Feature requests

[Malte Hauge]

Dear Drafty team.

I've been playing around for a couple of hours now and been through your 10 page user/quick start guide.

It all looks really promising!

I have a couple of things I would love to see in coming updates, though:

1. User driven fixture library with curation for quality purposes. Or at least the possibility to rename the fixture types, so you can find the most  appropriate icon and then just call it whatever it actually is in the Symbol Key + Database.
   
2. Possibility to freely change unit numbers. I personally use unit numbers according to fixture ID's on my console, often based on type, rather than placement on my flying bars. This could be a thing entirely done in the database, if people like me wanted to give alternative ID numbers. Another thing is dotted unit numbers, like "2.2" or "3.1". I often use this like "Lx.Unit", which often makes sense when programming. Maybe it would be nice to have distinct channel and DMX numbers?
   
3. Ability to more freely give custom channel numbers. For an instance, if putting DMX-adresses for movers, adding a letter or another number in front, to indicate the DMX univers. For an instance "A203" or "1.203", but still having the +XX thing, which works great by the way!
   
4. Ability to redefine coordinate 0,0 to where you have moved the CL + PL. Sometimes it's easier to have the PL in the middle of the stage and  work from there.
   
5. Ability to select what info for fixture should be shown on the drawing. Sometimes I want gel numbers shown on the drawing, sometimes not. Same thing with channel numbers.
   
6. A general settings page with the basic settings for all new documents you create. I'm European and therefore always work metric, use ISO 216 for paper sizes, I don't need the text disclaimer and the credit list on the border etc. BTW, frame sizes in the database still shows in imperial, even though the document is set to metric. I'm aware that I can rewrite it myself - just a minor thing.

That's it for now. Keep up the good work! I can easily see this becoming my go to tool for doing light plots. Especially if you do a native Mac app at some point!

[Drafty App User Group]

Hello Malte,

This is wonderful feedback. Thank you so much!

A few of these items are already available in the program. See my notes between lines.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 11:12:27 AM UTC-5, Malte Hauge wrote:

User driven fixture library with curation for quality purposes. Or at least the possibility to rename the fixture types, so you can find the most  appropriate icon and then just call it whatever it actually is in the Symbol Key + Database.

 

The 'Key' Feature already does renaming. When a light is selected put your new name in the Key box and that name will display on the instrument key. As for custom symbol libraries it is on the list but lower priority than a lot of other features. We are considering open sourcing the symbol library itself to allow for crowdsourced symbols if there is sufficient interest. We also plan to add (very soon) a few generic fixtures to allow for lights not in our library.

 

Possibility to freely change unit numbers. I personally use unit numbers according to fixture ID's on my console, often based on type, rather than placement on my flying bars. This could be a thing entirely done in the database, if people like me wanted to give alternative ID numbers. Another thing is dotted unit numbers, like "2.2" or "3.1". I often use this like "Lx.Unit", which often makes sense when programming. Maybe it would be nice to have distinct channel and DMX numbers?

We can easily add a feature to turn off Auto-numbering. Putting it on the todo list now…

 

Ability to more freely give custom channel numbers. For an instance, if putting DMX-adresses for movers, adding a letter or another number in front, to indicate the DMX universe. For an instance "A203" or "1.203", but still having the +XX thing, which works great by the way!

Not sure I understand. DMX address would go under the Dimmer field. High on our list is adding visibility controls for DMX/Dimmer and circuit info. You can enter values like 2/201 for universe/address. But I notice that incrementing does not work right with that syntax. Adding to the list…

 

Ability to redefine coordinate 0,0 to where you have moved the CL + PL. Sometimes it's easier to have the PL in the middle of the stage and  work from there.

You can do this now. On the Dimensions Layer (4 key) select the line you wish to move and hold down Shift and drag.

 

Ability to select what info for fixture should be shown on the drawing. Sometimes I want gel numbers shown on the drawing, sometimes not. Same thing with channel numbers.

Agreed. It is already on the list. 

A general settings page with the basic settings for all new documents you create. I'm European and therefore always work metric, use ISO 216 for paper sizes, I don't need the text disclaimer and the credit list on the border etc. BTW, frame sizes in the database still shows in imperial, even though the document is set to metric. I'm aware that I can rewrite it myself - just a minor thing.

Good catch on Metric frame sizes. My apologies. Added to the list…

 

That's it for now. Keep up the good work! I can easily see this becoming my go to tool for doing light plots. Especially if you do a native Mac app at some point!

Very glad to hear this. We put out updates with new features regularly so stay tuned for more fun things to come…

-The Drafty Team 

[Drafty App User Group]

We implemented several of these features and put out an update today. See https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/drafty/fx7EtofEwQE for details.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 11:12:27 AM UTC-5, Malte Hauge wrote: