!!! Convert .d4z to ascii file !!!

[jbrun]

Hello,

I am trying to transfer the run of one of my designs to the tour manager and it turns out I cannot convert the file of the show, recorded on an Avolites Titan (format .d4z) in an ASCII file .

Could anyone help me? This is quite urgent and unfortunately I do not have access to an Avolites desk these days ...

thank you,
Julien

[icke_siegen]

What exactly do you want to print?

How about this: http://www.avolites.de/test/d4z/ ?

See here: http://www.avolitesshop.co.uk/phpBB3/vi ... php?t=1620

[jbrun]

Hi,

Firstly I would like to convert the file, so it is readable on other desks using ASCII files.
Secondly I would like to print all cues with timing and levels.

I had seen both your links but unfortunately it just shows the patch...
Cheers,
Julien

[icke_siegen]

Firstly I would like to convert the file, so it is readable on other desks using ASCII files.

How would you do that? I mean even if it's only plain dimmer cues, each desk will have its own syntax and additional information contained in a showfile.

Secondly I would like to print all cues with timing and levels.

Theoretically this would be possible - but essentially the very same holds true. There is so much information contained in the showfile, that a simple converter would be a huge instrument.

[jbrun]

How would you do that? I mean even if it's only plain dimmer cues, each desk will have its own syntax and additional information contained in a showfile.

For all the other desks converters exist. So you can drag your show to another desk without losing too many information. I need at least the levels and timings from the file to be able to share them with my tour manager who is going with the show without me.

I tried to make the .d4z a zip and to convert the .shw with the etc converter but there's no information on it at the end.
Any idea how I could do this? Even if it would be just printing, that would be already a big help!
Thanks.

[jbrun]

ASCII is a standard show file that can be converted after for each desk. So if I could convert to ASCII i would be really happy!

[icke_siegen]

PM sent.

However, ASCII is just plain text, with a certain character code. There is no definition about an 'ASCII showfile' or such. What desk do you want to transfer it to?

[jbrun]

I know ASCII is a simple standard. I don't know what content they put in it to be compatible buf from this you can convert/import for ETC, AVAB, STRAND, etc.

Do you know how I could translate the .shw file I get from unzipping the .d4z so I could see something like this:

Cue 10
Text Cue 10 (second)
Up 15
Down 20
FollowOn 15
Chan 5=0 22=0 23=45 24=40 25=40 31=0 33=0 35=34 52=0 Chan 53=0 54=40 55=40 61=0 63=0 65=98 73=0 75=0 97=0 Chan 98=0 99=0 101=0 112=20 122=0 123=0 124=0 125=0 132=0

[icke_siegen]

Sorry to be blunt: ASCII itself has nothing to do with lighting consoles or such, it simply refers to a certain 'translation' between bytes and displayed characters, often referred to as 'plain text': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII

Thus, without knowing the convention each manufacturer uses, it's impossible to convert something from A to B. And with that knowledge, it's a real amount of work to write a converter tool, test it, keep it updated as soon as one of the desks change their syntax...

[jbrun]

Yes, I know it is a simple "plain text" format.
But there must be a standard syntax for some lighting desks, because there are lots of them that can import/export ASCII files.
Unfortunately I don't know this syntax and how it is different form the Avolites' one.
To be continued...

[niclights]

USITT ASCII

Unfortunately I don't know of any converters for Avo files. Theoretically the xml file could be parsed but I'm not aware of anyone having done it.

Typically this is something that is much more common on consoles traditionally oriented to theatre applications (ie. Strand via Showport or ETC) where shows revolve around large cuestacks.

[jbrun]

I downloaded TITAN Simulator.
Can I print my show from there?

[niclights]

No, sorry.

Titan Simulator is the same software as the consoles with a virtual panel. Titan does not yet have any export functions. Printable patch is on the list of requirements for future versions although I don't know of anything regarding showfile conversion.