[WINDOWS] HOW-TO use a Logitech Harmony Remote with XBMC

gswarriorfan · 2010-07-21 19:09

When I first set my Harmony 670 up, there was quite a bit of delay. I went into the settings and changed the delays to 100ms instead of the default 1000ms. Then I went into the Troubleshoot section and was able to change the retries from 3 to 1. Basically followed these directions:

http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/Harmon...ing_Delays

Handa · 2010-07-21 19:12

vanOert Wrote:In my config, prev-button is backspace. Careful though, cause this behaviour differs from skin to skin.

Shutdown/Exit is on my to-do-list. ;-)

Also, I thought about setting "channel+" and "channel-" to "page up" and "page down" for faster scrolling. What do you think?

Yeah, I have it to Esc because Shade-skin just goes to the Title, Genre etc list when pressing backspace. But you can just change all the buttons in keymaps for XBMC so doesn't really matter.

Good idea with the channel buttons. Any idea for the Guide-button?

sufreak · 2010-07-21 19:33

Here are my mappings. As I mentioned, I used pure keyboard commands so I could not interfere with WMC, as well as compatibility with any version. I did map F7 to launch XBMC via the shortcut trick.

Any suggestions for mapping a shutdown?

[Image: uB6SQ.jpg]

vanOert · 2010-07-21 20:18

Mapping shutdown:

(1) Auto Hotkey some F-Key to Alt+F4
(2) Create a key sequence in Harmony CP (such as "s (shutdown-menu) --> directionright --> ... --> enter")
(3) Edit your keymap.xml to support shutdown from a specific key

3 is my favorite, though i'll have yet to find out how to do it.

sufreak · 2010-07-21 20:35

If you figure out #3, let me know. I'll check out idea 2 for now.

Handa · 2010-07-21 21:59

AutoHotkey script for restarting XBMC, just remove two last lines if you just need shutdown.

Code:

^x::

process, close, xbmc.exe

Sleep, 2000

run "C:\Program Files\XBMC\XBMC.exe"

Bind it to for example F12.

But I would like to use the Shutdown-key available on my Harmony to shutdown XBMC. Sad

Edit:

Made new script that shutdown XBMC if it exists and open it if it doesn't.

Code:

SetTitleMatchMode 3

F12::

IfWinExist XBMC

{

   process, close, xbmc.exe

}

else

{

   run "C:\Program Files\XBMC\XBMC.exe"

}

vanOert · 2010-07-21 22:35

Handa: The shutdown key on the Harmony isn't designed to be used with a function; it's there to end an activity and deactivate all devices as set.

Does anyone know if there is an action I can use for exiting xbmc? If I have that I can just bind it to F10 or whatever and that to the remote.

vanOert · 2010-07-22 23:01

Just a quick update: I've contacted Logitech, they want to do a special profile for xbmc, I am currently waiting for a button template so we can work out the best action set.

sufreak · 2010-07-22 23:09

That would be great. I made 1 or 2 slight modifications to my mapping. I'd love to work with you on this. Especially from a n00b perspective.

waverz · 2010-07-28 21:39

vanOert Wrote:Just a quick update: I've contacted Logitech, they want to do a special profile for xbmc, I am currently waiting for a button template so we can work out the best action set.

Dude, that would be great! I am on my second MCE remote and am struggling with getting my 880 programmed to do everything I want.

The first remote I got wouldn't act as a MCE keyboard but worked nicely as a remote. The problem was I couldn't do things like I could with a keyboard like subtitle toggle and display codec info so I bought a second remote. For some reason XBMC isn't responding to the commands...a XBMC profile built into the harmony software would be GREAT!

gswarriorfan Junior Member Posts: 20 Joined: Dec 2009 Reputation: 0	2010-07-21 19:09 Post: #21 When I first set my Harmony 670 up, there was quite a bit of delay. I went into the settings and changed the delays to 100ms instead of the default 1000ms. Then I went into the Troubleshoot section and was able to change the retries from 3 to 1. Basically followed these directions: http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/Harmon...ing_Delays
	find quote

sufreak Senior Member Posts: 205 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 1	2010-07-21 19:33 Post: #23 Here are my mappings. As I mentioned, I used pure keyboard commands so I could not interfere with WMC, as well as compatibility with any version. I did map F7 to launch XBMC via the shortcut trick. Any suggestions for mapping a shutdown?
	find quote

vanOert Senior Member Posts: 163 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 2 Location: Berlin, Germany	2010-07-21 20:18 Post: #24 Mapping shutdown: (1) Auto Hotkey some F-Key to Alt+F4 (2) Create a key sequence in Harmony CP (such as "s (shutdown-menu) --> directionright --> ... --> enter") (3) Edit your keymap.xml to support shutdown from a specific key 3 is my favorite, though i'll have yet to find out how to do it.
	find quote

sufreak Senior Member Posts: 205 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 1	2010-07-21 20:35 Post: #25 If you figure out #3, let me know. I'll check out idea 2 for now.
	find quote

vanOert Senior Member Posts: 163 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 2 Location: Berlin, Germany	2010-07-21 22:35 Post: #27 Handa: The shutdown key on the Harmony isn't designed to be used with a function; it's there to end an activity and deactivate all devices as set. Does anyone know if there is an action I can use for exiting xbmc? If I have that I can just bind it to F10 or whatever and that to the remote.
	find quote

vanOert Senior Member Posts: 163 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 2 Location: Berlin, Germany	2010-07-22 23:01 Post: #28 Just a quick update: I've contacted Logitech, they want to do a special profile for xbmc, I am currently waiting for a button template so we can work out the best action set.
	find quote

sufreak Senior Member Posts: 205 Joined: Jul 2010 Reputation: 1	2010-07-22 23:09 Post: #29 That would be great. I made 1 or 2 slight modifications to my mapping. I'd love to work with you on this. Especially from a n00b perspective.
	find quote