Im sorry this is probably really lame for most of you out there but I just got my pronto a week ago and cant figure out how to get a new panel into my pronto, or individual buttons. Ive found a few panels I like from other peoples configurations and downloaded the file from the file area.I figured out by dragging it to the desktop from download I could then drag it to Pronto edit( Is there an easier way? ) Lets say I like the home panel of the file I downloaded but not the rest of it. I bring up the home panel in the edit window and click on download to pronto, but it downloads the whole file into my pronto wiping out everything else I had in there and installing the other complete ccf file that I downloaded, instead of just the panel I wanted. Forget trying to download a single button! Ive been playing with this every night for a week and just cannot figure it out.Can anyone give me basic instructions for downloading single buttons or single panels without downloading the entire file? i would really appreciate any help. I had no trouble transferring the codes from my seven remotes into the pronto and relabeling buttons ect, but these custom panels are a little beyond me, especially since I cant seem to find a BASIC instruction guide. The ones I find assume youve worked withy computers all your life and already know most of this stuff. According to a lot of the read it files Ive seen with peoples configurations, you have to be experianced with some type of Corel paint program or photoshop or something. Ive never messed with stuff like that so all the custom stuff is going to be over my head , but I thought I could just borrow my favorite panels and buttons and transfer them to mine and just do some minor editing as far as relabeling stuff for my equipment ect, but Im not having any luck with that either and the fact I cant find a basic how to guide is making this even more frustrating. Can anyone out there with some spare time tell me how to go about this. I dont have 100`s of hours available to me to figure it out and make all my own custom stuff. Thanks for anyone giving the time to help me out here! Mickey

You are in full-out newbie panic mode. Calm down. Take a deep breath. If you've ever used "cut and past" or "copy and "paste" on ANY software program, you'll catch it quickly. If not, then you do need someone nearby who can help youRead my post on this thread:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Get the Pronto Edit User manual here:

[Link: pronto.philips.com]

Read them carefully, slowly, and take it one step at a time. It's not so daunting if you take it systematically. If you get hung over a specific step, post a specific question. Someone will answer and take you to the next step. There are a lot of very sharp, experienced people who are regulars here, and will be happy to help you patiently at any time.

Before you know it, you will be answering questions instead of asking.






This message was edited by Joel Warren on 08/14/01 20:39.31.

I could not make heads or tails out of the thread I read. The talk about aliases just went right over my head! Im more confused now than when I started. When I got the pronto I went right to work and transfered all seven of my remotes codes into the prontos using the panels that were in there already. I could not figure out how to move or enlarge some buttons so I just used abbreviations for labeling when the full name would not fit into the button.I was quite pleased when I got done, and even happier when I set up macros to turn my whole system on and off with the push of one button, including opening the dvd drawer, delaying a few seconds to allow removal of the disc and then shutting everything down.Now that I have that down,I did not need to get real fancy with it as Im pleased with the way it was, I would just like to get some different panels in there that look nice , but do the same thing I had . I dont understand the need for aliases, whatever they are, my pronto worked fine the way it was, I just want to jazz the screens up some. As far as cut and pasting you mentioned, the only thing Ive done with that is to highlight a web address to put in the "Go to " area. I downloaded the guide you mentioned but Im having trouble following it because it too assumes you know how to use and do certain editing tasks, which I dont.Maybe Im in over my head and should just use the factory default and reload my codes from the remotes back in and leave it at that. At least I had it working and was happy. This has just about ruined every spare minute Ive had this week and Ive gotten no where except to delete all the stuff I spent three hours doing when I got the thing!

It sounds to me like you've got things pretty much under control. When you say:

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Do you just want specific buttons that you prefer to replace ones that you have? Or do you you see whole CCFs that you like and want to emulate?

If you e-mail me your current CCF, and also some that have buttons, panels, or whatever, that you like, along with specific questions about what you want to do, and what you are trying to accomplish, I'll work with them and give you some guidance.

Click on "View Author's Profile", you'll find my e-mail address there.


This message was edited by Joel Warren on 08/14/01 22:09.53.

To copy something from CCF A to CCF B

1) open CCF A, and condense all that you want into 1 device, 1 panel or 1 button and copy it
2) Open CCF B and pick replace
3) paste into CCF B at the appropriate place

To copy icons (what buttons look like) from CCF A to CCF B

1) Open CCF A and dblclk the button you like
2) click on the icons tab
3) press save and pick a name and location
4) Open CCF B and dblclk the button you want to change
5) click on the icons tab
6) press load and pick the file you saved in #3

Note: if you want many or all the buttons , CCF tools (in the file section) has a decompiler, that will save all the icons into one directory, this will replace steps 1-3

To copy the look from button A to button B in the same CCF

1) Open the panels that contain Button A and Button B
2) Press alt and drag and drop button A onto button B

If you did not get the chance you should read the FAQ there is a link at the bottom of this page

Step by step specific instructions for copying 1 panel from CCF X to your own CCF:

1. Launch ProntoEdit by double clicking it's icon.

2. Click the File menu, then click Open Configuration.

3. In the Open dialog box, double-click CCF X (you may need to navigate to the CCF X file in another folder or from your desktop first...or from wherever you saved that file). CCF X should load into ProntoEdit.

4. Expand the Home or Device panels by clicking on the "+" in front of "HOME" and "DEVICES" and then any other devices under "DEVICES".

5. Find the Panel you want to copy and then use your Right-Mouse button to single click the panel. A small menu of choices will pop up, then single click with the Left-Mouse button on "Copy Panel". Nothing happens except the menu disappears.

6. Now repeat steps 2 and 3 above, but in step 3 double-click on your own CCF to open it (not CCF X). You will be asked to Merge or Replace. Choose Replace. Now your CCF will be loaded all by itself.

7. Expand "HOME" or "DEVICES" and find the area where you want to paste the panel you previously copied.

8. Right-Mouse click on any panel in your CCF and Left-Mouse click "Paste Panel" in the pop up menu. The panel will be added directly above the panel you right-mouse clicked on. * (If you right-mouse clicked on the Device and not a panel, the new panel will be inserted as the last panel in that device or home group) Now that panel is in your CCF.

9. Now you can double click the panel you just inserted to view it, and then open the panel you want to change by double-clicking it. They both can be arranged by dragging each panel with the mouse so that they are side by side.

10. Now you can copy buttons from the inserted panel to your panel the same way (Right-Mouse click a button in the CCF X panel, Left-click "Copy", then Right-Mouse click any blank area/space in your CCF panel and Left-Mouse click on "Paste".

If you copy buttons this way, you will then need to re-label and/or re-learn the button in you your CCF's panel.

If you just want to copy only the button's looks (appearance) to a button you've already configured, just hold the "Alt" key on your keyboard while Left-Mouse clicking on the button you want from the CCF X panel and drag it over the button in your CCF panel. Once you let go of the Left-Mouse button (while holding the "Alt" key down), your button will turn in to the button from the CCF X panel (you can now let go of the "Alt" button too). Except now you don't need to change the label or the learning of your IR code (the properties for your button remain).

You can repeat this for as many buttons or frames as you like.

Hope this helps.....and a hint to remember is that Right-Mouse clicking on anything in most Windows' applications (including ProntoEdit) always pops up a menu of ONLY appropriate functions for you to choose.

I don't think anyone has said this, so just in case it hasn't become clear to you. The CCF is a complete configuration. When you download a CCF to the Pronto, you download the complete configuration. You cannot update individual panels, buttons, etc by downloading them to the remote. You must create a new CCF with the old configuration elements you want to keep along with the new fancy panels, buttons, etc. The previous responses do a good job of explaining how to get the new fancy elements into your existing CCF. Make sure you save the CCF often to a fresh file name, like myccf12.ccf, myccf13.ccf, etc in case you make a big mistake and want to go back a step. Have fun.

To add to JeffW's post, beore you do save it, strip it down to just the elements you want to use, and rename the panels "imported TV", etc. (or whatever you want). That way when you merge it with your configuration you're not getting a lot of extra garbage and you can readily see the new stuff that has been added.

This thread, by the way, should be bookmarked. There is an awful lot of good, concise info, from some very knowledgable people here, and specifically answers a number of recent "newbie" threads asking the same thing.