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How do I create a new fixture for use with DMXIS or D-PRO?

Use the online fixture editor

The easiest solution is to use the DMXIS online fixture editor. This public fixture database is an easy way to create fixture definitions for use in both DMXIS and D-PRO, and to download fixtures already created by other DMXIS/D-PRO users.

Simply go to fixtures.dmxis.com and create an account. Then you can log in and download or create fixtures for both DMXIS and D-PRO. More help and a tutorial video is available on the fixture editor page.

D-PRO fixtures

Currently, the only way to create an import a new fixture into D-PRO is via the online fixture editor (see above). Fixtures can be imported into D-PRO directly from the Patch window.

DMXIS fixtures

Manually create a fixture file

If you do not want to use the online editor, you can manually create the fixture file in a text editor. Fixture files must be saved as UNIX format. Most OS X editors save in this format by default, On Windows, Crimson Editor is a good choice.

Installing a new fixture file

Once you have a new fixture file (either downloaded from the online editor or created by hand) it must be saved into the DMXIS fixture library folder:

  • Windows: C:/Program Files (x86)/ENTTEC/DMXIS/DmxLibrary/
  • OS X : /Library/Application Support/ENTTEC/DMXIS/DmxLibrary/

The DmxLibrary folder contains a subfolder for each manufacturer. You can copy your own fixture files into to any existing subfolder, or create your own subfolder (e.g. “DmxLibrary/Bobs Fixtures”).

Fixture file internal format

Each DMXIS fixture file contains a simple list of channels. Each channel in turn contains a number of ranges covering 0-255 (the range of possible DMX values).

For example, a 3 channel fixture with Pan/Tilt/Speed channels might look like this:

Pan
V,0,255,
Tilt 
V,0,255, 
Speed 
V,0,255,
  • Each range contains the fields type, min, max, label
  • Type can be V (variable), S (static), D (dimmer) or B (blackout)
  • Variable ranges are displayed as a percentage under the DMXIS slider
  • Static ranges only display a label under the DMXIS slider.
  • Only Dimmer ranges will react to the DMXIS Master Level control.
  • Blackout values are automatically loaded for that fixture when the DMXIS Master Level control is set to minimum.
  • If the label is blank (as above) we only see a percentage displayed under the fader.
  • Static ranges always need a label (or you will see an empty label uder the slider!)

You can mix static & variable ranges in one channel. This is necessary, as manufacturers often squeeze lots of features into a single channel:

Gobo
S,0,30,Closed 
S,31,60,Circle 
S,61,90,Tunnel,
S,91,120,Open, 
V,121,255,Spin
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How does the DMXIS software licensing work?

Your DMXIS license is linked to your DMXIS hardware, NOT the computer running the software. Therefore, you can install the DMXIS software onto as many Windows & Mac computers as you like. The DMXIS hardware must be connected before you can actually transmit any DMX data.

When you unlock your DMXIS software for the first time (at enttec.com/unlock-dmxis) you will receive a 6 character unlock code (e.g. “axpsfz”). For full peace of mind, unlock the software once on a Mac and a PC (as the codes are slightly different) and stick the two unlock codes onto the DMXIS interface. Then, you know you will be able to install and use DMXIS on ANY computer, even if you have no internet connection.

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Backing up DMXIS settings & shows

Your DMXIS data is stored here:

  • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\ENTTEC\DMXIS
  • Vista & Windows 7/8/10: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ENTTEC\DMXIS
  • OS X: \Library\Application Support\ENTTEC\DMXIS

Note: to get to this location in OS X 10.7 or later, perform the following steps:

  • Click the Finder icon in the OS X Dock
  • Select the Go > Go to Folder… menu option
  • Type in /Library/Application Support/ENTTEC/DMXIS and click Go.

To back up all of your DMXIS show data and your settings (e.g. loaded fixtures, MIDI Learn data, footswitch settings etc) copy the entire DMXIS folder to your backup location. To restore your shows & settings, copy the backup to the original location and restart DMXIS.

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How to downgrade to an older version of DMXIS on OSX

If you try to downgrade to an older version of DMXIS on OS X, the installer fails with the error “newer version of this software already exists”. The solution is:

Open Terminal (in Applications/Utilities)
Type “sudo pkgutil –forget com.enttec.dmxis”
Enter your admin password when prompted
Type “sudo pkgutil –forget com.dbaudioware.dmxis”
Run the DMXIS installer again

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How to display 0-255 values under a DMXIS channel fader

Question: I am manually creating a DMXIS fixture file. How do I make a channel slider display 0-255, rather than the 0-100% default range?

(Please see this article for general information on fixture creation)

Say you add this “Zoom” channel to your fixture file:

Zoom
V,0,255,

As you move the slider, it will display a 0-100% value. If you want to have more precise control, simply replace the V,0,255 line above with this block of text:

S,0,0,0
S,1,1,1
S,2,2,2
S,3,3,3
S,4,4,4
S,5,5,5
S,6,6,6
S,7,7,7
S,8,8,8
S,9,9,9
S,10,10,10
S,11,11,11
S,12,12,12
S,13,13,13
S,14,14,14
S,15,15,15
S,16,16,16
S,17,17,17
S,18,18,18
S,19,19,19
S,20,20,20
S,21,21,21
S,22,22,22
S,23,23,23
S,24,24,24
S,25,25,25
S,26,26,26
S,27,27,27
S,28,28,28
S,29,29,29
S,30,30,30
S,31,31,31
S,32,32,32
S,33,33,33
S,34,34,34
S,35,35,35
S,36,36,36
S,37,37,37
S,38,38,38
S,39,39,39
S,40,40,40
S,41,41,41
S,42,42,42
S,43,43,43
S,44,44,44
S,45,45,45
S,46,46,46
S,47,47,47
S,48,48,48
S,49,49,49
S,50,50,50
S,51,51,51
S,52,52,52
S,53,53,53
S,54,54,54
S,55,55,55
S,56,56,56
S,57,57,57
S,58,58,58
S,59,59,59
S,60,60,60
S,61,61,61
S,62,62,62
S,63,63,63
S,64,64,64
S,65,65,65
S,66,66,66
S,67,67,67
S,68,68,68
S,69,69,69
S,70,70,70
S,71,71,71
S,72,72,72
S,73,73,73
S,74,74,74
S,75,75,75
S,76,76,76
S,77,77,77
S,78,78,78
S,79,79,79
S,80,80,80
S,81,81,81
S,82,82,82
S,83,83,83
S,84,84,84
S,85,85,85
S,86,86,86
S,87,87,87
S,88,88,88
S,89,89,89
S,90,90,90
S,91,91,91
S,92,92,92
S,93,93,93
S,94,94,94
S,95,95,95
S,96,96,96
S,97,97,97
S,98,98,98
S,99,99,99
S,100,100,100
S,101,101,101
S,102,102,102
S,103,103,103
S,104,104,104
S,105,105,105
S,106,106,106
S,107,107,107
S,108,108,108
S,109,109,109
S,110,110,110
S,111,111,111
S,112,112,112
S,113,113,113
S,114,114,114
S,115,115,115
S,116,116,116
S,117,117,117
S,118,118,118
S,119,119,119
S,120,120,120
S,121,121,121
S,122,122,122
S,123,123,123
S,124,124,124
S,125,125,125
S,126,126,126
S,127,127,127
S,128,128,128
S,129,129,129
S,130,130,130
S,131,131,131
S,132,132,132
S,133,133,133
S,134,134,134
S,135,135,135
S,136,136,136
S,137,137,137
S,138,138,138
S,139,139,139
S,140,140,140
S,141,141,141
S,142,142,142
S,143,143,143
S,144,144,144
S,145,145,145
S,146,146,146
S,147,147,147
S,148,148,148
S,149,149,149
S,150,150,150
S,151,151,151
S,152,152,152
S,153,153,153
S,154,154,154
S,155,155,155
S,156,156,156
S,157,157,157
S,158,158,158
S,159,159,159
S,160,160,160
S,161,161,161
S,162,162,162
S,163,163,163
S,164,164,164
S,165,165,165
S,166,166,166
S,167,167,167
S,168,168,168
S,169,169,169
S,170,170,170
S,171,171,171
S,172,172,172
S,173,173,173
S,174,174,174
S,175,175,175
S,176,176,176
S,177,177,177
S,178,178,178
S,179,179,179
S,180,180,180
S,181,181,181
S,182,182,182
S,183,183,183
S,184,184,184
S,185,185,185
S,186,186,186
S,187,187,187
S,188,188,188
S,189,189,189
S,190,190,190
S,191,191,191
S,192,192,192
S,193,193,193
S,194,194,194
S,195,195,195
S,196,196,196
S,197,197,197
S,198,198,198
S,199,199,199
S,200,200,200
S,201,201,201
S,202,202,202
S,203,203,203
S,204,204,204
S,205,205,205
S,206,206,206
S,207,207,207
S,208,208,208
S,209,209,209
S,210,210,210
S,211,211,211
S,212,212,212
S,213,213,213
S,214,214,214
S,215,215,215
S,216,216,216
S,217,217,217
S,218,218,218
S,219,219,219
S,220,220,220
S,221,221,221
S,222,222,222
S,223,223,223
S,224,224,224
S,225,225,225
S,226,226,226
S,227,227,227
S,228,228,228
S,229,229,229
S,230,230,230
S,231,231,231
S,232,232,232
S,233,233,233
S,234,234,234
S,235,235,235
S,236,236,236
S,237,237,237
S,238,238,238
S,239,239,239
S,240,240,240
S,241,241,241
S,242,242,242
S,243,243,243
S,244,244,244
S,245,245,245
S,246,246,246
S,247,247,247
S,248,248,248
S,249,249,249
S,250,250,250
S,251,251,251
S,252,252,252
S,253,253,253
S,254,254,254
S,255,255,255

The slider will now display 0-255 values (allowing you to accurately position the slider), and you can directly type in 0-255 numbers by clicking on the value under the slider.