Textbook tool
From English DMXCWiki
Contents |
Textbook tool
Description
Application areas of the Textbook Tool
With version 2.9 the Textbook tool (script tool) is available for theatre people particularly. For the theatre it is important that the Effects start exactly on a keyword. The Textbook tool shall make the course of the light and audio Effects easier with a text script.
Both lighting Effects and audio recordings have to be started (from passing trains, barking of dogs, cock crows ... ) By the way, a script does not have to be restricted on theatre but can be used appropriately also in the context of festivities or also carnival events.
Structure of Textbook Tool
The script tool presents itself in 2 parts:
- the text window with editing buttons like in a text editor
- the management window with control badges for scenes.
The light scenes, Effects etc. are visibly clear in the text window as stage directions.
These are additionally listed separately in the management window, there the connection with the scenes and orders from DMXControl is established. The management window is synchronized with the text window, if one selects a stage direction in a window, the other one is scrolled exactly on this position.
No specific text structure is expected. Stage directions can be inserted in any arbitrary line.
There is the recommendation by theatre people of an act wise processing. The script should be organized into several sub-scripts so that the text is not too large in the text window. The partial texts are then loaded separately with the buttons over the management list in the break between the acts.
Operation
The Text window
The text window shows the text of the performance (management book). Here you can scroll manually without influencing the active expiry of the scenes.
The simple text editor within the script window supports merely colour (also background), size, script (+underlined, fatly, in italics). As a rule, the text in the window is not changed any more. Keyword only must be formatted in principle. All other changes are made preferably at the stage directions in the management window. The text window supports the formats .doc (Word) and rtf. Inadvertent changes can be prevented with the check box for changes.
Stage directions
The stage directions stand out considerably from the general text for better readability. The separators "###" are used which may not appear in the normal text flow! Stage directions always are always in a separate line, they have following format:
### nnnn - Scene ### comment <end of line>
The "Scene" refers in the Scene library of DMXControl to an entry whereby an automatic numbering is carried out. The type of the Scene is stored internally and, however, should be made clear to the support of its own by the naming or the comment
###0002 – Thunder stormr###Thunder(Audio)
The type of the stage directions corresponds to available Scene types in DMXC: Simple scenes, orders (Effects), movement scenes and Audio scene. Additionally, there are "comments" for the light technician which do not have any assosiation to DMXC orders (or call an "empty" Scene). Inserting stage directions should be carried out by mechanism of the green "+" button whereby the cursor must be at the right place in the text window.
External Editing of Stage directions
Since stage directions are only presented by a string in the text, the texts could be changed also seamless in principle with other editors. A consistency check is carried out therefore when loading the script, whether new instructions occur. Solid stage directions are marked with a green rhombus in the management list. The corresponding new or missing instructions are announced red and then must be removed manually or laid out as a DMXC Scene. After that the script should be saved newly.
The management window
All stage directions are listed in the management window too. They are either created at loading time of the script or by the "+" button like in the audio player, if e.g. a new light Scene is needed. Either one can access existing scenes/Effects with that or a new Scene is laid out by DMXControl in the Scene repository. Here the comment on the stage directions can also be changed and a keyword can be entered for the stage direction. To this one clicks twice slowly behind each other to the appropriate field (no double click)!
Wie im Szenenlistentool oder dem Audioplayer können mit dem Editier- und Löschbutton die jeweils selektierte Regieanweisung/Szene editiert oder gelöscht werden. Mit dem Häkchen vor der Szene gibt man an, ob die Szene aktiv ist (Häkchen gesetzt) oder beim Ablauf ausgelassen werden soll, z.B. beim Einstudieren und Proben des Stückes.
Like in the Scene list tool or the audio player, the selected stage direction/Scene can be edited or deleted with the editing and deleting badge. It is indicated by the hooklet before the Scene whether the Scene is active (set hooklets) or shall be left out at the expiry, e.g. at rehearsing and samples of the performance.
Navigation within the text book
With the badges “Forward”and "Back" you can navigate between the stage directions without executing the scenes. Alternatively this can be carried out by the scroll bars and the mouse of course. One can "skip" instructions for the purpose of synchronization, i.e. leave out to be in the scenario again with that. By pressing the button "GO" the straight highlighted stage direction (Scene) is executed and the following one is immediately marked.
The Autoscroll button serves the automatic scrolling the text window, e.g. if many lines of text exist between two stage directions. The scrolling speed is derived from the defined delta time in the management window, a manual justification is therefore required of course, as a rule.
Synchronisation with the script text
Since DMXControl naturally is not able to "listen or con-reading" the text, the graphic synchronization must is carried out at the surface manually. One reads the text and reacts on the keywords. If one meets a stage direction in the text and the keyword is spoken now, the Scene is started so by "GO" button (or at space bar/each return button).
The global progress bar below the text window shows to the rough orientation how far the performance is shown.
