Merging Patches

This topic includes:

Introduction

Merging several Patches into a single Patch is a feature and part of the MADRIX 5 Patch Editor. Learn more »Patch Editor

Overview

While the Patch Editor can only load and activate 1 Patch at a time, it allows you to merge Patches together.
That means you can combine separate Patch files into one Patch file.

▪The Patch Editor allows you to merge 2 Patches in one procedure.

▪By repeating the procedure, you can merge more than 2 Patches.

Merging several Patches can be useful, for example, when:

▪Working on a large LED installation and first creating and testing the Patch for each section separately.

▪Having different team members create different parts of an overall Patch.

▪Wanting to join two separate LED projects into one larger project later.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1] Create Your Patches

▪In order to merge two Patches, the different Patches need to be ready and available first.

▪Make sure to have all Patch files saved and available in one location, such as the hard drive of your computer.

Patch 1 Example	Patch 2 Example

2] Load Patch 1

▪Load Patch 1 in the Patch Editor [menu Preferences > Patch Editor... > File > Open Patch...].

▪Or load Patch 1 as part of a MADRIX 5 Setup [menu File > Open Setup...].

3] Activate The Merge Patches Feature

▪Go to the menu Preferences > Patch Editor... > File > Merge Patches...

▪Select Patch 2 from its stored location, such as the hard drive of your computer.

▪A new window will open.

4] Adjust The Settings

▪The Merge Patches windows provides information about Patch 1 and Patch 2 and it requires you to adjust several settings in order that both Patches are merged according to your requirements.

▪See the following table for more information:

General Information
Properties	Patch 1	Patch 2	Merged Patch
DMX Fixture Count	Shows the total number of DMX fixtures included in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of DMX fixtures included in Patch 2.	Shows the total number of DMX fixtures that will be included when the Patches are merged into one Patch.
DVI Fixture Count	Shows the total number of DVI fixtures included in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of DVI fixtures included in Patch 2.	Shows the total number of DVI fixtures that will be included when the Patches are merged into one Patch.
Fixture Group Count	Shows the total number of fixture groups in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of fixture groups in Patch 2.	Shows the total number of fixture groups that will be included when the Patches are merged into one Patch.

Merge Settings
Properties	Patch 1	Patch 2	Adjusted Patch 2
Fixture IDs	Shows the unique identifiers for fixtures included in Patch 1.	Shows the unique identifiers for fixtures included in Patch 2.	- Since all Fixture IDs need to be unique, the settings for Patch 2 need to be adjusted here. - Adjust this setting as needed. - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide a sensible suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Please enter the first Fixture ID and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the range of values.
Fixture Group IDs	Shows the unique identifiers for fixture groups included in Patch 1.	Shows the unique identifiers for fixture groups included in Patch 2.	- Since all Fixture Group IDs need to be unique, the settings for Patch 2 need to be adjusted here. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide a sensible suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Please enter the first Fixture Group ID and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the range of values.

Map Area X	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 1 along the X-axis (e.g., position 1 - 50) and how many pixels are mapped in X in total (e.g., 50 px).	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 2 along the X-axis (e.g., position 1 - 50) and how many pixels are mapped in X in total (e.g., 50 px).	- Defines the adjusted position of Patch 2 in X. - Allows you to position Patch 2 to the left, to the right, or overlapped on top of Patch 1. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - Please enter the first position in X and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the value range.
Map Area Y	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 1 along the Y-axis (e.g., position 1 - 50) and how many pixels are mapped in Y in total (e.g., 50 px).	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 2 along the Y-axis (e.g., position 1 - 50) and how many pixels are mapped in Y in total (e.g., 50 px).	- Defines the adjusted position of Patch 2 in Y. - Allows you to position Patch 2 above, below, or overlapped on top of Patch 1. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - Please enter the first position in Y and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the value range.
Map Area Z	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 1 along the Z-axis (e.g., position 1) and how many pixels are mapped in Z in total (e.g., 1 px).	Shows where fixtures are mapped in Patch 2 along the Z-axis (e.g., position 1) and how many pixels are mapped in Z in total (e.g., 1 px).	- Defines the adjusted position of Patch 2 in Z. - Allows you to position Patch 2 in front, behind, or overlapped on top of Patch 1. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - Please enter the first position in Z and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the value range.

DMX Universes	Shows which DMX universes are used in Patch 1.	Shows which DMX universes are used in Patch 2.	- Defines the adjusted DMX universes for Patch 2. - Allows you to re-address your fixtures. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - Please enter the first DMX universe and MADRIX 5 will automatically set up the value range.

Properties	Patch 1	Patch 2	Merged Patch
Matrix Size X	Shows the total number of DMX fixtures included in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of DMX fixtures included in Patch 2.	- Defines the Matrix Size in X that will be set when the Patches are merged into one Patch. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide the maximum value as a suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Make sure that all fixtures from Patch 1 and Patch 2 will be included in the final Matrix Size.
Matrix Size Y	Shows the total number of DVI fixtures included in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of DVI fixtures included in Patch 2.	- Defines the Matrix Size in Y that will be set when the Patches are merged into one Patch. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide the maximum value as a suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Make sure that all fixtures from Patch 1 and Patch 2 will be included in the final Matrix Size.
Matrix Size Z	Shows the total number of fixture groups in Patch 1.	Shows the total number of fixture groups in Patch 2.	- Defines the Matrix Size in Z that will be set when the Patches are merged into one Patch. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide the maximum value as a suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Make sure that all fixtures from Patch 1 and Patch 2 will be included in the final Matrix Size.
Color Depth	Shows the maximum color depth as defined in Patch 1.	Shows the maximum color depth as defined in Patch 2.	- Defines the color depth that will be set when the Patches are merged into one Patch. - Adjust this setting as needed. [Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows the value to be edited. Enter - Applies the edited values.] - MADRIX 5 will automatically provide the maximum value as a suggestion for you [Spacebar - Restores this automatic value]. - Make sure to use the maximum color depth from Patch 1 and Patch 2 in order to allow for all possible fixtures.

▪Please set up all settings of the column Adjusted Patch 2 as required and confirm with OK

▪You can abort the process at any time with Cancel

5] Result

▪As a result of the Merge Patches procedure, you will now have created 1 Patch out of 2 Patches.

▪Overlapping will be activated in the Patch Editor automatically if needed.

▪The Workspace of the Patch Editor will be extended automatically if needed.

▪All imported fixtures of Patch 2 will be automatically selected for you after the procedure.

▪You can use Undo or Redo to rewind the procedure or apply it again after a rewinding.

▪Make sure to save your Patch or MADRIX 5 Setup afterwards!

Merge Settings Result Example

Merged Patch Result Example