What are Workspace Settings?

Files in QLab are called “Workspaces”, they store all the information about your design, about your cues, your cuelist, and working environment. That last bit is what we’re discussing here.

Why is it important that the working environment stays with the workspace?

Well, let me offer two scenarios.

First one. Let’s say you’re a sound designer, working professionally. You don’t have the luxury of working in the actual space and on the actual production computer. Even if you didn’t have the problem of travel, the space is probably running another show and you wouldn’t want to mess with their production computer.

So what do you do? Start designing on your laptop. Now, to prepare for your eventual transition from your laptop to the actual venue, you’ll want to prepare as much of the environment as you can before moving. With workspace settings, you know that the environment you created will transfer with your design.

Second one. You work in a venue that has several shows, one after the other. Each has a unique set of needs and a unique setup. Now, what if you want to remount a show from last Spring. Well, open up that file and no matter what Workspace Settings you used in the last 12 months, that one still is setup appropriately.

There are one hundred other examples of why keeping the settings unique to a workspace is important, is helpful. But what’s vital here, is that you understand that the settings you create in a workspace stay with the workspace. Period.

All of these settings can be found by hitting the gear icon in the bottom right hand corner or selected Workspace Settings under the Window menu. On the left you’ll see multiple tabs of settings, each one meant for a different type of functionality.

Now, don’t worry when you’re adjusting settings, be a little adventurous. If ever you think you might have messed something up, you can always reset the current tab’s settings by pressing the “Reset Visible Settings to Defaults”.

And of course when you’re finished, hit the Done button.