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[Antoine.]

Hello !

I have an HTPC running JRriver 25 (as a client) encased in a Streacom F12C which comes nicely equipped with a FLIRC IR receiver.

My biggest complaint about this setup concerns the remote control commands :
- quite harrassing to set them up... 1st in Harmony Remote Control software to choose some random MC template > then in FLIRC to convert them in keyboard shortcuts > Finally in JRiver Custom resources file to translate these shortcuts in JRiver Core Commands. (BTW, it's really too bad there isn't a way to use this IR tool to set up keyboard shortcuts).
- This keyboard-shortcut-centric solution does not work unless JRiver is in focus, which is my main complaint with it really.

Is there a way to have my FLIRC IR Receiver recognized by this JRiver tool? Would the JRiver developpers consider adding support to this hardware?

Thanks!

Antoine

[JimH]

Run Media Server on Windows startup.  It's in the options for startup.

MC works with a Media Center Remote (see the wiki) so if your equipment emulates it, there should be no setup required.

[blgentry]

FLIRC is not a Windows Media Center Remote receiver.  It's an emulation device that takes IR remote commands (from any remote) and converts them into keyboard presses.  It appears to the OS as a USB keyboard.

For basic stuff (like play, pause, etc), you should not need to use the Custom Resources keyboard mapping file.  Because most of the basic functions have keyboard equivalents already.  For example, Play/Pause is control-p.  Stop is control-s .  Arrow keys are arrow keys.

So, if you map those into FLIRC, MC should see them directly without the Custom Resources file.

What you said about being in focus is 100% correct:  Since it's a keyboard, MC must be in focus, or it will not receive the commands.  Are you the person that said they want to play games at the same time they listen to music and want to use the remote to control the music?  On second thought, I don't think that was you.  But you obviously have some reason you want to send commands to MC while it is not in focus.  I don't have a good answer for you. 

But I wish you good luck.

Brian.

[Antoine.]

Looks like JRiver does not list it as a compatible device...

In Windows 10's system, it is listed as a "libusbk USB devices" > Flirc

For basic stuff (like play, pause, etc), you should not need to use the Custom Resources keyboard mapping file.  Because most of the basic functions have keyboard equivalents already.  For example, Play/Pause is control-p.  Stop is control-s .  Arrow keys are arrow keys.

Yes I added a a few specific commands, like audio streams and subtitle streams toggling, specific playlist launch, etc.
I also had to add a JRiver launch shortcut on my remote specifically to call the app into focus so I could send the subsequent commands effectively, hence my whole question because it's not really an elegant solution.

And no, I wasn't the one about gaming 

It would be extremely cool for JRiver to support these devices as IR receiver... Streacom cases are not uncommon in the HTPC demographic ^^

P.S.
Do you think that this older version of the receiver (that I had before I replaced it...) would be recognized by JRiver as a receiver? It is listed as "RC6 compatible"...

[Antoine.]

So... I unearthed an IR receiver & its RC6 remote I didn't know I had that came with the Hauppauge DVB-T Tuner card and decided to give JRiver's IR tool a chance. It's identified in Windows as a eHome IR receiver or somethink like that. Here are few questions, beacause so far, the results are underwhelming:

- Remote Control > Device & Options: what box should I check? "Microsoft MCE", "Remote keyboard gamepad..." or another one?
- Commands: JRiver fails to recognize 99% of the signals I'm blasting to the receiver even though the  receiver detects it (it blinks). The line is skipped & the learning process goes on the next without identifiying any trigger code.
- The few basic commands that do work are not effective when JRiver's not in focus which for me was the whole point.

[BryanC]

You'll probably want to use Flirc combined with Autohotkey to run MCC commands regardless of focus.

[Antoine.]

You'll probably want to use Flirc combined with Autohotkey to run MCC commands regardless of focus.

What's the best way to proceed if I want to make sure that a given FLIRC-generated hotkey intended for JRiver (with JRiver not necessarily in focus) is effective: call the app into focus 1st, then trigger the hotkey so that it can effectively be detected by JRiver?

Or is there a better way to achieve this (in autohotkey) ?

[JimH]

There are some media keys settings in MC.  It would be worth a try.

[BryanC]

What's the best way to proceed if I want to make sure that a given FLIRC-generated hotkey intended for JRiver (with JRiver not necessarily in focus) is effective: call the app into focus 1st, then trigger the hotkey so that it can effectively be detected by JRiver?

Or is there a better way to achieve this (in autohotkey) ?

If you pass MCC commands then MC does not need to be in focus. Or you can make MCWS calls. I find MCC to be easier on Windows.

[Antoine.]

If you pass MCC commands then MC does not need to be in focus. Or you can make MCWS calls. I find MCC to be easier on Windows.

In my FLIRC system, it goes like this :
- FLIRC receives an IR signal,
- FLIRC translates it into a keyboard shortcut (Shift + Maj + L, etc.),
- JRiver's Custom Resources file associates this shortcut to a Core Command and triggers the desired effect : pause, launch playlist, etc. But for this step to happen, JRiver definitely needs to be in focus.... It won't work if it's minimized or whatever.

Do you mean that JRiver does not need to be in focus if you use autohotkey somehow?

[BryanC]

No, it does not need to be in focus to use MCC or MCWS. I recommend reading the wiki on these topics.

Flirc>Keyboard Command>AHK (or Eventghost) issues MCC/MCWS command

[Antoine.]

No, it does not need to be in focus to use MCC or MCWS. I recommend reading the wiki on these topics.

Flirc>Keyboard Command>AHK (or Eventghost) issues MCC/MCWS command

Ok, so using AHK and after a quick glance at this part of the wiki, the AHK script should contain something like:

Code: [Select]

mc25.exe /MCC "MCC_PLAY_PLAYLIST","123456789"
... if I want to order the playback of playlist #123456789. Is that correct?

Now I must learn how to write the whole AHK script...

[Antoine.]

Ok... I made some progress!

I tried this AHK script:

Code: [Select]

^+l::
Run mc25.exe /MCC 30007,429601375
return
^+p::
Run mc25.exe /Pause
return

The pause function works great regardless of focus, which is what I hoped to achieve!

But the 1st hotkey does not work, it fails to launch the playlist #429601375... any idea?

EDIT:
I added another hotkey to see if my implementation of the parameter was at fault, it's not, because the 3rd Hotkey works fine here (jump forward 30 sec. upon pressing Ctrl + Maj + D):

Code: [Select]

^+l::
Run mc25.exe /MCC 30007,502997444
return
^+p::
Run mc25.exe /MCC 10000
return
^+D::
Run mc25.exe /MCC 10034,30000
Also, the playlist ID number is the good one because this Custom resources hotkey works fine (when in focus) to launch the playlist :

Code: [Select]

<Entry Key="Ctrl;Shift;L" Command="30007" Param="502997444" /> All Stars

[BryanC]

I would first diagnose this by eschewing AHK and running the commands directly in the command line to make sure that this isn't an AHK syntax error.

Are you able to successfully run your MCC commands on the command line (powershell)?

[Antoine.]

I would first diagnose this by eschewing AHK and running the commands directly in the command line to make sure that this isn't an AHK syntax error.

Are you able to successfully run your MCC commands on the command line (powershell)?

Just ran the command (about the same playlist) in Windows command line:

Code: [Select]

C:\Users\***>mc25.exe /MCC 30007,502997444
It launched the playlist fine!

In AHK, I used the hotkey Ctrl + Shift+ L : can it run into conflict with another programm or Windows who's maybe using this hotkey? Changing the final letters with a few other ones didn't alter the result.

[BryanC]

Certainly could be, unfortunately I'm not an expert in AHK (used Eventghost for several years until I migrated to Linux, where I now have complete command over my keyboard shortcuts). It could be MC stealing the keys itself if you've created global shortcuts in custom resources.

[Antoine.]

Certainly could be, unfortunately I'm not an expert in AHK (used Eventghost for several years until I migrated to Linux, where I now have complete command over my keyboard shortcuts). It could be MC stealing the keys itself if you've created global shortcuts in custom resources.

I don't think it's  JRiver's custom resources file that's at fault here:
- I made sure to delete the corresponding line before trying the AHK script (& restarted JRiver MC & Server).
- even if I don't do this, the lines that work still work perfectly...
- for good measure, i remove the whole Custom Resources file, to no avail.

What I notice is that the problem occur when there's a parameter in use:
- For Example if I want a hotkey for the MCC_Exit (20007) function, with the parameter that it also closes the server (Parameter 1),it works but not entirely: MC is closed yes, but the parameter 1 of also closing the server is ignored.

Code: [Select]

^+q::
run mc25.exe /MCC 20007,1
return

Here's an interesting example of two AHK hotkeys that succed and fail:

Code: [Select]

^+D::
Run mc25.exe /MCC 10034,30000
return

^+S::
run mc25.exe /MCC 10035,30000
return
The 1st hotkey works by going forward 30 sec.
The 2nd one does not completely: it goes back yes, but only by 10 sec. ignoring the parameter completely...
Once again, this problem does not manifest itself when using Windows command line.

This is so frustrating!  ? I thought I had this problem solved...

[Antoine.]

Ok, I solved the issue with some help from the AHK forum by adding a backtick before the comma of the parameter, works so far with the problematic hotkeys I had! Apparently, the comma used alone is interpreted as a parameter to the Run command? I'm not sure...

FYI : https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=69785#top

I can finally setup commands triggerd by IR (via FLIRC) that do not require the software to be in focus... great!

Now another question Is there a way for this AHK hotkey...

Code: [Select]

^+l::
run mc25.exe /MCC 30007`,502997444
return
... to launch Media Center (on top of launching the playlist) if MC & Server are not active?

[BryanC]

Ok, I solved the issue with some help from the AHK forum by adding a backtick before the comma of the parameter, works so far with the problematic hotkeys I had! Apparently, the comma used alone is interpreted as a parameter to the Run command? I'm not sure...

FYI : https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=69785#top

I can finally setup commands triggerd by IR (via FLIRC) that do not require the software to be in focus... great!

Now another question Is there a way for this AHK hotkey...

Code: [Select]

^+l::
run mc25.exe /MCC 30007`,502997444
return
... to launch Media Center (on top of launching the playlist) if MC & Server are not active?

That's more of an AHK question. You are going to want to check if the "Media Center 25.exe" process is running and if it is not, to start it.