Read through the entire help section of pronto-edit tomight. I figured out a few days ago how to do most of the things manually w/o P.E. Tonight I tackled using PE. Was sucessful up-loading, downloading, etc.

Question is. IfI find a file for a device I want, (i.e. a Dish PVR 501) in the "file" section, it is usually included in a group of other devices that I dont need. so, I have been opening up the file, and then deleting all the other devices that I dont need. I then "save as", and name it as the device that I am using it for. then, from the file menu in P.E., I choose "open configuration" and browse to the file I just saved. I merge it with the already open file in PE.

Is this the correct way to do it? 1. it seems kind of tedious, deleting all the "devices" that I dont need. Is there not a way to just "select all" and then cut them? 2. When I down-loaded them into my TSU2000, some of the buttons worked, but not all. For example, on the 501 PRV, the "main" tab works, byt the "logo", "ptv", and "num pad" tabs dont do anything when pressed. The power buttons also do not send an I/R command. I can see a response, as the "home" icon changes shades, but the "i/r" command is never sent.

Am I missing something? Dont mean to ask something that may have been mentioned before, but I DID try it first on my part, with the HELP section. Is there a better source for beginners to get familiar with PE? I consider myself fairly computer literate, but this stuff looks like it can be for the serious programmers, software programmers, etc.

1: Tabs usually do not send IR Commands, they are usually Page Flips. Open the Tab and verify that the Jump is still in the Action list. Sometimes while deleteing, pages get missed and the Tab may lose its Jump. Or, you may have not copied over the Page it is supposed to Jump to.


2: If commands dont work theres 2 Common problems
a. Faulty Code in the CCF-Relearn Code
B. The command was Aliased to a page that you did not carry over or did not carry over correctly to your merged file. Many CCFs contain just a raw device Template without any real IR commands in it. Then those buttons are Aliased to a generic device page. I usually hide my Alias pages within the Device, but I've seem them everywhere from Hidden under the Home Device, to the macro Section.


Although the Pronto Edit Help section is all right. Check out the RC "Unofficial" Pronto FAQ Here

Click on the links in the box below, in particular you will find : the FAQ, Reviews, Play With It, Phases, Planning and ALIAS.CCF helpful when just starting out.

And remember when you ask questions to be specific in your Heading and very specific in your question, including precisely what your problem/question is and what model Remote you have and what OS you are using on your PC.

Also, don't forget the Search Forum at the bottom of the Page. It may seem slow but it is VERY thourough and don't be mislead by the "0%" you will see on the first screen, it is only a progress marker.

(originally configured by MrKlaatu) CLICK ON THESE LINKS (originally configured by MrKlaatu)
FAQ | Files | Reviews | Play with it | Phases | Planning | ALIAS.CCF | Copying .BMPs & Galleries | Discretes | Docking Station | NEO | X-10 | Parts | Cable | Buy/Sell

that is the best way

Thanks for all the help. Seems to be much more complicated when using P/E, verses the manual mode. Is this really wrkable by anyone other than heavy duty software/computer guys? Its messin with my brain!

personally i think it has more to do with each individual's ability to accept "that which seems (sometimes) counter-intuitive'.......(don't fight it!)

if you don't approach PE with the sense of "I'm smarter than this software", but rather with.........."cool!, so this does THAT?........well, oakely-doakely!".

you will have much better luck with the PC based software...........

as is so often stated.........PLAY WITH THE PUPPY .....load a few interesting CCFs (those that look good, to you)......(they don't have to have anything to do with your devices)....and open them in PE, run them on the Emulator, tear 'em apart and understand how they do what they do, and you will be so much closer to being a Pronto God, it's like magic!

ask questions, clear, concise and to-the-point (including as much info as you can.............and we'll be glad to help you reach that lofty status of Pronto God!!!

Hi,
although I haven't even come close to the above mentioned status of Pronto God, I have been at it for ca a year. Meaning: started with a ccf file with 8 devices, functioning but not very user friendly)
Can that take a year? Yes and No. Every few weeks I discover a feature I would like my Pronto to be able to perform, and off I go again improving my CCF. I'm like you "pretty pc litterate, but surely no programmer. Just hang in there and you'll see that it just gets more and more fun.

As for the problem with the buttons that are not performing I'll try to explain it in a simple way.
If you have a ccf file with 2 devices (lets say TV & VCR) You are interested only in TV so you delete the VCR device. Then you merge with your own CCF. If now on the device TV there was a button containing the command "go to VCR" the button now will be empty!(as there is no VCR device anymore, where the hell should it jump to....)Those are probably the empty commands.
This explanation is not better than Impaqt's but maybe a little less technical.


As for the merge-nightmare it's true that it's a hassle.
With the risk of making things more complicated rather than less: if you download Stewart Allens TONTO you'll have a ProntoEdit similar program where you can open multiple ccfs and copy/paste between them.

much fun with your Pronto, but beware you could become an addict....

yes, it is much easier to set up without PE, but then again you can't do as much. The problem is that people look at the CCfs in the file section and assume they can do the same thing in a few hours. PE is hard at the beginning, but think of it as a toy and play with it, and it will soon all click and then it will all go easier. Also the Pronto is like a blank slate, you can make it look and act like anything you want, so take the time to know what you want to do.

Ok, I think the consensus is correct, that the reason some of the tabs or buttons are not working is because I probably inadvertently deleted part of the file.

Ive tried the suggestions. Ive downloaded a complete file just to look at it. Ive downloaded component files that apply to MY system. It was suggested that I "open it up and play with it" Maybe Im just really slow, but I just dont get it. WHAT is it Im looking for. Ive opened up the files. I see the "properties" tab. Open it up, and it goes to the ACTION and HARD KEYS tabs. Just not real sure WHAT I'm supposed to do with it. I dont even know how to set up a MACRO in the PE, much less setting up different panels, etc. I could figure it out in the MANUAL mode because I had step by step instructions in the manual. But with PE, the is NO manual. I DID read through the FAQ, and the other sections as well. But is there a place I can go for step by step instructions? Or should I just assume this is only for the die-hard computer/software programmers?

Believe it or not, I DO consider myself prety computer literate, but I am lost when it comes to this.

You're wrong! There is Help in Pronto Edit!
It's hidden in a menu called "Help". Hidden, but still there!
Click and go to ProntoEditHelp and Abracadabra: you've found HELP!
Try it!

"play with it" is just a general statement. meaning act like a kid and try stuff. if you tried merging and Somme of the buttons disappeared, then that means the actions associated with the buttons have disappeared. So in the original CCF open the buttons properties and look at what you find in the action list. Is it a learnt code, or an alias or a jump. if you have learnt codes, then you can copy and paste, if it is aliases or jumps, you should merge

yes, it is tedious deleting all the components that you do not want. That is why (I feel soooo self-righteous right now) when I upload a ccf, I make sure to delete all but one component, and make that complete. I do not include a home page and I make sure the hard buttons have no commands.

And that is what you want to be sure you have before you merge a ccf into yours.

Also, somewhere I learned that you want to have your ccf open, then open the ccf you want to add and merge it into yours -- not the other way around. Hopefully that was not mentioned above...I must admit I did not read every post real carefully.