Using the Grouping Tools

Grouping Tools is a powerful tool that allows for the easy division of selected fixtures into various subsets.

It is very useful when creating fixture groups.

When combined with the Next/Last buttons, rapid manipulation of selected fixtures becomes possible. The Grouping Tools screen is shown below. You can find this window at the top of the Groups window, and it's also available as a sidebar button, function key and via the encoders.

Using the Grouping Tools is simple - just select Fixtures, apply a Mode, Mask Value, possibly apply to Fan/FX and Actions. Look below for the full description and guide on using the Grouping Tools:

Step 1: Mode

To use the Grouping Tools, first select any number of fixtures greater than 1 or a group/groups.

Now press Groupingfrom the Fixture Center window to open the Grouping Tools.

You're now able to choose from the following "modes" to split up your selection:

Option	Description
OFF	Turns off the grouping tools.
Every	Selects fixtures in a linear fashion, only selecting Every "X" number of fixtures, where "X" is the Mask Value.
Block	Selects fixtures in segments of the Mask Value. Using "4" as your mask value would select fixtures in segments of 4.
Divide	Splits the total selection into subsets by the Mask Value. Using 2 will spilt your fixtures in half, while using 3 will split in 3rds.
Mirror	Selects fixtures in a mirrored fashion, where the Mask Value equals the total amount of fixtures selected at one time. Using a value or 2 selects the 2 outermost fixtures, then moves in as you press "next/last".
Group	When multiple groups have been selected, this selects one of those groups at a time. Mask Value does not apply.

Step 2: Mask Value

Now that you've selected a Mode, setting a Mask Value will modify the total number of fixtures selected, in a fashion dependent on the Mode selected.

For example a value of 3, when using Every will selected every 3rd fixture.

The Last/Next keys allows you to advance through the sets defined by the grouping tools. In this example, you would then have 3 sets of fixtures to toggle through with Last/Next.

Step 3: Fan/FX

This toggle switch allows you to switch between applying Fan/FX to the current grouping selection, vs the whole selection. While it may seem a little confusing at first, it's actually quite simple and very powerful.

For example, select some fixtures and set them to a Mode of "Every" and a Mask Value of "2".

When Fan/FX OFF, anything you do in the Programmer, with the Fan Tool, or FX will only apply to the half of the lights that is actively selected.

With Fan/FX ON, you'll see the 2 halves of the fixtures now being fanned or applying FX against each other.

Step 4: Actions

The very last section of the Grouping Tools window allows you to modify the selection you've made above. Here is what they do:

Option	Description
Revert	If you have made changes in the fixture order, pressing this button on the Selected Fixtures screen will revert the selected fixtures to their original selection order. Note that this does not necessarily mean that they will be in numerical order. If you selected fixtures 24 through 1 and then made changes to that order, pressing Revert to selection will return them to 24 through 1 again.
Invert	This soft button is the equivalent to the / Enter command. When pressed, those fixtures in the Programmer that are selected will become deselected and vice-versa.
Invert Mask	This feature works in much the same way Invert selection works. When pressed, all masked fixtures become unmasked and vice-versa. For more details see "Mask Options".
Random	The order of the selected fixtures in the Programmer can be randomized by pressing the Random on the Selected Fixture list.
Reverse	Similar to randomizing the order of the fixture selection, you can reverse the order by pressing the Reverse soft button. This will flip the current selection order regardless of whether fixtures are selected or deselected. Reverse can be used in conjunction with Random.
Sort	The Sort soft button will sort any selected fixtures by their fixture number from lowest to highest.