FAQ

My IntelliMouse® wheel doesn't work with Horizon! Why?

Can I run  Horizon under Windows 2000/XP?

Horizon won't  save changes made to show files. Why?

Will the Horizon 512 Interface work with my old printer cable?

Horizon 512  Interface uses the printer port (LPT1). How do I use my printer?

Horizon on a notebook. Advanced Power Management OK?

Can I run other  Windows software with Horizon?

Can I run Horizon  on my MAC?

How do I set up a Grand Master?

How can I make a Windows PC bulletproof?

I'm having installation / upgrade problems. What should I do now?

Will Horizon support a remote CRT monitor (eg: Production Desk)?

Does Horizon support multiple displays on multiple CRT monitors?

Horizon opened with a blank grey screen. Why?

Can I use off-line programming tools like WYSIWYG with Horizon?

 Q:   My IntelliMouse® wheel doesn't work in Horizon! Why?

A #1: Newer IntelliMouse® (IntelliPoint®) drivers require configuration to work properly with  Horizon. Configuration steps are:

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Click on the Mouse
  3. Select the "Wheel" Tab
  4. Click on "Advanced"
  5. Click on "Add"
  6. Click on the Horizon folder (c:\Program Files\Horizon)
  7. Highlight "horizon.exe"  and click "Open"
  8. Click "OK" to exit.

These changes add Horizon  to the list of programs that do not use standard IntelliPoint® wheel  functions.

A #2: Running Horizon on a laptop? Is the scratchpad active? If so, the scratchpad driver  may interfere with the IntelliMouse® wheel. First try configuring  the IntelliPoint® driver:

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Click  on the Mouse
  3. Select the "More Features" Tab
  4. Select " External Mouse Overrides Built-In TouchPad"
  5. Click  "OK"

 If this works... great. If not, you'll have to change the scratchpad settings in your laptop's CMOS Setup Utility.

A #3: Due to a Microsoft  bug, Horizon does not support the IntelliMouse® wheel while running under MS Windows 95®. IntelliMouse® works flawlessly under MS Windows 98/ME/2000/XP®.

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Q: Can I run Horizon under Windows 2000/XP?

A: Yes. Assuming you're using Horizon Build 120 or later.

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Q: Horizon won't save changes made to show files. Why?

A: The show file is marked "read only".  Using Windows Explorer, go to the directory containing the shows (C:\Program Files\Horizon\shows).  Select the show file, right click the mouse and select "Properties".  De-select "read only".

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Q: Will the Horizon 512 Interface work with my old printer cable?

A: Probably not! Horizon requires a cable designed for bi-directional communication.  Most newer printer cables are bi-directional. Use cable labeled "IEEE 1284 compliant". Labeling will appear on the packaging and on the cable itself. Rosco/Entertainment Technology does not recommend the use of printer cables longer than 6 feet.

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Q: Horizon 512 Interface uses the printer port (LPT1). How do I use my  printer?

A: Four possible solutions:

1.  If your computer has two parallel ports, this is no challenge at all. Install the HORIZON 512 Interface on the LPT1 port. Install the printer on the LPT2 port and away you go.

2. If your computer lacks  a second port, we suggest installing an I/O accessory board that provides one. I/O accessory boards are inexpensive and widely available.

3. The third option involves unplugging the HORIZON Interface, plugging the printer and reconfiguring  the software prior to each printing session. This option makes driving  dimmers as you print impossible. It's a bit awkward as well.

4.  The final option is to use the larger HORIZON Interfaces. IPS-HZ-1024 and IPS-HZ-PBC  support 1024 DMX outputs each and they're Ethernet peripherals.

ROSCO/Entertainment Technology recommends that printer sharing boxes not be used with HORIZON.

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Q: Horizon on a notebook. Advanced Power Management OK?

A: The Windows Advanced  Power Management utilitity can cause HORIZON to behave unpredictably. ROSCO/Entertainment Technology recommends that you turn this utility off when Horizon is running.

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Q: Can I run other Windows software with Horizon?

A: Horizon is a Windows compliant program and should run with other compliant programs. Key  words here are "should" and "compliant". Common  sense dictates that during a performance you should run the Horizon program alone.

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Q: Can I run Horizon on my MAC?

A: Yes! If you're running a "fast" MAC (eg: G3 266) and Virtual PC software. You must use the right Horizon hardware though. The IPS-HZ-512 (parallel) Interface won't work. The IPS-HZ-1024 Ethernet Node and the IPS-HZ-PBC Playback Controller will work.

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Q: How do I set up a Grand Master?

A: From EDIT pulldown,  choose SELECT ALL. Give the selected channels a level. and put all  the channels at any level. Hit the RECORD button and choose the SUBMASTER  tab. Select a submaster, label it "G.M., then click on INHIBITIVE  and OK. You've created a Grand Master! Optionally, you can remove selected channels from the Grand Master control. Examples might be channels used to power Color Changers, Work Lights or Music Stand  Lights.

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Q: How can I make a WindowsPC bulletproof?

A: Not possible.  All computers glitch occasionally...even DOS computers like those that old technology lighting consoles are built around. Taking the  steps listed below will help you make a PC glitch rare. Note that Horizon hardware & software architecture allows you to recover from a Windows PC glitch...quickly...and without a blackout.

  • Set your Video Card to "256 colors". This reduces refresh time.
  • Restart Windows before every performance. This restores Windows Resources.
  • Don't run programs like  Scan Disk, Backup or Find Fast in the background.

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Q: I'm having installation / upgrade problems. What should I do now?

A: A good start would be:

  • Check to see that you're attempting to install the latest software version..
  • From the Windows Control Panel, select ADD/ REMOVE PROGRAMS to uninstall old Horizon software.
  • Using Windows Explorer,  delete the folder (directory) called c:\program Files\horizon.
  • Restart Windows.
  • Reinstall Horizon fresh.

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Q: Will Horizon support a remote CRT monitor (eg: Production Desk)?

A: Yes. Purchase  a VGA Video Splitter from your local computer store. This device will allow video output to be directed to multiple monitors.

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Q: Does Horizon support multiple displays on multiple CRT monitors?

A: Yes. Competitive console designs use 14" VGA monitors in character mode. This provides a 25 x 80 text display of 2,000 characters maximum on each screen. Multiple screens (we've seen as many as four) must be used to display large amounts of data.

Horizon supports newer Windows graphic video formats. This allows Horizon to display much more information on a monitor (usually a big monitor)... that you're free to locate right in front of your face.

Depending on the video resolution  you've chosen, you'll see:

  • 800 x 600 pixels - < 4,800 characters - 2.4 times as much data
  • 1024 x 768 pixels - <  7,750 characters - 3.9 times as much data
  • 1280 x 1024 pixels - < 13,056 characters - 6.5 times as much data

A 17" monitor set at high resolution will display level data for 512 channels at once!

MS Windows 95 does not support the use of multiple monitors. MS Windows 98/NT and 2000 do.

Dual monitors work best  when driven by one AGP dual output video card. The best we've seen  is built by Matrox. Click  Here to link to the Matrox Web Site. 

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Q:   Horizon opened with a blank grey screen. Why?

A: You haven't created a "New Show" or opened an Existing Show. Three stored shows  are provided. Select the "File" pull-down menu and then  select the "Open" pull-down menu. Choose any of the show  files displayed.

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Q: Can I use off-line programming tools like WYSIWYG with Horizon?

A: Yes.  Horizon Gold supports both WYSIWYG and Show Designer.  Make sure you have the proper drivers for the application you are using (download WYSIWYG’s here) and then in Horizon choose SETUP|OPTIONS|PORTS and choose either Local Machine or Remote Machine for the Off-Line connection.

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