Using two computers

[RobertB]

I use one to sequence, one to run the show. What is the best way to share files?  What files do I need to share between the two?

[jediknight2]

A cloud account with sync capabilities

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[jnealand]

I have a 16gb thumb drive that I consider my master.  Whenever I change anything, I copy that file back to the thumbdrive which just happens to be a Santa.  And I use 4 computers depending on where I am at the time.  I do not like cloud drives except for long term backup or if I need something when I am not going to be home for an extended period.  I have seen too many shaky and slow internet connections to depend on that for access all the time.

[Phrog30]

I would go cloud. The files are relatively small in size. You have a ton of choices, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox being a few examples.

[jediknight2]

If you have access to a server...heck run one on your computer....then you can use owncloud

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[RobertB]

Ok guys,
I use Dropbox and thumb drives. ;-)
WHAT do copy between one computer and the other?  Just the file of the sequence itself? Or do I need any other files?

[plaberge]

I use Dropbox XL/NC to edit on multiple computers. Of course, Dropbox syncs everything but if you wanted to just copy the essentials on a thumb drive, you would need your sequence xmls, all the xlight_* xmls, plus your songs. In addition, you'll need any images and videos your sequences use.

One caveat with using Dropbox on multiple computers: XL/NC uses an absolute path to images,  videos, and maybe other stuff. If your user path is different on your machines, XL/NC won't find them. For example, my home machine has C:\Users\PL\Documents\My Dropbox\House\Christmas Lights\xlights v4 as its path, and laptop has C:\Users\plaberge\Documents\My Dropbox\House\Christmas Lights\xlights v4. I still edit files with images on my laptop but typically don't touch the parts of the sequence that refer to images. If I really need to changes these, I edit the xml files with Notepad++ to change the paths from one to the other.

[RobertB]

I use Dropbox XL/NC to edit on multiple computers. Of course, Dropbox syncs everything but if you wanted to just copy the essentials on a thumb drive, you would need your sequence xmls, all the xlight_* xmls, plus your songs. In addition, you'll need any images and videos your sequences use.

One caveat with using Dropbox on multiple computers: XL/NC uses an absolute path to images,  videos, and maybe other stuff. If your user path is different on your machines, XL/NC won't find them. For example, my home machine has C:\Users\PL\Documents\My Dropbox\House\Christmas Lights\xlights v4 as its path, and laptop has C:\Users\plaberge\Documents\My Dropbox\House\Christmas Lights\xlights v4. I still edit files with images on my laptop but typically don't touch the parts of the sequence that refer to images. If I really need to changes these, I edit the xml files with Notepad++ to change the paths from one to the other.

Right,
And this is pretty much what I have done in the past with LOR.  I  know too I have change my show directory to point to that dropbox folder if I am going to use it. Since I have not done that before, just need to know specific files. Want to be live with the show (still building and sequencing...so far behind) next week. So with what little I have done, specific files is what I need.

For instance with LOR all I needed was the .lms file, the audio or video file I ran with the show. That is it. Do I just need the .fseq and the audio/video file....or is there something else?  Know I am making this harder than it should be. Just a newbie and don't have time for mistakes at this point :-)

[kevinp]

Ok guys,
I use Dropbox and thumb drives. ;-)
WHAT do copy between one computer and the other?  Just the file of the sequence itself? Or do I need any other files?

You'll want to copy the rgbeffects.xml, network.xml, keybindings.xml, your sequence xml files and any media you will need.  You don't need the fseq files as you can recreate those files by rendering the sequences again.  Why not just copy your entire show folder over, as that should have everything in it already.

[RobertB]

[/quote]
  Why not just copy your entire show folder over, as that should have everything in it already.
[/quote]

Because I have a TON of other stuff in that folder I do not need.

[jnealand]

  Why not just copy your entire show folder over, as that should have everything in it already.
[/quote]

Because I have a TON of other stuff in that folder I do not need.
[/quote]

If you are using a good sync program it will only copy all that other stuff once and then it only copies things that are changed.  I use SyncBack from 2BrightSparks.com  There is a free version, but I use the SyncBackSe version ($35 for 4 computers) because it will copy to a named drive and I do not have to worry about what the drive letter is when I plug the USB flash drive in.

[RobertB]

Probably will change my Christmas stuff over to Dropbox. My Halloween stuff I will thumb it over. Just didn't know how many files to move.

[jnealand]

All xml files, all audio files and all fseq files.

"Because I have a TON of other stuff in that folder I do not need."

Bob, looks like you are your own worst enemy.  LOL

[gerry]

Jim's reply addresses the question of what do you need to move from the sequence computer to the show computer., which I think was the original question.

If instead , you wanted to have a backup and/or are sequencing on different computers, then you need the images used as well as any iseq files (if you have imported as a data layer).

[RobertB]

Jim's reply addresses the question of what do you need to move from the sequence computer to the show computer., which I think was the original question.

If instead , you wanted to have a backup and/or are sequencing on different computers, then you need the images used as well as any iseq files (if you have imported as a data layer).

Honestly Gerry I probably would like to just have a complete backup on the other computer as well.
So probably should change that original question to just what do I need to transfer over to have an entire backup. *I DO* have backups from doing F10. However that is kind of for a restore on the original computer...right?  Or would those, could those act like a .zip on the other computer?

Otherwise the list grows;
All audio files associated with the sequences
All .xml files in the Nutcracker directory
All iseq files with data layers (which I am having a time of right now...for another thread ;-)
The backup folder itself (will that work in just a copy and paste on the show computer?)
What else?
Sorry. The teacher in me asks lots of questions.  The impatience student in me knows I better hurry and get something flashing and blinking in that front yard before the rain gets to GA for 4 solid days!  Now let's go put up the pixel tree, controllers for pixel trees and pixel ghosts, water proof everything, and test!!!