There have been several threads on how nice it would be to have a nice users guide to the Pronto and ProntoEdit. Since I have done some extensive work with the pronto (just see the Fun and Games section), I thought that I would attempt to create one, it would probably take about 1-2 weeks to complete, with FAQs and screen shots, tips, etc. I will probably offer it for about $15 USD, which should include postage, although I never mailed anything out of the US, so this is not firm. Price may vary depending on the country...

I would like to know what "sections" or types of topics you would like to see covered. My initial list, in addition to normal overview of the remote and software, is as follows:

- FAQs (discrete codes, use of home/device/macro for "back", font sizes, customizing home, mode button, hidden panels for IR storage, etc.) - the typical questions found in the current FAQ

- Memory management techniques

- Historical list of vendors selling the pronto

- Graphics manipulation (4-colors, non-standard shaped buttons, enlarging the allowable size of the gallery, etc.)

- Cool things to do (user wizards, password protected screens, games)

- Overview of this site (Files, Forum, Documents, Devices, Discrete codes, Utility suite, etc.), although this could become outdated since it is Daniel's site.

- Current wishlist of desired features (although there are almost too many to list)

- List of resources on the web for Q&A, files, etc.

I will try to incorporate requests into this, but it will just extend the time it will become available.

As a new pronto user I would love to have such a guide. I'm constantly searching the .ccf files and thinking to myself, "How do they do that?" Please e-mail me with any information on availability if you choose to do the manual. Thanks in advance for all your help and hardwork, and thanks Dan Tonks for the excellent web site. Remote central is probably one of the best, if not THE BEST web site featuring full technical support of a consumer electronics product...for free no less!

It's a great idea, but you should make it available for free on the web! Look what Daniel has done for everyone. He does charge for the site and I am sure a lot more work goes into this site than would go into a User's Guide.

My $.02.

I am definately interested Please keep us posted.

Cary, great idea! If you'd like to make an electronic version of the manual, I could help with that. I use Adobe Acrobat a lot. If done right, there can be real text that's searchable (unlike the graphics-only Philips version of the manual), and links (i.e. in the TOC).

HiCary, I am very interested. I have only recently found out about this awesome remote control. Now that I have one in hand, I want to become an expert with it, building lots of custom stuff in, but I have no idea where to start, so I need a detailed step by step instructional manual on the basics. A manual that will show me how to build a home screen, how to assign macros with IR signals incorporated into one button on the home screen. I'd like to press a button on the home screen that has a picture of a TV, and have that turn on the Receiver, and the TV, and the DSS or Cable Box, and Switch the Receiver's source to DSS or Cable Box, and change the Channel to a favorite channel, and switch the remote to the next screen which would have a pictoral list of the available channels, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, TNN, etc. I am interested in any and all information you may have. Please keep me informed about the availablilty of your manual. Thank you very much.

Great idea and count me in to buy one. I got my Pronto a couple weeks ago and with the help of some great folks (generous with their time and patience) I contacted through this site I have it up and running. I did it the hard way, getting pronto to "learn" codes from my 8 remotes.
Make it like those "*** for Dummies" books. "Pronto Programming for Dummies."
I'd like to see simple, basic stuff in plain English, with a graphic of what the Pronto/ProntoEdit screen should look like. I still need help with graphics, downloading stuff, discrete codes, etc. THANKS

I found this WEB site to be extremely helpful in figuring out how to get started the right way and how to define my menus so that I didn't have to redo it 2 or 3 times.

Lots of thanks to David Siltz, aka Barenada

[Link: members.aye.net]

Why not write the manual and sell it to Marantz / Philips to include with their new machines and also post on their websites? You get rewarded and Marantz / Philips get pats on the back for having good manuals and providing service!

Marc B-C

Cary,

Be careful! Make sure your work is original. If you decide to copy portions of the real manual (including illustrations/graphics), or copy information from other published or perhaps copyrighted sources you could have legal problems when you try to sell your work.

Personally it makes more sense to me for all of us to work together to help enhance Daniels FAQ's here (with his permission of course). This would yield a more public domain and significantly cheaper solution for all.....

Cary
Good idea, make sure to include any differences for the RC5000 people.

On a side note make sure you research all the pitfalls of doing this. Philips and other companies take their trade mark and copyrighted materials very seriously. Instead of selling it maybe you could do a "donation" type set up. If you have a lawyer friend ask him about the difference between writing a review (which anybody can legally do) and writing a manual for someone elses product, you might need their permission to do this.

I am an attorney and echo the warnings that others are giving about trademarks, etc. Not that you shouldn't do it, but that you should consult an attorney before doing so (as long as you charge money). People from the industry monitor this site, and might be inclined to let the company know of your little money-making venture. There is nothing more that big companies dislike than some little guy taking money they could make.

With that said, I would buy one in a heartbeat! Please include: downloading original CCFs and how to alter their graphics and IR codes to fit your system; A beginner's guide to designing your own graphics for Pronto use; Sample solutions to common problems; etc. Basically, it should read like you just got your Pronto, identified the components you want to control, charted out on paper how you wanted the Pronto to work for you, and how you arrived at translating your "dream" into Pronto reality. Thanks (in advance)for the hard work. I know I need the help!

I was thinking along the lines of Cary offering to write a new manual for Philips / Marantz for a fee. If they say yes, no legal issues. On the other hand...?

Psion have some very good books written by third parties for their palmtops and they certainly are more comprehensive and easier to read than the proprietary ones.

If these guys are suffering an image dent (rebooting etc.) they may be pleased for some help.

I could look into that once I have something created. I would expect that it would not be worth their time, pretty hard to squeeze blood from a turnip ;-). It would cost them alot more in legal fees, but if the documentation really did help new users, their sales might increase by just a little bit, which helps them. It will be all original work, screen shots from my computer, nothing taken directly from their manual, etc. Good ideas all, thanks again.

Good idea, it woud be cool to have a basic start up section,there seems to be a bit of a gap between buying the remote and becoming a pro on customizing it..im having rwal problems with the basic set up of the remote with things such as "how do i use a ccf from this site and use it on my remote, if i go into the JUMP TO facility i get the original users menu!! things like this prove very frustrating and immposible to get answers to..please remember the person who wants to get started when you do the book..