I just picked up a new Sony 995 mega changer and read many old posts on DVD covers. I cannot find any working sample configuration files of DVD covers and the Pronto. Anyone have a link? I cannot find a working Lowpro file.

Hello FBlack. The latest version of my DVD Lobby PCF file can be downloaded here.

If you had already downloaded my .pcf file prior to reading this and it did not work I'd suggest deleting the file you have downloaded and hit up my download link again. I just downloaded it myself from the same link, unziped the file, opened the .pcf file in PPENG, and downloaded to the remote, so I know that it works.

A couple things to keep in mind ...

1) Ensure you have updated your TSU7000 to the very latest firmware version and have the very latest editor installed as well, PPENG v2.0.

2) All the IR code devices in my .pcf file are now set to RF. These devices can be found directly below the device called, Pronto Signals (Bridge) in my .pcf file once opened in the editor. For any of these devices that you retain in my .pcf file, most notably the "Pronto Signals (Sony DVP-CX985V)" devices, make sure you set the device properties to IR or RF accordingly based on your physical setup.

3) Don't forget to check over the setup page under the given DVD changer device you are using in my .pcf file. You will need to ensure that all the buttons under the IR codes column are linked to the proper IR code buttons within the .pcf file.

I would bet that the 995 uses the same exact IR codes as the 777 and 985 do. If not, you can simply relearn the IR codes to the appropriate Pronto Signals device in my .pcf file. I doubt this step will be required however. Enjoy!

Thanks for the info. The file opened and works well.

The disc selection may be a bit different as I've seen posts that Sony claims to have a newly redesigned Disc Explorer but I'm not sure what truth there is to that.

Lyndel

The disk explorer on the new Sony 995 is better than the old mega changer but still slow and has some faults. Mainly, if you remove a disk and shut off the machine, you lose the info about that disk.

I looked at Lowpro's Pronto. It is very good but there must be an easier way to make it work. I am not sure I need or want so many features and sorting options. Anyone else have any ideas?

You could use DVDLobby and a HTPC. I believe it can control equipment via IR if you don't have RS-232.

So you know ... you don't have to retain all the additional DVD Lobby devices if you don't want to. Just retain the main one to browse all your titles, A-Z. If you do this just get rid of the menu page under that device as it won't be needed, then redirect the DVD Juke icon throughout the .pcf file to jump to the A-Z page instead. The DVD Lobby hard button assignment for the DVD changer devices would need to be reassigned as well to jump to the A-Z page.

Originally I only had one DVD Lobby device and it was set up this way. The A-Z page was the main page for the device. It was later that I added the DVD Lobby menu and ability to browse by genre.

-Lowpro

Lowpro,
Love your DVD changer set up. What I didn't quite get from your posts:

1. Does your TSU 7000 control (by RS232, IR, or RF?) a dedicated computer running DVD Lobby which controls the changers?
2. Or are you just using the DVD Lobby to build movie index in computer for just another way to look at movie selection?....and then building this index into Pronto?
3. Or have you somehow got DVD Lobby (after indexing and graphics in the computer) downloaded into the TSU 7000 and running the changers?
4. Does your TV / Monitor display the DVD Lobby graphics as shown on thier website?

Lowpro,

Correct me if I'm wrong but your name "DVD Lobby" is in no way connected to the product offering named "DVD Lobby". Correct?

Lyndel

Thanks for the kudos!


No. I control my changers and disc selection via the TSU7000 only. I do control my HTPC via a USB-UIRT, Girder, and my TSU7000, but do not use the DVDLobby HTPC software.


All entry for my PCF file is done manually using PPENG. I am individually importing DVD cover images to buttons, then linking those buttons to the appropriate DVD slot loading macros. I am also not using DVDLobby or any other external utility to assist in building my PCF file and the individual DVD Lobby devices.


I am not using DVDLobby or any other external utility to assist in building the individual DVD Lobby devices within my PCF file. I am using PPENG to build my PCF file, then downloading it to the TSU7000. My TSU7000 then serves as a stand alone solution for DVD management, controlling my changers, and the rest of my home theatre system. I do use DVD Profiler to control the order I place the discs in my changers. I load my changers by the collection ID's assigned in my DVD Profiler application. I also use DVD Profiler to determine what genre a given movie belongs under.


No

The DVDLobby HTPC software served as inspiration only for my PCF file. It is not used in any way, shape, or form with regards to my PCF file and the TSU7000. Prior to purchasing my 3 Sony DVP-CX985V changers and the TSU7000 I did take the DVDLobby HTPC software for a spin. I liked the idea of automating my DVD collection, but quickly learned for various reasons that the DVDLobby HTPC solution was not for me. I opted instead to build my own stand alone DVD management solution with PPENG for the TSU7000. I really liked the name DVDLobby, hence the name DVD Lobby used in my PCF file.

Lowpro said,
I opted instead to build my own stand alone DVD management solution with PPENG for the TSU7000.

and again Lowpro said,

I do control my HTPC via a USB-UIRT, Girder, and my TSU7000. Is there a string on RC (or other site) that fully explains this process? Is it expensive?

Finally, is there a trick you used to crop all dvd covers to same size? by trick I mean "batch".

Lowpro,

Do you have a current version of your DVD Lobby setup for the TSU3000?

It is not expensive at all to control your computer via the TSU7000. You'll need to purchase a USB-UIRT and Girder.

The USB-UIRT gives your computer the ability to receive and send IR codes. Girder is a program that can be programmed to respond to any given IR code the USB-UIRT receives executing keystrokes, special actions, or any combination thereof on your computer. It works the other way around as well. I'd suggest spending some time in the official forums at both websites linked to above to learn more. If I find any useful links for you I will be sure to pass them on.


There is a trick I use to batch resize all my DVD cover images to the same size. That would be Photoshop. :-)

In Photoshop open up a full size DVD cover image. Create a new action and hit record. Once you've hit record manually resize that image file to 72x100, save it as a 8-bit bitmap, close the file, then stop your recording. You've now created an action in Photoshop that will take any give image file, resize it to 72x100, save it as a 8-bit bitmap, and close the file. To apply this action to the contents of an entire folder go to File->Automate->Batch, set the options there accordingly, and hit ok. The batch job will then run performing that action you have recorded to all the image files in that folder. Done deal!

-Lowpro

This message was edited by Lowpro on 08/30/05 20:55 ET.

I do not have a current version of my DVD Lobby PCF for the TSU3000, but may very well have one available by this weekend. When said file is available I'll make sure to post a download link here for you.

-Lowpro

Actually, I would like to work with more than A-Z, but fewer than the number of genres you have. Any easy way to do this without messing up "jumps" and dropping movies?
Also, any chance you did a DVD Lobby version in color :) ?