[Done] SCS grabs the display output

[howartp]

Hi,

I've got a query about SCS and displaying images/videos on the external monitor.

I'm ok with how to display and un-display them using cues. What I dislike strongly is how SCS grabs the second screen and blanks it when it is running, preventing the use of other applications. I'm only on v10.7.4 Professional here (I have v11.x elsewhere) and most of our events are a combination of audio/visual cues (in SCS) and Powerpoint slide shows (in Powerpoint).

One operator runs the lighting desk and another runs the sound desk and A/V. However we find ourselves having to close SCS in order to use Powerpoint, then re-open SCS and move down to the next cue. This could be resolved by having an option in SCS (for those who do/don't want it) to not grab the second screen when nothing is showing - when SCS isn't displaying an image/video cue, it should release the external monitor back to Windows.

If you were concerned about the processing delay in grabbing the output before displaying, you could optionally have a new cue option (maybe on SFR cues) for grabbing/releasing the output.

I wanted to post it here in case I was missing something before I put it in Feature Requests - if you think it should be moved, please do so.

Peter

[Eric Snodgrass]

Personally this isn't an issue for me. In fact I think this should not be changed, if it could be. Switching back and forth between programs could be a recipe for disaster during a show.
Have you tried moving your power point slides to SCS? That way you have only one dedicated program playing back everything and you won't have this problem.

[howartp]

Hi Eric,

I wouldn't expect it to be a permanent change for everyone, just an option for those who want to use it.

Switching back and forth as a recipe for disaster? Yes, it is, because I currently have to close SCS then run through the powerpoint, then re-open SCS.

The problem with putting powerpoint into SCS, unless and until Mike supports powerpoint as a cue-type, is that our staff are prone to making last minute changes to powerpoint slides.

I do currently convert automatic slideshows (such as looping photo albums whilst people arrive) into videos that I then run in SCS, but word-based presentations I can't.

Peter

[Mike Daniell]

SCS 10.7.4 is quite old (October 2010) but in SCS 11 you can run PowerPoint from SCS using the Run External Program cue type. You will see from this description that there is a checkbox to 'Hide secondary SCS screen so external program can use the screen'. So using this cue type you can retain the use of PowerPoint without having to close and re-open SCS. (BTW a 'temporary' implementation of this feature was added in 10.7.5 using the Note cue type.)

[howartp]

SCS 10.7.4 is quite old (October 2010) but in SCS 11 you can run PowerPoint from SCS using the Run External Program cue type. You will see from this description that there is a checkbox to 'Hide secondary SCS screen so external program can use the screen'. So using this cue type you can retain the use of PowerPoint without having to close and re-open SCS. (BTW a 'temporary' implementation of this feature was added in 10.7.5 using the Note cue type.)

Ah, wonderful - I'll have a gander at that on my v11 copy then see about upgrading.

Thanks Mike.

Peter