Ok, I can't find a similar post, so here goes.

I would like to create a macro that will pause a TiVo program I'm viewing and if I don't come back in 5 minutes it would start to record to ensure I never miss the 30 minute buffer. I could also wait for that to be farther, but I believe that if the program switches to the next one, it will automatically kill the barrier of the non-recorded program. How would I make this type of macro, here's what I think it would require:

1. Mute executes a pause command (maybe a audio mute as well)
2. A timer starts running counting down from the specified amount.
3. When the timer reaches 0 (or the specified time if counting up), the remote will execute a record command for the TiVo (if I'm watching a recorded program I don't think anything will happen).
4. The system will wait for a few seconds and press select.
5. It will wait a variable amount of time, which probably could be specified at 1 mintue or something similar (if I'm watching a recorded program I don't think anything will happen).

I imagine that there then would be an ability to end the macro when I return (perhaps by a second issuance of the mute button).

Now, if none of this is possible, perhaps I could just have the mute command issue the record function, but that doesn't seem safe for the buffer, given the issue I mentioned before.

Does anyone have thoughts in this regard (I'd be using a 2000).

Best,
Jon

I think one issue you will have is that the TiVo will behave differently depending on whether the current programme overlaps with a recording in your To Do List.

You can only set a timer to a specific time of day. You cannot have a count down timer. The closest is a long delay in a macro which is not applicable to what you want.

I ?think? if you pause a tivo and wait 5 minutes then hit record the tivo will switch to live tv and start recording. You will loose the previous 5 minutes.

And there is always the conflict issue mentioned.

Plus do you use a cable box with the Ir interface for tivo. Because if Tivo and the box do not agree on what channel your watching, Tivo will flip you to the wrong channel before it starts recording or it will record for the duration of the show it thinks your watching.

Good points. Perhaps the best thing to do then would be to create a long delay macro (though I'm not sure how long you can delay, it looks like a long time) or just execute a pause & record command that walks through all the prompts (it should record the buffer).

With the conflict, I guess I could assume there would not be one, but I think you could just hit the select button again to take the default course of action, as it wouldn't cause any problems if the prompt weren't there.

A neat thing would be to jump to a separate panel, at the end of the delays in your action list, that would say something like "Currently recording paused program, press here to resume...".

Martin :-)

I agree, that really would be excellent. Anyone have the time to try it now? I will, but not at the moment.

If you put a long delay in the macro, once you execute that macro, the remote is inoperative until that macro is done.

Every time you hit pause you would have to wait the length of your delay to use the remote again.

Interesting...sometimes if I hit the remote during my system on macro it doesn't fully execute, is that a fluke?
=

No fluke. The macro will halt as soon as you hit a macro button a second time prior to the macros completion.

Jim L

So, are you suggesting that Brady E's comments are not correct? So, we can in fact do a long delay macro as discussed.

both are "right".

a long delay in a macro will "disable" your remote until the macro finishes -or- you hit the button again, which will stop the macro at the point of the delay within the macro..........which means that anything in the macro after the delay will not be executed.


......sounds reasonable, but it's just a guess, and i could be worng.

Gotcha, so, it seems that that makes sense. you could display a panel saying "waiting to record...tap to cancel excecution." Otherwise it could just finish and return to another panel of your choosing.

yes

Only if you're using a Marantz remote. The Pronto does not support multiple page jumps within a macro (unless you buy the TSU3000).