Exporting to ShowDirector** CSV

Overview

In order to make a firing script, you need to configure your launch positions with specifications of your firing system. For instructions, please see the Export Overview section. Once you are ready to export your firing script, click the "File > Export firing script > ShowDirector (PD) CSV" menu item.

Hexadecimal Addressing

ShowDirector and Pyrodigital* firing systems use hexadecimal numbers for various things including module and pin addresses. When you configure your launch positions with Pyrodigital firing system units, you should specify the module and pin addresses in hexadecimal format, which will be carried through when you export to ShowDirector CSV. To represent hexadecimal numbers in Finale, and distinguish them from decimal numbers, simply precede them with a dollar sign, e.g., $a or $0a both represent the number 10 in hexadecimal. The fields are not case sensitive.

Understanding the ShowDirector CSV Format

The ShowDirector CSV format groups multiple devices firing on the same module/pin into a single row, even if the devices have different effect types, mortar angles, launch positions or notes; thus the CSV always has one row per used module/pin address. In the case of multiple devices on the same row, Finale combines the devices' effect types, mortar angles, launch positions, and notes in each field, separated by spaces. For example, if both a Peony and a Chrysanthemum were in the same row, the Effect Description column would contain "Peony Chrysanthemum". Similarly, if they were both at -15 degrees mortar angle, the ANGLE field would contain "-15 -15". The QTY field, however, contains a single integer representing the total device count.

The Fields in Each Row

The set of fields in the ShowDirector CSV row in order are: Cue, HH, MM, SS, FF, Event Description, PFT, ADDR, CGHZ, POS, ANGLE, QTY, CAL, TYPE, DUR, Effect description, REF, MFG, MAGAZINE, PRICE1, PRICE2, PRICE3, CUSTOM1, CUSTOM2.

The CAL Field

The CAL field in Show Director is limited to two digits, which makes it difficult to represent a full range of calibers including fractions of inches, 10" calibers, or metric calibers. A common convention is to use individual digits for integral inch calibers less than 10" (1-9) and to use two digits to represent fractional inch calibers in tenths of an inch up to 99 tenths, e.g., 15 = 1.5". This convention is not able to represent 10" or larger calibers.