I thought I'd put this thread together to make it easier for new (DIY) beginners to learn a method of doing custom network icons. This thread is in no way a standard. There are many different ways to do it, this is just my method. You can make your own icons from scratch using a picture editor, but I prefer to use CoPilot available here: [Link: guifx.com] that another forum member referred me to. CoPilot is a dream! It makes quick work of making custom icons in my opinion... and is free for personal use.

There are many images already available for download in the files area here (Mike's TV Logos): [Link: remotecentral.com]

But, there are some networks that are missing from his batch and/or you may just want to create your own. So lets get to it.

A gold mine of Network logos can be found at: [Link: satlogo.com]
However, some are still required to be hunted down the old fashion way, using google images.

If you have downloaded your images in the jpeg format... It's okay at this point, but after you have created your icon in CoPilot, it should be in the PNG format.

The images after being created with CoPilot, can be placed in a custom folder in the image directory of the URC MX-6000 program folder, after placing them there, they will show up in the CCP image gallery in the folder you created. Remember, they should be PNG format.

Here is the path to mine:




For icon backgrounds, I like to stay consistent with URC's theme , so I use the white blanks that can be exported from the image gallery (LARGE OR SMALL). But if your graphics making ability is above average, I'm sure you can come up with something more creative.

EDIT: (replace strike-through with: URC's Device: square button theme; as Darnitol referenced below, wider buttons may be a preferred theme because of logo dimensions)





Find the blank you wish to use:



Export it to the CoPilot Button folder for editing:



Here is the path to my CoPilot "button" folder:

My method is to hunt down a network logo...
Place it into the CoPilot network logo folder...
Here is the path to my CoPilot "network logos" folder:

And, when CoPilot is launched, both logo and button should show up in CoPilot.
Once in CoPilot: Select the white blank as your button:


Open the network logo folder from within CoPilot:


Select Network Logos:


Select your logo:


Use the minimum distance slider to adjust the size of your image within the button:





Once your logo has been designed to your liking. Externally navigate to your "network logo" CoPilot folder, "copy" or "cut" the finished logo and place it in your CCP MX-6000 Custom Icon folder. Restart CCP and drag your logo to your Networks Channels page...

Here is a picture of mine:



Now at this point, you can go about executing your channel a few ways... I'll just use the two simplest ways in my opinion.

You will see that I've included a slight delay between the codes. Depending on your system, this may or may not be necessary for smooth operation.

First way:
You can use designated IR code from the database on button press:


Second way:
Or you can use the Alias (record action) on button press:
press record -> navigate to the keypad -> press the buttons for the channel:



Be sure to navigate using the tree browser or else any buttons your press will get incidentally recorded.



After recording actions, press stop, and CCP should jump back to the network logo screen. Either way works fine in my opinion, but to me, they both have their pros and cons.

If you like to edit your CCP file a lot changing things up frequently, there may come a point where you may want to delete your Cable device. For whatever reason, if your keypad buttons are ever deleted, then all the actions associated with them will also vanish. And, if you have coded your network logos with the second way I demonstrated, then all your network logos will become disfunctional. The good thing about this method, is that it is easy to code your buttons. For example:

If I can set a preset button:


I can quickly paste these actions onto any button, double click a keypad number, the alias settings window pops open, and i can then select whatever channel number I wish.


In essence, I can code a whole page of network logos rapidly with the second method, whereas with the first method I demonstrated using the IR, you can not do this. You have to go to the database section and drag the IR codes separately... and if you have lots of buttons, this could be time consuming. The good thing about the first way I demonstrated is that if the Cable TV numeric keypad or buttons are ever deleted, the IR codes are not associated with those keys. Example, I have set my Network logos on its own device... the IR codes are immune from being deleted because their is no association with the Cable TV numeric keypad. Chose whichever way works best for you.

Here's mine:



Demonstration...
Click Network Channels from cable tv device:


Jump to Network Channels device:
Select channel group... I selected premiums...


button code looks like this:


I have a "menu guide" variable. If it's true, it will execute the numbers in the second IF statement. The first IF statement is time sensitive.

On short press of premiums button, will jump to page 1:


On long press of premiums button, will jump to page 2:



There are many ways all of this can be done. Some might be more, or less efficient. To me, it's a matter of personal preference. Set your remote up how you like it. I hope this tutorial was helpful to you new guys out there. It was a pleasure. You are welcome to PM me with any questions on things that need more clarification.

If you want to helpful this kind of thing belongs in the RC Wiki. Also, as a side note, you should refer people to the instructional video that GUIFX designed for the application. Last, I know you are not a big fan of copyright issues, but the software is not always free - it depends who is using it and what they are using it for. Some type of clarification should be in order,

To be fair... I do want to point out that the square icons are not the standard channel icons for MX-5000, MX-6000, or KP-4000. Those remotes all use a horizontal rectangle, since most station logos are designed in a horizontal format.

Nice of the young feller to take the time. It will surely be of help.

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen! I'm sure it will be helpful, it certainly would have saved me some time having this thread when I first started. Thankfully many members here and at AVS were so helpful in pointing me in the right direction. Many thanks to those individuals.... MANY THANKS! Keep spreading the love.

kewl, did not know that until just now. I edited the tutorial to reflect this more accurate information.