WIP Server WMC Community Keymap Project for Harmony Remotes
#1
The goal of this project is to create a better user experience for navigating the PVR functions of XBMC, while using a harmony programmable remote, with a hat tip towards our WMC backgrounds. We should (in my opinion) try to preserve the existing XBMC keymap, meaning our added features shouldn't break the standard XBMC controls. The caveat to this, obviously, is where we are remapping certain PVR button presses to accomplish a different task on a certain PVR menu.

So far, two files have been created. A keyboard.xml file for Windows users, and a remote.xml file for OpenELEC/XBMCbuntu users. Editing the keyboard.xml is preferable since it allows the use of more keys to be programmed enabling more customization. However, OpenELEC/XBMCbuntu doesn't recognize the MCE Keyboard as a device and therefore, keyboard commands cannot be sent to an OpenELEC/XBMCbuntu box from a Harmony remote using an RC6 IR reciever (or if it can I haven't figured it out yet). These files will need to be placed in:

%appdata%\XBMC\userdata\keymap\
for windows users (keyboard.xml is the only file that needs to be copied); and

/storage/.xbmc/userdata/keymap/
for OpenElec users (remote.xml is the only file that needs to be copied).

/.xbmc/userdata/keymap/
for XBMCbuntu users (remote.xml is the only file that needs to be copied).

If you would like to try these files for other OS's check the wiki to determine where to put your custom keymaps.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Keymap

If you already have custom edits to your keyboard.xml or remote.xml files...BACK THEM UP!!!!

You’ll need to restart XBMC after the file is placed in the correct directory before it will take effect.

In addition to the above files, you'll need to map certain keys to your harmony remote to enable the correct XBMC function gets sent.

What's in version 1.0 for the keyboard.xml?
• Maps XBMC "record" function to keyboard key "g". Enables one touch recording from XBMC EPG (Gotham only feature)
• Maps XBMC "fullscreen" function to keyboard key "e" within <mypvr> tag. Enables toggling of EPG while watching live TV and recorded TV only.
• Enables what I'll refer to as the "Scarecrow420 channel surfing changes" (Gotham only feature) described in this post: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1638147


What's in version 1.0 for the remote.xml?
• Maps XBMC "record" function to remote key "record". Enables one touch recording from XBMC EPG (Gotham only feature)
• Maps XBMC "context menu" function to remote key "menu".
• Maps XBMC "electronic program guide (EPG)" to remote key "guide".
• Maps XBMC "fullscreen" function to remote key "guide" within <mypvr> tag. Enables toggling of EPG while watching live TV and recorded TV only.
• Enables what I'll refer to as the "Scarecrow420 channel surfing changes" (Gotham only feature) described in this post: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1638147

Notes:
You can map these new functions to any buttons you'd like on your programmable remote. However, a recommended Harmony keymap is below.

All edits to the default keyboard.xml are commented out in the linked file. Windows users will need to remove the comment tags:
Code:
<!--
-->
for each function you'd like to implement. Because you can only use each tag in the XML file once, I had to spread out the changes in the file into 4 parts. I tried to make it fairly obvious where the changes occurred. Look for sections in the file that look like this:
Code:
***************************************
Begin SWMC community edits section #1
***************************************


Because the remote.xml file edits involved remapping default XBMC key names, all of the edits are implemented and the file is "plug-n-play". No comment tag removal is necessary.

For Windows users, to send combination keyboard presses with a Harmony remote you’ll need to make sure you've added the MCE SE Keyboard to your profile, as it provides combo keypresses (such as ctrl+x) via the regular dropdown menu when you customize your buttons. Adding a button sequence will not work unless you are running a hotkey program. This isn't needed for the current keyboard.xml file but if you have a lot of custom edits you may start to run out of single keyboard keys.

Windows
Keyboard.xml
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ppyee29dpk5879l/keyboard.xml
Recommended Harmony Keymap (buttons not listed should all be mapped to their base MCE remote function)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8s4j8mlocwdqs7k/Slide1.JPG
Keymap matrix (shows the path from Harmony button press to XBMC function)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ttnaphlv6u7dxp/Slide2.JPG


OpenELEC/XBMCbuntu
Remote.xml
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ntgza4vtkqiarlx/remote.xml
No recommended Harmony Keymap necessary. All buttons should be mapped to their base MCE remote function.
Keymap matrix (shows the path from Harmony button press to XBMC function)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kvjs2z0ffrwum6h/keymap.jpg

To request new features please post in this thread.
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#2
I just want to say thanks Jonno, very well done.
Windows Media Center PVR addon (pvr.wmc) and server backend (ServerWMC)
http://bit.ly/serverwmc
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#3
Can I ask what is probably a really dumb question? Is Gotham required for this keymap?

My log is saying - 22:01:40 T:9224 ERROR: Keymapping error: no such action 'record' defined.

Is 'record' a Gotham concept, or have I missed a really basic step somewhere?
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#4
Yes it's gotham only that added the context sensitive record command that works for Epg entries as well as live TV instant record. In frodo you can use a different command which is something like playercontrol.record but it doesn't work on Epg grid entries (records the live channel playing in the background instead)
pvr.wmc TV addon and ServerWMC Backend Development Team
http://bit.ly/ServerWMC
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#5
Thanks for pointing that out. I edited the OP to note that the record function is a Gotham only feature.
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#6
While you're at it, I believe the next/prev channel group commands (used in my channelosd mappings you included) are gotham only as well
pvr.wmc TV addon and ServerWMC Backend Development Team
http://bit.ly/ServerWMC
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#7
On this subject, is there any way to jump the EPG 24 hours? Couldn't figure out any action for it.

scott s.
.
maintainer of skin  Aeon MQ5 mods for post-Gotham Kodi releases:
Matrix see: Aeon MQ5 Mod Matrix release thread
Nexus see: Aeon MQ5 Mod Nexus release thread
Aeon MQ 5 skin and addon repo 11.1.0
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#8
(2014-03-22, 01:11)scarecrow420 Wrote: While you're at it, I believe the next/prev channel group commands (used in my channelosd mappings you included) are gotham only as well

Done


Quote:On this subject, is there any way to jump the EPG 24 hours? Couldn't figure out any action for it.

scott s.

Haven't seen anything for it either.
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#9
edited after testing with XBMCbuntu confirms that remote.xml works as-is with XBMCbuntu. (It probably works with the regular Linux install of XBMC too)
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#10
joined just to say thanks for this guide! Helped so much!
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#11
Hi,

Since I upgraded to Gotham, my "menu" button (on my harmony one remote) does not longer work. It worked with previous versions. In the keyboard.xml file, the command is still present: <menu>ContextMenu</menu>.
Is this normal, or is something wrong with my config?
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#12
What OS are you using?
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#13
on my XBMCbuntu setup I must be dining something wrong because the only extra command that work are CH+ and CH- on mcd remote in LIVE now open OSD open channels.

However when I removed the line record and the line guide under <global> <remote> it worked but then they these commands are messed everywhere else in XBMC any ideas?
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#14
Just ran across this. I have been trying to figure out how to send an ALT+F4 to close my browser when using the Netflixbmc plugin in XBMCbuntu. Will this accomplish that? Never could figure out how to get the MCE stuff on the harmony to register in XBMCbuntu.
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#15
Hey all. I loved using this to change channels in Gotham. However, after switching to Kodi and reapplying the updates, channel up/down no longer pops up the OSD guide. It just changes the channels.

Has the code changed for Kodi?
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Server WMC Community Keymap Project for Harmony Remotes1