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Author Topic: Girder explained  (Read 23417 times)

xen-uno

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Girder explained
« on: April 25, 2003, 12:53:24 pm »

I was curious (too) about what function Girder performed. Here's the site. So BS's Girder plug-in is a remote control interface for MC.

10-27

bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2003, 11:20:19 pm »

Quote
I was curious (too) about what function Girder performed. Here's the site. So BS's Girder plug-in is a remote control interface for MC.

10-27

Right.

Most people use it in conjunction with a hardware IR receiver for IR control over their machines. You can also assign other events to trigger actions (keypresses, timers, etc., etc....)

It's a pretty complicated application (& a bit overwhelming at first), but extremely powerful if you know what you're doing.

Best,
Brad
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whoeveryouare

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2003, 12:30:48 am »

Quote

It's a pretty complicated application (& a bit overwhelming at first), but extremely powerful if you know what you're doing.

I see...  Go through a significant inconvenience learning it and setting it up to gain the convenience of using an IR remote.   ;)
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px2so

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2003, 01:09:48 am »

How is this feature intergrated with MC9 and how do we activate to work with MC9? I looked everywhere, but no grinder control anywhere.
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xen-uno

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2003, 02:19:42 am »

> Go through a significant inconvenience learning it

BS has done the hard part already (if MC control is as far as you want to go).

To do Girder MC (shooting from the hip here, haven't actually done it)...
First thing would be to DL and install Girder (it's free). Then I assume you would install the Girder plug-in into MC. Girder now will interpret commands from buttons off your remote (or do the buttons still need to be associated with a particular function?).

Seems to me back around Win 3.0/3.1/WfWG their was control scripting built in (though nowhere near Girder's capabilities).

unanswered from another post > I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that ATI's AIW series comes with a remote. If so, does it operate well with Girder and MC? If not, what's everybody using?

10-27

PhatPhreddy

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2003, 04:21:44 am »

Generic IR input devices like the IRMan or for IR in and out UIRT2 or UIRT2-USB or Redrat3 are all common...

Thenany learning remote but if you are smart look out for a pronto... This way you can import others Pronto CCF's and Girder GML's so that all the hard works is done...  

Import GML... Import CCF... Sorted !!
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bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2003, 06:50:51 am »

Quote
> Go through a significant inconvenience learning it

To do Girder MC (shooting from the hip here, haven't actually done it)...
First thing would be to DL and install Girder (it's free). Then I assume you would install the Girder plug-in into MC. Girder now will interpret commands from buttons off your remote (or do the buttons still need to be associated with a particular function?).

Actually, with MC, you don't need anything other than the default installations of MC and of Girder--no need for plugins.

You then create (or import, or download) a Girder configuration file--called a GML--which associates different "events" with different "commands". This GML is what Matt's included for MC.

An "event" can be an IR signal, a keypress, or anything else Girder understands. The command can be whatever you can make Girder do. In this case, they are Windows Messaging commands that go to MC's Media Core.

Once you have your GML imported or saved, you can assign your IR codes to the various commands via Girder's "Learn" function.

If you have a Pronto-style learning remote, you can use the CCF file included with the GML to give you a single IR code for every command in the GML.

Hope this helps!
Brad
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LisaRCT

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2003, 07:30:45 am »

OK, I have installed Girder.
What do I do with the Girder files provided with the latest MC9 Build?  Copy to Girder folder?  MC9 Folder? leave em where they are and ??
Which do I open within Girder? Or do I import them?

HELP   ?  I am sooo confused.   LOL

::)

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sraymond

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2003, 08:48:31 am »

Lisa,

I tried to e-mail you the already "learned" .gml - but the address bounced.

If you give me the address again, I'll e-mail you the file with a little explanation.

Scott-
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LisaRCT

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2003, 10:11:48 am »

Perhaps I should just give in and
dye  my  hair  Blonde  ;D
The highlights have apparently already been brain-fatal
Roflmao
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px2so

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2003, 12:14:42 pm »

Trying to figure out this grider works with MC9 right now.. erm...
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xen-uno

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2003, 12:29:36 pm »

Thanks Scott for the "learned"...

I won't be able to use it until the ATI AIW 9800 ships (only $50 more than the 9700). FYI: 9800 has higher refresh rates and FPS's at high resolutions (1920x1200) versus the 9700. Then I'll pick up the wide screen 24" Sony. Funny thing is...I don't have a computer faster than 700 MHz to stick the AIW in...but in time...

10-27

Jaguu

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2003, 01:04:45 pm »

Quick User Guide:

1) Buy an IR Remote such as IRman and install it!
2) If not, install MC9
3) If not install Girder
4) Start Girder and open the GML file included in the newest MC9 release. Read the Readme first.
5) Get any remote controller device (TV remotes, Universal remotes).
6) Tell Girder to work with the IRman Plugin (Options!)
7) There are two sets of commands in the GML file, commands driven by MC mjextman command and commands driven by Windows Send Messages, use either one or the other, whatever suits you best
8 ) Select an MMC command such as "Play" in the GML file.
9) Put your remote controller in Learning Mode
10) Click "Learn Event" in Girder
11) Press the Play Button on your Remote Control.
12) Girder will display the Code for this button.
13) Repeat steps 7-11 for every MMC command you want to have on your remote control!
14) Once Girder understands your Remote Control save the the GML  (with the events code) to a new GML file, so that you always have the empty original GML at hand

That's it! The most difficult part: Getting your IR Remote to work!
I put it down quickly, so the Girder cracks are welcomed to refine it. If we have good working instructions, they might be directly included in MC9 Help!
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sraymond

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2003, 02:11:02 pm »

I don't remember if the SendMessage girder plugin is activated by default upon installation of girder - in any case, it needs to be installed and "loaded".  Girder plugins are under File|Settings|Plugins.

Scott-
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bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2003, 08:45:18 pm »

Quote
Quick User Guide:

1) Buy an IR Remote such as IRman and install it!

I love my new USB-UIRT! It lets me control other IR devices from Girder (ie. it receives & sends IR!).

Quote
2) If not, install MC9
3) If not install Girder
4) Start Girder and open the GML file included in the newest MC9 release. Read the Readme first.

READ THE README.TXT!

Quote
5) Get any remote controller device (TV remotes, Universal remotes).
6) Tell Girder to work with the IRman Plugin (Options!)

If you have a different IR receiver, use that IR receiver's option in Girder.

Quote
7) There are two sets of commands in the GML file, commands driven by MC mjextman command and commands driven by Windows Send Messages, use either one or the other, whatever suits you best

As noted above, to use the Windows Messages, you have to enable "Send Message" in the Girder plugin options. The only difference between the 2 sets of commands are stylistic.

Quote
8 ) Select an MMC command such as "Play" in the GML file.
9) Put your remote controller in Learning Mode

You don't need step 9. You are teaching Girder the IR code, not the remote control...

Quote
10) Click "Learn Event" in Girder
11) Press the Play Button on your Remote Control.
12) Girder will display the Code for this button.
13) Repeat steps 7-11 for every MMC command you want to have on your remote control!
14) Once Girder understands your Remote Control save the the GML  (with the events code) to a new GML file, so that you always have the empty original GML at hand

Great overview! Thanks!

Brad
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Jaguu

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2003, 12:29:18 am »

Quote
You don't need step 9. You are teaching Girder the IR code, not the remote control...


Well, this is for multi-channel Universal Remote controllers. Mine has 8 channels (TV, VCR, DVD, CD, ASAT, DSAT, CBL, AUX). You have to select the appropriate channel as each one is sending different codes! As a universal controller understands hundreds of brands, you have to tell them, which brand to connect to.

So you have to tell your Remote Controller that on channel TV it should send its codes to my Sony TV, on channel VCR to my Panasonic Video Recorder and on channel AUX to IRman/Girder. On my Remote you press "Set" "Aux" and "Learn". Once Girder understood all the codes, you press OK, and then you go!

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bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #16 on: April 27, 2003, 06:42:37 am »

Quote
So you have to tell your Remote Controller that on channel TV it should send its codes to my Sony TV, on channel VCR to my Panasonic Video Recorder and on channel AUX to IRman/Girder. On my Remote you press "Set" "Aux" and "Learn". Once Girder understood all the codes, you press OK, and then you go!

Ah... I've always called those "channels" "modes" :) Anyway, I see. You need to find a channel/mode on your remote that you aren't already using so you can use it to send the IR signals to Girder/MC. I've gotten so used to my Marantz that I've forgotten about my other universals.

Brad
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gkerber

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2003, 04:29:37 pm »

Where is the GML file that a previous email say is included with the MC9 release?
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gkerber

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #18 on: April 28, 2003, 05:54:55 pm »

I've got a Streamzap (www.streamzap.com) IR remote.  They do offer MediaCenter support, but it depends on the program being available in a certain mode and always brings the program to the top when any button is pressed.  Workable, but not really the best it could be.

They do offer a Girder (Streamzap.dll) plugin.

So I installed Girder and just from the short tutorial, I've got my remote calling only mjextman commands.  This is better since now mjextman commands just do what I ask, with nothing jumping to the top on my desktop.  Silent but effective.

I've got the IR receiver run (through the walls) into my living room, so all IR commands in the living room are recieved by my computer and if they are Streamzap commands, Media Center executes them.

I've got IR remote repeaters in my office, kitchen and bedroom and "Home Theater Master" universal learning remotes in the living room and office, kitchen and bedroom.

So from any room (I do leave my computer running 24/7), I can turn on my audio sytem (living room), start up MC and play the current playlist, next, prev, ff, rewind, pause.  I wake up on Saturday morning, press a macro button my remote from bed and presto, I have music all over the house.

And If I really want control, I have a PDA with a wireless connect to my computer which runs webremote, so I can select which music to play.

Am I a couch potato or what?

Just think about all those tech limited people who actually have to touch cd media to play their music....

MediaCenter is really cool.
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bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #19 on: April 28, 2003, 07:42:01 pm »

Quote
I've got a Streamzap (www.streamzap.com) IR remote.  They do offer MediaCenter support, but it depends on the program being available in a certain mode and always brings the program to the top when any button is pressed.  Workable, but not really the best it could be.

They do offer a Girder (Streamzap.dll) plugin.

So I installed Girder and just from the short tutorial, I've got my remote calling only mjextman commands.  This is better since now mjextman commands just do what I ask, with nothing jumping to the top on my desktop.  Silent but effective.

Cool!

I still have my StreamZap, but gave up on it since even with the Girder plugin I was limited to the buttons on the remote. They keep promising universal remote support (by which I think they mean their receiver will understand other IR codes), but I've had no joy yet--so I've moved on. It is perfect for basic control of MC, however (if anyone wants one, I've got one...) :)

Best,
Brad
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Mastiff

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #20 on: April 29, 2003, 04:37:33 am »

Quote
I've got the IR receiver run (through the walls) into my living room, so all IR commands in the living room are recieved by my computer and if they are Streamzap commands, Media Center executes them.

I've got IR remote repeaters in my office, kitchen and bedroom and "Home Theater Master" universal learning remotes in the living room and office, kitchen and bedroom.

So from any room (I do leave my computer running 24/7), I can turn on my audio sytem (living room), start up MC and play the current playlist, next, prev, ff, rewind, pause.  I wake up on Saturday morning, press a macro button my remote from bed and presto, I have music all over the house.

And If I really want control, I have a PDA with a wireless connect to my computer which runs webremote, so I can select which music to play.


You system is a lot like mine, except for my added function, calling up any play list from any room. You could have that too, have a look at my webpage. Then you just memorize the most important albums (or do it the way I do - print out a list based on play list numbers) and you'll be off and running.

But why on earth do you want to use the very limited webremote? Haven't you heard about NetRemote? 8)
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gkerber

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #21 on: April 29, 2003, 08:58:11 am »

Nope, I don't know about NetRemote, where do I get info on it?
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bspachman

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #22 on: May 01, 2003, 08:02:54 pm »

Quote
Nope, I don't know about NetRemote, where do I get info on it?

Check out:

http://www.netremote.org/

Best,
Brad
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Mysticeti

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Re: Girder explained
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2004, 11:10:34 pm »

Quick User Guide:

1) Buy an IR Remote such as IRman and install it!
2) If not, install MC9
3) If not install Girder
4) Start Girder and open the GML file included in the newest MC9 release. Read the Readme first.
5) Get any remote controller device (TV remotes, Universal remotes).
6) Tell Girder to work with the IRman Plugin (Options!)
7) There are two sets of commands in the GML file, commands driven by MC mjextman command and commands driven by Windows Send Messages, use either one or the other, whatever suits you best
8 ) Select an MMC command such as "Play" in the GML file.
9) Put your remote controller in Learning Mode
10) Click "Learn Event" in Girder
11) Press the Play Button on your Remote Control.
12) Girder will display the Code for this button.
13) Repeat steps 7-11 for every MMC command you want to have on your remote control!
14) Once Girder understands your Remote Control save the the GML  (with the events code) to a new GML file, so that you always have the empty original GML at hand

That's it! The most difficult part: Getting your IR Remote to work!
I put it down quickly, so the Girder cracks are welcomed to refine it. If we have good working instructions, they might be directly included in MC9 Help!


Are these instructions still valid for MC10?  I have a USB-UIRT on order and I'm looking forward to automating MC!

Thanks.
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gpvillamil

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #24 on: April 24, 2004, 05:03:39 pm »

Instructions are still mostly valid, except Girder now costs $20.

I am using an ATI Remote Wonder with MC & Girder.

For that, instructions are:

1) Download & install Girder
2) Install ATI Remote Wonder software
3) Switch OFF the ATI software (right click on taskbar icon, change options so it does not run on startup, exit) - you still need the drivers that are installed with it.)
4) Download and install Girder plugin for X10 (you have two options - one of them requires the ATI software to remain active.
Follow the instructions here http://membres.lycos.fr/remotew/ (Girder section) to install Girder plugins for X10 and to load the GML for mouse functions. I used Ermon's plugin, and loaded the GML from here: http://members.rogers.com/ultimatefrisbee/RemoteDownload.htm)

3) Install the WinLuaEx plugin for Girder
4) Install the AlarmTimer plugin for Girder
5) Start Girder
5) In the options dialog, turn on the SendMessage, X10 Remote, WinLuaEx and AlarmTimer plugins
6) Set Girder to load on startup
7) Set Girder to automatically load GML on startup
8) Open the X10 Mouse GML (All ATI remote functions should now be active)
9) Import MC10 GML (it is in Program Files\J River\Media Center\Data\Extras\Girder)
10) The X10 GML contains groups for Winamp and some other programs - turn them off if you want
11) Test Girder with MC at this point - you may find that a lot of the functions actually work correctly
12) Find the list of commands for MC in the tree, go through and assign remote commands to the ones you want
13) Save the resulting GML as default.gml or something, and set Girder to load it on startup
14) Everything should work now

Some notes:
a) If you use the SendMessage commands, any remote keys assigned to MC will always control MC, even when it is in the background.
b) See the Girder FAQ for instructions on changing remote key assignments depending on what programs are running
c) You can actually ignore the MC GML entirely, and assign simulated keypresses to the remote (Girder can generate events corresponding to the Microsoft multimedia keys). MC will respond fine, when it is the foreground window.
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #25 on: April 24, 2004, 10:50:01 pm »

Wow.  I had no idea it was that complicated.  I don't have an ATI remote wonder so perhaps that will simplify things for me.   I'll to keep track of what I do so I can contribute to a IR/Girder tutorial.

Thanks!
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gpvillamil

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #26 on: April 25, 2004, 08:52:56 am »

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Girder: on the one hand, it does things that you can't do any other way - on the other hand, it is needlessly complicated due to some poor design decisions and lack of documentation (try getting an explanation of how the Buttonmode plugin works...). Maybe now that it is payware they'll sort out some of these things.
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lalittle

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #27 on: April 25, 2004, 05:07:48 pm »

If all you want to control is MC, can you just use one of the remotes that MC has plugins for (like the X10 Mouse Remote or the X10 MP3 Anywhere) and not use any extra software?

Thanks,

Larry
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #28 on: April 26, 2004, 03:53:47 pm »

Still waiting for my USB-UIRT.  My credit card was charged 3 days ago so I think it should show up soon.

Meanwhile...  I'm still trying to get my head around how the various parts and pieces interact.

Here's what I'm imagining will happen....
  • I press a button on my IR remote
  • Girder, via USB-UIRT, "reads" this button press because I have the right Girder "input plugin" loaded.
  • Girder, has a mapping of inputs to actions which allows it to...
  • Send a command (via an action plugin) to JRiver Media Center, based on the specific button I pressed on the remote
  • MC, via a Remote Control (?) plugin, accepts and carries out the command from Girder

One thing confusing me is that, if Girder is the mediator between USB-UIRT and MC, where does the MC "remote control" USB-UIRT plugin fit into the picture?  Is this plugin intended for use w/o Girder?  If so, what do I gain or lose by using this plugin w/o Girder?

Maybe once I install Girder and poke around it's interface things will be clearer.

FWIW, I'm mostly interested in getting the "transport" buttons (pause, play, next track) on my IR remote to control MC.  Navigation would be cool too.

What I think I have do to, once my USB-UIRT arrives, is:
  • Install the USB-UIRT
  • Install Girder
  • Have Girder "learn" the IR remote button presses I want to use
  • Map those IR remote buttons to MC commands
  • If nothing works, make sure all the right Girder input & action plugins are enabled.  MC Should have the right plugins by default (this based on an earlier post by "bspachman": "Actually, with MC, you don't need anything other than the default installations of MC and of Girder--no need for plugins.")

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gpvillamil

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #29 on: April 26, 2004, 05:00:13 pm »

A couple of clarifications...

If you use Girder, you don't need MC's USB-UIRT plugin. (and vice-versa). However, you do need to enable USB-UIRT support in Girder.

Note that you don't actually need to do anything in MC, if you are using Girder. Girder is a general purpose program that controls anything on your PC.

If you don't use Girder, and use the MC USB-UIRT plugin, then you would teach MC by using Tools/Options/Remote Control. This will only apply to controlling MC.

Some tips for using Girder:

MC comes with a Girder command file. It is in Program Files\J River\Media Center\Data\Extras\Girder. There are two versions of the .GML file, one of them has the USB-UIRT commands already learned. The .GML file contains a list of MC commands, including the command sequence that will be sent to MC as either a Windows Messaging sequence or to an external program (MJEXTMAN). Windows Messaging is better, so disable the other group if necessary. (Things should already be correctly setup by default.) The GML file replaces the step you listed as "Map those IR remote buttons to MC commands". The learning process just means stepping through the list of commands in the GML and assigning a remote command to them. Very easy.

So your sequence would be:

1) Install USBUIRT
2) Install Girder
3) Make sure all plugins are enabled (in Girder)
4) Load the MC .GML file for USB-UIRT

At this point, everything might actually be working, no further learning necessary. If not:

5) Load the generic MC .GML file
6) In the Girder tree, look at the list of MC commands
7) Click on each command, click on "Learn Event", press remote button you want, etc.

Note that many Girder settings are OFF by default. You need to tell it to run on startup, to load a default command file, etc.
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #30 on: April 26, 2004, 06:18:01 pm »

Thanks GPVillamil.

That makes things much clearer.

Now if my USB-UIRT would only get here.

Cheers!
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sixdoubleo

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #31 on: April 27, 2004, 12:00:30 pm »

One thing confusing me is that, if Girder is the mediator between USB-UIRT and MC, where does the MC "remote control" USB-UIRT plugin fit into the picture?  Is this plugin intended for use w/o Girder?  If so, what do I gain or lose by using this plugin w/o Girder?

OK....yeah, this can seem a bit confusing...but it's actually very simple.

If all you wanted to do was use MC witha  remote and your USB-UIRT, then you do NOT need Girder.  You would simply go to the Remote COntrol tab of MC, load the USB-UIRT plugin, and then learn each remote button and assign it to each of the MC functions.  Done deal.  Happy listening...

Now, let's say you use more programs than just MC.  Let's say you also watch DVD's with TheaterTek, you use SageTV to watch recorded TV, and you have myHTPC tying it all together.  In this case you may want something in the middle to determine which application is "active" and interpret your remote keys accordingly....In this case you would forget about using the built-in remote features of MC, Sage, TheaterTek and myHTPC, and simply use Girder for all remote processing.

For instance....I have a special button such that when I'm listening to music in MC, I can hit a single button and the following happens....

Switch MC to Standard View
Minimize MC
Run Aquarium ScreenSaver
Dim the lights

Now I am listening to music with MC in the background....however, since Girder is always listening I have it check....

If Aquarium is running, and MC is ALSO running, then send any commands to MC....so my Play/Pause/Next/Prev/etc still work correctly.

Then I can hit the same button again and bring everything back....

So the answer is...

If MC is your only app and you want it simple, dont worry about Girder for now.  

If you want to really do a lot more than the standard functions and really customize things/integrate multiple apps....you will need Girder.

Hope this helps...
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #32 on: April 27, 2004, 12:56:44 pm »

Thanks for the info.

Sometime down the road I can see myself using the IR remote for things other than MC so I'll give Girder a go.   I'll leave the MC/USB-UIRT plugin as a fall back option.

Cheers!
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #33 on: May 03, 2004, 03:42:02 pm »

I have MC10, Girder, USB-UIRT, and a ProntoNG.  I loaded up the UIRT girder file for MC, and I imported the Pronto CCF file in my Pronto.  I was hoping that this would save me from having to teach Girder all the IR commands in the ccf/pcf file.  Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.  The IR codes in the ccf file do not match those in the USB-UIRT Girder file.

Is there a set that does match?  There are a heck of a lot of commands to teach, and I would much rather find a set that matches.

Thanks!
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #34 on: May 03, 2004, 04:05:28 pm »

I'm new to Girder/USB-UIRT so take this with a grain of salt...

The Pronto NG is a universal remote, right?  So what I think you're supposed to do is tell the Pronto you want it to send out IR codes for "device X" (where device X is a device you don't really have -- so you won't be controlling two things at once accidentally).  Then you have Girder learn those codes for controlling MC.

If you can find out what device the creator of the MC GML file used you might be able to skip the learn phase.

I just got my Girder/USB-UIRT set up working yesterday so I'll be posting a summary of that experience shortly.
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #35 on: May 03, 2004, 04:43:48 pm »

Yes, it is.  MC10 ships with a config file for the Pronto that has all the IR codes already "learned".  My hope was that these were the same codes that are in the Girder file.  Unfortunately, they are not.  Unless I can find the matched pair, I will need to go through the dozens of commands and teach Girder the event strings to respond to.

Given that MC10 ships with a Pronto file and a Girder file, it would have been nice if the codes were the same.  It would certainly save me a few hours of very tedious work.
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #36 on: May 03, 2004, 04:51:01 pm »

Oh I get it.  The codes in the .CCF file are supposed to match the codes used in the GML file.  That's not working, eh?

I wonder if there's a way to get my Harmony 659 to read the CCF file?
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #37 on: May 03, 2004, 05:01:00 pm »

Yes, the codes not matching are my problem.  Normally, this wouldn't bother me, but MC10 has a LOT of commands.  It would take me a few hours to run through all of them.
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mjcumming

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #38 on: May 03, 2004, 07:41:13 pm »

For those of you that need Girder support, please visit the forum there.  I will be happy to help you out.
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JimH

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #39 on: May 03, 2004, 07:46:00 pm »

Hi Mike,
Maybe you would like to explain what your role with Girder is.  I think people here would like to hear about it.

Jim
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Mysticeti

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #40 on: May 03, 2004, 07:58:57 pm »

godavego, I was searching for Media Center in the Girder forums and found this:

 http://www.girder.nl/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3980&highlight=media%2Acenter

Thought you might want to follow up.
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mjcumming

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #41 on: May 03, 2004, 08:21:39 pm »

Sure Jim,

I am a part owner of Girder and one other well know app (To Be Announced).  The group of us are forming a new company to continue the development of both of these programs.  We are hard at work putting everything together.  Girder 4 development has been re-energized and will address many of the short comings (the UI) of Girder 3.3.  Girder's functionality continues to increase with many new plugins now available for downloading.  If you need any help or want to make suggestions for G4 plus stop by www.girder.nl and post in the forum.

Mike
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bspachman

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #42 on: May 03, 2004, 09:44:07 pm »

Yes, the codes not matching are my problem.  Normally, this wouldn't bother me, but MC10 has a LOT of commands.  It would take me a few hours to run through all of them.
Well....

I'm not an expert in the whole thing, but as the "creator" I do know a couple of things.

The command chain goes something like this:

Pronto CCF IR code->USB-UIRT->Girder Code->Girder command.

When I've seen the problem of the CCF IR code not matching up with the ones pre-programmed into the Girder GML file, it's usually because the USB-UIRT software version doesn't match what I used to create the files initially. It's the Girder USB-UIRT driver that is responsible for translating the CCF IR code into the Girder code, so I'd guess that's where the problem lies.

The other possibility that immediately springs to mind is that loading the "old-style" CCF into a ProntoNG, changes the CCF code in some way.

If you'd like, PM me & we could start by sending me the CCF IR code for a command you see when looking at it in the ProntoNG Editor. I can compare it to what I see in my old editor.

If they match, then we can look at the raw capture from the USB-UIRT girder driver and see if they match.

After that, we might have to punt.... :)

Brad
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #43 on: May 04, 2004, 08:44:08 am »

Brad, thank you for you offer to help.  I will PM you the information when I get home this evening.

Based on your description, I bet I'm not using the same USB-UIRT software that you used to generate the CCF/GML combo.  I'm using the latest USB-UIRT software to get around an issue with Wake/Suspend, and the CCF/GML combo has been around a while.  Regarding importing a CCF into the ProntoNG being the problem, I'm pretty confident that isn't it.  There were reports with the initial versions of ProntoEditNG causing issues with CCF files, but those were supposed to be fixed long ago.  I've imported a bunch of CCF files without a single problem.
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #44 on: May 04, 2004, 09:26:16 pm »

I think I may have found the problem.  It looks like the import didn't work.  This is surprising given that it's worked several other times for me.  Using the same Play/Pause code, I opened the original CCF using Tonto.  The IR code is:

0000 006d 0022 0000 0152 00a9 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 05f0

In my imported PCF, the same IR code is:

0000 006D 0022 0000 0155 00A9 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0039 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0013 0039 0013 00A9

As you can see, the two are different.  This is a bummer.  Now, I'm not sure how to get all these IR codes into my ProntoNG.  Is there a way to generate codes for the NG?  I supposed I could manually copy all the codes from Tonto, but that would really stink.

Has anyone got this to work with a ProntoNG??
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bspachman

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #45 on: May 04, 2004, 10:52:13 pm »

Dave,

Bummer about the CCF IR codes being different. That would seem to be the more difficult problem to solve. I don't know what would cause that. I'm not familiar at all with the ProntoNG hardware & software.

Perhaps the folks in the forums at RemoteCentral can shed some light on it:

http://www.remotecentral.com

Brad
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mjcumming

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #46 on: May 05, 2004, 06:00:48 am »

A quick second thought (without reading the entire thread)... if your remote is send RC5 codes then there are 2 different codes for each button push.
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bspachman

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #47 on: May 05, 2004, 08:59:22 am »

A quick second thought (without reading the entire thread)... if your remote is send RC5 codes then there are 2 different codes for each button push.
True. The IR codes included with the GML/CCF combo are not RC5 codes as best as I know. They should be straight up IR codes.

Brad
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godavego

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Re:Girder explained
« Reply #48 on: May 05, 2004, 12:23:20 pm »

It is my understanding that the IR codes are not RC5.  It's easy to spot the RC5 codes with Girder because the codes flip-flop between two different codes.  That doesn't happen here.  I have the RC5 issue with the GML/CCF combo supplied with TheaterTek.  Rather than make new IR codes, I had Girder learn both codes for each command.

I will check out the Remote Central forums to see if they have any insights into the CCF imports.
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