Working With the Device Database
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VisualArchitect v1.1
CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY. COPYRIGHT, AMX LLC, 2006
Working With the Device Database
Device Database - Overview
VA uses a device database to populate the list of module-supported devices (displayed in the Devices tab
of the Toolbox). The device database is installed as part of the VA installation. This provides support for
several popular devices. However, at some point you will probably want to update the Device Database
to include the particular devices that you want to work with. The device database can be updated via
options in the Device Database Manager dialog.
There are several ways to approach adding devices to the VA Device Database:
You can manually add IR-controlled devices via the IR Capture and Management dialog.
You can manually add non-IR controlled (devices via the Control Strings Definition dialog.
You can download VA-compatible device modules from the InConcert Resource Center (at
www.amx.com).
Notes:
The device database cannot be modified while a Project is open.
Because of the large amount of data contained in the device database, Refresh, Rebuild and
Update operations typically take several minutes to complete. On slower machines, these
operations could take 20-30 minutes or more to complete.
Once the Refresh, Rebuild or Update operation has been started, it cannot be cancelled. Do not
exit forcibly exit the program while a device database operation is in progress.
Modules and IRLs/IRN files stored on media such as CDs cannot be added to the device
database.
Adding Devices To The Device Database
VA uses a Device Database to populate the list of supported devices (displayed in the Devices tab of the
Toolbox).
In order for an IR-controlled device to be available for inclusion in your projects, it must be
represented in the device database with an IR Library (*.IRL) and an IR Metadata (*.XMD)
file. Both files must be present in the Device Database in order for the device to be listed in
the Devices tab of the Toolbox.
In order for a non-IR (Ethernet, Modem, Serial or TCP/IP) -controlled device to be available
for inclusion in your projects, it must be represented in the device database with a Control
Strings Definition (*.CSD) file. This file must be present in the Device Database in order for
the device to be listed in the Devices tab of the Toolbox.
There are several ways to approach adding new devices to the database:
For IR-Controlled Devices
Use the IR Capture and Management dialog to capture IR functions from a device's remote
controller (using an AMX IRIS IR Capture Unit), and save the resulting IR Library (*.IRL)
and metadata (*.XMD) files to a directory included in the Search Paths for the Device
Database.
See Manually Adding IR Devices to the Device Database for details.