Fixture Library

Draft documentation: This document was created with the help of AI and has not yet been fully reviewed by a human.

Fixture Library lists the fixture definitions available to the engine. Open it from the Command Palette and open Properties beside it.

Search or filter by make and model. Select a definition, then inspect its modes, channel count, details, and Mode Parameters in Properties. The mode must match the mode configured on the physical fixture; similarly named modes can have different channel layouts.

Use the preview to check the attributes you need before patching. A fixture with color channels may also require intensity or shutter parameters to emit light. Once you have chosen a definition, use Patch to create instances in the show.

Search GDTF Share

GDTF Share is the shared online library of GDTF fixture definitions. It needs a free account: sign in under Settings > Accounts > GDTF Share on the computer running Nightfall. Every device connected to that computer then uses the same account.

Select Search GDTF Share in the toolbar and type a make, model, or mode name. Select a result to see its revision and modes, then select Install to download it into the library; a bar shows the download as it arrives. Results already in the library say In library; select Show library copy to inspect the copy you have, or Install this revision to add the online revision next to it.

The patch wizard has the same search: switch its fixture list from In library to GDTF Share, or select Search GDTF Share when no library fixture matches your filter. Installing from the wizard selects the new fixture so you can continue patching.

Nightfall saves a copy of the GDTF Share list, so searching works without an internet connection once it has been fetched. The list refreshes itself daily; select the refresh button beside the search field to fetch it now. Installing still needs a connection. GDTF Share is not available in the browser demo.

If the list is empty

Use Upload fixture in the toolbar to import a .gdtf or Open Fixture Library (OFL) .json definition. Select the imported fixture and inspect its modes before patching. The library reads installed fixture data; it is separate from the fixtures already stored in a show. Fixture data belongs in the application's fixtures directory:

Use Nightfall-compatible fixture definitions. For source builds, NIGHTFALL_DATA_DIR changes the application data root, so inspect that location if the expected library is missing. Restart the engine after installing definitions if they have not appeared. A saved show's fixture data and an installed library version may differ; review any version-mismatch prompt when adding or morphing fixtures.