Megatree setup

[esset]

Hi, I have 6 rollers 2812b with 5 meters each.
I want to build 2,5 meter high mega tree with 12 ribs.

Each 5 meter have 150 pixel, I don't want to cut them in half so the middle of each string is at the highest point where the star should be. That means that I have 75 pixels x 12 strands to play with.
The problem is when I try to add a new model is that I can't see any way how to tell direction of the matrix/megatree.

Here is how I want it.
Strand1-Bottom 1 ... Top 225
Strand2-Bottom 450 ... Top 226
Strand3-Bottom 451 ... Top 675
Strand4-Bottom 676 ... Top 900
Like a zig zag pattern
And so on.
Thanks in advance.

[thevikester]

So when defining your model, you tell it that you have 6 strings, and the number of STRANDS per string is 2.  Also you have 150 pixels per string.

[kevinp]

Under the setup tab, click on the models button.  In the model list window, click once to highlight your tree model.  Next click on the node layout button to the right.  The window that pops up will give you a visual representation of how your strings and nodes are modeled in xLights.

[esset]

Fantastic, 6 Strings and 2 strands per string did the magic.
Thank you for really quick help.

[thevikester]

Fantastic, 6 Strings and 2 strands per string did the magic.
Thank you for really quick help.

You are welcome

[Trioxide]

Under the setup tab, click on the models button.  In the model list window, click once to highlight your tree model.  Next click on the node layout button to the right.  The window that pops up will give you a visual representation of how your strings and nodes are modeled in xLights.

So how do I go about changing that node layout?  I am putting a matrix in my megatree and the megatree is zigzagged but since the matrix is in the tree layout I can't get that zigzap as I am only doing part of the string.  I did do the Indiv Start Chans for each string.
My megatree is 12 strings by 120 pixels so configured in xLights as 6 strings by 240 nodes by 2 strands.  My matrix in my megatree I configured as 12x12x1.

[Gilrock]

You can always do a custom model.

[Trioxide]

Okay I created a custom model but it only gives me the option for the Start Channel.  How do I specify the channel for each individual pixel so I can map it to the same as on my megatree?

[Gilrock]

In a custom model you type in numbers in the cells.  Those numbers specify a pixel offset from the start channel.  Technically the start channel you enter might not even be a part of the model.  You could tell it the start channel is 450 and then start the cell numbers at 2 and the model would begin at 453.  The cell numbers can be in any order, you can skip numbers, you can repeat numbers, etc.

[Trioxide]

I don't understand how you get 453 when your start channel is 450 and your starting number is 2?  That would be 452 in my book?
Okay so I want it to start on channel 150 so I put 149 in the Start Channel field.  Then in the Model Data I need to put 1, 2, 3, etc for A1, A2, A3 to correspond to the correct channel on the megatree?  Or do I need to go by 3s as there are 3 channels per pixel so A1=1, A2=4, A3=7, etc?

[Gilrock]

I was assuming 3 channel RGB nodes so node 1 would take up channels (450, 451, and 452) making node 2 start at 453.  If it was single channel nodes then node 2 would actually be 451.

So no don't use 149 use 150 if you want it to start at 150.  You enter the "node" number in the cell not the channel offset.  So typically you enter 1, 2, 3, etc.  But you could enter 1, 2, 5, 10 and skip some channels.

A cell's channel for 3 channel RGB will be:  chan = start_channel + ((value-1) * 3)

[Trioxide]

  Okay something is not right.  Thought I did like you said but I when I do an image on the matrix it is on the top and bottom of the megatree instead of in the middle.  I have 12 strings of 120 pixels each.  Strings 1 & 2, 3 & 4, etc are tied together so I have a zip zag going on starting at the top left. 
  So in my custom matrix I did a 12w x 16h with the Start Channel = 150,  I want to start the matrix say 50 pixels down from the starting one.  Then in the Model Data I did, see Camera000018.jpg.  What I see in the Sequencer preview is, see Camera000019.jpg.  Please help.  What is wrong?  The image I have on the matrix as you can see is the bell.  But on the megatree it is mostly at the top but some at the bottom.

[Gilrock]

So what is the controller start location set to?  I would have thought it would be bottom left because I don't think your controller is up in the air.   But it sounded like you entered the numbers as if the controller started top left.  Also I think you are making it hard on yourself trying to start the custom model numbers at 1.  Just set the custom model to start at the first pixel of the megatree that way if you want the first pixel in the custom matrix to start at 50 you just type in 50.  Like I said earlier you don't need to use every number and you can skip numbers.  So use the same offset and then you can use the node layout of the megatree to see the node numbers.

[Trioxide]

Okay, changing the Start Channel to 1 and then doing the Model Data like you said worked.  I see now why it wasn't working before.  Thanks for your help.