EOS/ION off-line selections?

[Wolf]

Very soon I am going to start programming off line for both an EOS and an Ion console and I noticed that on the "welcome screen" application there are selections for Client, Offline, Client (Ion), Offline (Ion). Should I have a different one selected for different things?
Thanks for all the help.

EDIT: Also if I don't find out what version of software they are running on the console before I need to start programming off-line I assume I should use an older version, correct?

[icewolf08]

Client will allow you to log into your ETCNet Network in Eos mode. Offline is the Eos OLE, and the Ion ones are the same except for Ion.

[sk8rsdad]

The client buttons enable networking with the console, assuming you have a dongle to enable it.

The off-line buttons launch the same respective interfaces without console interoperability (although you can still stream data to programs like WYSIWYG)

I typically use the EOS offline and/or client, even though we have an Ion. The tabbed interface and snapshot capability of the EOS just makes more sense to me than the artificial 2-screen limitation of the Ion.

Occasionally I will use the Ion off-line interface for educational purposes to test out features or try something I read in this forum or the forums at etcconnect.com when I am not near the console.

I took a peek at the Element interface once, to satisfy my curiosity.

At the the theatre I regularly use our tablet PC as a 3rd screen for programming because it's handy to be able to use the expanded virtual encoders, new ML control, and direct selects without having to keep opening and closing windows. For instance, I use the console encoders for pan/tilt (focus) and virtual encoders or the ML control to pick gobos, colors, and the like.

I hope the theatre is trying to stay current. The EOS/Ion/Element software is undergoing rapid evolution.

There's probably more to it than that. avalentino can provide answer a better than anybody else on this forum.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by sk8rsdad

I hope the theatre is trying to stay current. The EOS/Ion/Element software is undergoing rapid evolution.

Since I still have not found out what version they are running and would like to start programming today and tomorrow, it wouldn't be a problem working in an older version then using it in a console with a newer version, would it?

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by Wolf

Since I still have not found out what version they are running and would like to start programming today and tomorrow, it wouldn't be a problem working in an older version then using it in a console with a newer version, would it?

It shouldn't be a problem to work that way.

[avalentino]

The most current version of Eos/Ion/Element software is 1.8. As this was just released last week, I'd assume a reasonable number of users haven't yet upgraded to 1.8. (Also, it adds mirror mode and fan, and as some people may not be interested in these features, they may not have upgraded). 1.8 and 1.7 show files are completely inter-operable. Show files created in 1.7/1.8 are not fully compatible with 1.4.x software. In 1.7, we changed the way we dealt with frame tables (scrollers, color and gobo wheels) which means that data may have to be reprogrammed if stored in 1.7/1.8 and then loaded on a 1.4.x system.

A really large number of issues were dealt with in 1.7, so we are recommending users upgrade to either 1.7 or 1.8 at the earliest possible time.

Hope that helps.

Anne Valentino
Eos Product Line Manager
ETC

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by avalentino

1.8 and 1.7 show files are completely inter-operable. Show files created in 1.7/1.8 are not fully compatible with 1.4.x software. In 1.7, we changed the way we dealt with frame tables (scrollers, color and gobo wheels) which means that data may have to be reprogrammed if stored in 1.7/1.8 and then loaded on a 1.4.x system.

A really large number of issues were dealt with in 1.7, so we are recommending users upgrade to either 1.7 or 1.8 at the earliest possible time.

ETC

Okay, but will using 1.4 still fully work in 1.7/1.8?

[avalentino]

Yup. 1.4.x show files are forward compatible to 1.7/1.8.

Anne