Library Browser

The Library Browser Pane is where you can access all the items in both the default library as well as your custom user library (Pro feature).

Note

You may notice this pane is similar to the Library Pane in the Library Editor page. This is because these are essentially the same pane, but with slightly different functionality.

Library Structure

Both the default library and your user library (Pro feature) are organized by manufacturer, then brand, and finally by gear item. This structure makes it easy to find the gear item you are looking for.

You can search for either by the manufacturer, brand, or gear item and the library will filter the results. For manufactures and brands, all gear items from that manufacturer or brand will be displayed as well.

Default Library

The default library contains all the gear items that are part of the GearConnect library, available for all users to use. The default library is growing all the time, so if there is a piece of gear you would like to see in the library, please let us know!

The default library is designed to get you started quickly, with a wide range of gear items to choose from.

It is read only, but you can copy items from the default library to your user library in the Library Editor (Pro feature).

User Library (Pro feature)

Your user library is where you can copy gear items from the default library and modify them to fit your needs.

It operates in the same way as the default library, but only you have access to the full list of gear items.

Caution

While only you have access to your full gear library, if you share a project with someone that uses one of your custom gear items, they will be able to see the gear item in the project.

Adding Gear to the Drawing

After you select the gear item you would like to add (either by manually browsing or searching), you can add gear items from the library by either:

• Dragging and dropping the gear item onto the drawing area.
• Clicking the Add button at the bottom right of the pane.

When you do either of these actions, you will be presented with a dialog to configure the gear item before it is added to the drawing.

Adding Gear Dialog

When you insert gear into the drawing, you can customize it to fit your needs. Different categories have different options, but all gear has Detail Mode and Reverse Port Placement.

By default, GearConnect will auto select Detail Mode if the gear item has more than four ports on it. The difference between detail and normal modes is that in Detail Mode, all the ports are on the left and right and the ports have labels. In Standard Mode, the ports are on the top and bottom without labels.

• Detail Mode: Great for switches or consoles that have a lot of different connectors.
• Standard Mode: Great for simple devices like lighting fixtures or speakers that only have a couple of ports.

When in Detail Mode, Default mode will spread the ports evenly left and right, based on port groupings (for example, all DMX out on one side, all DMX in on the other). But you can choose to place all the ports on either the Left or Right side.

Reverse Port Placement will simply flip the ports that would have been on the left to the right and vice versa. Available for Detail Mode using the Default port placement or Standard Mode.