Compile Errors In the Visualizer

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In order to simulate complex devices like the Cosmic Color Ribbon, Cosmic Color Bulb, Cosmic Color Pixel, and DMX Pixel Universes. the Visualizer must first compile all your Fixtures into something that is comparable to the actual device/universe.

 

Why Certain Devices are Compiled

How Advanced Devices are Compiled

Rules for Advanced Devices

Cosmic Color Devices and Macro Channels

Error Messages and Their Meaning

Base Unit/Universe Missing

Missing Pixel #1

Duplicate Pixels

Incorrect Number of Pixels

 

 

Why Certain Devices are Compiled

 

Since certain devices have physical or firmware properties the Visualizer must support, the fixtures you create must mimic those traits.  In an attempt to make things easier to design, the Visualizer will allow you to divide up these devices into multiple fixtures if you desire.  For example, the Visualizer will allow you to have several different fixtures that all refer to the same physical device like a CCR.  When entering simulation mode, the first thing the Visualizer will do is compile your advanced devices into a single entity that it can understand and which physically mimics the real device.

 

How Advanced Devices are Compiled

 

To do this assembly, the Visualizer uses the physical address of a device to assemble all the parts.  For example, if you are using a CCR on an LOR network, the Visualizer will consider every CCR fixture on the same LOR Network and Unit ID to be the same physical device.  The same holds true for DMX Pixel Universes on a single universe.

 

Rules for Advanced Devices

 

In order to correctly simulate these different devices, certain rules must be enforced.  Those rules are:

 

For fully assembled Cosmic Color Strings:

a.Every String MUST consist of 50 OR LESS pixels.

b.Pixel #1 is REQUIRED, however gaps are allowed.  Gaps are counted towards the 50 pixel max.

c.There can be NO duplicate pixels.

d.Dummy Pixels (used to fill gaps) are still used when using Macro channels, they are simply not displayed.

 

The pixels can be on multiple fixtures, but when the fixtures are all assembled (using the Network and Unit ID) those 3 rules MUST be obeyed.  If your assembled Cosmic Color String violates any of those rules, the Visualizer will not go into simulation mode.

 

The rules for fully assembled DMX Pixel Universes:

a.A Pixel Universe can have NO MORE than 170 pixels.

b.Pixel #1 is REQUIRED, however gaps are allowed.  Gaps are counted towards the 170 pixel max.

c.There can be NO duplicate pixels.

 

Whereas Cosmic Color Strings can have 1-50 pixels per Network/Unit ID, DMX Pixel Universe can have from 1-170 pixels.  Cosmic Color Strings and DMX Pixel Universes allow for gaps as long as there is a pixel #1.

 

Cosmic Color Devices and Macro channels

 

Please remember that Dummy Pixels (that is, pixels that are used to fill gaps) are counted and actually used when executing CCD Macros.  For example, if you skipped pixels 10-14 of a CCD and then performed a Macro Chase, the chase performs as if those 5 pixels exist, but are invisible.

 

Error Messages and Their Meaning

 

The Visualizer will attempt  to help you as much as possible if there is a problem with a Cosmic Color String or DMX Pixel Universe.  When correcting errors, it may be easier to only correct the first error presented and then attempt to run the simulation again.  This is because a single problem could cause multiple errors.  Fixing this first issue could fix all other issues after it.

 

When checking for errors, the Visualizer will first check all Cosmic Color Strings first, and then move on to DMX Pixel Universes.  You must first correct any errors with Cosmic Color Strings before you will be presented with any errors for DMX Pixel Universes.

 

There are 4 main error messages that are output by the Visualizer:
 

1.Base Unit/Universe Missing:
 
"CCD Fixture [Fixture Name] does not have a network/unit ID assigned."
"DMX Pixel Fixture [Fixture Name] does not have a universe assigned."
 
The Fixture named [fixture name] is missing either the Network and/or Unit ID or Universe number.  This is required since these values are how the Visualizer assembles the device.
 

2.Missing Pixel #1:
 
"The CCD on network "[net name]", unit ID [unit] when assembled does not have a fixture with pixel #1."
"The DMX Pixel Universe on universe [universe] when assembled does not have a fixture with pixel #1."
 
There is no Fixture on the Net/Unit ID or Universe shown that contains pixel #1.  The fixture with pixel #1 is considered the master and MUST be present.  After this error, the Visualizer will show the names of all fixtures that it attempted to assemble for you to review.
 

3.Duplicate Pixels:
 
"The CCD on network "[net name]", unit ID [unit] when assembled has duplicate pixels."
"The DMX Pixel Universe on Universe [universe number], when assembled has duplicate pixels."
 
There is a duplicate pixel within this assembled Cosmic Color String on the network and unit number shown, or on the DMX Pixel Universe on the universe shown.  CCDs and DMX Pixel Universe fixtures can have gaps, however they can NOT have duplicate pixels.  Please note that the pixels could be duplicated on 2 separate fixtures, and that is also not allowed.
 

4.Incorrect Number of Pixels:
 
"The CCD on network "[net name]", unit ID [unit] when assembled has more than 50 pixels ([total])."
"The DMX Pixel Universe on universe [universe] when assembled has more than 170 pixels ([total])."
 
Assembled Cosmic Color Strings can have NO MORE than 50 pixels each.  Assembled DMX Universe Fixtures can have NO MORE than 170 pixels.   After this error, the Visualizer will show the names of all fixtures that it attempted to assemble for you to review.  Remember that, dummy pixels (that is, the pixels used to fill gaps) are counted towards the 50/170 pixel limit.