I have a problem: Wiring an uneven matrix

[mvorwerk]

I am trying to wrap my head around the physical wiring of my matrix.  The matrix is uneven in that the strings are not all the same length and therefore contain different numbers of pixels.  I want to physically connect the second string to the first string (and so on) using the least amount of wire possible.  So, if the first string starts at the bottom and is 20 pixels long,  I want to then connect wire between 20 and 42.  Can XLights be configured to understand that the correct "firing" order is   1 to 20,  21 to 42,  43 to 67  and so on?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.


              67
      42     .
20   .       .
.      .       .
.      .       .
.      .       .
.      .       .
1    21    43

[dkulp]

Sounds like upside down icicles....   The icicles model can definitely do this, but I'm not sure if it can be rotated enough to make the icicles go "up".

[Ebuechner]

If it was me I would reverse the second string to run it in a zigzag pattern. So 21 and 42 would be reversed in your example.
Then you should be able to easily lay it out in a custom model.
An example would be when I first made my icicles, the icicle model wasn't available so I just laid it out as a custom model with strand lengths of 7, 10, 14, pixels.

[mvorwerk]

Thank you to the 2 members who replied to this post.    I have tried both suggestions but I ran into issues with the syncing of the lights.   While I was able to properly "reverse" the strings as suggested, the lights weren't properly synced when testing a bar pattern (top to bottom).  Each of the columns were off by one or more pixels. 
This leads me to another question:   It seems as though matrix designs are mostly based on square or rectangular patterns.  In other words, there are always the same number of pixels in each vertical string. 

Is there a way for me to create a "rectangular" matrix that uses some virtual pixels in order to keep the pixel addresses correctly numbered?  I think that would allow my non-standard matrix to sync correctly. 

I've attached a jpeg to this post to further explain.  The cells that are in grey are the "virtual" pixels I need to create to allow me to square off the matix and get things sync'd   (I think !!!)

Thank you to those who have responded to this post.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Ebuechner]

I don't understand why this is so difficult.
Make your Matrix however you need to.
My suggestion was simply to keep your data string as short as possible
Then you go into your layout and make a new custom model with the node layout numbering matching exactly how you have your real-life model wired.

The whole point behind the custom model is so that you can match anything you can think of building.
I think this is a classic case of overthinking things.

[Ebuechner]

In your custom model your numbering has to be continuous then you go into your setup tab and limit the number of channels on each universe to match exactly how you have it laid out then the next Universe should start in the proper place on the model.

[keithsw1111]

In your custom model your numbering has to be continuous then you go into your setup tab and limit the number of channels on each universe to match exactly how you have it laid out then the next Universe should start in the proper place on the model.

Custom model numbering can have gaps if you want it to.

[Ebuechner]

True, but in this case I'm not going to suggest it unless he actually has null pixels.
If you're still confused by this someone might be able to do a one-on-one with you in a zoom session.

[Grave9]

Thank you to the 2 members who replied to this post.    I have tried both suggestions but I ran into issues with the syncing of the lights.   While I was able to properly "reverse" the strings as suggested, the lights weren't properly synced when testing a bar pattern (top to bottom).  Each of the columns were off by one or more pixels. 
This leads me to another question:   It seems as though matrix designs are mostly based on square or rectangular patterns.  In other words, there are always the same number of pixels in each vertical string. 

Is there a way for me to create a "rectangular" matrix that uses some virtual pixels in order to keep the pixel addresses correctly numbered?  I think that would allow my non-standard matrix to sync correctly. 

I've attached a jpeg to this post to further explain.  The cells that are in grey are the "virtual" pixels I need to create to allow me to square off the matix and get things sync'd   (I think !!!)

Thank you to those who have responded to this post.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

By no means am I a pro, but if you send me the excel I can tweak it to how I would set it up. Just spent the past few days mapping my matrix out and building it in a custom model. Once you realize you can build anything and everything in custom you start to see the power of Xlights........Drew