Live Mode allows XLCue to actually control DMX devices such as dimmer racks using Enttec's Open DMX USB device.

Open a DMX Session

From any worksheet, press Ctrl+Shift+O to initialize a connected OpenDMX USB device.  Repeat this at any time to re-initiate a connection, such as after saving the document.  Any loaded cues, parked channels, or channels activated by the Magic Sheet automatically re-initialize at this time.

A dialog box will inform you that the interface has been correctly detected.  If not, try again.

Live Cues

There are two ways to load a cue:

1) Double-click on a Cue Number cell

2) Press Ctrl+Shift+L to load the cue row of the active cell

To fade to the next cue, press Ctrl+Shift+G.

Fades will recognize and implement timing including split up and down times with wait times.

Fades will recognize a link to a non-consecutive cue.  If no link is present, the fade will transition to the next row, not necessarily the next cue in numerical sequence.

Fades will recognize follow times and automatically follow appropriately as long as the follow time is larger than the initial fade time.  A shorter follow time will generate an error message and no following fade.

Magic Sheet

The Magic Sheet allows you to create a custom layout where you can activate a channel at 100% or a chosen level with a double-click.

A cell can contain:

1) A channel number:  "1"

Double-clicking will set the channel to 100% and the cell value to something like "1@100"

2) A channel and a target level: "2;50"

Double-clicking will set the channel to the level, and the cell value to something like "2;50@50"

3) A channel number and current level: "3@100"

Double-clicking will set the channel to 0% and the cell value back to something like "3"

4) A channel number, a target level, and a current level: "4;75@75"

Double-clicking will set the channel to 0% and the cell value back to something like "4;75"

Other cells can hold any values that are convenient to you.  Cells can have any comment and formatting you want, including borders and text and background colors.

Blackout

From any worksheet pressing Ctrl+Shift+B will unload the current cue and turn off any inputs on the Magic Sheet.

Park

Setting a channel at a level on the Park worksheet will instantly and persistently override any CueList or Magic Sheet inputs.  Parked channels will be blacked out while using the Channel/Dimmer Solo dialog, discussed below.

Patch

After modifying the patch worksheet, you will need to re-load a Live cue or re-activate a Magic Sheet cell for the new patch to take effect.

Channel/Dimmer Solo

This function is useful for performing a pre-show Channel check, or to aid in "ringing out" after hanging and cabling instruments, or to assist in patching when instrument->dimmer information has not been recorded.

Press Ctrl+Shift+C to open the Solo dialog in Channel mode, or Ctrl+Shift+D to open the Solo dialog in Dimmer mode.  You can switch between modes inside the dialog box also.  Any inputs from the CueList or MagicSheet will be temporarily blacked out.

Adjust the Level (0 to 100) and Number (1 to 250 for Channels, 1 to 512 for Dimmers), or use the Previous and Next buttons to cycle through channels or dimmers.

In dimmer mode, use the "Patch To Channel" button to patch the currently active dimmer to a channel of your choice.  The dimmer will be automatically unpatched from any other channels.

Click the "X" to close the dialog box.  CueList and Magic Sheet inputs will be restored to their previous state.

Precedence

Parked channels will override inputs from the CueList and Magic Sheet.

Inputs from the CueList will be active while the CueList worksheet is active, or any worksheet other than Magic Sheet.  When the Magic Sheet worksheet is active, Magic Sheet inputs will be active, and CueList inputs will not.

When the Channel/Dimmer Solo dialog box is active, CueList and Magic Sheet inputs are not.  CueList or Magic Sheet inputs will become active again after closing the Channel/Dimmer Solo dialog.