RMIR: Prototype IR function in RM

[xnappo]

Thanks. I still prefer the java version since it's much leaner (the jar is less than 1MB).

You should try my pretty icons.

True enough - the JET version basically has Java built in to the exe.

We should get your icons added to the distribution for sure.

xnappo

[mdavej]

I've tried and failed a couple of times. I guess pretty icons are low on Greg's priority list, and deservedly so. But I think it does add a bit of user friendliness.

[gfb107]

Thought I had included creation of Start Menu entries in setup.bat in v1.98. It'll definitely be in the next version.

[gfb107]

We need to be clear that there are lots of major and minor bugs in RMIR, as well as function that is completely unimplemented. It is also not yet very robust.

Sometimes the unimplemented features (such as FAV/SCAN support) won't cause a problem, and sometimes they will render RMIR unusable for a specific set of remotes or for the way a particular user has configured their remote.

So please bear that in mind. But a small number of users that have stuck with me long enough have found that it does work very well.

We're sort of at the chicken vs egg stage. I need more users to help me test and keep me interested in working on RMIR (too many other things going on in my life to do it just for fun, or to do it without help), but RMIR isn't quite to the stage yet where it is stable or feature rich enough for general use.

Many of the problems that come up when someone first tries RMIR are caused by RDF issues, or are simply things that have never been tested before, either because they are using a remote that noone else has tried, or they are using a feature that no one else has tried. These sorts of issues usually get resolved quickly.

I hope everyone who decides to try RMIR is willing to work through the issues with me.

I also need help, in many different forms. Obviously I would love to have programmers help with the actual debug and fixing, but there are plenty of other ways to help as well. The documentation (Readme and Tutorial) needs updating. I could use help tracking bugs and fixes, as well as managing the To-do List and Wish List.

I know everyone here cringes every time anyone mentions Sourceforge, but it does have a system for reporting bugs and feature requests, which could be useful. I'm not saying we have to use it, just something to consider.

[gfb107]

OK, looks good so far. I selected NEW, then selected IMPORT but that didn't work, so I tried LOAD and that worked, however I forgot to change the remote from the one that was in the original file to the remote that I was programming in RMIR, then I clicked OK and it added it anyway. It shouldn't add the upgrade unless it has been reformatted to the current remote.

RMIR should automatically change the upgrade to use your remote when you load an upgrade this way.

Also, the upgrade had some keymoves defined, but those didn't get imported. It would be nice when you click OK if it were to ask you if you want to assign the upgrade to a device button.

Needs to be added to the to-do list.

[The Robman]

To run the java version without a BAT file or DOS window, make a shortcut with this target:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaw.exe -jar "C:\InsertRMPathHERE\RemoteMaster.jar" -ir

Start in: "C:\InsertRMPathHERE"

I've written this up and made custom icons for RM and RMIR HERE.

Thanks Dave, I have created the two shortcuts as you described and edited them both to use the custom icons, and they are both working. Much better than the bat file.

[The Robman]

OK, looks good so far. I selected NEW, then selected IMPORT but that didn't work, so I tried LOAD and that worked, however I forgot to change the remote from the one that was in the original file to the remote that I was programming in RMIR, then I clicked OK and it added it anyway. It shouldn't add the upgrade unless it has been reformatted to the current remote.

RMIR should automatically change the upgrade to use your remote when you load an upgrade this way.

It would appear that it's not doing that, or at least, it's masking the fact that it's doing it if it is, because when I click on EDIT the RM pop-up still shows the other remote. Plus, it won't add the keymoves until I change it to the current remote.

[gfb107]

It would appear that it's not doing that, or at least, it's masking the fact that it's doing it if it is, because when I click on EDIT the RM pop-up still shows the other remote. Plus, it won't add the keymoves until I change it to the current remote.

Please provide an IR or RMIR file, as well as the KM/RM file you added, and I will figure out what's going on.

[The Robman]

Here's how you can re-create it...

1. Open any IR or RMIR file (I used FromRob.IR from the IR zip)
2. Go to Devices and click NEW
3. In RM, click LOAD and select any RMDU file
4. Check the Output panel to see that it has keymoves, if it doesn't add some
5. Verify that the select remote in RM is different to the remote in RMIR
6. Click OK
7. Back in RMIR, make a note of the available keymove memory, then go to General tab and assign the upgrade to a device button and verify that the keymove memory didn't change.
8. In RMIR, go back to the Devices tab and click EDIT on the upgrade that you added, then in RM verify that it still shows the "other" remote.

Now, repeat the above only this time in step 5 make sure that the correct remote is selected, then in step 7 you will see the keymove memory reduce when the keymoves are added behind the scene.

[The Robman]

If you need to create an IR file from scratch, is there a way to do it using RMIR?

[gfb107]

If you need to create an IR file from scratch, is there a way to do it using RMIR?

Not yet

[xnappo]

Here is a YouTube video showing how to get started in migrating and/or showing how RM-IR integrates RemoteMaster and IR functions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB6mAHqeW3I

xnappo

P.S. You will want to switch it to 720p to see the fonts decently

[The Robman]

I think the biggest reason why RMIR hasn't caught on before now was because there didn't seem to be much point to it, I think most of us just thought it was a buggy Java version of IR, when we already had a perfectly good executable version of IR already.

The integrated features are very impressive. However, while I like the way it hides stuff when you look at it from a newbie's POV, I think it hides too much when you look at it from an experts POV. Speaking as an expert, I want to be able to see my keymoves and protocols, for example. So there should be an option to make them visible. For example, if my keymove memory is all used up, I want to see what's using it up so I can decide what to delete, but if the keymoves are all hidden inside upgrades, finding them is going to be tricky and I'm going to have to switch over to IR.exe to see them. For protocols, I like the fact that IR not only displays them, but disassembles them too, so I can see what they're doing. But again, I can see why newbies don't need to see them.

[xnappo]

Yep, I know that for a long time I didn't understand the level of integration.

I agree that there should be some sort of 'expert' mode that shows the keymoves, perhaps greyed out or something to indicate they come from an upgrade - however I really do think that having them not displayed by default is less confusing.

In particular for the protocols I have a custom 'pause' protocol that I use and right now I can't edit it in RM-IR.

I think Greg is willing to work on a to-do list. I am also going to try to get up to speed on the code - though no promises there as I am inexperienced in high-level languages.

I am excited to see some renewed interest - I don't think Greg realized that key members of the community did not know the level of integration he had achieved!

xnappo

[Capn Trips]

I think the biggest reason why RMIR hasn't caught on before now was because there didn't seem to be much point to it, I think most of us just thought it was a buggy Java version of IR, when we already had a perfectly good executable version of IR already.

The integrated features are very impressive. However, while I like the way it hides stuff when you look at it from a newbie's POV, I think it hides too much when you look at it from an experts POV. Speaking as an expert, I want to be able to see my keymoves and protocols, for example. So there should be an option to make them visible. For example, if my keymove memory is all used up, I want to see what's using it up so I can decide what to delete, but if the keymoves are all hidden inside upgrades, finding them is going to be tricky and I'm going to have to switch over to IR.exe to see them. For protocols, I like the fact that IR not only displays them, but disassembles them too, so I can see what they're doing. But again, I can see why newbies don't need to see them.

I'm too lazy to go searching through past posts, but I have repeatedly suggested that in RMIR a user-selectable (perhaps an "advanced") feature should be to allow the user to DISassociate both keymoves and protocol upgrades from their associated device upgrades for precisely the type of reasons that are being articulated here.

I got the impression that Greg was pooh-pooh-ing my argumentation ("Fix the RDFs"), and I went back to using IR because it allowed me to do what I needed with the confusion that has reigned regarding the Kaseikyo and Sharp DVD family of protocols and some remotes.

Maybe as others pay more attention to RMIR, we can influence the changes that are indeed needed.