thanks alot dsp81. you have been a big help, can i ask you what program you are using to cut the larger image up into the 88x59 sections?

I used Photoshop for everything. But any graphics program that allows you to save a PNG will suffice. A free Photoshop-like application is GIMP

Thanks to dsp and the bug this thread placed in my ear, I've been doing my own messing around.

Here's my main activity display:



The background is below (it's a 176x200 cell phone background ... you can find them all over the place). I was looking for something a little different (in keeping with the "Johnny Canuck" theme ...):



I made the buttons using Paint.NET and created custom icons for the PS3, the Xbox 360, my HTPC (it uses MediaPortal as the front end, so I used MP's icon), and my HD DVD player.

The pics show a little grain, but it can't be seen on the remote itself.

good job man, that looks great...now about that Canadian flag..........

pretty cool flag, isn't it?? lol

I made a few simple buttons for the 8300hd cable dvr. They are not great but they look OK on the remote.

dsp81, you're my hero! I have been dealing with the Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue button issue from the HR-21 from D* on the MX-810, and just found this thread. PLEASE send me a copy of the graphics to [email protected].

THANKS!

By the way, I hope this will lead to a MX-810 button graphics file area here sometime soon.

I really hope so too. I've gone on quite a tear creating icons and things and I'd love to see what others have done.

Hey JohnnyC, your graphics look great. Luv to see some more. For someone like me, who has absolutely no idea how to create graphics, having a place to find and download great looking stuff from creative folks like yourself is what this terrific site is all about!

If anyone is interested, I've created channel logos for all of the XM channels available from DIRECTV:

[Link: blue-box.net]

That's awesome! Can you put your other buttons on this web site as well like the 4 colored buttons?

I'll bookmark your site for when I get an 810.

Thanks for the tutorial I now have 2 custom activities set up and working. I did find adding text to the buttons was a waste of time, nothing lined up and it looked pretty terrible so i added text in Corel Paint Shop . my icons are not great but they work well.
I am not sure that i can post them here but if i can i will.

Well, I have tried messing around with this metodology. It's interesting, but not without its drawbacks. The bugs in the Favorites page building screen are really annoying. First, there's the one where if you try to drag a button image into the far-rigtht button drop zone it will place the image in the far-left drop zone. You have to re-build each row of buttons from left to right each time. Second, if you accidentally create more buttons than you need and overflow onto a new page, there is no way to delete those buttons or the extra page(s) they created. It says you are deleting them, but they persist and remain as "phantom buttons".

Hopefully new versions of the software will solve some of these and other issues. Does anyoine know if the version of the software I downloaded from URC by entering my serial number is the only software available? Does it check for updates on every run? Or do I need to contact my dealer for "updateable" software?

smg669, I agree with your post. I don't think there is a way to re-arrange your favorite icons either.

As far as version goes, I am curious too. I downloaded it from URC and it updated once to version 1.0.018. Is that the latest/best version?

If you look at the screenshot on the second page of [Link: universalremote.com], you notice two extra buttons on the main page of the software, but I can't tell what they are due to the low resolution image.

-Vince

If you squint hard enough, you can make out that the two buttons are "Preferences" and "Archive". It looks like the Preferences button adjusts the battery, clock and lcd settings (which are user adjustable on the remote itself as per the owner's guide). I'm assuming the "Archive" button is for storing a configuration remotely on the proposed website that is being built to support the remote - which I'm assuming will only be accessible to dealers/installers.

My version updated itself once as well, so I'm assuming that it will again one day.

Another bug I've noticed with this methodology relates to RF routing. With a "Favorites" activity you have to assign a "home" device for the activity. In my case, it's the cable box. So all RF commands you program on that page will be routed to the IR port specified for the cable box. However, if you import any IR commands into buttons on the favorites page which are for another device (aside from preset volume punch-throughs) those commands will be sent (I'm assuming) out through the IR port for the cable box. If that command is meant for, say, the plasma and you have each device on a separate IR port, the plasma is not going to receive that command. A solution, I guess, would be to send any IR commands to all ports, as long as you don't have two devices that respond to the same commands in your set-up.