aflx-ma2-progtime2uservar.lua

return function()
  local sm = 'sm 2.2' -- CLI 'SpecialMaster 2.2' or Prog Time

  --Because of the archaic handle-based way MA2 works, these local variables
  -- make the following script a LOT cleaner.  They are simply short aliases
  -- for the full LUA tables. -AF
  local cmd = gma.cmd
  local get = gma.show.getobj
  local prop = gma.show.property

  --This function returns the x.x version of the Program Time
  function getlevel()
    local handle = get.handle(sm)
    if handle == nil then return 0 end
    return tonumber(string.match(prop.get(handle, 'value'), "%d+.%d+"))
  end
  
  --This variable stores a 'cached' version of the level so we have
  -- something to refer to if we ask 'is the new level different than
  -- the old level?'
  local oldlevel = -1
  
  
  --repeat forever
  while true do
    
    --get a local version of the Prog Time (which needs to be divided
    -- by 10 to be usable as a x.x value)
    local level = getlevel()/10

    --this is where we check to see if the cached value is different
    -- than the current value.  If the new value is different, we
    -- need to updated the $PROGTIME show variable.  This could also
    -- be made a user variable, which would ideally make the MA2 not
    -- freak out when you drag the fader in a multi console session.
    --
    --This is also where we update the oldlevel global variable to
    -- the current state.
    if level ~= oldlevel then
      gma.feedback("New Prog Time level: " .. level)
      gma.show.setvar("PROGTIME",level)
      
      --If you wanted to run a macro each time you wiggle the fader
      -- you can do it here.  But I recommend not doing that.
      --gma.cmd('macro "Update Wipe Speed"')
      oldlevel = level
    end
  end
end