Tried to get an answer, but did not get any. So posting another with more details


When watching an Activity, can I make the UP,DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT buttons as Macro. When I click LEFT, I want the MX-890 to select LEFT on both my Receiver as well as Comcast Box.


Reason behind this question:
"Watch TV" Activity running on Receiver HDMI 1. Plugged in Laptop in HDMI2. So at this point I without switching activity want to switch to HDMI 2 in receiver. Once HDMI options are shown in receiver, When I click RIGHT, it selects right on my Comcast Box and not my receiver. (This is correct)

So if I press RIGHT I want the remote to select RIGHT on both my Comcast Box and my receiver. (I know doing this change will always select RIGHT on my receiver when watching TV, but it does not matter to me since sending the RIGHT to my receiver does not do anything)

I'm. It understanding why you want to so this, but the answer to whether you can have a macro on the arrow buttons is yes, you can.

U rule goldenzrule. Thanks a lot.

Goldenzrule is correct in that you can put a macro on those buttons.

However, keep in mind that by creating a macro in which you have described - left button press resulting in a "Left" command for both the Comcast box and your receiver (which I assume is your AVR, right?) - would be a clunky solution, since the commands will not be occurring simultaneously. It would be one command right after the other.

This would present a delay when you are actually trying to navigate the guide on your Comcast box, for example. If you wanted to scroll to left (or to the right - if you put the same macro for the right button) then you would have to wait for the macro to complete before the button would be able to respond to your next button command. A slight inconvenience, which you can easily avoid by creating a "Press-and-Hold" Macro.

For instance, while still in your Watch TV Activity, a single, momentary button press of the "Left" would control your Comcast box (and only the Comcast box) as it normally would. You could then also program into the remote to set a "Hold" time on the same button to perform a different action.

For example, if you hold down the "Left" button continuously for two seconds, then the "Left" command for the Comcast box would be ignored and by-passed. Instead, a command for "Left" would only be sent to your receiver.

The MX-890 is fairly new. So, I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. But, if it's anything like programming other remotes in the MX line, you can program any navigation hard button with a press-and-hold macro either directly or via a short-cut to a macro that was assigned to any particular soft button "hidden" on another page, for instance.

Hope this helps, but why not just create an HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 button instead? It would seem to be a much easier solution.

The MX890 does not use the same method for press and hold. You would have to create a variable to accomplish this.

That's interesting. Thanks for sharing.

So, one cannot create any kind of press and hold for any button on the MX-890? Why do you suppose URC got rid of that feature and strictly limiting it to just variables?

EDIT: I just took a look at the MX-890 simulator in CCP. If I am understanding it right, then there would be two "IF" commands for the Left Button.

For example, if "Press Time" is < 2 sec, then Comcast LEFT

Then, if Press Time >= 2 sec, then AVR LEFT.

Is this how it's set up in the 890?

Yup, that is how you would have to tackle it. I too liked the ease of the press and hold feature. I put a 5 second press and hold on select button of the main menu of the remote that would take me to the hidden page with the clients equipment (AVR, TV...)

It was nice cause any job I walked into would have a backdoor to that page should you need it quickly. I haven't put it on the 890 but really should to still have that access to the hidden stuff.

Well, I guess it makes it easier visually for the programmer. Every command and variable is now laid out neatly line by line in the macro box, rather than having to hit the tabs to see what the commands might be for the various states.

And yes, a hidden device page is always a good idea. I have mine on a 3 sec press and hold on the ENT button on the bottom right of each remote, not only for the devices for the particular room or zone that a specific remote is for, but for every device in the house. Comes in handy when one of the kids misplaces his or her remote. I just grab the nearest available remote and control whatever needs to be controlled.

Good to know. I will try the variable way instead of going the macro and selecting both of them.

Reason I did not want HDMI1 or HDMI2 button. The receiver has a zoom function which I operate sometimes when watching youtube. I need to press Zoom and then Left and Right and select it.

You appear to be making things more complicated than they should be.

To be clear, you have an Audio Video Receiver (AVR) with your Comcast Box hooked up to HDMI Input 1 of the AVR and a Laptop Computer hooked up to HDMI 2 of the AVR.

You want to be able to switch between HDMI 1 & HDMI 2, right? So, why not just create buttons to go directly to HDMI 1 & 2? There's really no need to bring up an "HDMI Selection Screen" then using the Left and/or Right buttons to get to your desired HDMI source when a single button press, using discrete commands, will do it more quickly.

As for the zoom function, you can then also create a Macro that, with a single button press, will send the commands: Zoom, Left, Right, Select, (or whatever the sequence happens to be) rather than having to do each one manually.

You can assign these macros to any button you wish. Perhaps a 2-sec hold of the the "1" button to get to HDMI 1 or the "2" for HDMI 2.

Or, if you are used to using the Left button, then perhaps a 2-sec hold of the Left button to toggle you between HDMI 1 & 2 (this would be a variable where if you are already on HDMI 1 it would send a discrete command to go to HDMI 2 and go to HDMI 1 if you are already on HDMI 2, etc.)

The zoom macro could then be a press and hold of the right button, if you'd like.

The possibilities are endless. Use your imagination. The less button presses you manually have to enter, the better, IMO.

Wow. I guess this is the difference between a lot of experience. The thought process of getting this done.

Thanks.