QUICK START GUIDE
Overview
The High End Systems® HandShake™ controller for Palm OS® hand-helds provides show creation and playback along with
DMX diagnostics and remote communication to fixtures supporting TalkBack™ protocol.
The HandShake™ controller utilizes the Palm™ handheld as its user interface. The HandShake application will run on Palm OS versions 3.3 and later. The HandShake module is meant to connect directly to the Palm™ III series and Palm™ VII series of Palm handheld computer family. Form elements such as pick lists, scrollbars, menus, and direction arrows follow the Palm desktop conventions.
The HandShake controller implements the Flying Pig Systems™ fixture library as a series of Palm OS databases, one database for each of 39 supported manufacturers.
This guide shows you:
How to set up the HandShake controller
How to configure fixtures for show creation and control
The purpose and actions available for each of the major forms in the HandShake interface
How to access fixtures from High End Systems that support TalkBack protocol for remote bidirectional communication and programming
How to conserve battery power
Getting Help
Refer to the documentation for your Palm™ organizer for questions related to the Palm desktop or Palm OS interface.
Refer to the CD shipped with your HandShake controller for release notes.
Online Help
is available on most forms and dialog boxes. Tap on to access help for that form. Use the direction arrow(s) to scroll one line of text. Hold stylus down on arrow to scroll through the text continuously. Tap on to return to the form.
Customer Service and Updates
are available from High End Systems by calling 800.890.8989 or on the web at www.highend.com
© 2001, High End Systems, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Information and specifications in this document are subject to change without notice. High End Systems, Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual. The fixture software is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
Trademarks: High End Systems, Wholehog are registered trademarks; and HandShake, the Hog logo, the Lightwave Research logo, and the High End Systems globe logo are trademarks of High End Systems, Inc. or Flying Pig Systems, Ltd.. HotSync, Graffiti, and Palm OS are registered trademarks; and Palm, the Palm trade dress are trademarks of Palm, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. High End Systems disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names owned by others.
P/N 60600182 Version 1.0 January, 2001 Printed in the USA
Getting Started
Installing Software
Before installing the HandShake application and fixture libraries on the handheld, perform a HotSync operation to backup all important files.
On the Palm Desktop, select the Install tool.
Select the appropriate user in the User popup.
Click on the Add button and use the Open dialog to browse to the disk and directory containing the HandShake.prc resource file.
Select the HandShake.prc file and tap the Open button. The HandShake.prc file will appear in the Install Tool.
Click on the Add button again. Use the Open dialog to browse to the disk and directory where the fixture libraries are located.
Click on a manufacturer’s database file that is to be installed. To install all databases, strike Ctrl-A on the keyboard. To install selected files, hold down the Ctrl keyboard button and use the mouse to select the appropriate files.
Now tap the Open button on the Open dialog. All selected files appear in the Install tool.
Tap the Done button on the Install Tool. The Install tool responds that the files will be installed on the handheld during the next HotSync. Tap Ok.
After you perform a HotSync operation, the HandShake application and fixture databases appear on the handheld.
Setup HandShake Module
Slide battery door [a] open and install the 2 AAA batteries shipped with your HandShake controller.
Attach power cord connector [b] (optional) and data cable [c].
Attach Data connector [d] to fixture or DMX link.
Plug HandShake into the Palm handheld.
Slide HandShake power switch [e] left to turn on.
Start HandShake
Turn on Palm handheld and tap Applications icon.
The HandShake will look for a data-connection upon loading.
Choose HandShake from the application menu.
Select the major form you want from the Main form.
Conserving Battery Power
Set the following values on the DMX Options form:
Break time 88 µsec, Mark after break time 8 µsec, and
Mark between bytes at 0 µsec.
Tristate on (turns on the DMX transmitter only when transmitting data and off during the time between data packets).
Frames/sec value should be the lowest number that delivers acceptable fixture movement.
Transmit only DMX channels required by the current fixture configuration.
Palm™ organizer
HandShake™ module
f a b e c
Palm connector
Battery Door
Data Cable
d
Data
Connector
Connect power cord
Configuring Fixtures for the
HandShake™ Controller
Select a
Manufacturer from the manufacturer pick list
Select a Fixture from the fixture pick list
Add the fixture to the list. After the first fixture, you have the option to add Before or
After (before or after the selected fixture or to the beginning or the end of the list).
HandShake adds the fixture to the List Select and Plot
Select forms and assigns a Start Channel based on the next valid channel value available.
Set Swap and Invert by checking boxes
PTS = Pan Tilt Swap
I = Pan invert
TI = Tilt invert
Tap on the box to select
Select one or more fixtures
Tap on fixture number to select
Delete a Fixture
Tap Delete to delete a selected fixture from the list
Modify a channel assignment
Tap the current start channel number to bring up the system keyboard. Enter a new number and tap Done to return to the Fixture
Setup Form.
Fixture Setup
configures fixtures on a DMX link for HandShake control
Select fixtures from fixture library
Add selected fixtures to the beginning or end of list
Set DMX Start channel automatically or manually
Delete a fixture from a list
Swap or invert Pan and/or Tilt on applicable fixtures
Uploads
carries out uploading from HandShake application to High End Systems fixtures on the link that support TalkBack protocol
View fixture upload databases installed on handheld
Find HES fixtures on the datalink
Select the fixture family to upload
Execute uploads and monitor progress or errors
TalkBack
protocol allows remote access to High
End Systems fixtures’ menu systems
Identify and retrieve the unique number of any fixtures on the link
Retrieve (Get) information and parameter and operation settings from selected fixtures
Edit (Set) parameters and fixture operations such as boot copy or self tests
View a list (Details) of all possible information and parameter values of a selected fixture
Retrieve and clear errors on fixtures
Presets
allows programming and playback in High
End Systems fixtures supporting stand-alone presets
Program stand-alone presets
Retrieve presets from the fixtures for archival purposes.
Start and stop preset playback
DMX Options
controls timing values associated with the transmission of DMX data.
Control frame rate, break time, mark-after-break time and mark-between-bytes time
Set Tristate powersave option
Set number of frames/second
DMX Oscilloscope
indicates activity for the data on the DMX link.
Display Channel values graphically
Adjust horizontal resolution
Scroll through the DMX channels
Fixture
Configuration,
Utilities and
DMX Control/
Diagnostics
Main
accesses all major forms
Exit HandShake
Go directly to any major form
Access info and preferences options from menus in title bar
Show Creation and Control
Show
stores and retrieves show databases
Store a show externally
Retrieve an externally stored show
Attach a note up to 59 characters to a show
View statistics for an internally stored show
Delete internally stored show databases
Cue List
combines a series of Chases and assigns a start and stop time for each Chase
Set the order in which Chases will be played
Assign a start time and a stop time to the Chases
Play the show or selected Cue List entries
Chases
define a list of cues to perform in sequence and assigns delay and crossfade times
Set the order in which Cues will be played
Set crossfade and delay times for each Chase step
Control the Chase playback
Cues
sets up cues for editing
Add a new Cue
Edit a Cue name with up to 9 characters
Select a Cue for editing by tapping its number
Set DMX channels to Default values
Copy the DMX values of one Cue to another cue
Copy the DMX values of one Cue to all fixtures selected in the List or Plot Select forms
Cue Edit
adjusts the parameters of selected cues
Adjust Pan and Tilt with fine or course control
Flip Pan and Tilt on applicable fixtures
Select Parameters and adjust DMX values
Access Grand Master to scale the values output on
Intensity channels
List Selection
lists fixtures by number and type to select for editing
Select one or more fixtures of same type for editing
Invert the current selection from the configured fixtures of the same type
Select a range of fixtures
Remove a fixture from a selected range of fixtures
Select All the fixtures of a single type
Copy and Paste cue parameters between fixtures
Plot Selection
shows fixture numbers
Move numbers on the screen to represent physical layout of fixtures
Set Default position for a rectangular array
Perform all fixture selection, copy and paste functions as List Select form
TalkBack™ Protocol — remote access to fixture menus
TalkBack™ technology is a new feature that allows remote access to the menu system built into High End Systems fixtures. Any menu item available is accessible remotely with Talkback protocol.
TalkBack protocol uses the normal DMX-512 connection for bi-directional communication with the fixture so you don't need physical access to perform operations like changing a DMX address or configuring preset programs. You can configure any fixture supporting TalkBack protocol on a DMX-512 link if you have access to the cable.
TalkBack protocol uses a discovery process to find the unique number that is embedded inside each fixture, similar to a serial number. The
HandShake controller utilizes this discovery process to find all the fixture on the link supporting TalkBack protocol.
Once the fixtures have all been identified, the current fixture parameter settings and information can be discovered. Fixture discovery can happen at anytime, but the Talkback messages are only valid after the fixture starts homing.
TalkBack protocol utilizes the primary DMX link (pins 2-3) in a half-duplex communication mode. This means that it does not require pins 4-
5 to be connected or used to receive TalkBack messages coming from the fixture.
Identify Fixture
1. Tap to find all fixtures on the link supporting
TalkBack protocol
2. Select the fixture for communication
4. Tap Set to bring up dialog box to turn on FIxture ID
Set Start Channel
1. Tap to select fixture from pick list of HES fixtures on link.
3. Tap pick list of function groups and select Operations
3. Tap to popup pick list of parameters actions
5. Select On to cause that fixture to strobe wherever it is on the link.
Select Set again to turn the strobing to Off.
5. Tap Set button to go to dialog box for setting parameters required for selected action.
2. Tap pick list of function groups and select Parameters
4. Select Start Channel from parameters action pick list
6. Tap Get to retrieve current setting
Tap Details to see all information and parameter values for selected fixture.
