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Creating a Show (Building a "SETLIST")
ShadowScript
can read plain TEXT files (txt) and Rich Text
Format (rtf) files that are produced by Apple's
Textedit or Microsoft's Word text editors as
well as files created by many other programs.
To create a SETLIST for a show, select "Add File.." from the FILE menu or simply "Drag-and-Drop" txt
or rtf files onto either the EDITPAD or the SETLIST
on ShadowScript's MAIN screen. (As you add files, they are automatically added to the SETLIST in the order in which you add them. You can also add multiple files at once.)
After
adding all the files for a show you should save the
SETLIST
by clicking on the "SAVE Setlist" button. SETLISTs are saved with a "ShadowScript Setlist" extension ("sss".)
About "RTF" Files
Although
the "RTF" file format is a "standard" we've seen
some very imaginative and complicated ways of using
the
"standard"! As such, we can't guarantee ShadowScript
can read ALL of the "RTF" formatted files
you may find or run across. We've tried to make sure
ShadowScript
can
read the RTF
files created by most popular programs like Microsoft's
Word, and Apple's TextEdit. However, if you find
an RTF file that ShadowScript doesn't handle properly,
please send us an email with a copy! We can't promise
we can make ShadowScript decipher it, but we can
certainly
"give
it a shot"!
Problems
with RTF Files
If
you have an RTF file that is causing problems in
ShadowScript you can "clean it up" by using the built-in
text
editing program "TextEdit" on the Macintosh by
following these steps:
- Open
the file using TextEdit by either launching TextEdit
and selecting "OPEN" under the File menu
or "drag-and-drop" the RTF file onto TextEdit's icon.
- Make
an 'insignificant change in the file such as adding
a space on a line and then deleting it.(this
makes TextEdit think the file has changed and it
will re-write the file completely when saved.)
- Save
the file by selecting "Save" or "Save As" under
the File menu. (NOTE: Make sure the FILE
FORMAT is
set to "Rich
Text
Format" before saving!) You can save it under the
same name as the original RTF file, if you like...it
will be overwritten with the cleaned-up version.)
- Now,
close TextEdit and open ShadowScript and reload
the file.
Creating/Editing Files
 To
create a new file, click on the "NEW FILE" button or select "New File..." from
the FILE menu. You can then add text and styles
using the EDITPAD on the MAIN SCREEN.
 To
EDIT a file already added to the SETLIST, click on
the filename inside the SETLIST and then click on
the "EDIT FILE" button next to the SETLIST.
NOTE: While
editing in with ShadowScript, you never have to
guess about where the lines will wrap!
TrueView:
The EDITPAD automatically scales itself to be
a small
EXACT
replica of your teleprompt monitor screen width!
Where ever the lines wrap in the EDITPAD, they
will also wrap on the MONITORS! This way, chords,
notes, etc you place above the lyrics will
STAY TOGETHER on the monitors!
(Of course, if you change the resolution of your
monitors, the lines will wrap in a different
place. In that instance, simply load the Setlist
with
the current show and check the lines in with
ether the EDITPAD or the PREVIEW window. Make any
adjustments
using ShadowScript's EDITPAD editing and you're
all set!
 When
you are finished editing, save your changes by clicking
on the "SAVE" button at the top of the
EDITPAD.
 If
you wish to abort editing without saving your changes,
click on the "ABORT EDITING" button at
the top of the EDITPAD.
Arranging the Setlist Files
To rearrange the order of the files in the setlist, there are two methods:
-
If
you are changing the position of only one or
two files, simply select the file(s) you want
to move and Drag-and-Drop into the new location
in the Setlist. (The Setlist will be reloaded
in the new order automatically.)
-
 If
you are rearranging many files it is more expedient
to click on the "REORDER" button at
the right of the SETLIST. This will bring up
the REORDER Screen, which allows you to move
many files without the delay of reloading the
entire show into memory during each file move.
When you are satisfied with the new order click
the OK button and the entire SETLIST will be
reloaded in the new order and you will be ready
to go.
NOTE:
Many performances differ by only a few files (songs)
or a slightly different order for shows performed
on different days of the week or in different locations.You
can easily create slightly different SETLISTs by
starting with one SETLIST and saving it as the "master" SETLIST. Then by making the changes, you can save the different SETLISTs for each performance, saving them under the names that identify each show such as "Tuesday" or "Miami",
etc.
Loading an Entire Show/Loading a New Show
To
load a complete show, simply select "Open Setlist" under the FILE menu or Drag-and-Drop a SETLIST file (with the extension "sss")
onto the SETLIST on the MAIN Screen. You can very
quickly load an entire show (or switch to another
nearly instantly) using the Drag-and-Drop method!
Previewing the Show
To see what the actual show prompts will look like after loading your SETLIST, simply click on the PREVIEW Button on the MAIN Screen. The PREVIEW screen is a smaller EXACT REPLICA of what the teleprompt monitors will show!
While previewing, all NAVIGATIONAL and SPEED controls are operational also.
Controlling Scrolling Speed and Direction
Controlling the SPEED and DIRECTION of scrolling in ShadowScript is done by one of two interchangeable methods:
- With the MOUSE (or an external controller emulating a mouse.) Moving the mouse UP starts scrolling in the upward direction. The farther you move the mouse, the faster the scrolling speed. Moving the mouse DOWN slows and then reverses the scrolling direction.
-
With
the keyboard keys 1 - 9 or an external controller
like a FOOTPEDAL that emulates
keyboard keys.. Speed at the 1 key is the slowest,
while speed with the 9 key is the fastest. The
zero (0) key halts scrolling. (To scroll in the
REVERSE
direction using the keyboard keys, hold the OPTION
key while hitting the 1 - 9 speed keys.)
- The
SPACEBAR "toggles" scrolling "ON" and "OFF" whether
you control speed with the mouse or the keyboard
keys. HItting the SPACEBAR ONCE halts scrolling.
Hitting it a SECOND time, resumes scrolling at
the SPEED you were using when your FIRST hit the
SPACEBAR.
Active Keyboard Keys
The
following keys are active when running ShadowScript:
Active Keys
Using
External Controllers
You
may use external controllers that emulate either
a MOUSE or the KEYBOARD keys 0 - 9 (or both) to control
ShadowScript during a show.
A
FOOTPEDAL that can be set to send the SPACEBAR key
can be used by a solo performer
by starting scrolling for the "SET" by
using a key from 1 to 9 and then immediately hitting
the SPACEBAR to suspend scrolling. Then, during the
performance the FOOTPAD can toggle scrolling ON and
OFF using the foot switch by sending the SPACEBAR
key.
FOOTPEDALS
that can send multiple keys can be set to send the
SPEED keys from 0 to 9 and thereby control the speed
of scrolling as well!
Navigation
The
following keyboard keys control navigation and are active during SCROLLING:
HOME - Jumps to the first line of the show
END - Jumps to the last line
in the show
Page Up - Jumps to the first line in the previous
file (song).
Page Down - Jumps to the first
line in the NEXT file (song).
Up Arrow - Jumps to the first
line in the previous file (song).
Down
Arrow - Jumps to the next INDEX
MARK or the first line in the next file,
whichever comes first (allows skipping over song
intros, narrations, etc.)
To jump to ANY line in the show:
- Scroll the EDITPAD to until you find the line you
want to go to (you can also use the "Find Text" field
above the EDITPAD.)
- Click your mouse in the line to place the cursor
in the line you want to jump to.
- Click
on the "GoToLine" button, located to the right of
the EDITPAD.
To jump to the beginning of any song (file) in the
show:
- Scroll the SETLIST to show the file (song) you
want to go to.
- Click
your mouse on the file,selecting it.
- Click on the "GoToFile" button just to the right
of the SETLIST.
Audible
Mode
 ShadowScript
has an "Audible Mode" for songs or other events
that weren't in the original Setlist for the show,
but
are "called out" on-the-spot. to use Audible Mode,
just click on the "Audible Mode" button at
the right of the Setlist. The
current Setlist and your exact position (the EXACT
LINE) in the show will be
saved and the screens will be cleared ready for you
to "drag-and-drop" the audible song(s) onto the now
empty Setlist. A new Setlist will be created with
whatever you drop onto it, with the new song cued
up and ready to go in the Editpad, Preview and on
the SCROLL monitors (you will be positioned on the
first line of the first song, ready to go!)
 To
RETURN from audible mode, click on the Audible Return
button. You will be returned to the EXACT LINE in
the show you were on before you clicked the Audible
button!
Exiting
SCROLL (teleprompt) Mode
  To
exit SCROLL (teleprompt) mode (and return to the
MAIN SCREEN if you have only one video output), hit
either the ESC key or the PERIOD key
on the keyboard.
Selecting
Monitor Resolution and Refresh Rate
We
recommend setting whatever video output you are
going to use as the teleprompt monitor to a resolution
of no more than 1024 x 768 and a maximum of 60 hz
refresh rate, whether this is the only (MAIN) screen
or a
secondary
independent
video
output. (If you are using independent secondary video
out for the teleprompt monitors, you can set the
control
desktop to any resolution desired.) On older computers
with slower video systems, lower resolutions
make
the
scrolling
smoother.
The
FONT
size is automatically scaled to whatever the screen
resolution you select.
NOTE: Make
sure you close and restart ShadowScript after changing
monitor resolutions to
ensure it knows of the change!
Selecting Independent Video
Outputs
If your computer supports independent VIDEO OUT, ShadowScript supports using the MAIN screen for CONTROL and the SECOND VIDEO OUT for the scrolling teleprompt monitors. If your computer supports it, the ShadowScript MAIN window will display the Monitor Screen Selection radio buttons: 
For
best usage, arrange your monitors with the MAIN (1)
to the left and the AUX (2) or second output to the
RIGHT, like this: 
In
this configuration, select "2" as your
Scrolling Screen for best results.
NOTE:
Many times it is less expensive to use standard
NTSC/PAL video monitors for the teleprompt monitors,
driven from an independent second video output
with a scan converter. In that case, lowering the
second
video
output's resolution down to standard television
resolutions such as 720 x 480 can speed up scrolling
and make scrolling smoother on older computers
with
slower
video systems.
Before
Running the Show
NOTE: One
of the FIRST things to do before a show is to SET
YOUR COMPUTER'S CLOCK to the local time and date
of the VENUE! This will ensure the TIME/DATE on
the BLANKING SCREEN shows the correct local time
and date (if you choose to use that feature.)
ShadowScript
has software that attempts to prevent such things
as Screensavers, Sleep, etc. from happening during
SCROLL mode. However, ShadowScript can only prevent
such unexpected events as long as IT is
the foremost running application.If another application
or service pops into formost position, any pending
events like a screensaver may occur. For this reason
be especially careful to avoid clicking on any
other application during a show! (It's also a good
idea to turn off things like "Hot Corners" that
can accidentally launch a screensaver or other application
you have set up to launch using the screen corners.
Automatic "updates" that can trigger during a show
should also be turned off.)
Using the BLANKING Screen
The BLANKING SCREEN is much more useful than simply blanking the video monitors!
The
ShadowScript BLANKING Screen
The BLANKING
SCREEN is controlled by a control bar on the
MAIN ShadowScript screen:
When
the blanking screen is on and you are using secondary
video out for the teleprompt monitors, two indicators
blink on the main control window, letting you know
the
blanking
screen
is activated
as
shown below:
The
ShadowScript BLANKING Screen Indicators
Printing
As
in the show itself, when it comes time to printing
the Setlist and files in a show, ShadowScript allows
you to control the printing of all files in
the Setlist (and the Setlist itself)
in any chosen
font and font size, irregardless of the font and
size contained inside the individual RTF files and
independently of the font and size used in the show
itself. You
have a choice of printing the entire show, (the Setlist
and all files), the Setlist alone or any selected
file or files in the show individually or together!
The
order of the printed files will be in the same order
as the files appear in the Setlist (and as they will
appear in the show).
 To
bring up the PRINT
SCREEN, click on the PRINT button on the ShadowScript MAIN
SCREEN or select Print... from the FILE Menu.
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ShadowScript™
Program
© 2006-2008,
Sky Dancer Studios, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Macintosh
OS X "Intel Binary" Version
Windows
Version
