Cue to run an executable or script (now in 10.7.5)

[Graham Elliott]

Mike, I have been wondering about this for a while, and couldn't find any other requests on here...

Would it be possible to have a cue type that can run an executable or batch file etc? Amongst other things, I am a software developer, and have often thought I could write little utilities to do things fired from cues - if only I had a way launching them!

If you are able to implement this, I guess it would need to allow you to add command line options also.


What do you think?


Graham Elliott

[Mike Daniell]

That wouldn't be difficult to provide, but could you give an example or two of what you have in mind regarding the functionality of the executables?

[Joe Nallon]

Hi Mike,

One that I would like is the ability to run Powerpoint presentations from within Show Cue. This could be the stand alone player the MS provides. I am using Show Cue at a number of corporate events where I find the abaility to have all multimedia content within one application (Show Cue) makes the whole event that much more controlable as well as professional (no Desktop screens as you switch from video to presentation etc)

Regards

Joe

[Peter Jackson]

Hi Joe

I found if you export/save your PPT as pictures then these can be put into SCS video/pictues cues and given a 1 second fade they dissolve into each other perfectly and you can still play audio over the top with out affecting the slides

Hope this helps

Peter

[Joe Nallon]

Hi Peter,

I have done as you have suggested in the past and while that is fine when there are just picture, I would like to be able to keep any builds that users have put into the presenations. If it was possible to take either the .PPT file or to be able to run the stand alone Powerpont viewer it would be very useful where I am using Show Cue to play walk on Music, videos etc.

Over to Mike

Joe Nallon

The Complicated String Co

[Willarki]

The Strand Palette range of lighting consoles has similar functionality to what you are after but the presentation needs to be based on a custom template. See http://www.horizoncontrol.com/web/marqu ... wnload.htm for the template download which provides an overview of how that works. I have used it and it works well but the ability to have Show Cue control all my video would be really useful.

[Mike Daniell]

I'm planning to include this in the next release and there will probably be two choices. It will (initially) be implemented using the Note cue type. The reason for the two choices is that Microsoft provides two ways (at least) that this can be implmented, and their are pros and cons with each method.

The easiest solution uses a 'ShellExecute' function where SCS just passes the name of a file (eg mypresentation.pptx) and Windows runs that file using the assigned program (PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer in this example).

A more complex solution is to use a 'Shell' function where SCS passes a full command line, which requires you to supply the full path name of the executable as well as the name of the file, eg "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\PPTVIEW.EXE mypresentation.pptx". The advantage of the 'Shell' function is that you can include command-line flags which you cannot do with 'ShellExecute'. By default, the PowerPoint Viewer displays a splash screen, albeit briefly, but it's something you probably don't want your audience to see. I can't find any option to suppress the splash screen except by including the command-line flag /S. With 'Shell' you will be able to do this, but not with 'ShellExecute'.

[Mike Daniell]

Now available in SCS 10.7.5 RC1. See separate announcement regarding this release. You will need to read the SCS Help for the 'Run External Program' cue type.