The Chooser Window

The Chooser screen

To get all your fixtures up and running you click the Chooser button on the toolbar at the top of the screen. If this is the first time you’ve opened this window you should be in the Live tab, otherwise click on the Live tab to make it active.

Vista displays the Fixtures screen:

This screen consists of four main elements:

1. The Editor control section where you can select to work with the Live editor tab or any Cuelist you have open. If you have a Cuelist open this section expands to include the Cue navigation controls.
2. The Fixture layout panel, where you can display and arrange the fixture icons to suit your requirements.
3. The sidebar where you can use the palette and component panels to adjust Intensity, Position, Colour, Gobo, Beam and other settings for each fixture.
4. The multi-quickpicker panel where you can select Presets, Groups and other components. This panel is optional and can be closed so that there is more room for the fixture layout panel.

Arranging fixtures in a layout

Vista displays all of the fixtures you added on the Patch screen as icons on the Fixture layout panel. When you first view this screen, the fixtures are arranged in numerical order, by unique ID, as a bank of icons.

To re-arrange the fixtures:

1. Click on the ‘Locked’ button at the bottom of the Chooser window so that it changes to ‘Unlocked’.
2. Drag and drop the fixture icons around to new locations on the screen so that they suit you.
3. To undo a move press Ctrl + Z or select the undo option from the Edit menu.
4. When you are finished Click on the ‘Unlocked’ button so that it changes back to ‘Locked’.

• If you are moving a Group icon, click and hold on it while moving to avoid selecting and moving the individual fixtures in the group.

Zooming in and out

You can adjust the magnification of the fixture layout panel or the size of individual fixture and group icons.

To zoom the fixture layout panel in or out click on the magnify icons in the bottom left corner of the fixture chooser window:



To zoom an individual fixture and group icon, hold down the yellow modifier button or Control key while licking the icons

This icon…	does this…
	zooms in or increases the size of the fixture icons.
	zooms out or decreases the size of the fixture icons.
	zooms to the icons to the normal scale.

• You can use the ‘Wheel’ on a suitable mouse to zoom the layout or icons.

Using different layout views

You can create as many different views of your fixtures as you like, each arranged in its own away. To create a new layout view:

1. Right-click in the fixture chooser window and select the ‘New Layout’ option from the popup menu. Vista opens the New layout window.
2. Type a name for the layout and click OK. Vista creates a new layout and adds a corresponding ‘tab’ at the bottom of the layout panel:

1. Arrange the fixtures as described above.
2. When you are finished Click on the ‘Unlocked’ button so that it changes back to ‘Locked’.

To switch between layouts click on the tab you want to use. You can select fixtures on one tab, switch to another tab and add more fixtures to the selection.

Managing layout views

You can add, rename, duplicate or modify a layout view. To do this select the ‘Manage Layouts’ option from the Chooser menu. Vista opens the Layouts window:

The layout window is divided into three panels:

Layouts

The Layouts panel shows all the layouts you have created. You can:

• Rename a layout by double-clicking on the name and typing a new one.
• Change the order of the layout tabs by selecting a layout and moving it up or down the list using the Move Up, Move Down, Move to Top and Move to Bottom buttons
• Add a new Layout by clicking on the Add Layout button
• Delete a layout by selecting it and clicking on the Delete Layout button.

This icon…	does this…
<<	Moves the selected layout to the top.
<<	Moves the selected layout up.
>>	Moves the selected layout down.
>>	Moves the selected layout to the bottom.
+	Adds a new Layout
–	Deletes the selected layout..

Layout properties

The Layout properties panel let’s you configure how a layout displays names, IDs and other properties. To do this:

1. Select the Layout you want to adjust in the Layouts panel:

This option…	does this…
Lock positions	Locks the layout so the fixtures cannot be moved. You can also lock and unlock a layout using the Locked/Unlocked button beside the layout tabs in the Fixture Chooser window
Labels show Names	Sets the fixture icon text labels to show.
Labels show IDs	Sets the fixture icon ID numbers to show.
Labels ignore zoom	The label size remains fixed when the fixture icons are zoomed in or out.
Notes ignore zoom	The notes size remains fixed when the fixture icons are zoomed in or out.
Auto-show new fixtures	Sets the layout to automatically include any new fixtures added in the Patch window.
Snap to Grid	Locks or Unlocks the current layout. Fixture and Group icons can not be moved when a layout is locked. But they can be scaled.
Show Gridlines	Display a grid on the Fixture Chooser layout pane
Grid Spacing	Sets the space between the grid lines. The higher the number the larger the grid spacing.
Save as Default	Saves all options set in the current layout as defaults for any new layout.

• You can also adjust some of these settings on the ‘Layouts options’ menu

Hiding and ‘un-hiding’ fixtures and groups

You can use the Item Visibility panel to hide any fixtures, fixture types or groups in a layout. This removes them from the display, but not from the patch.

To hide Fixture or Group icon or Notes:

1. Select the Layout you want to work with from the list in the Layouts panel.
2. Click the + symbol beside the Fixtures or Groups or Notes heading in the Item Visibility section to show all the Fixtures types that you’ve patched, the Groups that have been created and any Notes.
3. To hide all Fixture icons of a type, un-tick the checkbox beside that fixture type, or click the + symbol beside a fixture type to show all the individual Fixtures of that type.
4. To hide all Group, un-tick the checkbox beside ‘Groups’, or click the + symbol to show all the Groups that have been created.
5. To hide all Notes, un-tick the checkbox beside ‘Notes’, or click the + symbol to show all the Notes that have been created.
6. To hide individual Fixtures, Groups or Notes of a type un-tick the checkbox beside the items(s) you want to hide.

To reveal (unhide) hidden fixtures, tick the checkbox beside the items you want to reveal.

• You can also hide fixture and group icons and notes by right-clicking on the icon(s) or note(s) and selecting Hide from the popup menu..

Layout options

The Layout options submenu let’s you quickly configure some commonly used layout properties. To do this:

1. Select the Layout you want to adjust by clicking on its tab at the bottom of the Fixture Chooser panel.
2. Select ‘Layout options’ from the Chooser menu. Vista displays the submenu:

This option…	does this…
False Intensity	Gives the fixture icon intensity without sending any level to the fixture(s)
Fixed label size	Keeps the fixture label size the same no matter the zoom level of the icons.
Show selection order	Sets the icons to show a selection order number whenever they are selected.
Show grid	Display a grid on the layout pane
Snap to grid	When on fixture icons snap to the grid cells
Show names	Sets the fixture icon text labels to show.
Show IDs	Sets the fixture icon ID numbers to show.
Auto-add new fixtures	Sets the layout to automatically include any new fixtures added in the Patch window.
Preview refresh rate	Sets the refresh rate for the icons. Higher refresh rates and / or large numbers of icons use more processing power.

Activating layout views

To activate a layout view, click on the tab for the layout you want to display:

Duplicating a layout

To duplicate a layout view, click on the tab for the layout you want to duplicate then select the Duplicate Layout option from the Chooser menu. Vista displays the Duplicate Layout window.

Type a name for the layout and click OK. Vista creates a copy layout and adds a corresponding ‘tab’ at the bottom of the layout panel.

Layout organisation

There are a number of ways to customise layouts and the way the fixture icons are displayed. To make a change select an option from the Chooser menu.

This option…	does this…
Colours and Background (submenu)	Opens a submenu
– Background colour	Opens a colour picker to set the background colour of the layout panel
– Background image	Opens a window to select an image to use as a background of the layout panel. An image size of about 700 x 560px will fill the layout pane
– Erase Background image	Removes the background image, if you’ve added one.
– Resize Background	Selects the background image which can be moved or resized by dragging on the bottom right hand corner. Click outside the background when finished.
– Icon Colour	Opens a window to set the outline colour of the selected icon(s)
– Gel Colour	Opens a window to set the intensity colour of the selected icon(s). Useful for simulating the colour filter on a conventional fixture.
– Set note colour	Opens a window to set the colour of the selected note(s). Changes the leader and fill colour.
Shrink to fit	Zooms the layout panel to fit all fixtures.
Label position	Moves the icon label to the right, left, top or bottom of the icon.
Manage Layouts	Opens the Manage Layouts window.
Duplicate Layout	Creates a copy of the current layout and opens a window where it can be named.
Layouts options	Opens the Layouts options window.

Layout organisation popup menu

• You can also adjust the layout and icon appearance by right-clicking on the layout or icon(s) or note(s) and selecting an option from the popup menu.

This option…	does this…
Manage Layouts	Opens the Layouts window where you can add, delete, organise and customise your layouts.
New layout	Opens the New layout window.
Duplicate layout	Duplicates the current layout and opens a window to name it.
Delete layout	Immediately deletes the current layout.
Rename layout	Opens the Rename layout window where you can edit the name of the current layout.
Rename	Opens the Rename window where you can type a new name for the selected fixture(s)
Renumber	Opens the Renumber window where you can type a new name for the selected fixture(s)
Delete item	Deletes the selected item immediately.
Hide items	Hides the selected fixture or group icon or note.
Unhide all items	Reveals all hidden items, on the current layout.
Resize items(s)	Allow you to resize the selected matrix
Rotate items	Lets you rotate the fixture icon(s), using an onscreen handle, to any angle
Label position	Moves the icon label to the right, left, top or bottom of the icon.
Add note	Adds a text box to the layout panel. If a fixture icon is selected a leader line will be drawn between the icon and the text box.
New Fixture Group	Creates a new fixture group containing all the currently selected fixtures.
Update Fixture Group	Updates the current group to contain whatever fixtures are selected.
Create Matrix	Creates a new matrix grid that you can resize by dragging on the bottom right hand corner. Tip: Deselect all fixtures to enable this option.
Resize Matrix	Allow you to resize the selected matrix
Align	Lets you align a group of fixture icons, to the right, left, top or bottom of the group.
Distribute	Lets you distribute a group of fixture icons vertically between the top and bottom fixtures or horizontally between the furthest left and furthest right fixture in the selection.
Flip	Swaps the vertical or horizontal position of a group of fixture icons. The left most fixture will move the right most and so on.
Arrange in grid	Opens the Grid window to arrange the selected items in a grid. Items can be arranged into rows and columns and sorted by ID or selection order
Background colour	Opens a colour picker to set the background colour of the layout panel
Background image	Opens a window to select an image to use as a background of the layout panel. An image size of about 700 x 560px will fill the layout pane
Erase Background image	Removes the background image, if you’ve added one.
Resize Background	Selects the background image which can be moved or resized by dragging on the bottom right hand corner. Click outside the background when finished.
Icon Colour	Opens a window to set the outline colour of the selected icon(s)
Gel Colour	Opens a window to set the intensity colour of the selected icon(s). Useful for simulating the colour filter on a conventional fixture.
Set note colour	Opens a window to set the colour of the selected note(s). Changes the leader and fill colour.

Adding notes to the layout window

You can add text boxes to the fixture window to help identify different fixture types or areas. Notes can be either attached to an object on the layout, such as a fixture, or can be independent.

To add a note you do this:

1. To attach a note to a fixture or group, first select the item. For an independent note make sure no fixtures or groups are selected.
2. Right-click in the fixture window and select ‘Add note’ from the popup menu. Vista creates a note on the layout.
3. Type a note and then click on the layout background to finish.

To move a note first unlock the layout then click on the text and drag it to a new location. To edit a note double click on the text and replace or change the text. To delete a note right-click on the note and select ‘Delete item’ from the popup menu.

Arranging fixtures in a grid

You can arrange fixtures in rows and columns. To do this:

1. Select the fixtures you want to arrange into a grid
2. Right-click in the fixture window and select ‘Arrange in grid…’ from the popup menu. Vista opens the Arrange in Grid window:

This option…	does this…
Rows	Specify the number of rows you want in the grid. If you enter a value here the number of columns is calculated automatically.
Columns	Specify the number of columns you want in the grid. If you enter a value here the number of rows is calculated automatically.
User ID	Sort the fixtures by ID number
Type / User ID	Sort the fixtures by type name then ID number
Selection Order	Sort the fixtures into the order they have been selected

1. Click the OK button to arrange the fixtures.

Placing fixtures in a Matrix

You can put fixtures in a special ‘Matrix’ container so that they can be controlled individually or as a whole. When fixtures are placed on a matrix you can:

• Select the matrix and apply settings to all fixtures within it
• Select fixtures, in the matrix and apply individual settings to just the ones you have selected
• Apply matrix effects that run on the X and Y axis of the matrix. For example you can have an intensity effect that runs across the matrix like a sliding door or a colour effect that runs around the matrix like a clock hand.
• Apply an animated gif Video effect.

To create a matrix container and place fixtures in it:

1. Right-click on the fixture layout panel and select the Create Matrix option from the popup menu. Vista creates a matrix container on the current layout:

1. Adjust the size of the matrix by clicking on the handle on the bottom right hand corner and dragging to the size you want.
2. Drag your fixtures into the matrix. You can either drag them one by one or as a group. If you drag a group of fixtures onto the matrix Vista places them across and then down the matrix in ID order.

Selecting fixtures

The simplest way to select fixtures is to click on the fixture or group icons one by one but Vista provides three selection tools and several options to make more complex selections.

Selection tools

To select a number of fixtures you can draw a ‘marquee’ around (or over) the fixtures you want. Vista provides three marquee tools.

To select the tool you want by click on one of the icons in the lower right corner of the fixture layout panel or choose one of the ‘Selection tool’ options from the Layouts menu:

This icon…	does this…
	Draws a rectangular marquee as you click and drag across a group of fixtures.
	Let’s you select fixtures by drawing a freehand shape around the ones you want.
	Let’s you select fixtures by drawing a line through the ones you want.

Sorting fixtures

It’s often important to sort fixtures in a certain order. For example when you are, storing groups, applying effects fanning parameters or copying and pasting information from one set of fixtures to another.

Vista lets you show the selection order and quickly sort fixtures based on their ID, selection order, layout position and more.

Displaying the selection order.

To display the selection order, choose the ‘Show selection order’ option from the Options sub-menu on the Layout menu.

Vista displays the selection order number in a small circle on the top left side of the fixture icon:

Sorting fixtures

You can sort fixtures in a number of ways. To do this, select the fixtures then click the Sort order dropdown on the main toolbar. Vista displays the Sort popup window:

This option…	sorts the fixtures in…
Custom Sort	An order you create in the Custom sort window. Custom sort includes several advanced options as described below.
Selection	the order in which you selected them on the Fixtures chooser layout.
ID	ID number order.
Random	random order. Each time you de-select and re-select fixtures they are sorted into another random order.
Position	by columns and rows, from top left to bottom right, based on their position in the layout window.
Manage Sorts	This option opens the Manage Sorts window where you can customise and save sorts.

Creating custom sort orders

When you select the ‘Custom Sort’ option Vista displays the Custom Sort window:

You can use this window to create a new sort that includes advanced options for grouping fixtures together, repeating applied settings and setting the type of fan shape that will be used when fanning a value across the selected fixtures.

This option…	does this…
Sort Fixtures by..	sets the basic sort type. The options are as described above – ID, Selection Random or Position.
Fan Shape	Let’s you store a fan shape that will be recalled when a saved sort order is selected. See ‘Fan shapes’ on page xxx
Curve	sets the distribution of fixtures, along the fan shape. The normal setting is ‘Linear’and in this case the fixtures are evenly distributed. Other curves, such as square and inverse square will bunch some of the fixtures together and spread others out.
Sort Direction	Sets the sort order to ascending or descending.
Fixture Ganging	allow fixtures grouped together, so that if you spread or fan a feature setting across some fixtures, the settings can be in blocks and / or repeated throughout the selection. See the examples below.
Blocking	Let’s you group fixtures in “blocks” of consecutive fixtures. You can set just one block size, for example 2 or set several different block sizes (e.g. first block has 4 fixtures, second block has 6 fixtures and so on). To set complex blocking separate the block sizes with a / (forward slash). For example 4/6
Repeat Ganging	Let’s you repeat feature settings on every 2nd, 3rd, 4th or any increment of fixtures.
Save as…	Opens the Custom Sort ‘Save as’ window where you can name and save your custom sort

Selecting Odd and Even numbered fixtures

You can select just the odd or even numbered fixtures from the fixtures you have selected by setting “Sort fixtures by” to ID and “repeat ganging” to 2 in the sort dialogue. Then, using the next and previous fixture buttons, you can toggle between controlling the odd and even fixtures.

Custom Ganging examples

In these examples, there are 10 colour mixing fixtures selected and colour is fanned across the fixtures using a Custom sort with the following Ganging (Blocking and Repeat) settings:

1. Blocking set to 3, Repeats set to ‘0’ (No repeats)

1. Blocking set to 3, Repeats set to ‘2’

1. Blocking set to 1/2/3, Repeats set to ‘0’ (No repeats)

1. Blocking set to 2/3, Repeats set to 2

Custom Fan shapes

In these examples, there are 10 fixtures selected and intensity is fanned across the fixtures using the following Fan shapes:

1. Fan from Centre:

1. Fan from both ends:

Fan shapes

The are several fan shapes that can be set and saved in a Custom sort.

This option…	does this…
Linear Fan Diverged from centre.	Fanned values radiate in both positive and negative directions from the base value, starting from the centre of the fixture selection
Fan from end Linear from Start	The fanned feature values radiate in one direction from the base value, starting from the first selected fixture.
Fan from start Linear from End	The fanned feature values radiate in one direction from the base value, starting from the last selected fixture.
Fan from centre. Linear from Extremities	The fanned feature values radiate in one direction from the base value, starting from the first and last selected fixtures.
Inverted fan Diverged from extremities	The fanned values radiate in both positive and negative directions from the base value, starting from the first and last selected fixture.
Fan from both ends Linear from Centre	The fanned feature values radiate in one direction from the base value, starting from the centre of the fixture selection.

• To fan a feature or events, select the fan mode and hold the Yellow modifier or Control key while setting the feature value or dragging the event bars.

• The Vista V1 “Mirror” option is replaced by the ‘Fan from Centre’ and ‘Inverted Fan’ shapes.

Managing your saved Sorts

You can rename, duplicate or modify a saved sort. To do this select the ‘Manage Sorts’ option from the Sort order drop down list. Vista opens the Manage Sorts window:

To modify one of the built in sorts or a custom sort you’ve saved, do this:

1. Select the Sort name in the left hand panel.
2. Modify the Fixture sort, Fan options and other settings.
3. Click the ‘Save’ button.

Renaming a Sort

You can rename a sort by double clicking on the name, in the left column, and typing a new name.

Duplicating a Sort

To make a copy of a sort, select it and click on the ‘Duplicate’ button.

Deleting a Sort

To delete a sort, select it and click on the ‘Delete’ button.