Help! I have been programming my MX 980 and when I hit 'test' in the software it works great. I download it to the remote and it will not work - it will only action the first activity associated with the button.

For example, here is my script to watch Cable TV:
Jump (please wait macro/Turtle) - display image
Alias (Receiver Main/Power On) - Turns on the receiver
Alias (Receiver Main/on-off Control/TV On) - Turns on the TV
Alias (Receiver Main/on-off Control/Cable On) - Turns on the cable box
Delay (5 seconds)
Alias (Receiver Main/Device/Movie Selection/Cable) - Changes the receiver to cable
Jump (Cable Television) - jumps to the cable tv page

screen shot: [Link: datalode.com]

All individual alias buttons work, in test mode, the script functions properly but when it is downloaded to the remote, only the first item is turned on - in the above script it is the receiver. I thought that there might be a bug with the on/off buttons at the top of the remote so I associated the scripting to an image button and the same thing happens. I also tried using the IR codes instead of Alias and it has the same issue. I have also added time delays and still doesn't work. (Note: I also posted this on the AVS forum)

What am I missing?? I am going nuts!

Try this (I had a similar problem):
1) Write the macro down (if you can't remember)
2) Delete everything inthe macro (except the jump)
3) Instead of alias go to each page of each device and copy from there and then paste in the macro.

Now I'm doing this from memory so it might not be exact, but...
To copy, select the key (button) then go to the to and choose edit (?) then copy from the drop down menu's.
To paste select the macro box (like jump) the do paste a... (can't remeber the term but it's something like paste activity - not just paste and not the third paste - the middle one). You should end up with the exact command.

Sorry I can't be exact but I am away from my other computer. It does sound like you tried something similar to this that did not work (IR codes), but what I suggested worked for me so... YMMV

Another thing you might try is to add some short delays (0.3 sec) between the turn on of the devices. My guess is that it's just not picking up the turn on sequence.

Joe/sda
I have tried that as well as a)assigning to another button, b) adding time delays between each step, c) creating a brand new project with just three devices , d) deleting the local .dat file on the remote and downloading again, e) using the actual IR codes, and f) uninstalling the application and MS Active Sync (clearing all references in my Windows registry) and reinstalling downloading a blank template to the remote and then installing my project- and it still has the issue.

The weird thing is in the software when you test the scripting it works perfect?! Do you think that the remote is defective?

franztini,

Dude do a live update of the software URC just updated there software that fixes that issue.

looking at your macro, you might try a shorter delay than 5 sec. This may not fix your problem, just make the wait time before you can use the remote shorter. When I program a remote, delay lengths are as short as possible to get the correct outcome.
Your Onkyo after the powering on may accept a command within .5 sec or less. No need to have a 5 sec delay when .5 will work. Just a thought, and a pet peeve of mine having unnecessarily long delays.

Make sure remote is set to IR to test. (You may have this set correctly)

remotejr - I did the live update - it didn't fix it.
KVH - I need 5 seconds since my Denon 4308 is **potentially** powering up when I have set it lower than 5 seconds (I know!) it doesn't always receive the input command.

Well it appears that the issue is with my graphics. I uninstalled, wiped my registry, and reinstalled and started from scratch with NO personal graphics and I got everything working - well so far. All the macros that I had originally are working in the remote. I am going to get everything working with the Universal generic graphics, then add in my custom graphics and let you know what happens.

Thank you all for all your help - will let you know if I can find out the exact bug!

You have to go to each of your power on and off buttons (and sometimes even the various inputs) IR codes itself, double click the IR that shows up in the macro window and then uncheck the "Repeat While Button Is Pressed" box and this will increase by 3 times the number of repeats that each command sends. You can also increase the repeat to what ever you want. But I have found that just unchecking that box will make your macros work. But you have to do it for each button in your macro that is a power on or power off or input switch. Hope that helps!

Here's a tip if you have a device that takes a while after powering up to accept the next command, on your system off Macro, have everything default to whatever inputs and/or settings needed to use when powering up. Since most devices are on by now, just send the input commands before the off commands (assuming discretes are available).

eg....
tv... comp1
rcvr.....dtv
delay
tv....off
rcvr....off
dvd...off
etc..

That way you don't need long delays on start up. Just have to send "on" commands.

I'm obviously missing something, because this makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Instead of having the "on" macro turn everything on AND set inputs. Do that on the "off" macro. That way when you turn on the system, only the "on" codes are needed. So no long delays are needed.

Switching to any inputs with the on or off buttons is pointless. It is assuming you know what the user wants to watch. On and off should do nothing more than turn on and off devices. Source selection buttons should do the input switching. The only acception is when it is in your house and you know what you want it to do. ie, in my house "on" is the same as pressing the cabletv button because it is all my wife watches. If I want anything else I won't press on, but instead will just select the source.

franztini,
When you update the software you can't just load your previous file. You need to start another one from scratch using the updated software.
I also have the Denon 4308 rcvr. Try using the "if/else" statements to track the TV/Rcvr power state. Start w/ the System Off Macro and creating a UI varible "System Off".
Example:(System Off)
Jump-wait while macro
@ (DVD/Pwr Off)
Delay .1
@ (Cable/Pwr Off)
Delay .1
@ (Rcvr/Pwr Off)
Delay .1
@ (TV/Pwr Off)
UI Var (System Off, True)
Jump-Watch

Example:(Watch Cable)
Jump-wait while macro
IF-(UI Var (System Off),True)
@ (Rcvr/Pwr On)
Dalay .1
@ (TV/Pwr On)
Delay 5.0
UI Var (System Off, False)
Else-Empty(don't Program)
@ (Cable/Pwr On)
Delay .1
@ (Rcvr/Cable)
Jump-Cable

Try this for each video source you have.

Note: This will keep track off the TV/Rcvr states and only send them when needed. I'm guessing you have discrete pwr codes. You will need addition varibles for the audio sources. Remember this is just an Example. Please refer to the help file for more details.

The source buttons do select the input. The way we do remotes, although usually mx850's, (main) On and Off are system on and system off. The off macro turns everything off and sets inputs to a known state. Then when you press (main)On, everything turns on that's needed, and jumps to local or HD page (with corresponding channel presets). The inputs are set so only "on" commands are needed.

Source buttons change inputs only. Unless dvd or like devices have discrete on/off then will turn on device. So the dvd player isn't on when it's not needed.

Now with your remote that's how you like it and that's fine. This is how we do it and it's not confusing to the "slow" clients. On is on, off is off and sources are sources. Simpler the better.

That's what I was saying...I would do it the way I described in my own home but not for a client. For a client, it should just turn the devices on and not do any source selection or page flipping. Over engineering a one way remote is just asking for trouble, IMO.