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Topic:
890 - how to add a a macro?
This thread has 22 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 02:49
oshogg
Long Time Member
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December 2006
29
Hi,

I can't seem to figure out how to do this despite having to go through the manual, FAQS etc. on the harmonyremote.com setup website. i want to be able to add a custom button for one of the activities (Watch TV) which uses two devices: TV and Dish network Echostar PVR-942 receiver. The custom button is "Toggle Closed Captions". The button should automate the following set of actions that I typically do with the satellite receiver remote.

1. Press Pause.
2. Press Menu.
3. Press 8.
4. Press 8.
5. Press 1.
6. Press Left.
7. Press Select.
8. Press Right.
9. Press Select.
10. Press Exit.
11. Press Exit.
12. Press Exit.
13. Press Play.

The sequence of commands basically pauses whatever is playing, navigates through the dish receiver's menu to change closed captions control and then returns back to the program that was paused and continues playing it.

How do I write a macro for that and have it show up on the front screen for the "Watch TV" activity?

thanks,
Osho
Post 2 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 05:17
czzer
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2005
318
Harmony's don't do macros.

The only way you'll be able to do what you want(kind of) is to set up 2 activities..."Watch TV CC on" and "Watch TV CC off".

You can then use the activity start/end commands to do the required actions. Get to this by re-running the activity setup wizard and selecting "Yes, but I want to add more control".
Post 3 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 10:49
jcbremotes
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
October 2006
412
Did you check the Harmony device for the dish to see if there is a discrete command for toggling the cc on/off? If so, I'd program a soft button for the toggle.
OP | Post 4 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 13:51
oshogg
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2006
29
On December 4, 2006 at 05:17, czzer said...
Harmony's don't do macros.

The only way you'll be able to do what you want(kind of)
is to set up 2 activities..."Watch TV CC on" and "Watch
TV CC off".

You can then use the activity start/end commands to do
the required actions. Get to this by re-running the activity
setup wizard and selecting "Yes, but I want to add more
control".

This will not do what I want. What if I am watching a recorded program. This will take me back to the live TV. And, this will also do a number of other things (like again assigned TV input that I am already tuned into) that are undesirable. Besides, I want to be able to do more than just these two macros. I want to do macros for changing aspect ratios, viewing upcoming DVR recordings etc. For each macro, I will have to setup and configure a new activity? This is not right..

Obviously, Harmony's hardware has capability to remember a sequence of actions and send them. It's just the software part that is not allowing easy access to that.

Do we know if this is something that Logitech is going to fix in a future firmware/software upgrade?

thanks,
Osho
OP | Post 5 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 13:52
oshogg
Long Time Member
Joined:
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December 2006
29
On December 4, 2006 at 10:49, jcbremotes said...
Did you check the Harmony device for the dish to see if
there is a discrete command for toggling the cc on/off?
If so, I'd program a soft button for the toggle.

I did check that. Unfortunately, there is not. I also want to know if there are discrete commands for changing Aspect Ratio of Dish receiver but I couldn't find that too.

thanks,
Osho
Post 6 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 14:26
akirby
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2004
4,640
No, the harmony won't do macros nor do they plan to change that in the future. You'll have to find a different remote.
Post 7 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 14:34
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
On December 4, 2006 at 13:51, oshogg said...
Obviously, Harmony's hardware has capability to remember
a sequence of actions and send them. It's just the software
part that is not allowing easy access to that.

Do we know if this is something that Logitech is going
to fix in a future firmware/software upgrade?

This is a long running issue with Harmony remotes. The very first ones (7xx series) allowed for access to the XML programming so that you could program a macro on a button other than an "Activity" button. This feature was removed with subsequent models. I've asked for macros to be added dozens of times now with each new model, but it's not something that they are going to do.

As you mentioned, the hardware's capable of doing it and Harmony techs can access the files to do so, but the end user cannot.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
OP | Post 8 made on Monday December 4, 2006 at 17:13
oshogg
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2006
29
On December 4, 2006 at 14:34, Surf Remote said...
This is a long running issue with Harmony remotes. The
very first ones (7xx series) allowed for access to the
XML programming so that you could program a macro on a
button other than an "Activity" button. This feature
was removed with subsequent models. I've asked for macros
to be added dozens of times now with each new model, but
it's not something that they are going to do.

Why? What is their objection to add this? Does anyone know if the 1000 remote control allows this (macro outside of activities button)?

thanks,
Osho
Post 9 made on Tuesday December 5, 2006 at 07:46
Boydie
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2006
3
Osho

I think there is a way.......

I believe that all you need to do is buy a CHEAP "All In One" remote that can be programmed with MACROS

I then think that all you need to do is get the HARMONY remote to "learn" this macro from the other remote and away you go - the macro will then be programmed to this button! :-D

This does of course give the added expense of buying an additional remote - but I know that most of us would happily do this as adding MACRO features to the HARMONY range would give the ULTIMATE, reasonably proced remote (perhaps a reason they have been holding back on this addition ??)

I must say that I have not tried this myself yet so I can't say 100% that it works but I do recall reading it somewhere and I intend to do it myself when I get my new set-up sorted out

I really do not see why they do not give the option to programme MACROS??
Post 10 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 01:47
wkearney99
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2004
94
Biggest reason you don't get macros is support costs and complexity. It's one thing to have the simple activities oriented interface. But it's a whole other set of complications to get into setting up macros. Made even worse by having to do it through a web page interface.

Yeah, some additional macro functions would be nice. But I'm guessing they're betting on 99% of the audience NEVER needing them.

Personally, I'd at least like the CHOICE.
Post 11 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 09:42
akirby
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2004
4,640
Exactly - with the smart state activity setup the vast majority of users don't need macros so they've obviously decided it's not worth the development work and support required.

I agree it would be nice and would make the harmony line hands down the best remotes available.
Post 12 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 13:36
js5752
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2006
5
Boydie,

I don't think that method would work. I've noticed that when my Harmony learns a remote code, it doesn't appear to catch multiple presses. I've tried without a macro based remote to just hit a few buttons to accomplish something, and it just says that there was an error receiving the code.

-Jeff
Post 13 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 14:40
hi fi
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2005
99
your aspect answer is yes its either page up page dn or the format button on the original remote at the bottom left of the number pad and just learn it
Post 14 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 15:24
rlsx
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2005
81
The 768 (not sold anymore, but still supported) does macros.

What happens when one migrates a 768 setup that has macros to another model?
Post 15 made on Wednesday December 6, 2006 at 17:26
akirby
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2004
4,640
On December 6, 2006 at 13:36, js5752 said...
Boydie,

I don't think that method would work. I've noticed that
when my Harmony learns a remote code, it doesn't appear
to catch multiple presses. I've tried without a macro
based remote to just hit a few buttons to accomplish something,
and it just says that there was an error receiving the
code.

-Jeff

You have to use RAW mode.
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