# Start/stop show via API hook instead of httpRequest

**URL:** <https://forum.boinx.com/t/start-stop-show-via-api-hook-instead-of-httprequest/18128>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [July 14, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.boinx.com/t/start-stop-show-via-api-hook-instead-of-httprequest/18128 "2022-07-14T10:59:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andy-R](https://forum.boinx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Andy-R](https://forum.boinx.com/u/Andy-R)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.boinx.com/t/start-stop-show-via-api-hook-instead-of-httprequest/18128/1 "2022-07-14T10:59:06Z")

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Hey there

I have a template file containing a very complex setup of layers, medias, settings and automations. Before I start a new show, I always duplicate my master template file and adjust to match the respective show I want to create today (change media files, contents like titles/lower thirds etc.).  
This has the opportunity that I can change things without having to worry to change my master settings and I’m able to store the show’s exact file to my archive so I can access all settings in the future if needed.  
Everything works perfect this way, except my automations regarding start + stop the show (because httpRequest always points to a specific document).

So I’m looking for a way to start and stop the show as part of an automation script but refering to the currently opened document instead of a specific document ID.

Many thanks in advance,  
Andy

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy-R](https://forum.boinx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Andy-R](https://forum.boinx.com/u/Andy-R)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://forum.boinx.com/t/start-stop-show-via-api-hook-instead-of-httprequest/18128/2 "2022-07-14T11:28:27Z")

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I found a working solution:  
Change from using the httpRequest() method and use **outputOn()** and **outputOff()** instead:

Example to “start the show/recording”:  
layerSetRecall(7312B9FE-71FD-41C4-94C4-8200E5D6B988)  
outputOn(39CC0A8A-9A5F-457F-9877-978347CC7A13)  
sleep(1.5)  
layerSetRecall(046998E7-A5C0-4AA0-82B7-30FA6B61BDAC)