Hello Group,
This is my first post, and my Pronto will arrive today..In the meanwhile I downloaded Prontoedit, and have been downloading various CCF files from this site (thanks so much everyone), trying to get a file ready for my Pronto. I got a main configuration I like but when I download a componant CCF, of course it has all the equipment that the owner has on their system..So I deleted the items that didn't match mine. Now, I try to make a new panel that matches mine..I go to panels-add panels, then build the panel the way I want. Then I try to assign the buttons, lets use "play" as an example. I go to button properties-aliases, pull down the menu to the device, and the button I need to select is "greyed" instead of green..What am I doing wrong? I figured this was the easiest way but being a newby I am obviously not doing something right..I looked in the facs but didn't find this...Thanks a million everyone! John

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but lets try...

Don't pull down the menu of the device you want to alias. Pull down the device or menu that has the code in it that you want your "play" button to be.

For example: Lets say you had a seperate panel somewhere full of all IR commands, this is how mine is, you assign or teach all of the buttons here the IR codes they need. Then you go to your "pretty" panel or the panel that has all of the nice looking buttons on it, and alias the "play" button to the "play" button in the IR area.

This sounds horribly complex. You are going to have to either learn the play command or assign it from the database. Whether you do it with two screens (my way) or one screen, you'll have to assign the proper IR code somewhere. Because the problem you are having, is you are trying to alias a button to itself, or so it sounds.

If you want to download a ccf to see what I'm talking about, I have a couple of the site, or you can email me and I'll send you some.

Hope I can help,

SanMan

Hi Wade,
Thanks for the quick reply..I thought by downloading a CCF from the componant section, that the IR codes would already be there, they seem to work from the original persons layout. I was just trying to replace their panel with my own, but maybe rather than do that I need to leave their panel and use it to alias my own?
When using the built in codes, do you have to do each button or the complete device?
Is it better to use the original configuration, train all your stuff into that and then use the original screens to alias your own to? (gee I hope this makes sense..)Thanks again! John

Alias is the best way, there is only two reasons (really only one) that I can think of

1) By mistake you are trying to alias the button to itself - if both panels have the same name you might be picking the wrong one

2) the button that you are trying to alias (the one with IR) has an alias that eventually leads back to the button you are trying to create an alias from (the nice button)

PE will not allow you to create a recursive loop (A alias B, B alias C .... alias A) Since any such command would be detrimental to the remote. (that is why I said that it is really one reason (A alias A is just a shorter chain)

I guess another easier question..If I download a CCF with the codes, ect, can I pull up the panel and change the icons and backgrounds? That would work just as well..I can't figure out how to change the icons, tho..

there are several ways,

1) IN PE V2 you can "load" an icon (BMP file), go to the "icon" tab and rclk the icon you want to change, then pick load from the menu

2) if you have a button in your ccf that looks right and one that acts right (I think this is your case), press on the Alt key while dragging the one that looks nice over the one that acts right then drop it. The one that acts right will now have the same icon as the one that looks nice

Anthony has you going good on the icons.

Just be sure that if you edit any icons to save them as 8 bit grayscale, or they won't work.

Since you are just about to get yours, you'll learn more and more as you mess with it. But the forum is the best way to answer the many, many important questions you'll have.

SanMan

Hey Anthony!
That #2 is really close! Is it possible to do it the other way around? For instance..Create your layout, and drag your existing buttons over to the new ones, and have the new ones become the function without keeping the shape of the old? Like transport buttons for instance..In the gallery, they are nicely laid out. Can you open your "ugly" window, put the nice transport layout on a new panel and drag the ugly buttons to the corrosponding transport button? I tried it but it replaces the transport button with the ugly one..I am getting close! Thanks a million for all the ideas! John

1. "THE LOOK" PHASE. Before you get the Pronto (or after if you already have it), set up the look of your panels in Pronto Edit any way that pleases you. Don't worry about what the buttons DO. You're going to be changing all that. Save this as "Custom" or whatever.

2. "PERFORMANCE" PHASE. Now when you get your Pronto, go through the basic internal set up without Pronto Edit, using the UDB and picking the brands of your devices, finding the settings that work with your equipment, so that the performance is right, even if the look is not. You can also go through and delete all of the devices in that long default list that you are not using so you trim the fact out your CCF.
You are now ready to merge the performance with the look.

3. MERGING "THE LOOK" WITH "PERFORMANCE." Connect Pronto Edit and your Pronto. Open PE, and upload your working set-up into PE. Pick "replace" when it asks, so this will be the only CCF open. Go through the device list and change the names of the devices to "Original DVD", "Original TV" "Original Amplifier", etc. That way when you merge custom and original (see below) you can differentiate between the two. Save this CCF configuration as "Original" or whatever.

Now, with "original" open, you click in "files" > "open configuration", select "custom" and this time pick "merge" when you are asked. You will now have a CCF with both your original and custom devices.

Go through each button in your custom set up, delete whatever action is there (because its for the original device that it was created for) and set it to alias to the corresponding button in your "original" (performance) set-up. Then go through each panel in your original set-up, click the "panel" menu, and check "is hidden". Save this as "Spanking New" or whatever.

When you then download "Spanking New" into your pronto, you will have the look you want, with the buttons acting the way you want. Don't worry when it asks if you want to replace the setup thats already downloaded into your Pronto. Click "Yes". You have the original setup saved should anything go wrong, and you can simply load that back. Remember, like all software, saving with a new name does not replace the original, so you llaways have a working version to fall back on.


You will probably have some glitches as you meander through the quirks of PE, but that is no different than learning any other piece of software. Avail yourself of the splendid group here, whenever you have a question.

Takes time, but, boy is it satisying when you get it working right.

I'm sure if you can do that or not, but what you want to do could be done by copying the IR code on the "ugly" button, and pasting it into the "nice" layout button.

SanMan

No, only the other way around
I don't know if you had a chance, but at the bottom of your screen, there is a link to the FAQ, it has a lot of good information in there

My response above was ment to answer Jon's question.

I know, I was talking to John. Just trying to expound a bit!

SanMan

Sanman: When I read this thread and I started my reply
Joel and your replies were not there. So I answered John's question with "No, only the other way around" when I noticed you guys had posted between John's question and my answer I added my second post to explain the one just before it (I thought my answer looked a bit lost)

Wow..Thanks for all the advice! I have been having a ball with the software..I will have this baby turning on the washing machine by the time I'm done! :-)
John