Is it possible to do a press and hold feature on the MX-980 like I can with my MX-880? I need this so if I am all ready on the correct input and I stray away to another page, I can go back to my current source with out running the macro again.

Yes it is. You need to insert an "If/Else" statement into your macro, then double click on it to select the parameters you wish to use for the press time. Then you record the 2 macros you want to be executed for each condition.

Example:

"IF (press time
ELSE: command A"

In that situation, if you pressed the button for less than 1 second, it would send the macro "XYZ" where this could be the macro to configure the system for a particular activity. If the button was pressed longer than 1 second, it would send the macro A which could simply be a page flip. You will get the idea once you start programming. It is a bit different from the 900/880, etc. but also a bit more flexible in your options.

 you wouldn't need a press and hold for that, you could simply track your inputs using a variable.

That might depend whether the other pages he's straying to would want to change the input themselves.

For example, if he's going to the receiver or TV devices and there's no input macros associated with those, then yeah I think variables would be the way to go.

However if he's on Cable and goes to PS3 and PS3 wants to change the input, then the variable wouldn't help much and he'd need to use press-and-holds anyways.

Regardless, I think the real question is why the OP feels the need to go to other pages outside the current task. That's very 1990s device-based-remote-esque. Is this perhaps a design/layout issue that could be more elegantly handled?

I could see needing that if a macro sets the TV input to say HDMI1.
If the user wanted to go to another page to change the lights or access another function, coming back to TV would have trigger input selection again and screen would go blank for 2-5 seconds.

Personally, I have this with my HT and HDMI matrix switch. If I go to home page to access my HAI home controller, going back to HT screen activates matrix macro, thus loosing audio and video for few seconds.
I know I can fix it by creating another button bypassing the matrix and AVR selection, or getting 2 way feedback from the matrix (RS232), but I've been lazy.

I'd want to do this for surround adjustments. If this can be done, one page can be set up for surround adjustments, with a return to the last device. Otherwise, each device will have to have probably the same page or button set of surround adjustments, which is not too elegant.

Why can't the manufacturer just work out how to put in a BACK command so, for instance, a SURR ADJ button could be put in on each device, which would take the user to one surround adjust page, with a BACK button which would take the user back to the previous device and page? Hell, they had this worked out more than a dozen years ago on the Marantz RC5200 ! (and some Prontos, too, I think.)

For surround modes I put 1 page on a device and build the modes out. Then i alias all the commands. Then copy past to each device rhat needs the surround modes. It is easy to use for the end user and does not get out of synch. It also works for lighting and multizones.

I don't remember what URC models can do it, but I've always been a fan of a toggle button that goes between 5 or 7 channel and 5.1 (easy on RTI). This is great for an non-techy client, "here's your music mode, here's your movies"

Let me know if this in overdoing it, but I put in a generic "back to" button that jumps to a page that has all activities without macros - back to favs, back to Sat etc. This was the client can tweak stuff and jump back pretty easily (my logic anyway :)

Just program a "back" button that jumps you back to the device you were at. You just have to track the device and with the proper "if/else" statements the back button takes you back to where you were within your surround modes page. I do this all the time with surround modes, and/or lighting.

This can be done with the 880 as well.

I just create a device for modes for each device that needs it. Watch movie, then on page 2 or whatever is the copied commands with a back button on it. It avoids have to create variables and tracking. Its just to easy to create a device, copy the pages and commands and be done.

RTI has a return to previous page link command native. No flags. I use it for ss and lights.

Does urc not have this?

Sorry, but I believe the OP should feel free to stop reading after post #2. The 980 can do lots of things. I use input tracking, toggle buttons, and page navigation on mine, but the press/hold variable is exactly what the OP needs, IMO.

Yes they do.

More than one way to skin a cat. Personally, I wouldn't want to return to the home screen unless I was switching sources. I would have lighting, surround, and maybe tv controls available as a page jump on every page with a return button to jump back to device control.

All URC remotes in CCP have this and I use this tactic on nearly every configuration. I also use this for lighting control page, with a "back" button to the device you were on.