Links

About links

When a link is created, hierarchical entries are added to the Design Tree, inside the Links folder. One entry is inside the links folder of the design tree and will display what device the link resides in.  Another entry can be found in  the Devices\Links folder of any device where a link resides.  The entry can be named, modified or deleted at any point. If this entry is selected, the controls that form part of the link will be highlighted by a green border, making their identification easy. These controls are also displayed when the entry is expanded to reveal its branches. Each branch will show the name of the control and the processing object from which it derives.

Moving a link

When a link is created it specifically exists in one of the devices in the design and so if that device is not online the link will not work. The link entry in the design tree states which device the link exists in e.g. Link 1 [BLU-80]. By right clicking on the link in the design tree you have the option to move it to another device in the design. When you do this you will be presented with a dialog which lists every device in the design for you to select from. Once you have moved the link you will see that the device name for the link in the design tree has changed accordingly. You will also see that the link is now listed in the folder for the device where it resides.

Creating a link between Control Panel controls

A link is created by selecting a multiple number of controls and choosing Link Controls from the Panels menu. Alternatively, right-clicking one of the selected controls will bring up a pop-up menu in which the Link Controls and other Panel menu commands can be found. A dialog box appears prompting for a name and a link type. Clicking on 'OK' will establish the link and create its corresponding entry in the Design Tree. Expanding the link entry will reveal below it the controls that are associated with the link.

Types of links

Exact - All controls will track together at identical values, regardless of which control is operated.

Soft - All controls will track together with any offset values that existed before the link was enabled

Radio (inter-cancelling) - Allows only one control to be 'on' at one time. (does not apply to faders or rotaries)

Radio with off (inter-cancelling with cancelling) - Allows only one control to be 'on' at one time and allows the control to be set to 'off'  (does not apply to faders or rotaries)

Adding to existing links

Once a link entry exists in the Design Tree, additional controls may be associated with the link at any time. Simply click and drag the link entry from the Design Tree onto the control you wish to add. A green border will appear around the control to confirm that this link is allowed. Alternatively, click and drag the control onto the link's entry in the Design Tree.

Empty links

An alternative method for producing a link is to create the link entry first and then associate controls with it afterwards. From the Panel menu select 'Create Empty Link' and a dialog box appears prompting for a name and a link type. Clicking on 'OK'  will create an empty link in the Design Tree with which controls can be associated, using the methods described above. It is not possible to drag a logic object directly into an empty link.

Removing controls from a link

Any control can be disassociated from an existing link if it needs to revert to operating independently. Select the control you wish to remove from the link and then choose the Remove Control From Link command in the Panel menu. Alternatively, right-clicking the selected control will bring up a pop-up menu in which the Remove Control From Link command can be found. It is also possible to disassociate a control from a link by deleting its entry in the Design Tree. Controls associated with a link can be revealed by expanding the link entry. Right-clicking any of the controls will display the Remove From Link command.

Creating a link toggle button

Once a link has been made, it may be necessary during use to temporarily disable it. Every link entry in the Design Tree may have a toggling button associated with it, positioned onto a custom control panel.

To create a link toggle button, simply click and drag the link entry from the Design Tree onto a custom control panel. A vector button will appear in a link enabled state. Operate this button to disable or enable the link.

Creating a link with logic objects

It is possible to form a link between certain logic objects and a variety of Control Panel controls. The logic objects that can be part of a link are Logic Source, Logic End and Logic Comparator. To create this type of link simply drag a control from a Control Panel onto the desired logic object in the logic configuration page.

The link entries appear in the design tree in the LINKS folder and also in the DEVICES folder.  At this point, the entries can be renamed with more descriptive names.

Notes

Nesting links is not possible in London Architect.

Deleting a link toggle button does not delete the link entry.

It is highly recommended that suitably descriptive names be given to links as they are created.