2.8 Exporting a QLab Import Pack

When to use this export

Use this workflow when the venue already runs QLab for projection or show control and you want SurtitleLive to prepare the subtitle cue list.

• SurtitleLive remains the script preparation and export tool.
• QLab becomes the local playback tool for the imported Text cues.
• The pack is useful for offline projection workflows, rehearsal backups, and venues that prefer a QLab workspace on the show computer.
• If you need QLab to drive the SurtitleLive live console and audience phone subtitles after deployment, read QLab + SurtitleLive Cloud Sync beta instead.

Prepare the script first

1. Upload and analyze the script.
2. Open the Editor and review cue order, text, languages, stage directions, and character names.
3. Save the Editor before exporting.

Free accounts can test the first 30 saved cues. Lite, Pro, and Pro+ can export the full script.

Download from the Editor

1. In the Editor top-right toolbar, click Download.
2. Choose QLab import pack.
3. In the QLab options dialog, choose whether the outputs share one QLab screen or route to separate QLab screens/projectors.
4. For one screen with multiple languages, leave the screen/stage name blank or shared, then use different caption positions such as top, middle, and bottom. For separate projectors, enter a different QLab screen/stage name for each output.
5. Leave Include character names above captions off unless you want role names in the imported Text cues.
6. Use the stage-direction option to include or skip stage directions before the pack is generated.
7. Download the ZIP file.

Import into QLab 5 in three steps

1. Unzip the pack, open your QLab 5 workspace, then read and follow 1 - START HERE.txt. It is the short operator guide for this pack.
2. Run 2a - Import into QLab.applescript, then choose 2b - QLab Cue Data.json.
3. Check the first, middle, and final imported Text cues. If you entered screen/stage names before download, confirm they map to the correct QLab stages.

The Support Files folder is for checking or troubleshooting only.

Use it inside a full QLab show

The importer uses stable SurtitleLive cue keys. Text edits to the same SurtitleLive cue update the matching QLab cue in place, while your existing sound, light, video, standby, and stage-management cues are not changed.

• Each SurtitleLive subtitle keeps one stable cue key and imports as a QLab Group with one or more Text child cues. Re-import updates selected outputs and disables only SurtitleLive outputs omitted by the latest pack.
• Move whole SurtitleLive subtitle Groups into the main QLab show list. Do not copy a Group: duplicate stable cue keys make later re-import ambiguous and are rejected before caption changes.
• You can place sound, light, video, standby, wait, or pause cues before, after, or between the subtitle cues.
• These QLab cues are local projection cues only; they do not advance the SurtitleLive live console or audience phone subtitles.
• Rehearse a first cue, a middle cue, a non-sequential cue jump, and the last cue after arranging the QLab show file.

What the export options do

• Projection outputs: adds one QLab Text output per language screen or projector path while keeping all outputs under the same SurtitleLive cue key.
• Language: chooses which saved SurtitleLive language appears in that QLab output.
• Caption position: sets the vertical placement for that QLab Text output.
• QLab screen/stage name: patches that output to a named QLab screen stage. Leave it blank for the default QLab screen; use different names only when routing to separate projectors or language screens.
• Include character names above captions: adds the character name as a smaller, grey first line above the caption.
• Stage directions: includes or skips stage-direction rows before import.

The pack does not add standby cues, blackout cues, test-card cues, memo cues, or final clear-caption cues. Those belong in the user's own QLab show file if needed.

If subtitles change later

• Fix the script in SurtitleLive.
• Save the Editor.
• Export a fresh QLab import pack.
• Run the importer again. Matching SurtitleLive cues are updated in place; new SurtitleLive cues are inserted after the previous SurtitleLive cue when possible.
• If you changed text in an existing subtitle, it keeps the same cue key. If you add a new subtitle, it receives a new cue key.
• If a cue was removed in SurtitleLive, the importer marks the old QLab cue as removed instead of deleting it.
• If you inserted, removed, or reordered subtitles after adding sound or light cues in QLab, review the updated placement before rehearsal.
• After any fresh export, test the first cue, a middle cue, one corrected jump, and the last cue before performance.

Need live ASM and Viewer sync?

• Deploy the show first.
• Download the beta pack from Deployment Cockpit, not from the Editor.
• Follow QLab + SurtitleLive Cloud Sync beta for the live-sync workflow.