As concert rigs and theater productions grow, a live dashboard can quickly become overwhelmed with dozens of faders, color wheels, and trigger pads. Searching for the right control in a crowded, unorganized grid during a dark live performance leads to costly mistakes.

The **Group Container Widget** (`group`) brings hierarchical structure and spatial organization to your [Live Dashboard](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard.md). It packages related widgets into clean, titled, collapsible panels, keeping high-density control surfaces tidy and intuitive.

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## 🗂️ Architectural Features & Workspace Hygiene

### 1. Descriptive Custom Headers
Assign meaningful names and visual identity to each zone:
- **By Physical Rig Location**: *Front Stage Washes*, *Back Truss Beams*, *Side Fill Profiles*, *Audience Blinders*.
- **By Operational Function**: *Main Song Cues*, *Atmospheric & Worklights*, *Live Audio Reactive FX*.

### 2. Collapsible Accordion Panels
Every group container includes a collapse toggle in its header:
- **Focus on Active Performance Zones**: During the main concert set, collapse auxiliary groups (such as house worklights, intermission scenes, and haze controls) to keep the screen uncluttered.
- **Instant Expansion**: A single click re-opens the container whenever utility adjustments are needed.
- **Screen Real Estate Optimization**: Essential for lighting operators running shows on compact laptop screens or auxiliary remote tablets.

### 3. Nesting Diverse Control Widgets
A Group Container can host any combination of child widgets:
- Place a [Device Control Widget](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-device-control.md) for moving heads alongside a [Function Widget](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-function.md) containing their position presets.
- Pair a [Node Graph Widget](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-node-graph.md) with a [Keyframe Animation Widget](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-keyframe-animation.md) for unified dynamic effects control.

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## 🎪 Recommended Production Layouts

| Stage Hierarchy | Recommended Nested Widgets | Purpose |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Zone 1: Master Playback** | Function Widget (Global Cues), BPM / Tap block | Central show flow, blackout, and verse/chorus transitions. |
| **Zone 2: Primary Fixture Control** | Device Controls (Beams & Washes in Tag Mode) | Live color picking, Pan/Tilt positioning, and dimmer trims. |
| **Zone 3: Special FX & Atmosphere** | Node Graph Macros, Smoke/Haze faders, Strobe jump pads | Sound-reactive bursts, blinder flashes, and fog levels. |
| **Zone 4: Utility & House Lights** | Collapsible simple button grid (Worklights, Walk-In look) | Pre-show and post-show venue management. |

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## 🛠️ Configuration & Grid Management

1. **Add Group**: Click **Add Widget** in dashboard edit mode and select **Group**.
2. **Set Title**: Enter a descriptive group label in widget properties.
3. **Move & Nest**: Drag existing widget cards inside the group's boundary.
4. **Resize**: Drag the container's resize handle; child widgets automatically reflow inside the grid.

Read more in the **[Live Dashboard Guide](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard.md)** and the **[Function Widget Manual](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-function.md)**.