AviatorRuss wrote: The Custom Script Field can be used as a sorting qualifier. Can the Notes, Notes2, Notes3 fields be used in the same manner?   Check out the Special Sort Terms documentation in the Finale 3D Help Center.

Thank you Drew...this is EXACTLY the info I was looking for. Somehow...I missed reading chapter 28 of addressing. I don't know how, but I did.   Follow up question: The Custom Script Field can be used as a sorting qualifier. Can the Notes, Notes2, Notes3 fields be used in the same manner? If so...I can see some powerful custom sorting options available to drive specific orders of addressing, which is what I'm looking for.   Copy all on the manual addressing for the sequencers (firing same pin multiple times)...that is what I assumed.   Also, I'm running into large issues with racking. I sent an email...   -Russ

Hey AviatorRuss, thanks for the detailed and well-organized post, I appreciate your methodical approach!   Here are some preliminary answers to your questions:   #1. In Finale 3D Hobbyist and Pro, you can right click on a position, select Edit position properties, and use the Pre-Assigned Rails field to allocate specific rails (i.e. modules, channels) to the position. If a position includes pre-assigned rails, only those specific rails (an no others) will be used when you address your show. For more details and an example using a 72M, check out The Start Module, and Pre-Assigned Rails fields on positions documentation in the Finale 3D Help Center.   #1A. Same as above, simply add the channel numbers to the Pre-Assigned Rails field in position properties.   #1B. The order in which pins are assigned at each position is determined by the sort criteria you select in the second section of the Address Show dialog. The addressing algorithm will start with the lowest module number available each position and count up from there.  In Hobbyist and Pro, there are many individual sort criteria and millions and millions of ways to combine them to get the desired result. Sorting typically begins with Position Name. This means the addressing algorithm will go through positions in alphabetical order by position name.  Then, to determine the order within each position, subsequent criteria like Part Number, Description, Size, Cakes First, and Event Time are often used. In some situations, when intrinsic properties of the script events (e.g. Size, Type, Description, etc.) don't get the job done, a custom field can be used used. For example, you can enter any values you like in the Custom Script Field in the script window, then use the Custom Script Field as a sort order criterion when addressing the show. The key is selecting the right sort criteria and stacking them in right order to achieve the desired result. In rare cases, when a specific item needs to be on specific address, you can fall back to hand-typing addresses into the script window. Re-firing the same pin multiple times in a show also requires hand-typing the address (or using copy and paste for efficiency). To prevent hand-keyed addresses from changing, you can use Addressing > Lock addresses to prevent those addresses from changing while you address the remainder of the show using the automated addressing tools.

Is it possible to remove the header on every report that says your show name, date, location? It's information I really don't need and it often forces cue heavy modules onto a second page, I'd rather just remove it or reduce the size of it but I can't seem to find a way to do that in the documentation or any of the videos.

I think this will be a thread with many sub questions in it, depending on the answers that flow. I'm running into issues with addressing, and I'm running out of time to learn/self-teach and starting to feel some pressure.   Cobra "Channel" = F3D "Rail" Cobra "Cue" = F3D "Pin"   I have physical constraints (multiple positions, separated by WATER, ie barges). I need specific modules addressed to specific positions, and SOME of those pins on those specific modules addressed to specific effects. I have LOTS of single pin/multiple effect, plus I have 9 "sequencers" in both step (requires same Rail/Pin firing, over and over, for 13x) and auto-step (requires only one Rail/Pin firing once, which sets off an autonomous, 13shot timed sequence). I have not tackled "racking" yet...I'm currently overwhelmed with addressing. I'm about to say screw-everything-auto-addressing-everything, print out the 37page un-addressed script, handwrite my addressing, retype into script window, lock it, and export to cobra.   COBRA user. Finale3D Hobbyist. 39 COBRA modules, a mixture of 72Ms, 36Ms, 18Ms. Some are quickplug at the module, some have slats. 18Ms have both QP and cat5e slats. I've already "addressed" my cobra modules to my 18R2 remote, which means I already have Channels programmed to specific modules.   Question #1. How do I assign (Channel 0,1,2,3) of 72M#1 to position#1, then (Channel 4,5,6,7) of 72M#2 to position#2, then (Channel 8,9,10,11) of 72M#3 to position #3 etc?   Question #1A: subsequently, how do I assign (Channel 12,13) of 36M#1 to position#1, then (Channel 14,15) of 36M#2 to position #2, then (Channel 16,17) of 36M#3 to position #3 etc?   Question #1B: subsequently, how do I assign (Ch 12, cue 01) of 36M#1 to effect XYZ (gerb/strobe/candle), then (Ch14, cue 01) of 36m#2 to effect XYZ (gerb/strobe/candle) with same effect time of (Ch 12, cue 01), then (Ch 16, cue 01) of 36M#3 to effect XYZ (gerb/strobe/candle) with same effect time of (Ch 12, cue 01)?   Once these 1,1A,1B, are completed, I don't care what rail/pin combos are, OTHER than keeping the modules (ie...the specific channels) tied to specific positions. I'm not having any luck automating this addressing for these issues.   I fear...I'm limited by HOBBYIST version.   Thanks, -Russ    

Awesome to hear!!! Thanks Drew

Hey Pyro_345290000,   Well said! Not only do we agree, but we have been actively working on a major project that will allow users to more easily find and seamlessly share effects. I can't give too many details yet, but I can assure you that one of the highest priorities of the project is effect sharing, in addition to a suite of related features to address the exact pain point you described.

Hey AviatorRuss, thanks for jumping in — addressing blueprints are only available in Pro.   I'm really confident we can get dylan.paiva to a good place as soon as we get a bit more detail on where things aren't working as desired.

Dylan,   Have you tried looking at this Addressing the show using blueprints   I don't use this method of addressing, so I'm not sure if it is PRO level only, or can be done with HOBBYIST.   -Russ

From your description, the sort order (i.e., order of assignment) that you've  chosen for addressing the show is Position Name > Cakes First > Event Time. With this configuration, the addressing process will go through the positions in alphabetical order. C-01 is your first position alphabetically, so this position will get module 1. Within each position, the addressing process will put cakes first, but if you have some positions that are all cakes and other positions that are all shells, then 'Cakes First' won't do anything. It's not hurting, and it's not helping, because your positions don't contain a selection of cakes and other types of items. Finally, after putting the cakes first (for positions that have cakes and other items), the addressing process assign addresses chronologically by event time.   You mentioned that you would like to address your cakes first. Since your cake positions come before your other positions alphabetically, this should be exactly what's happening. Are you not getting module 1 at position C-01 when you address your show? If that's not the issue,  can you give us a bit more detail on where are you running into trouble? What's the first sign of something being different than what you would like?