@Bill Webb posted:Paula just said, “We need something that is easy and not complicated” and then started mumbling about impossible to figure out computer stuff.
Computer stuff is easy to figure out once you understand that it's made up of a set of simple building blocks, each doing their individual jobs.
What makes your situation hard is that your configuration has been generated, not from simple building blocks, but from a kluge of many different existing things, none of which get along with each other particularly well. The goal on the other hand is to get organized, and to standardize. CJ's suggestions are example of doing so.
If you redesign, which you are probably hoping not to have to do, with simplified building blocks in mind, the computer part will become easy.
I would start by simplifying the mechanism (driver) for turning them on and off, and dimming them if desired. And then, using the exact same driver for each and every lamp, making it simple for you to understand, easily in every case, how every lamp is activated.
Create (using Arduinos possibly), or purchase (additional AIU's perhaps), these simple controlling building blocks first, then tie them together to be driven by a computer (Ipad), or dedicated controller (diorama or stage lighting controller), or JMRI/CMRI.
I haven't given you a specific answer -- because I can't. In my opinion no one currently makes what you want, especially the ease-of-configuring/programming part, but there is certainly a market for them.
The beauty of our hobby is that we don't let things like this stop us. If it doesn't exist we make it ourselves.
Mike
