UPDATE 2: The icons are now located below. Right click and download.

If anyone has any {reasonable} graphics requests, let me know and I'll see if I can throw together something for you.


UPDATE: The MX-880 is similar to the MX-810. As it turns out, however, the 810 is more "hack-able" than the 880. You can add custom icons in the "Favs", but that effectively limits you to 1 custom screen. Sorry :(

The PNG requirements are the same, as is the manner in which you deposit files - so the tutorial applies to the 880 as well as the 810 in that sense. So everyone bombard URC with requests to add the ability to insert images anywhere.

The 880 files are located here:

C:\Program Files\Universal Remote Control, Inc\MX-880 Editor\images

The IR/RF sending screens are here:

C:\Program Files\Universal Remote Control, Inc\MX-880 Editor\system

I’ve had a couple questions on how to add icons to the 810, so here is how I did it.

First, the 810 uses PNGs. The file size is 88x59 and images can be transparent.

Images are in this directory:


It is possible to change the prepackaged icons, but requires that you overwrite the original file. For example, if you want to change the default icon for a satellite receiver in Alpha, you would overwrite the following file:


The 810 does not allow icons to be used in any pages other than Devices and Activities. It is possible, however, to create Activities that will allow custom icons on any page. To do this, follow the following steps:

1. Create your devices as you normally would. Save the file when you are finished.


2. Next, create the images you will use as icons.


3. Place the icons in the \stationlogo directory. You must put the icons in one of the subfolder. It does not matter which subfolder you choose, however. I used local.


4. Create a macro with the name “Favorite.” Set up the device steps as you normally would.


5. After setting the steps of the macro, you will be guided to a screen that allows you to add channel logos. Find the icons you created. If you used the local subfolder, the images will be under the “Blank” tab. Drag your icons into desired order. If you create channel favorites, be sure to add the channel numbers. You do not need to add numbers to your other functions. Finish up and move back to the main menu.


6. Using the Browser, select the Activities screen. At this point, you can change the name of Favorites by clicking on it and changing the name under the “Button Caption.” Double click on “Favorites.” Select an icon. If there are any steps in the “Actions”, delete them at this point. Now click “Browse” in the lower left corner. You will need to open a donor file to copy IR from. If you already saved this file, you can open it in the browser to get the IR you need. Find the button you need in the browser and click on it. Drag the item in the “Imported Action List” to the “MX-810 Action List” for the button you are programming. Do this for all the icons you have added. Click close when you are done.


7. Upload to your remote. That should be it!

Attached is a screen capture of a configuration I made for a DirecTV HR-20. I would be willing to email any of the icons I made and the WZR file for reference. Let me know which design you would like. If you have any problems with any step, please let me know and I will correct it.



I found that you can create solid backgrounds using images for each of the 6 spots. This allows you to create solid designs without replacing the background (See Apple below). Using a similar idea, you can create buttons that span 2 or more spots (See TiVo below).

Here are the layouts I've done. Right click and save. Put them in the /stationlogo directory (See #3 above). If you want the WZR files, I can email those.

Apple:


Wii (uses same PNG for spots 1, 2, 5, & 6):


DirecTV:


Playstation (uses same PNG for spots 1, 2, 5, & 6):


TiVo:


Time Warner:


Netflix (uses same PNG for spots 1, 2, 5, & 6):


XBox 360:


Lights:

They won't. ProWizard is looking specifically for the PNG file format. Additionally, note that ALL of the images in the subfolders can potentially be edited. That means that if you want to add a DirecTV logo in place of the existing "Satellite" logo, you can do that. Just be sure that the logo is the correct size, and that it's a 32-bit PNG file that has a transparent background.

And yes, you can edit the backgrounds, the battery indicator, or even the "Button.png" base itself. Some dealers have asked about editing the "Please Wait" screen. That image is in there too.


True. It's possible we may change this in the future to let you create whole new themes within the directory structure.


Clever! I designed the UI and directory structure, and I never thought of this! Now that you've created this unique structure, don't forget that you can now import all this hard work into other ProWizard files without having to recreate all your work! This will also save anyone who shares your file frome repeating the work. BUT... be sure to also send your modified image files and tell others which folders to place them in. The images are not fully embedded in your WZR file. They are still part of the directory structure on your hard drive. If someone tried to modify your setup on their own PC, they could lose your graphics.

Very good work! It's cool to see people doing unique things with the MX-810! In fact, I'd love a copy of your file to share with others at URC. Your ideas may help us come up with ways to improve the product for everyone.

Best regards,
Dale

I would love to get a copy of the new logo files .pngs you made also.

They look very nice !!

-- Cain

Hey Guys,


I just switched over to Universal from Harmony and was just tryin to figure out how to import custom images. THIS HELPED A LOT! Thanks for the tutorial, My clients will appreciate it.


Also, could you send me a copy of those images and files.

Thanks Again

Are the images (graphics) posted somewhere for general consumption? It might make it easier to access. If not, I'd like to recieve a copy of them as well. Thanks!

Hey DSP thanks for the files. I got one question: whenyou create these files, do you have to use photoshop to make the transparent background, or can I do it in a viewer like IRFAN or something. Please bear with me I' new to the imaging thing

I used PhotoShop to create my images. I'm not familiar with your particular editing tool. However, it says that it has the capability to support PNG and PSD, so I would imagine that it supports transperency. If I had to guess, there is probably a layers pallette in IrFan. When you create your files, make sure there is no solid background layer and save as a PNG. Transperency is likely automatic. You can also try another free editing tool, Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/). It is a lot like PhotoShop.

When you talk about donor files are you talking about stuff in the files section on this site? If so there are none for the MX-810 so where can you get them? I tried one for another MX remote and it just says "learned command"?

BTW This is a great site to get good station logos for people making custom buttons
[Link: satlogo.com]

The donor file can actually be the WZR file you are working on as long as you have saved it before you open it in the Browser. But it actually doesn't matter what kind of file you use. You just need the IR for the particular button you have created. Open your donor file (any MX remote or CCF file). Then drag the "Learned Data" from the button you need onto the "MX-810 Action List." You could also use hex if you have it. As long as it is the right IR code, it will work. I have seen the following: "Learned Data," "Preprogrammed," and "IR CODE." All have worked the same for me.

dsp81, much thanks for putting this together.

I followed the instructions and understand what to do, but I'm thinking I need to do something a little different for my scenario. For a simple test, I set up the "favorites" activity with just 4 buttons on page 1. I used the supplied (Red, Green, Yellow and Blue) blank rectangular buttons (for an HR20 DVR). I went into the browser to assign the codes to those buttons, but how do I then get those buttons onto my DirecTV DVR "device"? When I try to do a "Copy a command for one device and paste it into another device or activity", my "Favorites" activity doesn't show up in the list. I noticed that when creating an activity, it only gives you the icon/logo screen if you have "Favorites" in your activity name, so I'm thinking that's somehow related.

You've run into a limitation on the 810. You can only do custom icons on activity pages because the favorites function is for an activity. In the device, you will have to use text. However, this is only a minor limitation, because I'm guessing you'll almost always use the activity and not the device.

I think I see what you're saying here, but doesn't every activity require you to select a device to use for the main source of buttons? So does that mean to do what I want to do, I need to create the "Favorites" activity, manually put in icons for all of the buttons not covered by the hard buttons, then go to the browser and manually set all of the buttons (hard and LCD) to the right code?

A Favorite requires you to select a device as well. You won't need to set the hard buttons, only the LCD buttons. You can also add text to a Favorites button, so you can make generic LCD buttons if you don't want to create images for a button. You will still need to add the IR in the browser.

Great, so I've got everything the way I want it (thanks to you), but the last thing I want to know - is there a way to change the order in which the activities display on the main "Activities" page without having to recreate each activity in the order in which I want them to display? I can't seem to figure that out.

Customization, then Next. You can re-arange the icons by clicking and dragging.