There are a number of ways to find EFCs. Here's a little background about IR signals. Components respond to a IR protocol, which is the pattern of light flashes that correspond to device and function numbers. NEC1, Sony, RC5 are examples of common protocols. Any IR remote is capable of sending at least one IR protocol, and universals usually can send 30 or more protocols.
UEI remotes (and most others, too) use a microprocessor and a subroutine called an executor computes the pattern of flashes, using data stored in pages of setup tables. There are pages for Cable/Sat, TV, Audio, and Video, and a setup code specifies the executor (which imples the IR protocol), some "fixed data" which typically includes the device number(s), and EFCs which correspond to the various functions. Many executors (like Video 0199) need 1 byte of data per button, and the EFCs take the form 00xxx, but some use 2 bytes, and all 5 digits in the EFC are used. The 2 bytes could simply specify one of 256 devices and one of 256 function numbers, or some of the bits could be used to select one of several closely related IR protocols, or select a device number from a small set specified in the fixed data. All of this means that the EFC that corresponds to a particular function number isn't obvious.
Major manufacturers of components tend to use the same protocol, device and function numbers across models. That information is available here in the files section, the features section, and embedded in forum posts. Mostly the info is stored here in Pronto Hex format, which can be converted to protocol, device and function numbers using
IRtool.exe.
The Files Section at hifi-remote.com contains "upgrade files" which allows users with a JP1 cable to upload a new set of device and function numbers (and executors, if necesary). These upgrade files can be read by RemoteMaster, which displays the corresponding EFCs, and as you have seen, these can be manually programmed into the remotes. Or if you know the protocol, device and function numbers (from Pronto Hex, for example), these can be entered into RM, and it will convert to EFCs.
The
Lookup Tool is an excellent and easy source of EFCs, but it only displays those that are factory loaded into UEI remotes.
So, for your Samsung Blu Ray, I downloaded a Samsung upgrade from the Files Section, noted that button A, B, C, and D were listed, saw that the IR protocol was Samsung, devices 32.0, 7, and used the Lookup Tool to find that 7 remotes carry a setup code (Video 0199) that invokes the necessary executor and fixed data, so it is possible to manually program the EFCs to send the correct signals. If your remote doesn't have the executor, or the correct fixed data, then it is necessary to use a
cable to upload an upgrade.