User Guide

Avolites Pearl 2000 Operators Manual - page 166
P2000MAN.DOC 19/10/99 17:59
26. Appendix 7. The Personality File System
This Appendix is principally designed for those users, who wish to know, how
to write or alter a Personality File.
The Personality File system uses a simple programming language. Whilst we
have attempted to create the simplest manual some prior knowledge of
writing software is assumed.
If your eyes glaze over at the thought of writing software, read no further and
enjoy using your desk in the knowledge that at Avolites there are software
programmers who actually enjoy writing personality files and if you come
across an instrument for which a personality file is required contact us and
we will help.
26.1 What is and how do I write or change a Personality file?
The personality file is an ASCII text format file containing information on
how the desk should patch each channel of an instrument.
Since the files are in ASCII text format you can easily modify them and
create new versions for your own use.
You can use any editor or word processing software running on an IBM PC
or compatible, providing it has a 3.5 inch floppy disk and can save in 720K
format. (Most can).
When editing files you must ensure your word processor is set to save in
plain ASCII text format. If you use Windows Write make sure that when you
open the file you select ‘no conversion’ and when you close the file you save
it in the ‘text file’ format.
Before editing make a backup of the original, in case your edits do not work.
26.2 Personality file naming conventions
There are three extensions used by personality files, these are
.PER
.D2
.R96
.R20
files with the extension .D2 are out of the scope of this manual and relate to
Avolites Diamond 2 personality files.
Files with the extension .PER were created prior to Sapphire and Pearl 96
Software. Because there are a variety of different versions of these a new
extension .R96 (Rolacue 96) was designed.
Sapphire and pearl 96 software will read any .PER file and any.R96 file,
however when .PER files are read a message will be presented to the user
to warn that an old personality file is being used and not every function of
the desk will work correctly. Typically this includes tracking, pre-loaded
focuses and locate fixture and tablet functions.
A better naming convention has been used on .R96 files in which the first
two letters of the file name describe the manufacturers name.