JP1 Remotes

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:25 pm**

IrpTransmogrifier has been released, and now follows version 2.0.1 of IrScrutinizer using IrpTransmogrifier as engine, as per above. Since the post above, there has been yet a few additions:

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Release notes for IrScrutinizer, including IrpMaster/IrpTransmogrifier,
Girr, HardHardware, DevSlashLirc, and Jirc.

The notation #n refers to issues number n at
https://github.com/bengtmartensson/harctoolboxbundle/issues
==============================================================================
Version 2.0.1. Released 2019-08-11.
(There was never a version 2.0.0.)

This release replaces the libraries DecodeIR (by John Fine),
ExchangeIR (by Graham Dixon), and IrpMaster (by myself) by
IrpTransmogrifier. This achieves synchronization between rendering and
decoding of IR signals: The same data base is used, and a protocol that can
be rendered can also (with very few exceptions) be decoded too.
(Milestone 2; #212, #280, #251, #23).
UEI learned as IR signal format has been eliminated (#217).

On all versions but the Macintosh, also IrpTransmogrifier as command line
program will be available (Command name: irptransmogrifier).

Documentation has not been updated ;-).

Open issues in this release:
  * MacOS 10.11.*: Crash in RXTX when closing serial USB device, #64.
  * RXTX on Windows has problems with Arduino's LLC driver, #229.

Associated user visible changes:

* A number of new protocol parameters  (Options -> Protocol Parameters -> *),
(#277). See IrpTransmogrifier for their semantic.
* Link to DecodeIR documentation has been replaced by a browse function of the
available functions

Other user visible changes have been kept to a minimum. Functionally significant
will instead appear in future versions.

However, there are some other user changes/improvements:

* Undo function for the data window of "Scrutinize signal",
(Actions -> Undo Scrutinize data; Ctrl-Z);  #275
* Some more icons.
* New output text format: raw without signs.  #250.
* Improved setup script setup-irscrutinizer.sh in the generic binary
distribution, for Linux-like operating system.
* Improved Linux x64 appimage, now containing its own Java JVM. (#279,
thanx Simon Peters, "probono"). Also allows IrpTransmogrifier to be called as
a command line program (#285).
* Windows installer now checks for the existence of Java (#278).
* Misc GUI tweaks (#274, #268)
* New output text format: raw without signs (#250).
* Improved parsing of IrSignals given as inputs. (#233)
* Prohibit (?) the user from selecting a non-existing export directory. (#288)
* Alternative version of librxtxSerial.so, using /var/lock/lockdev instead
  of /var/lock. (#263)
* New export format BracketedRaw. (#307)
* User's decoding parameters no longer overwrite protocol specific values. (#308)
* New help menu entry: Browse releases. (#309)
* Include IrpTransmogrifier.html and Glossary.html, from GUI callable. (#311)
* Minor doc updates (not complete).

Minor bugfixes:

* Export format "Pronto Hex Oneshot" bugfix. (#296)
* Fixed bug with export format name containing "/" on Windows (#290)
* Issue with decoding signals without repeat. (#295)
* Analyzer on Scrutinize signal falsely gets fallback frequency. (#289)

Installing this version also installs IrpTransmogrifier as command line program (except for the MacOS version).

Posted: **Tue Aug 13, 2019 9:45 am**

I finally built one of your Arduino Nano devices. It seems to work just fine. I'm still in the initial stages of playing with it, but here's what I ended up with.

Posted: **Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:32 am**

IrScrutinizer 2.1.0 has been released. Release notes:

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Version 2.1.0, released 2019-08-31

This version uses IrpTransmogrifier 1.1.0. This contains some improvements
and some semi-important bug fixes, see its own release notes. Other changes:

* IrSignal in raw format was written in non-parsable format, IrpTransmogrifier #115,
* Fixed non-working ICT importer, #318,
* Parametric Remote editor: remove "hex" related functions. #316
* New export format Homeass-Broadlink. #312
* Removal of no-owned Schemas and DTDs, #299.
* Update RemoteMaster's protocols.ini to current version, from RemoteMaster v2.08 build 7
* Remotemaster input pane: Remove path to protocols.ini, #300
* Broadlink export: rewritten (#315), supports RF-433MHz commands #208.
* *ix wrapper: Do not override JAVA if already set.
* XSLT Export formats: fix non-working xsl:include/import. #314
* An exportformat can now create executable export files, #313.
* IrpMasterBean: Make toggling protocol really toggle in subsequent "generate"s
  (provided "-" is selected for toggle value). Resolves #305.

Posted: **Sun Sep 01, 2019 6:19 pm**

Barf, please advise how to install in Windows 10. The exe will not finish. It says to please install Java first, then closes. Java is installed, as I have been running previous versions for years as well as Remote Master. Is there any way to bypass this check?

Thanks

Posted: **Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:02 am**

Hi Dave,

Really sorry for that. Please see this Github issue.

Please try this fixed installer.

Posted: **Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:02 pm**

That worked. Thanks

Posted: **Tue Sep 10, 2019 12:44 pm**

Hi,
I read on other thread about rmir v2.09 that new rmir now has the capability to convert learned signals to device upgrade. I wonder if the new irscrutinizer that is based on the same engine (irptransmogrifier) has the same capability. I sometimes use my ir toy or ir widget and irscrutinizer to learn ir signals.

Thanks.

Posted: **Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:43 pm**

IrScrutinizer has already, since a long time, an RemoteMaster export, although somewhat limited. See this guide and this guide. I hope to be able to use Graham's stuff to improve the RM export to cover most protocols. Should cover most cases.

Having said that, you should not overestimate the need for an automatic translation. With some skill, you can even cut-n-paste from IrScrutinizer's Parametric Remote table to RM's Function table (re-organize the columns so that they are compatible.)

Posted: **Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:59 am**

Next version of IrScrutinizer is due shortly. The Windows version will come with its own Java (although optionally an already present Java can be used).

The problem that I need your help with, is to test it on a 64-bit Windows (10). So can someone please download this file and check that it can be installed (using its own Java) and starts. (Of course also more elaborate tests and feedback is welcome...)

(I presently do not have access to a 64-bit Windows. Such a thing is on my planning list, but my Sony Vaio from 2007(!) is running too good (with Windows 10)...

)

Posted: **Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:59 am**

I downloaded, installed and ran on Windows 10 64-bit. Plenty of Windows Defender messages trying to block both the install and first run, but I could easily override. I was running from an admin account, so I don't know if a non-admin account would have problems or not.

Posted: **Tue Jan 14, 2020 1:59 pm**

Thanx pH7_jp1. To get rid of the warnings about rouge origin, it would be possible for me to get an official certificate; costs $$$ (upper two-digits sum. Per year...).

If you are not admin (a member of the admin group) you cannot install in Program Files. That is the only difference.

Thanx again.

Posted: **Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:20 pm**

If you designed it to be installed in a regular folder, rather than Program Files, would that eliminate the problem?

Posted: **Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:45 am**

@Rob,
have not tried explicitly, but I am pretty sure it would not make any difference. After all, the user can install the "rogue" program by clicking install anyway. It scares the users however...

Some time in the future, that may change...

Posted: **Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:38 pm**

IrScrutinizer 2.2.4 has been released, available here.

This release contains a number of semi-important bugfixes and several minor improvements. The Windows and Mac versions comes with its own Java. Also, the Tools: HexCalculator, Time/Frequency calculator and AMX beacon listener can be called without invoking the main program.

This is the first version after 2.1.0. (The gap in version numbers is due to the wish of keeping the version number compatible with IrpTransmogrifier).

Release notes:

Code: Select all

* A few problems in RawIrSignal/Raw Remote fixed. Resolves #344.
* Bugfix: Raw Remote table isEditable erroneous.
* Raw Remote: changing intro sequence did not take effect. Resolves #353.
* Use Decoder.decodeLoose)IrSignal, DecoderParameter) for "scrutinize signal". #344.
* Fix lircexport with several protocols. Resolves #325.
* Lircexport: take eps and aeps from originating protocol. Resolves #351.
* Lircexport, non-raw: fix for fallback to raw for nonrenderable protocols #349
* Lircexport: fix invalid line comments. #348.
* Updated lirc.xml to the file generated by current IrpTransmogrifier
* Remotemaster export: improved textual message on original protocols.
* Bundle minimal JRE also for Windows and Mac. Resolves #283.
* Updated OpenJDK version for Linux appimage.
* Multiple fixes to operations on Tables and save. #271.
* Offer to create exportdir if not existing. #347.
* New (simple) export format HTML. #248.
* Export: possibility to use popup instead of generate files #297-
* Protocol documentation also from "Scrutinizer signal" and "Scrutinize Remote/Parametric". #328.
* TreeImporter now able to sort commands within a remote. #266.
* Generate panel: new button "Random params". #260.
* Save SelectFile.filechooserdirs to properties. #346.
* Made the Harcpanel tools (Hexcalculator, AMX beacon listener, TimeFrequencyCalculator) callable from the shell. #301.
* TreeImporterBean now have "Clear" manu entry. #331.
* New functions/menu entries in Parametric/Raw remote: Duplicate selected. #324.
* Do not consider command names with spaces to be erroneous any more. #334.
* Raw Remote table: make sure frequency is written as integer.
* Fix problem with importing signal from empty clipboard. Resolves #340.
* New menu entries "Add empty", "Add test signal. Resolves #341.
* Remove Help -> "Send feedback with Email". #345.
* Allow radix prefix in Misc. params in Parametric remote. Resolves #343.
* Check export dir text field in saveCommands and saveSignal.
* About now lists version of IrpProtocols.xml #330.
* TreeImporter now correctly handles errors in operations which require exactly selected signal.
* Parametric Remote entry sometimes not correctly initialized #329
* Decoding issue #326.
* Windows: Removed broken Java existence test #320.

Posted: **Wed Apr 15, 2020 12:13 pm**

At present I have no work to do on RMIR, so due to the UK lockdown I have found time to do what I have intended to do for a long time, which is install and try to get to grips with IrScrutinizer. Here are some comments and questions from my experience.

1. The install experience is very off-putting. My starting point was the Announcement thread, where the first post says

The download of the latest released version is Github, and Github only, here.

Clicking the here link takes you to a list of 19 files with no indication of what any of them are. I see a file with a .exe extension but do not opt for that, as I read "The Windows and Mac versions comes with its own Java." I want to use my existing Java, so I avoid that file. Instead I download IrScrutinizer-2.2.4.bin.zip, in the hope of finding a Java file to open with my existing Java. Dead end, that is clearly not the right thing to do. So back to the Announcement and try the link to the Wiki page. Go to 3. Installation, where it says "Java must first be installed." Fine, that is what I have, though it contradicts what I previously read. Try the here link to downloads, which takes me back to the 19 files I had before. So it has to be Details are given in the manual. At last, I find download the Windows setup file and click on that link. What do I find? The same 19 files that I started with. I almost gave up at that point, but decided to try the .exe file in the hope that this was actually the setup file. Big sigh of relief. It WAS the setup file, and it gave a choice of using an included Java or my existing Java, which is what I wanted. PLEASE, PLEASE, make the installation instructions clearer and more accessible.

2. Once installed, things go more smoothly. Help > Tutorial takes me back to the Wiki, so I follow the examples. The Wiki has not been updated since the change from DecodeIR to IrpTransmogrifier, but that is a minor point. I read Then there follows an output area for the results of DecodeIR and (if selected) AnalyzeIR. OK, AnalyzeIR is presumably now the line labelled "IRP" but I am stumped by "(if selected)". I can find nothing to select. I have been through all the menus and can find no way of activating the IRP line.

3. The plot windows shows the signal, with the modulation removed. Nice, but rather squashed so I right-click the window and use Set width to change the scale. Much better, but I can no longer read the scale numbers as they are hidden by the horizontal scroll bar that has appeared.

4. Now try my Widget. Options > Capturing Hardware > IrWidget is misleading. It makes me think that I have done all I need for the Widget to work, but I have not. I need to go to the Capturing hw tab, select the serial port and press Open.

5. I have not yet figured out how the Capture button for Scrutinize signal works. Capt. (cont.) works fine, but most of the time I try the Capture button, it says no signal. I see that Options > Timeouts has defaults of 3000ms for Start capture and 1000ms for Max capture length, but the behaviour seems erratic. I send the signal well within the starting 3000ms, but whether it works or not is random. Sometimes the Capture button stays pressed for only about 1 second. Sometimes I get "InvalidArgumentException: Data contains duration of length 0", frequently the bottom panel displays "Internal error: IrSequence has odd length = xxx" where xxx differs from one time to another. Capt. (cont.) frequently gives this internal error, too, but the capture seems reliable.

It is an amazingly powerful program that I have not yet had time to explore much further. I am limited in what I can do, as the only relevant hardware I have is my IR Widget. I am not into the hardware side of things, so it would be nice to have an article somewhere that gave more info about the hardware that is supported, what of it is still available and whether it is available ready-made or needs a hardware expert to assemble or modify. My one exploration was from a link of yours to IrToy, which seems no longer available. Of course, the IR Widget is no longer available outside the US but I am fortunate to have got one from Tommy before he restricted orders to the US only. Is there any such info in the forum?

JP1 Remotes

IrScrutinizer: capturing, generating, analyzing, import, exp