Network - Controller association

It is here that you connect your project programming in Designer with real, networked Pharos Controllers:

Project vs real Controllers

The list of Controllers is split into two sections: At the top is the list of project Controllers which may or may not be associated with real Controllers. Underneath is a list of all the unused real Controllers found on the network that have not been associated with project Controllers.

When you create a new Designer project a single LPC with 2 output universes is added to get you started. These project Controllers are purely virtual and so must be associated with a real Controller on the network before you can Output Live or Upload.

IMPORTANT: You can only associate a Controller running the same firmwareThe embedded operating system, stored in internal flash memory or on the Compact Flash card. as Designer - Controllers running incompatible firmware will be displayed in red. To update a connected Controller's firmware see Controller firmware.

Managing project TPCs and LPCs

If you will use a different type of Controller for your project, such as a TPC for a touch screen interface or an LPC X for a high DMX channel count, or more than one Controller if the installation is large or distributed, then you will want to modify the list of project Controllers.

To add and set the type of a project TPC or LPC:

1. Press the Add Controller button on the Controller toolbar
2. Use the Controller Properties pane to give the Controller a useful name, perhaps describing where in the installation it is or what it controls
3. Use the type pull-down to select whether it is a TPC, LPC or LPC X.
4. Select the number of universes that the Controller supports (unless using the original LPC 1/2 hardware)

The Controller has now been added to the project.

If the project has a TPC with an EXT then the EXT will be configured automatically by the TPC. You can add an EXT to a TPC in project by checking the 'Configure EXT' check box in the TPC's Controller Interfaces tab.

To delete a project TPC or LPC:

1. Select the project TPC or LPC by clicking the left hand button, the row will highlight
2. Press Delete Controller on the Controller toolbar

IMPORTANT: Deleting a project TPC or LPC that has been patched will result in the loss of this patch data.

Managing project AVCs

If your project requires audio visual control, for example a plasma screen or projector, then you will want to add one or more AVCs. However, unlike LPCs, project AVCs are added or deleted only when you add or delete a generic AV fixture in Setup.

Associating project Controllers with real Controllers

Once you have added and configured your project Controllers (all that is required for programming and simulating) you must associate them with real Controllers on the network.

To associate a Controller:

1. Select the project Controller by clicking the left hand button, the row will highlight
2. In Controller Properties use the Device Serial pull-down to chose a real Controller of the same type to associate (the serial number can be found on the base of the AVC, LPC 1, 2 & 4, TPC and rear of the LPC X)
3. The real Controller will move from the Unused Controllers list and fuse with the project Controller so completing the row details

To identify a Controller (beacon):

1. Select an associated project Controller or unused Controller
2. Press the Beacon button on the Controller toolbar, all the Controller's status LEDs will flash. The screen backlight of the TPC will pulse.
3. Press Beacon again to return the Controller to normal operation

Once all your project Controllers have been associated with real Controllers you can configure them, test your programming on the installation itself and finally upload to the Controllers for stand-alone operation.

Time Server

One Controller in your project must be allocated as the Time Server, the first project Controller added is chosen by default. The Time Server is responsible for network playback synchronisation and for issuing realtime and astronomical clock triggers. To set the correct date and time set, see Controller Configuration.

To change the Time Server:

1. Select the project Controller which is to become the Time Server
2. Press the Set as Time Server button in the Controller properties pane

Web interface tools

To view a Controller's web interface:

1. Select the Controller
2. Press the Web Interface button on the Controller toolbar
3. Your PC's default browser will open the Controller's home page (or custom page if one has been created)

To create files for uploading via the web interface:

1. Use File > Save Snapshots
2. Use the file dialogue to chose a location to store the generated files
3. A file for each project Controller is created: "projectname.controllerserial.wrn" (LPCs) and "projectname.controllerserial.avc" (AVCs).

IMPORTANT: Controllers must be running the same version of firmwareThe embedded operating system, stored in internal flash memory or on the Compact Flash card. as the Designer software. Uploading a project file to a Controller running different firmware may result in the project failing to load and run. Check the Controller's home page to determine compatibility before attempting a remote upload.

File transfer

This feature allows you to use the Controller's memory card as a remote memory device for file storage and retrieval, typically the exported Designer project file to ensure that this remains on site with the installation for future maintenance. Note that files to be transferred in this way must adhere to the MS DOS 8.3 naming convention.

File transfer should not be confused with Upload.

To transfer files to and from a Controller's memory card:

1. Select the Controller
2. Press the File Transfer button on the Controller toolbar
3. A file browser will open to allow you to move files to and from the Controller's card, the password will be required to gain access if one has been set
4. Close the file browser to finish

Mac OS X users:

Pressing the File Transfer button in the Network pane will launch an FTP client on Mac OS X. By default, this client is Finder, and Finder doesn't allow write access to FTP servers. In order to send files to a Controller from Mac OS X, you will need to install another FTP client. We recommend Cyberduck (http://cyberduck.ch/) which is free.

When you first run Cyberduck, you should be prompted to make it the default FTP client. You should choose to do this. If you are not prompted, or Cyberduck is not used as the FTP client when attempting to perform a file transfer to a Controller, go to the Preferences in Cyberduck and under the FTP tab, there is a 'Default Protocol Handler' option. Set this to Cyberduck.

Controller status

The fields in the controller spreadsheet provide status information:

Disabling Output Live

While all the other columns give status feedback, the Output Live cell is editable and allows you to stop a Controller from participating in Output Live. This is useful for soft openings where you may have multiple Controllers in various geographical zones, some of which are open to the public and so need to be protected from your programming and testing efforts in another zone. Uncheck this box to disable.

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