All format translations into and out of ShowSim are performed by an internal set of filter modules that are expanded as customer needs demand. ShowSim updates that contain new hardware support can be downloaded online free of charge for existing customers. If you are using a commercial system that is not currently supported by ShowSim, you can work with tech support to add the required file formats for your hardware or software needs.

Importing Data:
The process of bringing data into ShowSim, a procedure referred to as “Import,” allows data from an external file on your hard drive to be loaded into the ShowSim database. This data could be a show, an inventory database or an effect library. The block diagram above shows a variety of data types in different formats that are supported by the import function. An arrow pointing from the external file into ShowSim represents the capability to import, while an arrow that points from ShowSim to the external file represents the ability to export. A double headed arrow shows that both import and export are supported for the given format.

ShowSim supports three native file formats for import: .sho files for show files, .sim files for effect libraries and .csv files for an inventory database. In addition to these formats, ShowSim also supports importing show data and inventory data in a variety of other formats used by other scripting applications. The ability to import inventory data can help speed up the transition from your current scripting application when moving to ShowSim, since your existing inventory database can be transferred directly into ShowSim using an import. If you have existing shows scripted that you would like to simulate in ShowSim, you can import those as well.

Once data has been imported into ShowSim, it will remain in the database server even after you shut the application down. You only need to import the data once, after which it will always be available in the system until you specifically delete it.

The first time you run ShowSim following a new installation, you will see the effect libraries and demo shows being automatically imported into the system. The external text files that are imported can also be found in the Effect Data and Show Data directories.

Exporting Data:
The process of extracting data from ShowSim, a procedure termed “Export,” allows data to be written to a file on your hard drive. This allows you to create external backups of your critical shows, inventory and effect libraries. The export feature is also necessary in order to convert your show data into a file that can be used by your computer firing system.