grandMA3 User Manual Publication
Import GDTF

grandMA3 User Manual » Fixture Types » Import Fixture Types » Import GDTF
Version 2.1

Import a GDTF file (General Device Type Format) containing a fixture type description. GDTF provides a fixture's digital footprint. Visit https://gdtf-share.com for more information.

The GDTF file is a zip file containing:

  • Description
  • Geometry data
  • Gobo images

For a detailed description of GDTF, see the DIN specification 15800:2022 (https://www.beuth.de/de/technische-regel/din-spec-15800/349717520).

Import GDTF from the Console or Directly from the World Server

Access grandMA3 fixture share and GDTF libraries directly when there is an active connection to a World Server (for more information, see World server),

  1. Open the patch menu by pressing Menu.
  2. Tap Patch.
  3. On the left side of the window, tap Fixture Types.
  4. Tap Import at the bottom of the window. The ​Select Fixture Type to Import pop-up opens.
  5. Enable the share button  to list all fixture types sourced from the GDTF shared library.

Select Fixture to Import from Library pop-up
  1. Select a fixture type and then tap Import. The fixture is imported to the fixture type list and can now be patched. 

Enable Description for more information about the fixture type you want to import.

 

Import GDTF from a Flash Drive

Fixtures can be exported to a USB flash drive, and the fixtures can be imported to a show file even when there is no access to the World Server.

  1. You can download the GDTF file on https://gdtf-share.com/ or export it to a USB flash drive (and skip to point 4).
  2. The file is located in the download folder.
  3. Copy the GDTF file to a USB flash drive. The default path for GDTF fixture types is grandMA3/gma3_library/fixturetypes.
  4. Insert the USB flash drive into the console.
  5.  Open the patch dialog and tap Fixture Types.
  6. Tap Import.
    The ​Select Fixture Type to Import pop-up opens:
Select Fixture to Import from Library pop-up with USB drive selected
  1. In the upper right corner, select the USB flash drive that contains the GDTF files.
  2. Select the desired fixture type.
  3. Tap Import. The fixture is imported to the fixture type list and can now be patched. 
Hint:
The files must have a .gdtf or .GDTF extension to work.

For more information on how to patch, see Add Fixtures to the Show.