I work for a technophobe who has just joined the 21st century. He has moved home and is purchasing new equipment.

He has invested in:
a Phililps FTR 9952 plasma TV
a Miko DVD - A980S (region free)
an LG LV900 VHS recorder and has
a Nokia ITV Digital box (formerly OnDigital).

A 5.1 sound system is in the pipeline.

Following advice from these forums, I taught the Pronto the IR codes directly from the remotes and have set up the unit in a very very basic way - using the default format and "hiding" a few unnecesary panels for ease of use.

Now to the problems.

1) I cannot understand ½ the postings in this forum!
2) I have downloaded some attractive looking .ccfs from others who have spend time creating them. These include chrome and Daniel's 3rd.
3) when I "merge" a new config with the original set up (which I have saved and copied to disk j.i.c!) I end up with about 300 panels including templates and all sorts!
4) I tried saving the buttons I liked the look of as bmp's then loading them onto the relevant panel but I cannot seem to be able to resize the original button and the new ones either don't appear, or appear "cropped"
5)I'm getting a headache, a backache and I want to stamp on the prono and kick the pc across the room.

Is there anyone who has spend some time writing a step-by-step tutorial that I haven't been able to find?

I have read the unofficial Philips Pronot and Marantz RC5000 FAQ and am sill as confused as ever.

All I want is a nice looking set of 2 - 3 panels for 3 pieces of equipment!

Finally I cannot seem to download the logos etc. from the "other Files" link, but it doesn't seem to work, not even with DAP. Whilst I am on the subject, how do I assign a code to a logo - say when I press the CNN logo rather than press prog. 156? Maybe I should learn to crawl first!

Sorry that this a bit of a rambling post - my excuse is that my brain is fried. Please excuse any typos.

Yours in hope!

MTB

In addition, I have checked out the .ccf code files and there doesn't seem to be any codes subitted for most of the above equipment. I am happy to up-laod them if someone can tell me how to do it!

MTB

Martin,

Take a deep breath and then go to:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

This may help a little bit - I feebly attempted to explain part of your problem. There is no tutorial - FAQ's and searches of the forum help.

Also go to Importing Component CCF Files, how do you make it work? 7-19-01

Yes, the Pronto basic configuration starts you out with 300 device categories, of which you need 5. Since you've started the right way, the next thing is to eliminate the evident confusiom by deleting the 295 device categories you're not using. That way when you open the configuration, you've only got the ones you're using and you can actually find them.

Next go to:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

and check my post there.

Slow and steady--deep breaths--it's actually very systematic and easy when you take it a step at a time. Feel free to post more questions. or e-mail me if that's more comfortable, at any time.

Hi Martin,

Welcome to Club Pronto.

Echoing previous posts here....

I'm a relative newbie ( Pronto 1 month )

Here's what I did...


1. Delete everything that comes as standard on the Pronto. - You don't need it and it takes up too much memory. ( Pronto Edit comes with the default CCF - useful to build your own )


2. I downloaded someone elses CCF for the SKY channel
logos.
( suitable for cable or ONDigital )

3. Although each of my remotes have "dozens" of functions. ie DVD has ZOOM modes and other fripperies.

All you really need are the basics such as....

Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Fast Forward, Eject, On/Off, Menu. Up down left & right.


Keep it simple.
Get 1 bit of kit working at a time.

Firstly your Ondigital box.
There are CCF's you can download for this ( or SKY )
Get the Pronto to change the channels.

( Program the numbers 0,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 )
Then for each channel you can program the Pronto to press the right buttons.

ie. SKY One ( Digibox) = 1 pause, 0, pause, 6 pause.






To resize a picture, easy.

Use Microsoft Paint ( free within Windows )
There is a function to change the size of the graphic by percentage.


Take the Edisonian approach.... one step at a time.
Get your digibox working to your satisfaction.
Only then add a new device.

And, don't be afraid to post here if you get stuck.
Many people here will happily help.

If you want to see my CCF ( copies of everyone else's -
no new work by me ) email me and I'll send it to you.

I will happily talk you through how to set up each button/ device if you want to.

When you find out how to do it, it is really easy.
The problem is --- that it is not intuitive to the first time users.

Cheers
Scott


ps. You will love the finished result of configuring your Pronto. It is the dogs twitcher. ;-)

Scott,

You are echoing what I found out, and what a lot of messages seem to say: it appears daunting at first, but in short order you are getting down and dirty, and it becomes very intuitive indeed. In that respect, its really not any different from any new piece of software--there's a beginning learning curve. But this one is much shorter than most. There's 2 or 3 pre-dominant issues that almost every newbie writes about, and after that, its the "dog's twitcher". [What the hell is that?]

I will take slight exception with your first point (probably just a clarification). The default comes standard with the Pronto. Don't delete that--just delete the devices you don't need. It's way more than you really need.




This message was edited by Joel Warren on 08/06/01 18:28.46.

Hi Joel

Erm....

The Mutt's nuts...
The dogs B*ll*cks....

( A term to denote that something is just fantastic )

But yes, I agree with you.
I am sorely tempted to put together a complete idiot's guide how to get started....

If fact... I think I will....

Just watch all the posts that say what I am doing is wrong and should be done another way

;-)

Scott

Scott,

I think we could combine this post of yours, with that one of mine that I posted the link to a few up the chain, and it would be a pretty good Newbie guide [we gotta go easy with that "idiot" stuff, you know how fragile you are when you're first learning.] But slow and steady, one step at a time, is definitely the plan. And then, before long, you're sailing! And might I add that the learning curve is shorter than most in no small part thanks to this forum. Do I hear an AMEN??

PS I'm still waiting for the answer to that one where the young lady from Britain said that the H-K Take Control is the "pants" compared to the Pronto. Now really! (Say it with me) What the hell is THAT?

This message was edited by Joel Warren on 08/06/01 18:41.59.

Hey I actually understand the meaning of "Pants"
Quite a popular term used in the UK by spotty teenagers.

Also used by a Conglomorate to sell instant snack meals [ just add hot water ]
Pot Noodle "Anything else is just Dad's saggy pants"


My term "Idiot's Guide" is not meant to be offensive, just a reference to the best selling "Dummies" series ( without infringing copyright )

I think I put together a few simple slides over the next week or so, and run them past you.

Cheers
Scott

4/ You have different sized bitmaps for selected, unselected, active, inactive states. Pronto reduces the size to the lowest of all the bitmaps. You don't need Inactive bitmaps so get rid of those. Make sure the two remaining bitmaps are the same size.

6/ (assign code to logo) Read the section in the FAQ on how to program multi-digit channels.

Try these too:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

[Link: remotecentral.com]


MIKE

Thanks all - I'm printing this thread and going to go awy with a good old fashion paper and pen and draw out what I think I need. I'll post back here later - before I sart creating and let you know what I plan to do.

Comment will, of course, be appreciated.

MTB

Okay,

This is my "cunning" plan.....

1) I have chosen the various Icons I like the look of and am now saving them as bmp files in a logical way. I have created a Pronto file in my documents and within that file I have an icons file and within that several folders named "oval buttons, square buttons, transport buttons, digital tv logos, etc. etc.

2) I will start with a new .ccf with pronto edit and start with the home page. I shall then add the 4 devices I need at the moment and create the appropriate number of panels for each device. I shall then add buttons where I want them, and load them from the icons files I've created.

It is my intention to teach the pronto the ir codes directly from the original remotes.

4)I understand from reading the faq's that I have to assign an action to at least one button per panel. This can just be a 0.1 sec delay - then the full set-up can be tested on the emulator. Have I got that right? And if so, how do I assign the delay?

5) Assuming 4 goes to plan and the panels appear on the emulator, I plan to download the config to the Pronto and the teach it the appropriate coding by zapping the ir into it's rear end!

Hopefully the above will work.

Comments please.

MTB

right click on the button, click on properties, go to action tab and select delay from the list on the left, 0.1 sec (default) should be okay so click ok on the drop down and you should see the delay at the top of the large white column on the right, click ok at the bottom and it should work. But I am a real newbie so if this is not correct, somebody let us know.

Let me know if 5 works for you - I am sort of at that point and cannot get the remote to learn from either PE or directly. Will be working on that today and will let you know if *I* learn anything.

As to No. 4, you need an action assigned for the button to be visible on the Pronto in "Use" mode. If you intend to use "Learn" mode, you do not. Pronto will display all buttons, both active and inactive in "learn" mode. Larry seems to be having a problem in "learn" mode with buttons that have actions assigned. That shouldn't be, as far as I know, but you really don't need an action assigned to learn through the Pronto.