Virtual Strings

[rmaddox]

How do I set up virtual strings on the Falcon?  I'm trying to solve a problem that I thought I could solve with null pixels and I addressed on another post. I was told that virtual strings would work.  See a copy of the post below and a picture of the problem

I'm really just wanting one pixel (the last pixel in the string) to not be a part of the prop and not turn on, just pass the data.  I had to reconfigure my mega tree and I wound up with a total of nine pixels on my mega tree (spread thru out the base of the tree; the last pixel on every third string of 50) that are in between the strips and I don't want them to come on.  I can cut them out and re-solder the strings together, but just trying to avoid that.  I know this sounds confusing, so I'll take a picture in the morning and attach it and that should make it easier to understand what I'm trying to do.

[deplanche]

How many ports from the controller are you using for that?  Please post the xlights setup that you have for that model, and indicate where it's connected to the controller.  It's fairly easy to set up, but requires more detail of what you have to make sure we have it correct.

[rmaddox]

Good, I'm at work right now and probably won't be home until around 8:00 this evening.  I'll get you more details as soon as I can.  Thanks!

[keithsw1111]

As long as you leave 3 empty channels between the props it should work fine. If you are uploading to the controller xlights will create the virtual strings.

[ergolpe]

So, there are two approaches, each requiring virtual strings.
You go into Falcon strings area and hit the black plus to add virtual strings.
Set the number of channels for each "part" of the string.
You could either:

a) Set the first virtual string to be just the pixel count (3 channels each) but omit the last 3 address as previously mentioned above, that would take care of "end of string" pixel(s).

b) Set the virtual strings with a null count at the beginning of each virtual string segment where needed.  So my first virtual string has channels 1-75 for my first 25 pixels, and the second virtual string has a null count of two with channels 75-150, so two pixels would be null mid-string.   That takes care of mid-length pixel(s).


Null:
Used to define the number of nodes which will not light up at the start of the string.  These nodes will pass data to the next node but will not light up. This is useful when there is gap between display elements larger than your pixel spacing and you don’t want to cut/splice the string between the nodes to accommodate for this.  The pixel would stay dark and just repeat the data signal.

[rmaddox]

Do I set up a standard string and a virtual string for each pixel that I want to be null?  I wont have the mega tree completed until Friday afternoon and I will post a screen shot of my set up Friday.