QLab 5 and QLab 4

[tcgass]

Hi all,

I take care of several theatres for which I create QLab Workspaces. Some of them have no intention of switching to QLab 5. My two main questions about the new version are therefore:
If I upgrade my own licence to version 5, can I export a workspace that is compatible with version 4?
Are all version 4 workspaces loadable in version 5?

Many thanks for your input

Thomas

[Chris Ashworth]

Hi Thomas,

Workspaces made in v5 can not be exported for v4. 

Workspaces made in v4 can be imported to v5, but should (as usual) be checked to confirm they behave as expected after import.

-C

[tcgass]

Thanks Chris for your feedback! On the other hand this means, that I won't be able work for customers using version 4, correct? Or can I run both versions 4 and 5 on my systems?

Thomas

[Christopher Ashworth]

Hi Thomas,

I should have also said that yes, you can use either version with a v5 license.

A computer with a v5 license can open either v5 or v4.7 — the one license on that computer is recognized by both, so you can work in either 

C

(mobile)

On Sep 23, 2022, at 7:37 AM, tcgass <in...@thomascgass.ch> wrote:



--

[tomjo...@gmail.com]

I came to ask a similar question. I'd like to play with QLab 5 but my laptop is currently still running 10.14, so I can't yet move to QLab 4.  But it would be good to install QLab 5 on my Mac Pro to play about with it there.

So to run QLab 5 and QLab 4 side by side on the same system, it's fine for me to install the new Qlab 5 "Qlab.app" into a separate folder or with a different name, in parallel to QLab 4's "Qlab.app" in /Applications? Given both versions will be called Qlab.app, I can't just install QLab5 as normal else it would overwrite.

And then with both installed side by side, with different names or in different folders, both will work?  QLab 5 won't write any global settings files in a format that will break QLab 4, or anything like that?

Thanks

[Chris Ashworth]

Hi there,

Yes, both applications can be installed side-by-side on the same machine. They use different preferences files and generally won’t interfere with each other.

The two risks of interference are:

1) If you run both at the same time, the one that is launched second won’t be able to use the network ports used by the first.  (If you only run one at a time this won’t come up.)

2) You should take a bit of care to make sure that you’re running the version you think you’re running — for example, opening a workspace file by double clicking might end up opening a version you weren’t expecting, so it’s safer to launch the application first and then use it to open the workspaces you want.

Best,

C

[tomjo...@gmail.com]

That's great, thanks very much!

[micpool]

On Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 2:52:03 PM UTC+1 ch...@figure53.com wrote:

1) If you run both at the same time, the one that is launched second won’t be able to use the network ports used by the first.  (If you only run one at a time this won’t come up.)

I think there are 2 further caveats to be added to this when running QLab 4 alongside QLab 5 in similar cases to this use case.:

QLab 5 video is having an issue that QLab 4.7 isn't and I've been advised by support to switch to 4.7 because they don't what's wrong. Problem is sound and video were going to be from the same computer since the video computer was the only one that could run 5. Sound designer has already done design in 5 before I realized I needed to switch. So now I need to fire a QLab 4 and 5 workspace simultaneously on the same computer. None of my normal ideas have worked. Anyone know if it's even possible to do in either direction? 

Or, for instance, if you needed to have a few video cues running in QLab 4 because you needed to use quartz custom effects etc.

They are,

Changing the port number on QLab 5 and starting that first doesn't release its default ports of 53000/1 so QLab 4 can use them, as QLab 5 still uses them for other things.

Sending messages from one version of the program to the other via localhost doesn't work because each QLab version uses that IP address as a local loopback (within it's own version), so you need to use 127.0.0.1 to access the network stack for that machine. 

Mic

[tcgass]

Thanks micpool for your detailed information! I appreciate this very much.

Still "struglling" a little bit with the V4 versus V5 situation here - for me it's clear, I'll update to V5. Yet, I have a couple of "unique" clients, e.g: One client operates 2 escape rooms, completely controlled by QLab V4. He's working on a third one using his V4 3rd editing licence. Regarding the update to version 5, he expressed concerns that version 4 would then no longer run - we have clarified that so far.
But if he were to update anyway, he would be left with two different systems. And with the new licensing system, he would no longer be able to pre-program the third escape room.... And a general question: if he were to buy one or two additional licences in addition to the update of his existing licence 4 to version 5, would he also have a special price and, if so, what would it be?

[Christopher Ashworth]

Strictly speaking, he is actually using the v4 license beyond the terms of the license, as each v4 license is intended to be used on one show, and it sounds like he is using one on 3.

In contrast, the two activations of a v5 license can be used more or less however you like, including on different shows.

But either way if he writes in to support we can help describe the various options!

(mobile)

On Oct 14, 2022, at 6:54 PM, tcgass <in...@thomascgass.ch> wrote:

Thanks micpool for your detailed information! I appreciate this very much.

--
Contact support anytime: sup...@figure53.com
Follow QLab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QLabApp
User Group Code of Conduct: https://qlab.app/code-of-conduct/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "QLab" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to qlab+uns...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/qlab/927a89a3-0c08-45bf-bba7-6a13e9d2faean%40googlegroups.com.

[tcgass]

"Strictly speaking, he is actually using the v4 license beyond the terms of the license, as each v4 license is intended to be used on one show, and it sounds like he is using one on 3"

If you look at it more closely, this is not the case: he is only using the third activation to programme a future show. The two existing ones - on two separate computers - each control an Escape Room, but these cannot be operated at the same time. In this respect, his set-up is no different from a theatre that plays Hamlet on Monday, King Richard on Tuesday and The Taming of the Shrew on Wednesday.

Unlike a theatre, he cannot change the stage, but uses 3 different sets, but not simultaneously. 

So my question is more along the lines of: is there a way to use version 5 in such a setup on various computers, or does a separate license has to be bought for each computer?

[Seablade -]

Not gonna touch the question on pricing, but I will point out that you can rent a license as needed, which I have done in similar situations in the past very effectively, and Figure53 has a great program where you get credit towards the purchase of a license for each dollar spent on rental.

      Thomas

[Chris Ashworth]

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

I think in this case it does still sound to me like, for version 4, these would be considered 2 separate shows that would need 2 licenses.

However, the answer for v5 is simple, and this change was made in large part to make questions like this no longer a question of interpretation.

One v5 license with two activations can be used however they want, in this case for the 2 separate computers.  For programming a future show on a 3rd computer, that would be an additional license (rental or otherwise).

[Egill Ingibergsson]

Hi,

Could he not have the license on a USB-key and move it between computers? That way he is always using the main-license.
Egill

[Chris Ashworth]

Yup! Moving a main activation around (via either uninstalling/reinstalling or USB drive) is certainly a fine way to use it.

[Todd Edwards]

How can one install their license to USB?

Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 16, 2022, at 7:11 AM, Chris Ashworth <ch...@figure53.com> wrote:



--
Contact support anytime: sup...@figure53.com
Follow QLab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QLabApp
User Group Code of Conduct: https://qlab.app/code-of-conduct/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "QLab" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to qlab+uns...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/qlab/CADv1a49jLqQiYqUqowP0Uw5bQLc_6xPUYhQok-pEWkYHM0p%3DWg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Chris Ashworth]

Details here: https://qlab.app/docs/v5/general/licenses/#usb-licenses 

[Todd Edwards]

Thanks!!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 16, 2022, at 2:15 PM, Chris Ashworth <ch...@figure53.com> wrote:



--
Contact support anytime: sup...@figure53.com
Follow QLab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QLabApp
User Group Code of Conduct: https://qlab.app/code-of-conduct/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "QLab" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to qlab+uns...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/qlab/CADv1a4_S_gCmK7mnHjGZpNnVniRjd6josjawtVWWwzf7zhAGyg%40mail.gmail.com.