Chat GPT, please generate a GDTF file

Posted January 14, 2023 ‐ 5 min read ‐ Categories: GDTF

Lets ask Chat GPT to do the work for us... Can you show me an example of the xml file from GDTF?

I am sorry but I am unable to show you an XML file from GDTF as I am a text-based AI model and I don’t have the capability to show you files. However, I can give you an idea of what a GDTF file might look like in XML format.

Uh, OK… lets start from the beginning then.

What is GDTF?

GDTF is a file format that stands for “General Device Type Format”. It is an open-source standard for lighting control devices, such as moving head lights, that enables the exchange of data between different lighting control software and hardware. GDTF allows manufacturers to create and share device definitions, which can be imported into lighting control software, allowing the software to communicate with the device. This improves interoperability and reduces the need for manual configuration of devices.

OK, this is better. Actually, a nice addition of the “create and share”.

Can you generate a GDTF XML file?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<gdtf version="1.0">
  <device>
    <general>
      <name>Example Moving Head</name>
      <manufacturer>Example Lighting</manufacturer>
      <model>Mover-1000</model>
    </general>
    <control>
      <parameter>
        <name>Pan</name>
        <type>16bit</type>
        <value>0</value>
        <min>0</min>
        <max>36000</max>
        <unit>degrees</unit>
      </parameter>
      <parameter>
        <name>Tilt</name>
        <type>16bit</type>
        <value>0</value>
        <min>-9000</min>
        <max>9000</max>
        <unit>degrees</unit>
      </parameter>
      <parameter>
        <name>Color Wheel</name>
        <type>8bit</type>
        <value>0</value>
        <min>0</min>
        <max>7</max>
        <unit>index</unit>
      </parameter>

This is not correct. It is some kind of generic XML that tries to demonstrate some structure, but GDTF uses quite different XML structure. Lets educate Chat GPT a bit. After a few interactions, it can generate this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<GDTF DataVersion="1.1">
  <FixtureType CanHaveChildren="No" Description="" FixtureTypeID="" LongName="" Manufacturer="ABC Lighting Solutions" Name="LED light" RefFT="" ShortName="LED" Thumbnail="thumbnail">
    <attributeDefinitions>
      <ActivationGroups>
        <ActivationGroup Name="ColorWhite"/>
        <ActivationGroup Name="PanTilt"/>
      </ActivationGroups>
      <FeatureGroups>
        <FeatureGroup Name="PanTilt" Pretty="PanTilt">
          <Feature Name="Pan"/>
          <Feature Name="Tilt"/>
        </FeatureGroup>
        <FeatureGroup Name="Color" Pretty="Color">
          <Feature Name="White"/>
        </FeatureGroup>
      </FeatureGroups>
      <Attributes>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="ColorWhite" Feature="Color.White" Name="ColorAdd_W" PhysicalUnit="ColorComponent" Pretty="White"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="PanTilt" Feature="PanTilt.Pan" Name="Pan" PhysicalUnit="Degree" Pretty="Pan"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="PanTilt" Feature="PanTilt.Tilt" Name="Tilt" PhysicalUnit="Degree" Pretty="Tilt"/>
      </Attributes>
    </attributeDefinitions>
    <Wheels/>
    <PhysicalDescriptions>
      <ColorSpace Mode="sRGB"/>
      <Emitters>
        <Emitter Color="0.312700,0.329000,100.000000" DiodePart="" DominantWaveLength="0.000000" Name="White">
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="0.000000" Physical="0.000000"/>
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="1.000000" Physical="100.000000"/>
        </Emitter>
      </Emitters>
      <PanTilt>
        <Range Pan="540" Tilt="270" />
      </PanTilt>
    </PhysicalDescriptions>
    <Models>
    </Models>
    <DMXProperties>
      <DMXMode Name="Mode 1" ID="1">
        <DMXChannels>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="Beam" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="Beam_ColorAdd_W.ColorAdd_W.ColorAdd_W" Offset="5">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="ColorAdd_W" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="ColorAdd_W" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="ColorAdd_W" OriginalAttribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="1.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
        </DMXChannels>
      </DMXMode>
    </DMXProperties>

This is not perfect, but it is better. Lets try to ask it to generate the rest of channels.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<GDTF DataVersion="1.1">
  <FixtureType CanHaveChildren="No" Description="" FixtureTypeID="" LongName="" Manufacturer="ABC Lighting Solutions" Name="LED light" RefFT="" ShortName="LED" Thumbnail="thumbnail">
    <attributeDefinitions>
      <ActivationGroups>
        <ActivationGroup Name="ColorRGB"/>
        <ActivationGroup Name="PanTilt"/>
      </ActivationGroups>
      <FeatureGroups>
        <FeatureGroup Name="PanTilt" Pretty="PanTilt">
          <Feature Name="Pan"/>
          <Feature Name="Tilt"/>
        </FeatureGroup>
        <FeatureGroup Name="Color" Pretty="Color">
          <Feature Name="RGB"/>
        </FeatureGroup>
      </FeatureGroups>
      <Attributes>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="ColorRGB" Feature="Color.RGB" Name="ColorAdd_R" PhysicalUnit="ColorComponent" Pretty="R"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="ColorRGB" Feature="Color.RGB" Name="ColorAdd_G" PhysicalUnit="ColorComponent" Pretty="G"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="ColorRGB" Feature="Color.RGB" Name="ColorAdd_B" PhysicalUnit="ColorComponent" Pretty="B"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="ColorRGB" Feature="Color.RGB" Name="ColorAdd_W" PhysicalUnit="ColorComponent" Pretty="White"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="PanTilt" Feature="PanTilt.Pan" Name="Pan" PhysicalUnit="Degree" Pretty="Pan"/>
        <attribute ActivationGroup="PanTilt" Feature="PanTilt.Tilt" Name="Tilt" PhysicalUnit="Degree" Pretty="Tilt"/>
      </Attributes>
    </attributeDefinitions>
    <Wheels/>
    <PhysicalDescriptions>
      <ColorSpace Mode="sRGB"/>
      <Emitters>
        <Emitter Color="0.640100,0.330000,21.260000" DiodePart="" DominantWaveLength="0.000000" Name="Red">
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="0.000000" Physical="0.000000"/>
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="1.000000" Physical="100.000000"/>
        </Emitter>
        <Emitter Color="0.300000,0.600000,71.520000" DiodePart="" DominantWaveLength="0.000000" Name="Green">
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="0.000000" Physical="0.000000"/>
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="1.000000" Physical="100.000000"/>
        </Emitter>
        <Emitter Color="0.150000,0.060010,7.220000" DiodePart="" DominantWaveLength="0.000000" Name="Blue">
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="0.000000" Physical="0.000000"/>
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="1.000000" Physical="100.000000"/>
        </Emitter>
        <Emitter Color="0.312700,0.329000,100.000000" DiodePart="" DominantWaveLength="0.000000" Name="White">
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="0.000000" Physical="0.000000"/>
          <Measurement InterpolationTo="Linear" LuminousIntensity="1.000000" Physical="100.000000"/>
        </Emitter>
      </Emitters>
      <PanTilt>
        <Range Pan="540" Tilt="270" />
      </PanTilt>
    </PhysicalDescriptions>
    <Models>
    </Models>
    <DMXProperties>
      <DMXMode Name="Mode 1" ID="1">
        <DMXChannels>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="PanTilt" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="PanTilt.Pan.Pan" Offset="1">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="Pan" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="Pan" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="Pan" OriginalAttribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="540.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="Tilt" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="Tilt" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="Tilt" OriginalAttribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="270.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="ColorRGB" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="ColorRGB.ColorAdd_R.ColorAdd_R" Offset="3">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="ColorAdd_R" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="ColorAdd_R" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="ColorAdd_R" Originalattribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="1.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="ColorRGB" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="ColorRGB.ColorAdd_G.ColorAdd_G" Offset="4">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="ColorAdd_G" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="ColorAdd_G" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="ColorAdd_G" Originalattribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="1.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="ColorRGB" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="ColorRGB.ColorAdd_B.ColorAdd_B" Offset="5">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="ColorAdd_B" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="ColorAdd_B" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="ColorAdd_B" Originalattribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="1.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
          <DMXChannel DMXBreak="1" Geometry="ColorRGB" Highlight="None" InitialFunction="ColorRGB.ColorAdd_W.ColorAdd_W" Offset="6">
            <LogicalChannel Attribute="ColorAdd_W" DMXChangeTimeLimit="0.000000" Master="None" MibFade="0.000000" Snap="Yes">
              <ChannelFunction Attribute="ColorAdd_W" DMXFrom="0/1" Default="0/1" Name="ColorAdd_W" Originalattribute="" PhysicalFrom="0.000000" PhysicalTo="1.000000" RealAcceleration="0.000000" RealFade="0.000000">
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="0/1" Name="Min" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="1/1" Name="" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
                <ChannelSet DMXFrom="255/1" Name="Max" WheelSlotIndex="0"/>
              </ChannelFunction>
            </LogicalChannel>
          </DMXChannel>
        </DMXChannels>
      </FixtureType>
    </GDTF>

There are still quite a few errors in the GDTF file, such as linking to non-existing geometries - the Geometry and Models section is completely missing. Additionally, all channels in the DMX Channels section are instructed to snap between values. However, credit should be given for attempting to include LED emitters, even though the color channels are not linked to them. To create a GDTF file for a real device it is better and easier to use the GDTF Builder and start from the provided template devices for better accuracy.

Thank you Chat GPT!

You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Please note that the values of the DMX Channels, DMX Channel Offsets, and DMX Channel Functions may vary depending on the specific LED device and the DMX protocol being used. This example is intended to be a basic template and should be adjusted to match the specific device being used.