How
do I get the rig information into FocusTrack?
You can either enter the rig information into
RigTrack manually, or you can import it from a number
of other popular lighting programs, including John
McKernon’s Lightwright and VectorWorks
Spotlight.
If you’re using a console that is compatible
with FocusTrack (currently the Strand 300/500 series,
ETC’s Eos/Ion or MA’s grandMA1 and
grandMA2), RigTrack can import the patch
automatically from the console showfile; this will
import channels, the dimmers they are patched to, the
fixtures they are patched as and other related
information such as pan/tilt inverts. You can them
merge in other information from Lightwright (fixture
type, rigging position) to give a complete record of
what each channel actually is, where it’s
rigged, what colour it is, etc.
RigTrack can even play ‘spot the
difference’ between the console patch and
Lightwright, telling you when patch, position, colour
or gobo information don’t match - far easier
than cross-checking by hand.