Do I download a .PCF file into my TSU3000 BEFORE I start defining the brands and IR codes for the initial setup for the device?

ie. Have contempt.pcf on my TSU3000 before I start telling the device what exactly I have?

Thanks in advance,
Sean
[email protected]

there are two ways of programming a pronto
using pronto edit or manual using brand and IR code

If you like the Pronto device designs and navigation exactly as they are now and just want to point them at your device, you can just do brand and IR code assignments right on the Pronto.

If you want to use a downloaded PCF, such as contempt, you'll want to map all the buttons to either database IR codes or learn directly from your remotes. You'll want to do this before you push the PCF to the Pronto.

Since contempt is a directly mapped PCF, where the visible buttons actually have learned IR codes, you may want to set up a hidden device that has all the codes for all your devices, then alias the codes as links to the visible devices. This allows you to swap in new PCF designs without having to re-learn all the visible buttons, just re-link them. Notice that contempt has a version number, which would imply that the author may choose to release future versions.

I'm doing a custom design, and I downloaded all the PCFs in the full systems area to learn what people are doing. There are a lot of really great ideas out there. One of the most useful ideas I've copied is to put all the codes on hidden pages. I'll never need to relearn or cut and paste IR codes as I redo my visual designs. I see no speed impact to using linked visual buttons, too.

"If you want to use a downloaded PCF, such as contempt, you'll want to map all the buttons to either database IR codes or learn directly from your remotes. You'll want to do this before you push the PCF to the Pronto."

Map out all the buttons for the remotes that come with my TV, DVD, ETC?

Exactly how do I accomplish this?

Thanks,
Sean

In PENG, you can assign an IR code to each button on the visible device pages (the ones that aren't red). For example, for TV, double click the page called "1" and then double-click the digit 1 button.

The action page should appear showing that the current action is a learned IR code. This code is useless to you unless you have the same TV as Mr. Chang. So, you do a Delete Action, then click on Add IR Code. Then, you can either add a code using the device type, brand, and code list, or learn the code using your original remote and the Learn IR button in the Custom IR section below.

Learning is a little finicky, put the remotes on a towel and don't learn in bright light.

Ideally, as I say, you'll want to create your own hidden pages that have dozens of ugly little buttons too small for your fingers but big enough for a mouse or pencil eraser so that you can learn all your codes into one place once and for all.

That helps A LOT!

How do I know the code set? I don't yet have all the products, but there must be a way to find out.

Thanks for your help,
Sean

Well, ya don't, really. It's a game. Try them in order, see which one works. Reward yourself if you get one right the first time. Enjoy, it's what technology's all about.

If, as you should in Philips' vision, you have your computer in the same room as the equipment you're controlling, you can try the test IR button in PENG. You may need to turn on advanced mode in PENG. I never used standard mode, so I don't really know the difference. Standard mode just keeps you off the blue suede shoes.