Settings Tab

Tip

Functions are marked with a 2️⃣ symbol if they can only be used with MA2. Functions are marked with a 3️⃣ symbol if they can only be used with MA3. Functions without a symbol can be used on both systems.

MA Mode

Choose whether you work with a grandMA2 or a grandMA3. The mode changes which settings, tools and FTP tab (FTP2 or FTP3) are shown.

Default Export

USB Export

Choose the 🔘USB Export option to save all created elements as an XML file. This file can then be uploaded to the desk via FTP or a USB stick. In this mode, the preparation can be done entirely offline, allowing you to organize and prepare elements for later upload to a Showfile.

• Syntax to import XML files into grandMA2:

 Import "{filename}" at {Pool (e.g. Group/Image/Preset)} {Start Pool ID}

• Syntax to import XML files into grandMA3:

Import {Pool} Library "{filename}" at {Pool} {Start Pool ID}

Network Upload

Choose the 🔘Network Upload to directly send created items to your desk. Please ensure that your computer is connected to the same network as your desk.

Local Export

Choose the 🔘Local Export if an onPC is running on the same computer as prepare. Instead of uploading the files over the network, prepare copies them directly into the onPC folders, imports them the same way as the Network Upload and deletes them afterwards. Every export is available in this mode, including the patch.

Note

On macOS, Local Export is only available in grandMA3 mode.

Pool check

When you export to the desk (Network Upload or Local Export), prepare asks for the start pool ID and then reads that pool from the desk. If some of the pool items are already in use, a Pool items in use dialog asks whether you want to continue anyway.

Desk Settings

Note

You can verify that everything is set up correctly by using the Test Connection button. If all connections are functioning properly, the indicators for FTP and Telnet (MA2) or OSC (MA3) turn green (🟢).

Option	Description
Desk IP	The IP address of the MA-Net of your desk.
2️⃣ Desk User	The user for the Telnet login (default: administrator).
2️⃣ Desk Password	The password of this user (default: admin).
3️⃣ MA3 Phaser Pool-ID	The default pool for phaser presets. It is pre-filled when you create phasers.
3️⃣ MA3 Delay Pool-ID	The default pool for delay presets.
3️⃣ MA3 Datapool	The DataPool on the desk where all items are imported (default: Default).
Deactivate License	Releases the license on this computer and quits the app, e.g. to move it to another computer.

grandMA2 Settings

• The Desk User and Desk Password fields should be configured with the credentials of a user created on the desk.
• We recommend using the admin account (Username: Administrator, Password: admin) since it is typically not involved in active programming during the session.
• Telnet is activated in Setup/Global Settings.

grandMA3 Settings

• In the desk, make sure that the right interface is chosen and the Preferred IP is set to the matching IP range.
• prepare receives the OSC answers on all network interfaces of your computer, so there is nothing to select in prepare.
• Make sure you have created the following OSC lines in Setup > In/Out > OSC:

Name	Destination IP	Port	Receive Command	Send Command
prepareReceive	127.0.0.1	8000	Yes	No
prepareSend	{your computer ip}	8001	No	Yes

Caution

3️⃣ Please note that all commands from prepare are executed by the currently logged-in user on the MA3 desk associated with the specified IP address.

Settings files and defaults

All options you set in the windows of the prepare tab are saved in your .ppcad file. With the Settings menu you can also store them separately:

Menu entry	Description
Save Settings… / Load Settings…	Save all window options to a .ppsettings file and load them into another project.
Save as Default / Load Defaults	Save the current options as your defaults. There is one set of defaults for grandMA2 and one for grandMA3. The defaults of the current mode are loaded automatically on every import.