Hello all. Been lurking for a while (on the fence about which remote to get). Then I started playing with PEP2 and Prontoscript along with Jon Welfringer's Network enabling patches (Thanks Jon!), and made up my mind. (Though still debating between a 9400 and 9600.)

So, now that I'm thinking about how to configure my programming, I'm wondering what's the best way to handle 2 zones? We are routinelly using two zones, and needing to control potentially different equipment. Sometimes the remote will sit in Zone 2 while someone else is listening in Zone 1, and of course, sometimes the remote will be in Zone 1 while someone is listening in Zone 2.

What do you think is the best way logically to handle this situation. I'm not really concerned about the programming aspect of it so much as the ease of use aspect. My wife is intolerant of poor UI designs. She must be able to figure this out.

Anyone have any good GUI models for this stuff?

- Mike

mraneri,

Each zone has it's own "home" page. All home buttons in a given zone point to that zone's home page. On a "home" page, one can move between zones.

Don't allow changing zones to be accidental, but it should not be a chore either. Make sure that the user can always know what zone and which device they are controlling.

Tip: Don't change the "Home" label on the original home page. If you want to present something different to the user, learn ProntoScript. Tinkering with labels is a very easy first program.

Yeah, I've become an expert in Prontoscript in the last few days. I'm trying to do a slimpronto type module for the Roku Soundbridge. In two days, I've already got sockets, customizing buttons, and even a working listbox in prontoscript. Of course, the Pronto itself is still new to me, but the programming is going well.

So you actually only have one copy of each activity in the config, and just change the bahavior and labels based on which "Zone" is active? When you click the home icon, do you have to select the zone each time? Or do you have a Toggle Button type thing at the top of the home page to allow you to switch?

mraneri,

While I do not promise to continue this style forever, currently I am treating each zone as a standalone system, complete with its own "home" page. All of the device "Home" buttons point back to their respective zone page. On each of the home pages, one can move between zones. I use the hard keys to move between zones, but buttons or a pop-up could work just as well.

Since all of the devices except the cable box are typically different in each zone, there is little incentive to make up generic devices.

I also use the two homepage method when setting up a 2nd zone control. I always lable the top of the page so it's clear what zone/system you are about to control. I also make sure that the background is a different color or graphic between home pages so the difference stands out even more.