Group Window

Tip

Functions are marked with an 2️⃣ symbol if they can only be used with MA2. Functions are marked with a 3️⃣ symbol if they can only be used with MA3. Functions without a symbol can be used on both systems.

With just one click, you can create various types of groups using the prepare. The possible group types include:

• Groups based on any combination of ShortName, Position, and Function.
• Groups sorted by their 3D position.
• Groups based on the Modules of FixtureTypes.

You can also filter which fixtures are used when creating these groups. Check here to see the available filter options.

If desired, prepare can also set the appearance for each group according to the FixtureType or Position. Simply navigate to the Appearance button and assign colors as needed.

Note

Once the appearance is configured, it will be consistently applied to both groups and layouts.

Normal Groups

Normal Groups are determined by a combination of Position, ShortName, and Function. You can select which of these options to use by checking the corresponding checkboxes. The creation process is hierarchical, meaning the results will vary based on the selection in the sorting dropdown menu.

Here’s an example where all three checkboxes are selected. The items are sorted by FixtureType, with the ShortNames “Wash” and “Spot,” Positions “Rig” and “Floor,” and Functions “LX1-LX4,” as well as “Left” and “Right.”

All Wash
├── Wash Rig
│   ├── Wash Rig LX 1
│   ├── Wash Rig LX 2
│   ├── Wash Rig LX 3
│   └── Wash Rig LX 4
├── Wash Floor
    ├── Wash Floor Left
    └── Wash Floor Right

All Spot
├── Spot Rig
│   ├── Spot Rig LX 1
│   ├── Spot Rig LX 2
│   ├── Spot Rig LX 3
│   └── Spot Rig LX 4
├── Spot Floor
    ├── Spot Floor Left
    └── Spot Floor Right

The prepare will automatically organize the groups in the view, so you won’t need to manually rearrange them after creation. Therefore, it is crucial to adjust the View-Width to the Group-View in your Showfile.

Note

3️⃣ On GrandMA3, all groups will have a grid based on their attached 3D positions. You can select the 3D orientation—Top, Front, or Side—and define the grid cell size in meters. For instance, if you set the grid cell size to 1, each cell will measure 1 meter. If you set it to 0.01, each cell will be 1 centimeter, provided the checkbox is selected (☑️). If the checkbox is not selected, the grid will automatically adjust to the minimum distance between the selected fixtures.

Option	Description
View-Width	Specifies the width of the Group View in your showfile.
Group-Orientation	Determines whether the groups are sorted horizontally or vertically.
Sorting	Allows you to choose whether the Fixture Type or the Function is prioritized at the top of the hierarchy.
Fixture Type	Adds the Fixture Type name during creation.
Position	Includes the Position during creation.
Function	Adds the Function during creation.
3️⃣ 3D-Orientation	Defines the orientation of the MA3 Grid.
3️⃣ Grid-Cell-Size	Sets the size of each grid cell in the MA3 Grid.
Appearance	Enables you to set colors for different Fixture Types or Positions.
Filter	Filters your data to a subset of the imported data.

XYZ Groups

When you need groups sorted by their 3D position, xyz-Groups provide the perfect solution.

2️⃣ On the MA2 platform, xyz-Groups create 12 distinct groups, each representing a unique combination of 3D orientation and reading direction. These groups are:

• “Top X+”
• “Top X-”
• “Top Y+”
• “Top Y-”
• “Front X+”
• “Front X-”
• “Front Z+”
• “Front Z-”
• “Side Y+”
• “Side Y-”
• “Side Z+”
• “Side Z-”

For instance, the “Top X+” group views fixtures from above, sorting them first along the x-axis in the positive direction, then along the y-axis, and finally along the z-axis.

3️⃣ On the MA3 platform, the system creates 3 groups sorted by FixtureID, organized in a grid based on 3D orientation. These groups are:

• “Top”
• “Front”
• “Side”

You can generate these groups by using the Create XYZ Groups button, applying the desired filter.

Option	Description
Filter	Filters your data to a subset of the imported data.

Sub-Id Groups

If your showfile includes fixtures with multiple modules, it’s beneficial to create groups representing these distinct modules. For instance, consider the GLP X4 Bar, which has two modules: the Main Module and the Pixels. Using prepare, you can effortlessly create these groups by clicking the Create Sub-ID Groups button. The software will then prompt you to choose whether you want to create a group for each module and function, or just for each module.

Option	Description
Appearance	Enables you to set colors for different Fixture Types or Positions.
Filter	Filters your data to a subset of the imported data.