For those interesed I've just updated the download link for my .pcf file. As always, it can be found via the link in my signature area below.

This latest version does include the new interface pages I've been working on. I've also updated my DIRECTV device adding it's new XM music channel offerings. To read more and see screenshots hit up the link above. :-)

Lowpro -

I love what you did! It feels like I've taken a step back into time to when black & white was the norm and color television was first introduced. For me, seeing color for the first time was pure excitement!

I wanted to simulate that same feeling when using my remote control. I've completely revamped my configuration from all color to a mixture of b&w, grays, and color (no ... thank you Mr. Tonks and Mr. Davis :-).

Now I get that same "oohs" "ahhs" when I see my TV icons and DVD cover jackets. Kinda' like when Dorothy opens the door when she lands in Oz.

I recommend this blend of color to all RC remote junkies. It's such a rush!

As always, keep up the good work.

-- wjjz106

Ok. I went through and rebuilt my entire dvd configuration with the setup that you used. After the re-program of all the macros (that took forever) It works better, but one problem.

If I am playing a DVD and want to watch another one. I go to the page. Select the DVD and the Macro's start. When they are all done there is still the display screen. It's like it just stays there no matter what I do. I have tried inserting an extra stop at the beginning of the macro and also on a seperate download to the remote trying to use the display key at the end of the macro.

What am I doing wrong?

thanks
timbre

One of the most common things that will throw off the macro entirely is if said macro is executed while your changer is already playing a disc and is prohibiting the macro from executing the stop action at the beginning.

Prohibited user operations (P-UOP) are generally in effect when a commercial DVD disc first starts playing. During the FBI warning, disclaimers, advertisements and such the player won't allow you to stop the disc or go directly to the menu for instance.

Now P-UOP's will cause the macro from not working at all if I am not mistaken. Having a disc playing in general when running the macro will cause the display menu to remain up at the end of the macro sequence regardless. This is because while a disc is playing there are two display menus to advance out of at the end. Adding an additional display action at the end of the sequence is not a work around, because if you do this you must then always execute the macro while a disc is actively playing. If a disc is not playing there is only one display menu to advance out of at the end, hence the stop action at the beginning of the macro.

stop
display
enter
slot number
enter
display

I would suggest testing the macro to ensure the stop action at the beginning is in fact stopping a given disc first before cueueing up the next one. Maybe your stop code is not working faithfully all the time. I am curious what model DVD changer you are using as well. I have only tested this macro sequence with my Sony DVP-CX985V DVD changers. If you are using a different changer perhaps there is something I have not taken into account. Anyway, good luck with it. Hopefully you have everything ironed out already.

If you have an 850, 860, or 870, and possibly an 875 with Disc Layer or Bitrate Active, you will need to do 2 display commands for disc selection completion.

Disc #
Enter
Display
Wait about 2-4 seconds
Display a 2nd time to remove the Layer or Bitrate display.

For some reason, Sony changed the 777ES and presumably the 985 such that Layer or Bitrate active is only valid while the changer is on. Once turned off, it resets to not display. This, however is not the case on the older (pre 777/985) units.

There is a rather large update to my .pcf file today making disc selection via my DVD Juke devices much more user-friendly. Took the better part of the day to implement. Hope you like it. :-)

For all the details hit up the link in my signature area below.

The updating never seems to stop. :-) Today I just completed adding a new device to my .pcf, the Motorola DCT6412 III HD DVR. I acquired this DVR via Comcast and have been absolutely loving it! The device I worked up for it turned out killer. :-P As always, my updated .pcf can be downloaded via the link in my signuate area below for those so inclined.

Lowpro said,
The updating never seems to stop. :-) Today I just completed adding a new device to my .pcf, the Motorola DCT6412 III HD DVR. I acquired this DVR via Comcast and have been absolutely loving it!


Are you renting Motorola unit or did you buy it? Can I ask how much you paid? Thanks. Gary

I am renting the box from Comcast for a few dollars a month or whatever. Was paying $60 bucks for Internet only from them. For $17 more a month I now have everything they offer minus Starz. Deal lasts for 16 months. How can you turn that down!

Hey, Lowpro. I was wondering where you got the backround images for your boxed sets? Lost, Lord of the Rings, etc. Do you capture the main screen somehow? Any info would be great. Thanks.

Most of what you see are graphics originating from the web in one form or the other from various places. I will also take screen captures of DVD menu screens such as with Lost, then resize and crop just right. Did the same thing for the "Band of Brothers" box set. I also have a scanner which I use quite often. The "From The Earth To The Moon" DVD submenu pages originate from scans of the box art. Each submenu page consists of 3 different elements found on the box art in different places. The X-Files submenu pages were the most time consuming to date. Did up one 240x320 page for each disc across all 9 seasons. All the graphics used for those submenu pages came from the official website. The layouts used for each season had to vary quite a bit from what you see on the official website. Some of those were quite challenging. In the end I basically reauthored what you see on the X-Files website, but for a 240x320 screen area.

Also, there's a program out there on the web called PGCEdit that will allow one to capture a BMP file from an actual DVD video frame.

Lowpro,
In working up your "Pre" and "Post" macros for the 985 changers, did you experiment with how short a time (delay) is needed between the commands to operate correctly? I would like to run the macro in as short a duration as possible without failing, but noticed you have a considerable amount of time inserted throughout the macro. Is it for the "readablility" of the the loading pages or is it necessary for the macro?

The delay actions are only inserted so that the final loading page, jump to the transport controls page, and command to dim the lights complete just as the DVD starts playing from a given changer. No delay actions are needed to ensure the commands operate correctly, and if you notice there are no delay actions or loading pages during the time the IR codes are being sent to a given changer, only before and after, and most of the loading pages and delay actions happen after all IR codes are sent other than the command to dim the lights. For the longest time I did not have any loading pages in the macro. The macro would complete in 2 to 3 seconds and you'd just be sitting there on the transport control page waiting the additional 7 seconds or so for the changer to finish loading the disc. I never liked that. What do you really need to be doing with the remote during that time anyway? Accessing any of the transport controls is only going to interrupt the disc from loading successfully. I found it a much greater value to time the macro, so that it ends when the disc starts to play. Not only does this let the user know when movie is going to begin, it also allows for having the lights fade to black at just the precise moment. I do have longer delay actions after the first and last loading pages. This is done so that the user has enough time to read those pages, the first of which tells them the system is preparing to play the selected DVD, the last of which tells them the DVD is ready to play and they are being taken to the transport controls for the changer. The important thing to remember here is that I am not extending the time it takes for the changer to load the disc. I am only extending the length of the macro while one waits for the changer to load the disc.

I have merged your DVD Lobby and macros with my PCF (I have 500 titles) and everything is working perfectly. My question is regarding adding future movie titles (jackets) to the All Titles and various genres...and wanting the new title to be alphabetical order. This appears to be an ongoing and daunting task. Do you have a trick you use for inserting new movie alphabetically?