I am thinking of movingup from basic remotes to AMX control systems....is it an relatively gentle learning curve...or a Mt Everest?

Any tips from existing programmers would be good.

What language does it use??? Any online sites that can be used other than amx.com and the online Uni

TIA

It is fairly close to c++, and the new duet software is designed to help bring java programmers into the AMX world easily. As for the learning curve it all depends on your background, Have you ever written computer code before? The Basics are really simple,

PUSH[TP,123]
{
PULSE[DVD,PLAY] /// SEND PLAY COMMAND
ON[TP,123] // TURN ON FEEDBACK FOR PLAY
}
this is the basic structure of a simple button press. but to really do some fun stuff it looks like this


DATA_EVENT[vdvRussoundCAV6_6]//// CAV 6.6 String Minipulation For Reading FeedBack
{
STRING:
IF(LENGTH_STRING(CAV_BUFFER)>0)

SELECT
{

ACTIVE(FIND_STRING(CAV_BUFFER,'INPUT=',1)):
{
if(FIND_STRING(CAV_BUFFER,':',9))
{
last_cav_Istring=''
last_cav_Istring=cav_buffer
CAV_SOURCE=MID_STRING(last_cav_Istring,7,2)
CAV_ZONE=MID_STRING(last_cav_Istring,10,2)
CAV_S=ATOI(CAV_SOURCE)
CAV_Z=ATOI(CAV_ZONE)
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER

}
else
{
last_cav_Istring=''
last_cav_Istring=cav_buffer
CAV_SOURCE=MID_STRING(last_cav_Istring,7,1)
CAV_ZONE=MID_STRING(last_cav_Istring,9,2)
CAV_S=ATOI(CAV_SOURCE)
CAV_Z=ATOI(CAV_ZONE)
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER
}
}
ACTIVE(FIND_STRING(CAV_BUFFER,'POWER=0',1)):
{
last_cav_pstring=''
last_cav_Pstring=cav_buffer
remove_string(cav_buffer,'POWER=0:',1)
OFF[cdvRussoundCAV6_6TP,ATOI(CAV_buffer)+200]
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER

}
ACTIVE(FIND_STRING(CAV_BUFFER,'POWER=1',1)):
{
last_cav_pstring=''
last_cav_pstring=cav_buffer
remove_string(cav_buffer,'POWER=1:',1)
On[cdvRussoundCAV6_6TP,ATOI(CAV_buffer)+200]
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER

}
ACTIVE(FIND_STRING(CAV_BUFFER,'VOLUME=',1)):
{
last_cav_vstring=''
last_cav_vstring=cav_buffer
remove_string (CAV_BUFFER,'VOLUME=',1)
VOL_PROC=CAV_BUFFER
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER
}
active(LENGTH_STRING(CAV_BUFFER)>0):
{
CLEAR_BUFFER CAV_BUFFER
}


}
}

Crap i just noticed how sloppy my coding is MUST DO BETTER

not done too much C++ so it loooks a real mess to me at moment.

Just want to do a basic system at first, but of course would want to do the cool fun stuff.

Heard that AMX is harder to learn at first compared to Crestron.

That (crestron) just gets harder as you go. Whereas once you learnt AMX it reaches a plateau and you can do pretty much anything

I say go for it, I got my hands on the programming manual and the old control disc(this was back in the old dos days) and spent about 150 hours at home trying to write code and make it compile without errors. when i finally got as far as i could without help i went in and asked the programmer at the time a few questions. The comapany i worked for paid us more when we were programming so i was sure he would not help me so he could keep the extra money to himself, but to my surprise he told e he was turning in his notice in a few weeks and would be glad to help me.

Long history of Line coding for me. I did Crestron for about 7 years before I moved to AMX and can say I am more confortable with AMX after 3 years than I was with Crestron after 7+.

I havent gotten to much into their Java interfaces as of yet.... And Java is something I've been working on inmy spare time so it looks like it will be a nice addition to the system.

Visual Architech also looks very cool. Should have that next week sometime.

I don't know how you guys look at this stuff for 8 hours a day... I need glasses.


Of distilled spirits, that is.

for some people, learning english is really hard. for others, it is easy, because they have been practicing all of their lives.

eveyone can't write a masterpiece.

obviously, if you can't grasp the basics of the language that you are trying to write in, it makes it difficult to express yourself.

but on the flip side, being an expert in a language doesn't necessarily mean that you are an expert at what you are expressing.

some of us are too lazy to even use proper capitalization.

Yeah that was Sh!t code, unfortunatly i rarely notice caps while i am programming, i will uasually go in and clean it up some what when its done, also this website doesnt like to keep tabs and spaces when posting thats why it does not follow proper nesting spacing.

AT LEAST HES NOT A SHOUTER (ALL CAPS ER)

Really, I think language is something most can do, but few can do part time. Some CI's take their smartest techs and send em to AMX class, then they're programmers. I don't think I'd be a good programmer doing it part time, I'd have to do it all the time to develop the proper mindset.

Maybe I can just cut n paste some blocks like other guys and call tech support when it doesn't work.

Is brain surgery difficult to learn?? yep, until you know it. The same applies to wind surfing. Not looping brain surgery into the same category as wind surfing. However, I'm sure there are a few brain surgeons that won't be able to master wind surfing, no doubt there will more wind surfers that won't be up to learning brain surgery.

Consider this. AMX and Crestron are blank slate systems that with enough understanding of the topology, will facilitate and basically provide control and access to parameters of a wide range of equipment allowing almost limitless flexibility. However, recently, a lot of other platforms have emerged that will allow you to effectively control devices including motorized window coverings, lighting systems, and all AV equipment. At the end of the day, the client doesn't care if it's Crestron, AMX, or XYZ as long as he can push a button and it works.

Crestron and AMX both have very stable transmission of RF code strings since the actual macro information resides in the central reciever / processor. Many of the other less costly and much easier to program systems send the entire macro string via RF which is more susceptible to interferance and subsequently a faliure to execute the commands consistently. But with enough finess, these disadvantages can be dealt with and overcome.

Keep in mind, Crestron and AMX are control platforms. at the end of the day,,, most of these final control vehicles are reduced to either RS232 or a hardwired infrared command, or a contact closure. I think where Crestron or AMX stands apart from the pack is the RS232 aspect. The question to ask when deciding on a platfrom would be.....do i really need RS232 flexibility in this system?, or can I achieve what I need to do with a much less costly system and also a much less time intensive programming process.

... i was referring to myself here.

if it works, it works. no one really appreciates 100% of the effort that you put into it. pronto programmers laugh at people who use coded universal remotes. amx / crestron coders laugh at pronto programmers. application developers laugh at people who use their IDE. OS and kernel architects laugh at application developers. somewhere, in some dimly lava lamp lit room, is an old guy with a pony tail that is laughing all by himself and still running assembler through his IMSAI or Altair.

...geek...

and he probably has a coffee table full of remotes

somewhere, in

His name is Steve Gibson over at GRC.com., But he makes some nice little programs

Ha! I listen to his Podcast with Leo sometimes.

Steve:

You do assembler?
I miss those days when I was programming in native tongue ...

Do you know what language was used to create the MX-950 editor? I am hoping to sort of 'play' with the editor code itself if possible. I want to add a button handler somewhat like a hardware INT 9 (in the PC) so that remote control programmers can program macros to be executed while the button is pressed and program also macros when a button is depressed.

I might be able to think of something else on the way ....
Do you have some info?

I taught myself AMX programming (sort of) about 5 years ago. I had a basic knowledge of C programming, which definitely helped. We don't sell AMX anymore so I can't speak for the current software, but once you get your head around the basics the older stuff wasn't too tough.

BTW, Steve Gibson's a pretty amazing guy. Anyone who programs in assembly has to know their stuff and Steve's one of the best, IMHO. He also probably knows more about Windows than any single person at Microsoft.

He didn't have a pony tail the last time I saw him, though.