Macro Buttons

Macro buttons are a method of setting Variables which, in turn, can either run macros or change variable values to either true or false.

Note:

Variable can be thought of as a meeting place for different pieces of hardware and virtual console elements. Variable Pages can be 'hard patched' to Look Pages, Cue Lists or physical Button Stations in the show file. The Macro buttons are just one method of tying user buttons to Variable Pages for the purpose of seeing the variables' current values and to provide a method to change them.

You can show virtual Macro Buttons by selecting Macro Buttons in the Display menu or by pressing [S5] from the main softkey menu and selecting from the pop up list.

The combo box to the left shows which Variable Page the macros buttons are assigned to. If you have multiple Variable pages, use the mouse to choose which one you want to see. To operate a Macro Button, left click on it with the mouse or using the QWERTY keyboard, hold down ALT while pressing [F1] through [F12].

To change the function of the macro buttons you must change the Variables it is tied to. Do this by accessing Variables in the Display menu or press the traffic light icon in the Cue List Directory Toolbar or press [S5] from the main softkey menu and select Variables from the pop up list:

Select the desired Variable Page using the mouse, then use the Blue Box and [EDIT] to change any of the parameters of the variables. The name and the value of the variable (true or false or zero or none zero show as normal or pushed in) can be seen if the Variable Page is selected. Icons also show if a button is a radio, toggle or momentary button.

Momentary Buttons

If a variable's type is Momentary, the corresponding Macro Button will have a red 'mushroom' button icon. These buttons are only down as long as you have your finger on them. When it goes down, Button Down, Off Zero or Value Change actions will occur and the variable's value will change from zero to 1 or 100 (depending on what is patched to it). When you release your finger, the variable's value will return to zero and any Up Action or On Zero or Value Change actions will be executed.

Toggle Buttons

Toggle variables, denoted by a rocker switch, make the down action of a button stick. Pressing the button again, pops the button back up. Again, macros are fired on Button Down, Button Up and Value Change events where applicable.

Radio Buttons

Similar to an old car radio, only one radio button (or station) can be down (or tuned in) at a time. Pressing another button down, pops the current button up. The Variable display has a column called Radio Group. The text in these fields can be anything; as long as they match the variables are in the same group. You may have as many radio groups per Variable page as need be and buttons in each group will not affect buttons in other groups. Leaving the Radio Group field blank is also valid (i.e., any Radio Variable who has no text in this column will be part of the same radio group).

To learn more about Macros and Variables, check out the topics below.

The currently visible virtual buttons are connected to the M-Buttons that appear above the Softkeys on the console. If a button is assigned a variable, the green LED will be illuminated. If the button is down, the LED will blink.