---
title: "Reassign smart object patterns"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Evoke18/397968527/Reassign%20smart%20object%20patterns"
format: markdown
---
The number of unique patterns available for tracking without using proximity grouping is limited to:

- 56 patterns when using 5 from 8 markers; or
- 70 patterns when using 4 from 8 markers

To use more than 70 patterns, see [Use proximity-based tracking](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke18/pages/397970127).

If more smart objects are created than available patterns, the excess smart objects are assigned pattern 0 (no markers on), and show a warning in the **Tracking** panel. The linked Pulsars also show a cyan status icon in the **System** panel.

The pattern set is chosen automatically, depending on the number of Pulsar clusters selected when creating smart objects.

If you later change the number of smart objects, you can reassign patterns to all loaded smart objects and if necessary change the pattern set. To do this:

- On the **Edit** menu, click **Assign Smart Object Patterns**.

> Macro (scroll-pagebreak)

### Smart object pattern management

You can assign patterns to Smart Objects in either of these ways:

- Enable Evoke to automatically assign a unique pattern to each smart object. This is the default option.
  To check that Evoke is managing smart object patterns:
  - Openthe Preferences dialog box (**Settings** > **Preferences** or press Shift-P) and in **User Preferences**, scroll to the **Objects** section and ensure that **Automatically manage smart object patterns** is selected.
    When this option is selected, Evoke automatically manages the patterns for smart objects whenever a smart object is created. Note that:
    - The new smart object is assigned a unique pattern from the current pattern set, if one is available.
    - The initial pattern set is 5-from-8, meaning that 5 of the Pulsar marker LEDs are turned on. There are 56 unique patterns in this set.
    - If you require more than 56 patterns, Evoke switches to the 4-from-8 pattern set. There are 70 unique patterns in this set.
    - Any smart objects that aren't using the correct pattern set are assigned a new pattern.
    - If you require more than 70 patterns, excess smart objects are assigned pattern 0, meaning they will not turn on any markers and can't be tracked.
- Assign patterns using the Evoke API (see [Vicon Evoke API & automation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke18/pages/397970167)). In this case, if you don't want Evoke to make changes to the patterns, in the **Preferences** dialog box, scroll to the **Objects** section and clear **Automatically manage smart object patterns**.

> Macro (scroll-pagebreak)

Note that:

- Active smart objects are prioritized for pattern assignment over inactive smart objects.
- A smart object is active if it is enabled and each smart cluster slot is linked to a device.
- Inactive smart objects are still assigned patterns if enough patterns are left after they have been assigned to the active smart objects.

After you have re-assigned the patterns, you can merge multiple Pulsar clusters or extra markers to a single rigid object. For more information, see [Merge smart objects](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke18/pages/397968540).