[4.10.1] VC issues when using qlc+ with -f and -k
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:18 pm
The main use for qlc+ for my particular use case, involves using the VC extensively with external HIDs, like joysticks, external button matrices, etc.
Therefore, I'll mostly use qlc+ in -f and -k mode. Here are a few quirks and gotchas, that I think could be worked on, maybe.
Grand Master:
I don't really need a GM, so I'd like to remove that slider from the VC, but there's no way to do that. It only takes up screen real estate. It would be nice, if I could somehow disable the GM slider being shown in the VC.
Since I have to add a button to the VC if I want to use Black Out or Stop All Functions, I think it would make sense to have users add a dedicated slider to act as GM (kinda like you have to do already with the sub-masters in sub-frames).
Black Out:
I have to put a button onto my VC if I want to use Black Out while in -k -f mode, and/or want to assign a key/external input to it.
It kinda is a little strange to me, that I have to use VC settings menu to assign external input to the GM - a slider that I can't even get rid of - but the Black Out button isn't accessible except when there's not a copy of it on the VC. It's something that kinda threw me off and keeps me scratching my head, what the usability reasoning is behind that.
Sub Frames not draggable while in Operate Mode:
It's nice that I can close (minimize) sub-frames to just a little bar, but it I don't see why these sub-frames have to be locked in place while in Operate mode. Since I can close them, I'd like to move them around a little, depending on which one I need at the moment. (maybe make allow draggable in Operate Mode a selection in the settings for a sub frame?)
VC selector button is always visible:
When in -k and -f mode all I can see, is the VC obviously. But on the bottom of the screen, I still have the button for the VC. All the other buttons are gone, but that bar with the one button again, takes up kinda valuable screen real estate.
Multi-Monitor setups:
I'm using qlc+ on a multi-monitor setup with two screens. It would be nice, If I could expunge things like the VC, and Simple Desk from qlc+ while it's running, so I can maximize the windows at the same time on two seperate monitors.
Same thing when running in -k and -f mode: I'd like to have the DMX monitor running while I have the VC open.
The general mode of operation is having a VC on one monitor in fullscreen, and things like the Simple Desk, plus the window with the DMX monitor on the other.
qlc+ doesn't seem to be really multi-monitor aware, which isn't too much of a problem, but just being able to open VC, Simple Desk, Functions and Shows in separate windows, would go miles.
Operate Mode Contingency:
Sometimes, I'd like to do a subtle change, while in operate mode, the idea is to briefly leave operate mode, make a small change, and then engage operate mode again. Accessing this while in -k and -f mode would be nice. As in, having a key combination ready, etc. Can be obscure, so it's not hit by accident (Alt-Shift-O, for instance).
As it is now, I have to close qlc+, and restart it without the -k and -f parameters, make a few changes, and then close and restart again. The reasons this is otherwise frustrating, is because when rehearsing, this takes quite a bit of time and kinda introduces ever so slightly extra pauses, which kind of tend to accumulate quickly. Also, it happens that qlc+ crashes before it saved changes to the qxw after trying to close qlc+.
This aren't supposed to be blatant feature requests or something, it's just something that I think is worth at least taking into consideration. I don't want to come across like someone "demanding" feature "x" to be implemented because of me.
Therefore, I'll mostly use qlc+ in -f and -k mode. Here are a few quirks and gotchas, that I think could be worked on, maybe.
Grand Master:
I don't really need a GM, so I'd like to remove that slider from the VC, but there's no way to do that. It only takes up screen real estate. It would be nice, if I could somehow disable the GM slider being shown in the VC.
Since I have to add a button to the VC if I want to use Black Out or Stop All Functions, I think it would make sense to have users add a dedicated slider to act as GM (kinda like you have to do already with the sub-masters in sub-frames).
Black Out:
I have to put a button onto my VC if I want to use Black Out while in -k -f mode, and/or want to assign a key/external input to it.
It kinda is a little strange to me, that I have to use VC settings menu to assign external input to the GM - a slider that I can't even get rid of - but the Black Out button isn't accessible except when there's not a copy of it on the VC. It's something that kinda threw me off and keeps me scratching my head, what the usability reasoning is behind that.
Sub Frames not draggable while in Operate Mode:
It's nice that I can close (minimize) sub-frames to just a little bar, but it I don't see why these sub-frames have to be locked in place while in Operate mode. Since I can close them, I'd like to move them around a little, depending on which one I need at the moment. (maybe make allow draggable in Operate Mode a selection in the settings for a sub frame?)
VC selector button is always visible:
When in -k and -f mode all I can see, is the VC obviously. But on the bottom of the screen, I still have the button for the VC. All the other buttons are gone, but that bar with the one button again, takes up kinda valuable screen real estate.
Multi-Monitor setups:
I'm using qlc+ on a multi-monitor setup with two screens. It would be nice, If I could expunge things like the VC, and Simple Desk from qlc+ while it's running, so I can maximize the windows at the same time on two seperate monitors.
Same thing when running in -k and -f mode: I'd like to have the DMX monitor running while I have the VC open.
The general mode of operation is having a VC on one monitor in fullscreen, and things like the Simple Desk, plus the window with the DMX monitor on the other.
qlc+ doesn't seem to be really multi-monitor aware, which isn't too much of a problem, but just being able to open VC, Simple Desk, Functions and Shows in separate windows, would go miles.
Operate Mode Contingency:
Sometimes, I'd like to do a subtle change, while in operate mode, the idea is to briefly leave operate mode, make a small change, and then engage operate mode again. Accessing this while in -k and -f mode would be nice. As in, having a key combination ready, etc. Can be obscure, so it's not hit by accident (Alt-Shift-O, for instance).
As it is now, I have to close qlc+, and restart it without the -k and -f parameters, make a few changes, and then close and restart again. The reasons this is otherwise frustrating, is because when rehearsing, this takes quite a bit of time and kinda introduces ever so slightly extra pauses, which kind of tend to accumulate quickly. Also, it happens that qlc+ crashes before it saved changes to the qxw after trying to close qlc+.
This aren't supposed to be blatant feature requests or something, it's just something that I think is worth at least taking into consideration. I don't want to come across like someone "demanding" feature "x" to be implemented because of me.