Strand Files

Riggwalker:

Is there any way I can convert Strand files to .asc format so that my Congo desk can read them?

I am getting bored of re-plotting every time a show arrives with a Strand disk!

Hi Riggwalker,

You need to export the Strand showfile to asc format. It is probably  best to contact Tech Support, to find out the best way for you to convert the file. The import works great on shows containing only conventional lights. It imports part cues as channel times. It does work very well.

Florian 

Hi!

You can use Showport from Strand (http://www.strandlight.com/Software/Showport/v2.5sp.zip) to convert *.ssf files to ASCII Light Cue format which you can open in Congo!

I hope it helps...

 Florian 

Thanks Florian,

How are things up there in Leicester? I visited you last year to look at your Congo when I was looking for one for the Grove Theatre here in Dunstable.

Is the only way to export the file on a strand desk itself?

Matt (Riggwalker)

Hi Matt,

I am from ETC Germany and have never been in my life to Leicester:-D

In the moment I am in Moscow organizing Congo seminar and it is raining here...

I am not sure but I think you can only create ASCII files from Strand consoles using that program

Cheers

Florian

Hey everybody,

I used Showimport by Strand.It works with the Preset, but you must check the times, there are some problems, but no big problems.

One think is important.Don`t chose ,,import from USB".Only open, Archiv from USB.If you ,,import" the files by ,,importing", you kann not see the channels in the Tracking List.For example..5 CH/ID Track, it opens the Track List, but you will not see any Channels.But if you import your files with open, Archiv, USB,   it will works.By this way, you will see your Channels in the Tracking List.

This Programm is very comfortable, I used it too, for import show files from Strand GSX to Congo.You must only corect the times, but that`s very easy and fast with the Congo.

Also you can create ASII format into ssf.Congo to Strand.The Programm is very simple.

I wish you much fun with the Programm

Thorsten

Sorry wrong Florian, I was thinking of the one ealrlier in the string.

That link seems to work but only on my old lap top running windows 95! my PC running windows XP doesn't seem to like it

Thanks again

Matt

hi..

we get strand files all the time, we use showport, from the strand website too, it runs fine on our windows xp, we put the floppy disk with the strand file into the computer, then convert it in showport to asci, then we save it to usb, then put the usb into th congo, and it really doenst take that long either.. about 5mins to do. you should try to get it working.

it reads presets and used to only read up times, but now with software getting better its reading more things from files. some plotting will need to be done still depending on the size of the show, but we find it a big help!

claire

northern stage. newcastle

Riggwalker:

Thanks Florian,

How are things up there in Leicester? I visited you last year to look at your Congo when I was looking for one for the Grove Theatre here in Dunstable.

Is the only way to export the file on a strand desk itself?

Matt (Riggwalker)

 Hi Matt,

How are things Dunstable, I'll assume you bought one then. Things up here are good.

Florian @ Leicester 

claire:

it reads presets and used to only read up times, but now with software getting better its reading more things from files. some plotting will need to be done still depending on the size of the show, but we find it a big help!

I found it always useful to have a print out of the original Strand show file to hand.
Part cues will also be converted into Channel times. It will work fine for shows using conventional light. Due to  the  differences  in the way  moving lights are programmed , one will run in all sorts of problems. FCB Pallets all end up in the (all) Pallets on the Congo. The same is true when you work with Scrollers.

 Florian
 

Claire,

did you do any thing different to get it to run on XP? when I tried it the program seemed to work but just stopped at analising (or equivalent) but when I put it into the (old, I could say steam powered) laptop it seems to have worked OK. I have yet to try it in anger as we have a show running and I don't want to spoil it

Matt 

Florian,

Things are going well here, do come down and visit, yes I did get a Congo!

The ABTT are organising a visit on the 10th of October, otherwise please contact me

Matt

unfortunatly i didnt do anything different! i dont know why it wont run on xp?! i did just download and it worked, i didnt fiddle with any settings or anything! so im sorry i cant help there!

claire

Riggwalker:

did you do any thing different to get it to run on XP? when I tried it the program seemed to work but just stopped at analising (or equivalent) but when I put it into the (old, I could say steam powered) laptop it seems to have worked OK.

Matt 

It works fine for me, one thing I learned, the program needs to be in your root directory e.g. c:\showport\showport.exe
I hope that helps....

Florian  

Flo is right. The key here is to make sure you put showport in a folder on the root drive then copy the .ssf to that folder. The resulting .ALQ file will be written to the same folder.

Copy this to a USB stick and OPEN in the console. The console does the .ALQ to .ASC convertion. With movers it will create new templates and all pallettes for the devices.

The things you won't get currently are Macros' as these are console specific and Effects as these are built differently in the 500 series consoles however we hope to have thihs sorted with a future release. 

 If you come across any thing that doesn't come across please let the development team know.