Nodes and Chases

[Boof63]

HI i have imported some HLS sequences and all effects are at the node level.
Is there a way to drag a morph effect to the right (or left) using alt or some other key.
Having tried Alt, ctrl, shift etc nothing picks up the node effects and lets me move them,
as you can do for a XL4 effects.
Or do i have to move everything manually, ( believe I saw a video showing how to do this, but maybe that technique has changed with the newer version?)
(trying to put a chase onto a single arch with a selection of colours)
cheers Boof63

[Gilrock]

You don't need any special keys if it's one effect.  Just grab it with the mouse and move it.  Only use shift if you selected multiple effects and need to move as a group.  Grab effect edges to drag an effect to a larger duration.

[Boof63]

Hi Gil, What i was asking is making the chase within the nodes,  i cant seem to get the same effect as in HLS, if their is,  i would be appreciative if someone could tell me how,
but the alignment as in the pixs  below is what i am after.
Cheers Boof63

[Phrog30]

After you highlight the effects, hold down Alt and then drag the edge of the bottom effect and drag. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M9X2xKWSr0 (Look around 3:40)

James

[Gilrock]

While you can do that in xLights its not a smart way to sequence.  You can create that same data with one effect.  You really should quit working at the node level.  Try dropping a Morph effect and then expand and look at the data it creates.  Just make it a Full Sweep Right.

[Boof63]

HI Gil I do appreciate your continued help and apologise for my idiocy,
 but i can't get the Morph to match up with the pix i"ve posted.
If i get close , i cant control the speed of the effect other than to lengthen or shorten it, accelerate has an affect, but if shorten the chase to form 10 secs to 4 secs long, the whole effect speeds up. Yes i rapt with thet way i dont have to use nodes, however for some effects it would appear helpful, so how hard to implement the alt or shift selection movement of effects that you now have  at the effect level, can it be done at node level at all please?
cheers and thanks for help
Boof63
PS i am just wanting the best of all possiblities

[Phrog30]

The "alt" function already works at the node level. Have you tried it?

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[Gilrock]

Alt and Shift are already implemented for moving a group of effects so I guess I don't get the problem.  Phrog30's been telling you that and posted a video.  Effect movement works at any level it doesn't matter if it's on a model, strand, sub-model, or node.  The only thing tricky about Alt movement is I don't allow it to move unless you drag it over far enough.  If you have 10 rows of effects then the minimum movement is 10 times the sequence timing.  So 10 effects will only move in 500ms increments for a 50ms sequence.

If you shorten a chase from 10 seconds to 4 seconds there is no way to have it make it across the model unless you speed it up.  That's what the Morph is designed to do....go across the model one time and take however long you make the effect duration.  You can control the width of the "chase" section you'd see on the nodes by modifying the "head duration".   Its that precise control that allows you to make a morph look like it's bouncing or hitting the ground directly on the beats.

[Phrog30]

Something I have found to be helpful (actually Gil gave me the idea), is if all else fails and you just can't make any effect do what you want, then try using a picture effect.  So, create a picture which would have specific nodes on and certain colors.  Then you can use vector movement to "chase" the picture over the model.  I suggest, as did Gil, to try your best to only put effects at the model level.  It's easier to keep up with and maintain.

James

[Boof63]

I understand your help, but I cant seem to attach/grab a column of nodes to drag and form the chase, even if just using the :ON" button to give me colour down the effect (and nodes). The cursor dosen't change to allow grabbing of the highlighted nodes.
 This is where i am not making progress, otherwise cant fault your help or the programme.
So again apologies for my idiocy and  causing you guys frustrations.
Cheers Boof63

[Gilrock]

Because those are not effects....you're screenshot is showing just data.  You can't move data.  If you don't see the effect edge lines and the horizontal line then it's not an effect.  It's either showing data from a higher level effect or from a data layer.  See how much pictures help.   People talk all day and then show a picture and it solves the issue in 3 seconds.

[Boof63]

Thanks Gil, next question is then , if HLS can move these data blocks around , can we have the same ability in XL4 and before you rant under your breath about luddites, i get XL4 works at the model level, BUT it appears it can't do what i would like to be able to do.    Sooooo.... is it possible to move that highlighted data block in the future, in the same way as you can move effects around at the model level?
Cheers and thankyou for all your help
Boof63

[Phrog30]

Another way to go about this is tell us exactly why it's so important to do what you want. First, you can promote data to effects then move all you want. However, there is more than likely a way to do what you want at the model level, you just aren't giving it a chance because you seem to be used to hls. So, show us a video of the effect you are after, and we can go from there.

James

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[Gilrock]

No you are never going to be able to move that data around.  You can work at the node level just fine but you need to drop real effects there.  When you import data into a data layer it is fixed and not editable.  You can promote the data to node effects if you want.  There is nothing you are doing in HLS that you can't do in xLights you just need to learn the right way to do it.  Another thing to realize is that when you drop an effect at the model or strand level its going to show you the data from that effect if you look at the node level.  That's why it wouldn't make sense to allow that data to be moved.  There is no mechanism to select or move data and we aren't going to be adding one.

[Boof63]

OK thanks Gil; and Phrog30 ,  I do appreciate your time and effort to reply and thankyou.
Will keep learning XL and  asking questions when i get stuck (apologies inadvance )
Cheers Boof63