Show files, backups and a second machine
Keep each show in its own session folder, recover anything from backups, and run a second machine that takes over if the first goes down.
One folder per show: sessions#
Each show is a session: a folder in Documents/TC Supply/SESSIONS/ named after the show. It holds the show file session.skshow, the auto-saved working copy, the show's settings and a MEDIA folder.
- Menu → SESSION lists every session. OPEN (or a double-click) switches to one, + NEW SESSION starts a fresh show, and BACKUP / BACKUP ALL zip sessions to a USB stick or a cloud folder.
- FILE (top bar) or the File menu: New Show (⌘N), Open Show… (⌘O), Save Show (⌘S), Save Show As….
The show file holds the complete show: the Patch, the Track List with every cue list, the set lists, the programme, cue presets, smart cues, and the application settings. A damaged file is refused rather than half-loaded. Save also copies every media file the show uses (audio, video, OSD images) into the session's MEDIA folder, in the background.
To move a show to another computer, copy its session folder into that computer's SESSIONS folder, or restore a BACKUP zip there. Save first: the copy carries what was last saved. Media that isn't at its original path on the new computer is linked to its copy in MEDIA automatically.
You can't lose a show#
- The working copy auto-saves all the time, into the session's folder.
- Switching sessions saves the running one first.
- Before New or Open replaces the running show, a copy is saved to
SESSIONS/BACKUPS/(the newest 30 are kept). Use FILE → Open Backups Folder to get there.
A second machine#
On both machines: Utility → Network → ShowKontrol Network lists every ShowKontrol on the network.
- On the main machine, set Role = Master.
- On the backup, choose Adopt Master, then:
- ADOPT FULL: it mirrors the master's Patch, show content, settings and even which windows are open, all kept in sync live.
- ADOPT PARTIAL: only the show content (set lists, tracks and cue lists, programme). Its own Patch and settings stay.
- If the master goes down (silent for 3 s), the adopted machines elect a new master, which takes over TCNet and serves the show.
- When the old master comes back it shows RECLAIM. Press it to take over again.
STOP ADOPTION asks whether to Restore the show this machine had before, or Keep the adopted one.
E-STOP and the machine lock stay local. An adopted machine's own E-STOP always wins, and the master can't release it.