or Discard.

A saved type is listed under AI built and reads "Built by AI from a manual".

Use Your Own AI... does the same without Cliqer's AI: "Copy the prompt and run it with the manual in any AI, then paste its answer here. Nothing is sent to Cliqer and no credits are used." Choose Copy Prompt, run it in your AI with the manual, paste the answer into AI answer and choose Review Answer. The same check opens.

The Fixture editor

Choose Edit fixture type (on a fixture in the patch or a type in the Library), or New fixture type in the Library, to open the Fixture editor window. It has three panels, Modes, Channels and Wheels. You edit the type's Name, Short name, Long name and Maker, each mode and its channels in order, each channel's Attribute, Default and Highlight values and its Functions (each with Physical from, Physical to and its Named values), and the wheels and their Slots, with a Gobo image for a gobo (Choose file). Move up and Move down reorder a channel; hold Option to keep the addresses.

The editor has its own Undo and Redo. To finish:

Find Fixtures

With Find Fixtures, "A camera watches each fixture flash and places them on a group's 2D layout", so a group's layout matches where the fixtures really hang.

1. Choose the Camera (a camera input of your show) and the Fixtures: All patched, or a group.
2. Choose Start. "The rig goes dark and each fixture flashes in turn at full white, over the show. Lasers stay dark."
3. Each fixture the camera saw lands on the picture. A fixture it did not see is listed under "Not seen, click one to place it:"; click it, then drag it to its place.
4. Choose Apply to make the places the group's layout, or Cancel to keep nothing.

Notices

Windows and macOS

The Library, Add fixtures, the Fixtures list, MVR, MVR-xchange, a fixture from a manual, the Fixture editor and Find Fixtures are on both, with the same words.

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