Data Transfer Between Spotlight and Lightwright

Instrument data can be transferred between Spotlight and Lightwright 4. Once lighting instruments and parameters have been specified in Spotlight, their information can be sent to Lightwright to perform paperwork processing. When the paperwork in Lightwright is complete, the data can be imported back into Spotlight to update the Spotlight light plot.

Spotlight includes Lightwright automated action files, which, when selected at installation, are located in the Extras folder. These files have the correct settings required for exchanging data with Spotlight, and need to be placed into Lightwright’s Automated Actions folder. Consult the Lightwright documentation for information on using these files.

Exporting Spotlight Data to Lightwright

To export Spotlight instrument data to Lightwright:

1.	When the Spotlight file contains instrument data that is ready to export, select File > Export > Export Instrument Data.

The Export Instrument Data dialog box opens.

2.	Select the appropriate Lightwright items for export by clicking the Lightwright button. (See Exporting Instrument Data for more information.) Select Export field names as first record. If exporting to version 4 of Lightwright, select Export in Lightwright 4 format.

3.	Click Export to export the lighting instrument information as a tab-delimited file. Specify the location for the exported file, and click Save.

Importing Spotlight Data into Lightwright

The data exported from Spotlight now needs to be imported into Lightwright.

1.	Prior to import, select Setup > Vocabulary in Lightwright.

The Show Setup dialog box opens.

2.	Ensure that the Separate accessories from instrument types with field contains a “+” sign.

To import Spotlight data into Lightwright:

1.	In Lightwright, select File > Import Data. Specify the location of the file that was just created, and click Open.

2.	The Importing dialog box opens. Click Suggest Matches.

Lightwright attempts to match the imported data fields to Lightwright fields. Verify that the information has been matched correctly.

3.	Select Do not import first record and Ignore fields with only. Enter a “-” (dash) so that Spotlight fields with a “-” are ignored.

4.	Click OK to begin the import. Lightwright reports the number of instruments that were imported; this may differ from the number of instruments exported from Spotlight due to Static Accessories.

5.	Select whether to save the import action in Lightwright.

Saving the action speeds up the import process from Spotlight, because the matching selections and other options will not need to be specified again.

Provide a name for the automated action, which can be selected later from File > Automated Actions.

6.	The instrument information is now available for editing in Lightwright.

7.	Save the Lightwright file.

Exporting Lightwright Data Back into Spotlight

Once the lighting instrument data has been edited in Lightwright, export the data back into Spotlight to update the light plot.

If lighting instruments have been deleted in Lightwright, they will not automatically be deleted in Spotlight. A warning message opens if this is the case, and the affected instruments are automatically selected for further action.

To export the Lightwright file back to Spotlight:

1.	In Lightwright, select File > Export > Data. The Export Options dialog box opens.

2.

Select the fields for export; selected fields display a check mark. Ensure that the External ID and Accessory fields are selected for export, and that Tab Separated is selected as the Export File Type. In addition, select Export field labels as first record, Strip Channel Parentheses, For lights with attributes and Fill blank fields with. For the blank fields, enter a “-” (dash), so that a “-” is inserted in any blank fields. Click OK.

3.	Select a file name and location for the exported file.

4.	The option to save the export action for future automation is presented.

5.	Click Yes to save the action.

Importing Lightwright Data into Spotlight

The edited Lightwright data is imported into Spotlight to update the lighting instrument information.

To import Lightwright data into Spotlight:

1.	In Spotlight, select File > Import > Import Instrument Data.

The Instrument Data Import dialog box opens.

2.	With the Browse button, specify the file exported from Lightwright. If the file to import has External ID or UID as a field name, it will automatically be selected as the UID. Do not select Import First Record.

Click AutoLink to correctly match important fields. If not all fields are automatically mapped, map the incoming data to an instrument field as described in Importing Instrument Data.

Accessories should be mapped to Accessories, and Instrument Type Symbol to Symbol Name.

3.	Click Import. The Lightwright data is imported into Spotlight, automatically updating the instrument data in the light plot.

If the instruments are not updated, verify that the External ID field was exported, and the Export Field Labels as First Record option was selected in Lightwright.

If the data needs to be sent back to Lightwright after this initial export, select the Merge command in Lightwright rather than Import. Lightwright uses the Lightwright ID number to match the data to existing instruments rather than creating new instruments.