Great! I sure hope I can get this to work with my 777ES. The Sony disk explorer interface is just terrible. Thanks for the help.

The IR codes for the DVP-CX985V and 777ES are identical. Feel free to use my .pcf file as a base if you like stripping out whatever you don't want. It will save you from having to learn the IR codes for your changer, program the 400 macros, and so forth. If you need any help just let me know. Good luck. Updated links are below.

(To download hit up the link in my signature area below.)

I just updated all 1200 macros which load the discs in my 3 changers by the way. I had to add a link and jump to each macro which I have been putting off for some time now. Now that it is done these macros are rock solid! I am definately done tweaking these macros now. :-P This last .pcf session tore me up from the floor up.

-Lowpro

Thanks again. I just bought my pronto a week ago and have already spent a good 20 hours on my initial configuration. I don't have any of the codes for my DVD changer or the best way to program it. This will help alot.

I have both CDs and DVDs in the changer, so I was thinking of making an iPod like interface for the CDs, and something like yours for the DVDs. I only wish I had time to do this at work :).

You are welcome. Hope you having fun getting things up and running. I just reuploaded my .pcf file by the way. If you downloaded it prior to my reply here you may want to download it again.

-Lowpro

This message was edited by Lowpro on 07/12/04 23:26.

Lowpro,
I took a look at your configuration and it looks great. I've got a question on how you configured the DVD slot selection. You have the macro configured to hit display, enter, disk #'s, enter, and display again. What does hitting the display do for this?
Thanks!

With these changers the only way to load a disc directly is to enter the display menu first, then in turn you must exit the display menu at the end once you load the disc you want.

The one problem with my macros initially was that I did not include a stop command at the beginning of each macro. The reason this is important is that if the macro executes while a disc is playing you must hit display twice at the end, not just once to get out of the display menu. When a disc is playing there is an additional display menu you have to advance out of. When there is not a disc playing there is only one.

Unfortunately I did not take this little quirk into account when I initially created the 1200 macros. I paid for it dearly. :-( I just recently went through and added the stop action to each and every macro for all 3 changers. Finally things are how they should be.

If the copy of my .pcf you downloaded does not have the stop action at the beginning of each of these macros you can just download it again as the file currently posted reflects the changes I made in this regard.

-Lowpro

Ouch! Sorry to hear you had to recreate all those macros ;(. I’m going to do some serious testing on a couple macros before I do this for all the slots in my changer. I wish I could copy and paste between the two versions of ProntoEdit (I have a TSU3000), but I learned a lot just from looking at your config.

I’ve noticed that my dvd changer is somewhat finicky responding to IR commands. It seems to take a moment after hitting stop before it accepts the next IR signal (even if I use the Sony remote that it came with).

Also, have you found your changer to have a limited IR range? It seems that with mine, if I’m at too much of an angle it doesn’t get the IR command. My receiver, on the other hand, seems to respond to IR signals from a much wider area of the room.

I would seriously invest in a product like the one below.

Hot Link Pro:
[Link: smarthome.com]
(Hot Link Pro X12 - Now Available!)

I have been using this product since day one with my Pronto and the changers. IR responsiveness is incredible. Even if my equipment was not in another room I would still go with a solution like this. (My equipment closet is directly behind the wall my projector screen hangs on in another room.) I don't have one delay action in my entire .pcf file. Delays are just not needed as my macros execute perfectly everytime. Even the channel macros for my Samsung SIR-TS160 perform without a hitch. My Samsung unit has always had very sluggish IR responsiveness, but stopped giving me problems after I integrated the Hot Link Pro into my setup. Good stuff!

-Lowpro

This message was edited by Lowpro on 07/29/05 22:03 ET.

Lowpro, I did some testing today and the macros/codes work like a charm! I must have had a dirty code in some of the digits, so I re-entered them and now it's working great. I never have to use the Sony Disc Explorer again!!! You don't know how happy that makes me :) About three weeks ago I was about to return the 777ES because of the horrible interface, but now I couldn't be happier thanks to the Pronto!

By the way, thanks for the advice on the stop command. When I set up the macros, I made a couple of modifications to reduce the number of macros for each slot. I created pre and post buttons that handle all the functions except the slot number. So, for each slot number, the macros are pre-macro/#/#/#/post-macro.

I still have a ways to go, but I have most of the basic functionality down. Now its time for the fun part -- designing all the pages for my DVDs and CDs. I need to add some of my other equipment too, but that should be pretty easy compared to the DVD changer.

"By the way, thanks for the advice on the stop command. When I set up the macros, I made a couple of modifications to reduce the number of macros for each slot. I created pre and post buttons that handle all the functions except the slot number. So, for each slot number, the macros are pre-macro/#/#/#/post-macro."

Great idea regarding the pre and post macros! That would have saved me a good bit of time getting my macros done. Oh well, it's done now I guess. :-P

Excellent news regarding your progress as well. Glad the macros are working well for you. Keep me informed on how things are going. :-) If you need any help or have additional questions I would be happy to beat things around with you. Good luck!

-Lowpro

Lowpro - thanks for the tip on the HotPro. This is the solution I've been looking for! I've got 2 devices that are Samsung and have been fiddling with delays on my macros for weeks now. If this works my first kid will be named Lowpro!

Nice! Well you will be force feeding those Samsung units the IR signals using the Hot Link Pro. The IR sensor the Hot Link Pro uses is extremely sensitive. As long as you are not pointing the remote in the complete opposite direction you'll be amazed. I don't have to worry at all with what angle I hold the Pronto remote. I rarely even hold the remote now when using it. Just set it down beside me wherever I happen to be sitting and work it from there. :-)

-Lowpro

Sounds great to me - just what I need the way my stuff sits in my room and the Samsung equipment. I too leave the remote next to me on the couch...so that will be a huge benefit.

Your pcf is very well done - have you converted any of your buttons/graphics to color? I used a bunch of them as a starting point, but am looking to upgrade to a little more color.

Just to clarify as I have before when posting my pcf file for download...

The graphics and main navigation layout of my .pcf originate from Daniel Tonks TSU3000 .pcf file. He deserves the credit for this. The work I put into programming and tweaking things to suit my own needs I will certainly take credit for, especially with regards to the DVD nagivation/implementation of my .pcf file. I do think my .pcf file is looking very clean. Thanks for the kind words yaters. :-)

Currently I need all the room I can spare memory wise for additional DVD's I add to my collection. Otherwise, I would begin work on my own unique color pcf file. Simply having the DVD covers and DVD sumenus in color is enough for me right now. I think I might even prefer the main navigation pages in black and white quite frankly. Kind of makes the DVD pages stand out. The color DVD covers and submenus just jump out at you as a result. :-P

-Lowpro

This message was edited by Lowpro on 11/23/04 02:51 ET.

LowPro

I am not able to read your PCF with ProntoEditNG V2.0.6.0
I am hoping to use it with my TSU-3000, can this be done?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

-JA