The extender configuration tool will likely only find extenders if you
1) start the extender discovery tool and then then
2) flip the configuration switch to position 3 while the tool is running.


With regard to ProntoDataService, that is a 32 bit windows service that access an SQLite database.

On my win7 32-bit box, I have the service running as 'System Account' and I installed the software using an account with Admin rights.

On a 64 bit box, you can try to set the program compatibility mode to XP or Vista.


On my system the executable is located at:
C:\ProgramData\Philips\Common Database\ProntoDataService.exe

IMO, PEP2 is not a total piece of crap, but rather a piece of software with an inverted model that once you get used to sorta makes sense as it points back to the original ProntoEdit software way of doing things. i.e. a component is a Device and an activity is a MacroGroup. PEP1, on the other hand, I use for quick and dirty testing of codesets as it can import a CCF generated from IRScrutinizer.


PEP2 was written for an OS that is over 15 years old and the last release was somewhere around 11 years ago. It has 32-bit dll-based components and executables that it uses. It is a wonder it even still runs, but I'm sure glad it does because I use my Pronto every day.

Thanks for your suggestion:

>>>1) start the extender discovery tool and then then
>>>2) flip the configuration switch to position 3 while the tool is running.

No success. Tried using both DHCP and static IPs, let extender discovery tool run for half hour each of three times using different wifi settings.

I made up a tiny config in PEP2 with 1 activity that has 2 buttons, each sending a serial string. The only result is always "command failed" (which I never got before this). The diagnostic log shows either "extender IP unknown" a few times, or mostly "extender 192.168.0.10 no reply". I can ping the extender from the WAP with good results.

Trying to use Help in PEP2 results in a popup "Can't open help files", even though I can see the Help folder under the app folder. Not Cool. I can open them my self to a browser, but the help content is actually not very helpful so far.

In my tiny config I have made one component for the LG TV and its strings. Interesting that I can modify the component, then I get a popup "Recent changes have not been saved to the database". ?? Why not? How are changes supposed to be saved?? Again Not Cool.

I wanted to get rid of unwanted components in the My Database, but highlighting one and clicking the Delete icon does not remove it. Again Not Cool. How can components be deleted? Nothing I've tried works.

The behavior of PEP2 does not impress me, but I think I'm making a little progress, and not succeeding. Next I'm thinking of using Wireshark to see what is happening between the WAP and the RFX, and that looks like another learning curve to climb.

Do you think there are any config files in forum library that deal with the RFX9600 extender? Any further suggestions are welcomed.

Please email me your pep1 config and I will have a look.

Not sure how the PEP1 config will help, its an embarrasing mess of IR components and simple Prontoscript.

But after reading for more hours about "command failed" search topics, I started trying more of the things suggested, and lo and behold... my "blues" have started turning green. By setting NO wifi security, my RFX9600 now responds and the serial commands come shooting out of serial port #4 (look good on the scope).

So now that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, I can try more experiments and integrate my serial component/activity into the old PEP1 code (brought into PEP2). Sure am glad there is so much info to be found here in threads from the past.

This doesn't answer my complaints about PEP2 issues I mentioned, but those aren't deal-breakers it this point.

Maybe I am mistaken about this, but I think I read somewhere that there used to be something called “robohelp” in Windows. When Microsoft took it out, it broke Help in PEP2.

Well some good news and some bad. The good news is I have my RFX9600 successfully controlling the LG TV via RS-232... using PEP1. Since the "command failed" issue seemed to be slow data flow through the WAP using encryption, and setting the encryption to NONE fixed that. I'm not too concerned about snoopers intercepting my TV command strings, as my neighbors are hundreds of feet away. I think Philips should have made the command response timeout longer, and perhaps user variable, but that ship has sailed.

I had to abandon PEP2 because I cannot figure out how to save changes to functions in My Database. That is a total deal-breaker. Can anyone clue me in as to why 1) components can not be deleted, 2) functions can not be deleted, and 3) why changes to function command codes are not being saved?

I'd actually like to continue with PEP2, as it has some nice features, but these bugs are horrendous. Does no one else have this problem? What am I doing wrong?

FYI, the issues you are seeing are not necessarily bugs, they are the result of you using 11 year old software on an OS that is either 1) not 32 bit or 2) not XP , Vista, or Windows 7. Go back now and try to run Windows 10 on an old Pentium, 486, or 386 processor. Is Windows 10 buggy if it won't run on hardware that was outdated at the time the OS was developed?


Components can be deleted and when you delete them, they go to a Trash Bin which you then have to go clean up. However, if PEP2 is failing to delete them then you likely have permission issues with the ProntoDataService which is a Windows 32 bit service that manages the Component Database.

For #3, once you update a component in MyDatabase, you may have to go back to your project and 'replace' the component in Building Blocks/Equipment And Codes with the updated Component you just edited in the database. To do that, you use buton that has the icon with the Circled arrows on left and right side (Tooltip text) Replace Component.

Using Win 7 Pro. Changed the PEP2 compatibility mode to XP-SP3. No difference in how PEP2 behaves. Changed compatibility mode for the ProntoDataService, that eliminates the database update failures.

Thanks for the tips, I'll try continuing with PEP2.

Ahhhh.

When you open PEP2, does it ask you to run in Administrator mode?

I recall now that I downloaded Microsoft Application Compatibilty Toolkit for Windows 7 and created an SDB file that allows PEP2 to run uninhibited without having to set compatibility mode.

If you can locate that tool somewhere on the web, I can share a PEP2 SDB file or a screenshot of what you'd need to configure to allow PEP2 to run with a single click. I think I even tried turning UAC off to no avail before going down this path.

Lyndel

The Win7 ACT is no longer available from microsoft but I did find a download on cnet.

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6 is what you are looking for. The EXE you download will have a digital signature from Microsoft from back in 2010/2011. I verified the signature plus did a virus scan as I could no longer find the installer on my system. If you are interested, I'd be willing to host on a google drive and try and walk you through what you need to enable everything including the Extender Discovery Tool which I also created compatibility mode for.

Yes, you're correct in that there are a lot of hurdles to go through to get this working but once you do, it is pretty much Rock-Solid.

When I changed the compatibility mode for those items, I also checked "run as administrator", so PEP2 has not asked about that. So I am launching PEP2 with a single click, and so far only once have I had to restart the ProntoDataService. Do you still think I need to pursue the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit?

I have imported my PEP1 config (again) and integrated my serial component stuff, and cleaned up the list of compiler issues, and the config seems to do what I need. Aside from some tweaks to correct undiscovered issues, I don't expect to spend much time on PEP2. I like how it works and I'm sorta glad I switched, but I think my days of Pronto updates are nearing an end.

Thanks, Lyndel, and the other posters, for your help, I really appreciate it.

What I don't like about PEP2 is the lack of ability to open 2 configurations side-by-side. Other than that, it has grown on me. I can simply copy/paste activities after closing one config and opening another just fine. The only thing is I have to relink all the IR codes.