What is the Light-O-Rama Control Panel?
The Light-O-Rama Control Panel is an application that allows convenient access all functions in the Light-O-Rama software package.
The Light-O-Rama control panel must be running in order to play scheduled shows from your computer. It also must be running in order to control lights from the Sequencer.
Running the Light-O-Rama Control Panel
To run the Light-O-Rama Control Panel, double-click the "CP" icon that was placed on your desktop during installation.
Alternatively, you can select it from your computer's Start menu, under All Programs (or "All apps") / Light-O-Rama / Light-O-Rama Control Panel:
Run the Light-O-Rama Control Panel from your computer's Start menu
Main Window
The main functions of the Control Panel are grouped into sections and listed on the left side of the screen. Clicking on a section icon or name will display the contents of that section on the right side.
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Normally, the icon and its description for each section are displayed on the left side. However, clicking the icon with the 3 horizontal lines next to the word "Menu" will turn the text off and only display the section icons. Click the Menu icon again to turn the section text back on. |
Some sections will display a "badge" on top of their icon. The badge indicates the overall status of that section, so you can know what is going on without having to actually open that section. In the picture above, the Networks and Play Shows sections are displaying a badge.
For details on each of the sections, please refer to the following:
•Controller Setup - everything related to setting up your light controllers.
•Networks - set up your lighting networks and see their status in real time.
•Test Lights - test your lights to make sure they are working
•Sequences - access to the Sequencer
•Create Shows - create and edit shows and their schedules
•Play Shows - play scheduled shows or conduct a live show
•SD Cards - create and edit SD cards for Light-O-Rama Directors
•License - register your Light-O-Rama software
•Settings - change settings that govern Control Panel operation.
Closing The Control Panel
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You close the Control Panel as you would any other Windows program -- by clicking the "X" icon in the upper right corner of the window. When you do this, the Control Panel will no longer be running and your scheduled shows will not run! If you want to keep your shows running, but no longer wish to view the Control Panel, then click the minimize "_" icon instead. |
Cloud Connection
The Light-O-Rama Control Panel has a companion mobile app so that you can control your lights without being in front of your computer. This connection is made through the "cloud" so that you can connect to your Control Panel from anywhere on planet! However, in order for it to work, your computer running the Control Panel must have an active Internet connection, and your phone running the Light-O-Rama mobile app must also have an active Internet/data connection.
Using this feature is optional, but is provided by Light-O-Rama at no extra cost - it is included with your license.
Display Number
Most people use their license to control a single display at a time. However, you might use your license to control multiple displays - for example, you have a display at your house, and a separate display at your parent's house.
Under Settings > Mobile App you can set a Display Number. Normally, you can leave this set to 1. However, in the case where you have multiple displays, you would assign a unique display number in the Control Panel for each display.
There is also a Display Number setting in the phone app. The display number set in the phone app must match the display number set in the Control Panel in order for the connection to work. While you can only control one display at a time from the phone app, you can connect to display 1, close the app, then connect to display 2, etc.
The cloud service only allows one Light-O-Rama license/display # combination to connect at a time. So if you have 2 computers with the same license and display number, the last Control Panel to connect to the cloud wins (the other will display an "X"). Same goes for the phone app.
Cloud Status Icon and Button
At the top right of the window is a cloud status icon. The icon reflects the real-time status of your cloud connection.
Icon |
Name |
Meaning |
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DISABLED
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Connection is disabled by the user. In other words, you don't want to allow a remote connection to your Control Panel. |
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DISCONNECTED |
The Control Panel was unable to connect to the cloud. Either your computer is not connected to the Internet or there is a problem with the cloud service. |
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UNPAIRED |
The Control Panel is connected to the cloud, but the phone app is not connected. |
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PAIRED |
The Control Panel is connected and the phone app is connected. |
The cloud icon is also a button. If your cloud status is disabled, then clicking the button will attempt a connection. Conversely, if you are disconnected, unpaired, or paired, clicking the button will disable the connection.
Launch At Start-up
If you wish, you can set it up so that the Control Panel will automatically be run whenever your computer starts up (and therefore you won't have to start it via the Start menu anymore). To do this, select "Launch at Startup" in the Settings section header.
Help
Selecting the "?" icon at the top right of the Control Panel window will open up the Light-O-Rama help files.