Harmony Remotes - Programming

[Coleccionista]

Amazing work here! . As a Harmony One user I'd like to clear some doubts while I wait for my HTPC (includes a HFX Vista GP Remote, a MCE clone I guess).

 I plan to run Windows 7 and probably 7 Media Center for Live/Record TV and XBMC for Libraries (Movies/Music/Pictures...)

If I go and add a new device ( ..Media Center SE) this means I would go about controlling this setup the following way:

• Create activity, say "XBMC" and map Harmony keys to the keyboard used to navigate and control XBMC
• Create activity, say "Record TV" and map Harmony keys to the keyboard used to control 7 Media Center

• Repeat for other programs ?

And probably have generic keys to close/switch programs or let the activity swapping take care of it.

Is that about right? Or am I confused about the whole picture?

[Pikeharmony]

I know that the IR codes used to control the Xbox 360 or not compatible with the Microsoft Media Center IR language.

I just looked at the wiki and noticed it has expanded on different platforms.

I will have to look in to this further once I have some time set aside.

The Microsoft Windows Media Center SE device is currently designed and developed for any Windows OS that comes equipped with Windows Media Center

Wiki info

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XBMC Media Center (formerly named XBox Media Center) is a cross-platform free and open source software media-player and entertainment hub with a 10-foot user interface design for the living-room TV. It was originally created for the first-generation Xbox game console, but is now available for the Linux, Mac OS X (Leopard, Tiger, Apple TV), and Microsoft Windows operating systems. There is also a bootable Live CD and Live USB version referred to as "XBMC Live".[1][2]

[Coleccionista]

If the last response was directed to my message I'd like to clarify that I don't use or own XBOX, I'm thinking on using XBMC on the Windows 7 PC (originally XBMC was for XBOX but it has been ported to Windows, Linux and Mac)

So basically it's a 10 foot frontend (think Meedio or Boxee or Windows Media Center) with a gorgeous look but limited to media (doesn't touch TV)

Hence my doubts about setting up Harmony as a MCE Keyboard, does it mean that the logical route it's to create an activity for every app you want to use (since keyboad shortcuts vary from app to app)?

Thanks

[bevhoward]

Pike,

If I may, a special request for you since this thread is both important and continuing.

Would you go into message 2 of this thread and place the long links in that message under short labels...

As it is, those links succeed in preventing all subsequent messages from "wrapping" into the available browser window space and force horizontal scrolling to read each line.

Think those links are the only two causing problems in this thread. 

Thanks in advance,

 Beverly Howard

[350zguy]

Hello,

I just removed my DVD player from my setup and put my HTPC in it's place.  It has the iMon receiver.

Everything was working just fine with my Harmony 1100.  Now after adding the Windows Media Center SE setup in for playing DVDs and CDs, the remote locks up and freezes at the Starting Activity screen!

Even if I choose an activity that doesn't involve it like Watching TV that goes through my cable box (the HTPC doesn't have a tuner), it still freezes!

Thoughts?  Help?  Thanks in advance.

[Pikeharmony]

The Microsoft Windows Media Center SE device is currently designed and developed for USB IR receivers that use the Microsoft IR language.

This forum topic is not users with Imon USB IR receivers.

Imon uses a different protocol.

I suggest you add the correct Manufacture and Model number for you Imon USB IR receiver to your account.

[350zguy]

Hi Pike,

Assume I have a Microsoft USB receiver instead, why would this new Media Center SE device lockup my 1100?  This really has nothing to do with the receiver being an Imon.

The Imon I have is the one from the Antec Fusion case (OEM LCD with Volume and RM200 remote).  Is there a thread you can point me to for dealing with Imon setup?  I thought by telling it during setup to act like a MS Media Center receiver, it should work with this?

Thanks

[Pikeharmony]

I suggest to remove the devices from your account and add the correct model number.

Update you remote and test the device.

If it doesn't work contact support or start a new post.

[Humpparitari]

Thank you very much for this!

But, a few requests...

I'm building a media center PC with Linux, and the one thing I'm missing on the remote is Ctrl + Alt + F1, F2, F3, and so on.

Right now I have a setup where I have the media center program (XBMC), a Linux desktop, and a virtual machine with Windows on it, all running on different X sessions. In english that means... When I press:

Ctrl + Alt + F7 gets me to XBMC

Ctrl + Alt + F8 gets me to a Linux desktop

Ctrl + Alt + F9 gets me to a Windows desktop

Having these on the remote would be absolutely fantastic!

While the above would be fantastic, I'd also like to have these:

Ctrl + Alt + 1, 2, 3, and so on...

Ctrl + Alt + LeftArrow

Ctrl + Alt + RightArrow

These change between virtual desktops.

I realize that I would be one of the few people who this would actually benefit, but I am begging you, please add these!

== Edit ==

P.S. Would middle clicking the mouse be possible?

[Coleccionista]

I am setting up my media center using this device and it feels really powerful. I have though a question, how would I setup buttons so they emulate standard keys (such as "s" , "end", "\", "a" ....)?

I guess it should be pretty easy but in the list of commands for my Media Center I only got all this powerful "key combos" and the numbers (plus "+" , "#" and ".") but no the full keyboard so if I want to map a button to a single standard key I don't know how to proceed. (I don't have a MCE keyboard to learn from)

I imagine that there is a fairly obvious response but please bear with me.

EDIT: Further investigation, thanks to the excellent bevhoward page, concludes that the "MCE Keyboard" does have the full keys but lacks most (or all) the powerful combos of SE. How can I go about merging these items?. Two separate devices seems prone to confusion so I'd need just one device that could access both set of commands. Ideas?