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Topic:
Macros and buttons...
This thread has 12 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday October 11, 1998 at 16:46
Scott "popcorn"
Historic Forum Post
So, tell me... Can any button be programmed as a macro, or do you have to use a special button for macros? For example, what if, when I press the "DVD" button from the main screen, can it change to the DVD template, turn on the DVD player AND switch the preamp to the DVD input? Or can "normal" buttons only perform one command?
OP | Post 2 made on Sunday October 11, 1998 at 17:47
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
There's a whole seperate menu for macros. From there you can select groups of macros, and each group can have up to 25 macros stored in it (five per screen). Normal buttons in devices can only have one function assigned.

However, you can program one signal to a device, such as "DVD" or "VCR 1" so when you select that device it switches the amp to the proper input.
OP | Post 3 made on Sunday October 11, 1998 at 23:38
ziad
Historic Forum Post
Same question I'd have.
The reason I don't like the sony is because It won't switch the inputs correctly.
This sounds better, and looks cool.
Daniel do you have an oem sony remote? one that came with an amp?
I'm wondering if the pronto can learn the code for when you press VCR1 on an OEM sony. The av2000 could learn the TV codes but not VCR!!
All that happens when you press the VCR1 is that everything comes on and all inputs are set correctly so you just have to push play and enjoy.

Just curious!
Thanks
Ziad
OP | Post 4 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 00:03
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
Yes, I have the original remote that came with my Sony 8ES receiver.

First, let me explain why this signal is next to impossible to program on any universal remote. When you push one of the input selection buttons the remote sends out a whole series of separate commands -- basically a macro. When I push VIDEO 1 on my Sony remote the "sending" light stays on for a very long time, which overwhelms every universal remote I've seen so far.

Amazingly, when I tried this signal on the pronto it accepted it without any complaint! That's a first in itself.

The problem is I can't properly test it as the only Sony equipment I have is the receiver. When I tried out the learned signal it did switch the receiver to the proper input, however the "sending" icon stayed on for a very short time.

Now, the possibilities are either 1) it stored the first signal (switch input) and ignored the rest or 2) it compressed the signals (removed blank space between them). The latter is a heavy possibility since this unit sends out macros at an incredible rate - what takes about three seconds on the Sony AV2000 (with it’s automatic delays) blips by in a quarter second on the Pronto.

Sorry I can’t be more definite, however I will speak to Philips and ask them if they’ve had any experience with this particular problem.
OP | Post 5 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 00:29
Scott "popcorn"
Historic Forum Post
Man, that sucks... You'd think they would have been smart enough to make a remote that can do nearly everything DO everything... Especially since in this particular case, it would be a simple procedure of creating a "link" to a macro. So, instead of programming a button as a macro or as an IR command, it could be a link to a macro command. It makes sense, and probably wouldn't be hard to do... So, my next question is a toughie... Can you reprogram the remote via the RS-232 interface? such as creating and uploading new templates from a PC, or even reprogramming the whole remote if you were so inclined?
OP | Post 6 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 00:35
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
I'm assuming that will be the case, however this appears to be a "future expansion" feature. Right now there's no applications, nor even an adaptor. I was thinking this is more likely to be used by a "value-added" dealer, who would pre-program the remote for you. The manual mentions as much in the introduction.
OP | Post 7 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 06:08
Yvon Quere
Historic Forum Post
I agree on the fact that a macro only section is not so cool. I'm using an Angel now and single IR codes or a complex macro are associated the same way to a button. You don't have to worry about what is done when you press a button.
You don't want to wonder of the way that or this function is made of. Bad point for the Pronto.
Anyway, with the Madrigal and Rc5000, those are the first possible competitors to the RC2000. We were waiting for that !
OP | Post 8 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 15:01
a helpful person...
Historic Forum Post
Follow the instructions for teaching an IR code for device selection, but hold down the backlight button when you select the device you're going to teach from the drop-down list...
OP | Post 9 made on Monday October 12, 1998 at 16:22
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
In response to the message by "a helpful person":

Just background for other folks, but when you're programming a signal to a device (so when you select that device it changes inputs on the receiver, for example) you switch to Learn mode, and then while holding down one of the two physical buttons on the bottom select the device you want to program from the drop-down list. This will allow you to program one signal to that device.

Now, what the previous poster mentions is very helpful, since it isn't covered in the manual. When you hold down one of the bottom buttons AND the backlight button and select the device from the list, it actually puts you in Macro mode!

This means you can apply a macro to a device so whenever you select it the Pronto will, say, turn on the receiver, switch it's input, turn on the TV, select the proper TV input etc. Once again you can program up to 255 commands, and you can bypass sending the macro by holding down one of the bottom buttons while selecting it. All of the regular macro features apply

This is very handy indeed!
OP | Post 10 made on Tuesday October 13, 1998 at 12:54
Steve
Historic Forum Post
When you press "bottom button + backlignt + device". This sounds a bit acrobatic. Is it tough for someone with small hands to manage this? Also, when you say that it "puts you in macro mode" does it automatically play a certain macro or is there a default macro for each device, or is there just one default macro sent when you enter macro mode this way?
Steve.
OP | Post 11 made on Tuesday October 13, 1998 at 13:01
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
Yes, it is a bit of a reach, but then again it's also not mentioned in the manual. It's easy to do with two hands. This puts you in record macro mode, which means you can create a whole macro for that device rather than just learn a single signal (as is the norm). Whenever you select the device on the Pronto it plays the macro. I myself wouldn't use this (I only need to switch the pre-amp's input, a single signal), but from some folks' messages others might.
OP | Post 12 made on Tuesday October 13, 1998 at 17:06
Scott "popcorn"
Historic Forum Post
So, is it possible to use the backlight button to put you in macro mode when teaching any button, or is it only for those buttons that switch to a component/menu screen? :)
OP | Post 13 made on Tuesday October 13, 1998 at 18:12
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
Nope - tried that. It will only work in the way mentioned, not on normal buttons.


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