Combining LOR and xlight sequence

[danj]

One more question <<please>>.  I have now successfully converted all my 2013 LOR files into XL/NC xseq files.  I have watched all of them in PREVIEW and everything is there that should be there.  But, I had already built all my megatree effects for 2014 so I have a bunch of xml files ready to go.

For my first new "target" file containing the LOR stuff, here's what I did:
1) I opened up the file in which I had already developed my RGB megatree effects.
2) I highlighted & copied all the cells in the NC grid and pasted them into an excel spreadsheet.  I saved that excel spreadsheet as a brute force way of keeping the xml file info in another place in case I lose the xml file.
3) I closed that first NC file and opened up my new "target" NC file that contains the converted LOR stuff in it.
4) I added the same number of rows in the NC grid as the rows in the excel spreadsheet, copied the cells from excel, then pasted them into the NC grid.
5) When I checked this in preview, everything works as intended.
6) I saved the NC file.

So, here's my question--is there a better way to do this??  Thanks in advance.

[rando1957]

Yes Dan there is.  The xseq file name you used for the LOR sequence you converted to should be the same xseq file name as the one you built your RGB models.  Must match exactly. That way if you want to make a change to LOR sequence, you update your LMS file, and then convert again to the xseq file. XL combines it.  A lot easier than your solution.   So my lms, xseq, xml - all have the same file name format.

[danj]

Oh shoot you know what, Sean answered that exact answer last week to one of these LOR to XL/NC posts....   Thanks Rando.  I'll try it.

Edit.  Since I didn't start out naming the files in one convention, I am going to stick with my long way this time around because I am not sure how to do this without goofing up my files.  If I borrow someone's LOR sequences in the future I will be much more careful with my file naming conventions so I can save the LOR and XL/NC effects and have XL/NC work for me...

[sean]

you can rename the xlights xseq,xml with no issue.

Example
YourBigLORFile.lms

in xLights You made
ADifferentName.xseq
ADifferentName.xml

rename
ADifferentName.xseq  => YourBigLORFile.xseq
ADifferentName.xml    => YourBigLORFile.xml

Now you can do a Convert each time of YourBigLORFile.lms into xseq

What happens is it overlays just your LOR AC channels in the xseq and it does not touch your xml file

After you converty, open YourBigLORFile.xseq and press save

Also; Please remember to do a "File,Backup" before you do any editing so you have copies of all your xml files.

sean

[danj]

Ok.   Ya'll talked me into it; I will try it.  I WILL backup before I change file names....  Thanks.

Yet one more question please....   I experimented with this a few days ago & it seemed to work but I figured I would ask anyways...   I converted 16 LOR AC channels and 6-60 RGB arches into xseq/xml files.   I checked them in preview & everything did as it should have.  I then made a copy of the xseq file so I wouldn't goof up my recently converted xseq file.  I opened up that file copy then opened up two of the arch models in NC and setup some "dummy" effects (some color washer) that would be obviously different than the rest of the arches' effects--this seemed to work as I anticipated it would.   Is this the "right" way to change effects converted into NC from LOR if I want to do that?  I am guessing it is kind of an "all or nothing" proposition--do the whole sequence?   thx.

[sean]

U put an effect none, none to tell xlights to leave your original effects alone u can mix nc effects with your original

[danj]

Like this?  For example, if I wanted to add an effect only between 6.25 seconds & 15.5 seconds and leave everything else as-is for Arch01??  Pardon my poor grid analogy below.....

Or would I have to do a black colorwash first then go to none, none for the remainder??
thanks.

Time            Arch01
0.000         none, none
6.250         chase, red (whatever...)
15.50         none, none

[rando1957]

yes Dan, that is how I do it per your example.  I even have several models for the same prop (3 tier star) and I will have 1 vertical matrix model and 3 individual strand models all for the same star. Then use None,None when I want to ignore that model for that timing mark.

[rando1957]

Dan - Sean posted this on another post and adds more to what I was saying (and says it better).

"None,none is confusing. It means what effect should be generated for this cell, none indicates to generate nothing (in other words leave alone whatever is there). If you really mean blank,blank then use a colorwash of one color equal to black. None,none allows u to generate effects on your rgb arches, eaves, megatree using your old sequencer and tells xlights NOT to step on top of it"

[danj]

Thanks Rando.   Sean's input is what I figured, based on his previous inputs here...  Now I've got it--none, none "returns" you to the "original" sequence material.  Interesting concept....

[jnealand]

I would caution you to understand that none none returns you to the last saved data for those channels.  If you had been playing around and put some test data in that grid spot and saved the sequence than went back change some other stuff and tried the none, none it does not take you back to your original import.  That is probably clear as mud.  The caution is on your use of the word "original".   Original as I understand it would the last saved and not the old old original that you imported from LOR.

[sean]

Danj, your example is correct. None,none means nutcracker will do nothing and whatever is in those time slots will show through

[JonB256]

None,none means nutcracker will do nothing and whatever is in those time slots will show through

Even if what is in those time slots is junk from earlier testing. Been there, going "Where did that junk come from?"

[jnealand]

None,none means nutcracker will do nothing and whatever is in those time slots will show through

Even if what is in those time slots is junk from earlier testing. Been there, going "Where did that junk come from?"

+1 on that which is why I put the caution note a couple of posts back. I changed some channels around and ran into the same problem with having "junk" showing up in the preview when I knew I never did anything with those elements in my little test files.  I usually test new props using channel 1 and after I am satisfied that the electronics are working I go back and change the channel assignments to be where they will be in the show/  Unfortunately all my DMX elements are in the first 512 channels.

[danj]

Thanks so much for all the clarifications on "none none".  I really appreciate ya'll looking out for me!!!