PangoScript is an internal scripting language for BEYOND, which allows users to control
all elements of BEYOND in a script format.
This allows users to create exact sequences, control hidden variables, make custom schedules,
interfaces and much more.
Like The universal effect pool, PangoScript is a universal system and has the same full
functionality in all places where you can use PangoScript.
And where can you use PangoScript?
The first and main area where you can script is under the PangoScript tab on the right.
Here you can add new scripts, edit scripts, move them up or down, see a script task manager,
and stop all scripts here.
But you can also find scripts: In cues.
In timeline events.
Using incoming commands like: DMX.
MIDI.
And OSC.
And many more.
One last thing we will want to do before we start scripting is enable some options for
the preview window.
Go to Settings> Configuration> Laser Preview, and enable Display Internal BEYOND command.
This enable a preview of internal BEYOND commands in the preview window as you use them.
For example, when you enable a cue, it will show you all the internal BEYOND commands
that made it happen.
These commands listed, all can be used inside of PangoScript, and is a great way to learn
commands inside of BEYOND and figure out what commands do what.
To start let’s go under the PangoScript tab and create a new script.
This will open the PangoScript editor window.
If you edit a script anywhere, this is the window you will use.
On the top you have your standard, new, open, and save.
Under run you have options to start and test your code.
And under tools you have some options to help you create your script.
Across the top we have a few other options just like the ones under the dropdowns.
Last thing to note on the top is the object tree button.
The object tree is where all parameters inside of BEYOND can be found, and you can use this
tree to find and grab the code for those parameters.
To the right of this window we have a lot of the commands you can use in PangoScript
grouped together, feel free to look through these to find commands you may want to use.
You can also go under the command list tab, and search for something you may want to do,
like wait for time, or DMX related commands, or MIDI commands.
You can double click any of these to add them to your script.
On the bottom you have an information panel.
Usually you will leave this on help, as you click through the commands on the right, it
will move through the help file and explain what different commands do.
Lastly is your main window where your script will be displayed.
In Blue will be correct code, Red will be user input data, green will be correct values,
and cyan will be correct states.
If BEYOND senses your syntax is incorrect, it will highlight the text in red like so.
In order to help you understand PangoScript as fast as possible, we will just look at
code examples, which should help you get going with your scripting.
In our first example we have written a script that when we open BEYOND, it will automatically
start using the AutoStart command, and then go through a few options to get us going,
like enabling laser output and then enabling DMX input.
Plus at the end we have a command to start another script, which is our second example.
In our second example, we have made a theoretical schedule script, which could be used for an
install.
First, we wait for a specific time of day, and start the first cue.
Let’s say that cue is a timeline cue, and after a few minutes it will end,
our next command waits for that cue to end, and then starts the next cue.
This next cue could be just a looping logo maybe, so at 22 hours we want it to stop the
cue.
Lastly, we want this to restart the computer and start back up the next day, so we will
wait for just before midnight, and restart the PC using our runapp command and using
an internal windows command here.
After we start that restart into motion, we close BEYOND and the PC will restart.
Now we can look at some timeline examples, this very simple example, a code that automatically
saves your timeline for you, when you start the code, it will qucicksave, then after sleeping
for 5 minutes, it will restart the code, doing another quicksave.
Note when it quicksaves it will stop playback.
Our fourth example shows how you can create shortcut macros using PangoScript, here we
will pause timeline playback, bring the curser back to the beginning, and play from the beginning
all from one script, cutting out a number of steps and clicks in the process.
Lastly let’s look at the scripts that are
part of our default APC 40 MK2 map.
Our beatresync button, and our enable laser output buttons are just short scripts seen
here.
And some of our control sliders like zoom, are just scripts here like so, and change
with the control change.
Thanks for watching our quick hints video on PangoScript, if you still need help, feel
free to contact our support line by emailing support@pangolin.com.
Or watch other videos we have, that show examples of PangoScript being used.