Lessee if I can describe this clearly:

I want to have a global macro that executes commands from other devices but returns back to the current device when it's done.

I'm obviously not the first to (try to) tackle this problem, because Rob has it as a proposed feature in his 15-1996 description.

What I'm trying to do is have the "1s" button act as the "set up the whole system for the selected device" macro. That means turning on the receiver (my only component with discrete codes, unfortunately), setting the receiver input, and setting the TV input. The way I've implemented it right now is to put *all* the codes I need to do this onto a set of otherwise-unused buttons (shift-1s, shift-2s, etc., mostly) for *each* device, then the macro just executes the sequence shift-1s, shift-2s, shift-3s, shift-4s, etc. This works OK (quite nice actually), but I *will* run out of memory. I'm only sneaking by for now because I've only got DVD, TV, and Receiver so far.

Hmm, that paragraph probably isn't too clear. I can explain more if anyone cares.

So is there any way at all to have the macro jump back to the starting device? If a macro could call another macro, I could do it, but alas that won't work. I'm all out of ideas. Anyone?

I understand what you're doing and that really is the only way to do it within the limitations of the 15-1994 setup.

One thing to keep in mind when using shifted keys in macros is that they use up two keystrokes rather than one, so they will take up slightly more memory than using regular buttons.

Rob.

Hmm, bummer, though that's what I expected. Good point about the shifted keys, although I like to put that stuff there because it's sort of "hidden". I guess if I run out of memory I can reclaim a bit that way...

One thing that I've done is put all my discrete power on/off commands on the numeric keypad under the "Plug and Power" device and have my macros use those commands (as opposed to using a shifted button). I don't know if that saves any memory over using a shifted button, but it is also sort of "hidden" since I don't use the "Plug and Power" device for anything else.

But then, in your macros, you have to switch to the Plug and Power device to access those, right? What do you do at the end of the macro? Maybe for a global power macro it doesn't matter, because that'd probably be the first thing you do, so you select your device afterwards. Or the last thing you do, in which case it doesn't matter...

I actually use a approach. I do use the P&P device button to control my home automation, but I have re-programmed the transport buttons to hold discrete ON and OFF codes for each of my two ReplayTV's, which I access from macros but as I know where they are I can easily access them if the need arises.

I have also re-programmed the X10 device code so that the "All Off" function is on the SLEEP button rather than the MUTE button. I can't tell you how many times why wife has plunged us into darkness because she had the remote in the wrong mode! :)

(I am programming the remote via the 6-pin JP1 connector).

Rob.