20
Keep in mind that the goal of the STC-1 is
simplification. Try not to put too many functions on
each page.
To program the STC-1 most efficiently, it is useful to
make basic templates of common types of controls, i.e.,
CD, Laser, VCR, transport controls, volume controls,
alpha-numeric keypads, etc. These templates can then
be copied and modified for specific devices and/or
installations. Keeping similar types of controls looking
and feeling similar on the STC-1 viewscreen will reduce
the learning curve.
Develop a convention for your button styles. For
example, you may wish to use: Radius buttons for direct
commands like surround sound modes, Oblong buttons
for toggling functions like Power, and 3D buttons for
page flips.
Consider creating a basic page that contains only
Volume and Mute controls as well as an
EXIT
button.
Assign the
EXIT
button to the Main Menu page. You
can now copy this page as the basic template for all the
rest of your pages, since it is probably a good idea for
every page to have Volume and Mute functions.
The
EXIT
button is critical; without it, the page would be
a dead end, since once entered, there is no way out
(other than to turn the unit off, then on, using the
ON/OFF
switch on the bottom). Remember that
although the
COPY PAGE
function will not copy the IR
commands, it will copy the Page Assignment; in this
way there will always be an
EXIT
button on every page
derived from the basic page.
You can also copy this basic page to create a template
for other templates, such as Transport and Keypad
pages, which can be used for multiple products.
Try designing a Transport page; pages with
PLAY,
SCAN, SKIP, STOP,
and so on are useful for
CD
and
LD
players,
VCRs,
etc. Not only will this speed up the
programming, but also it will make the unit simpler to
operate if all the machines look and feel the same.
6.0
PROGRAMMING
HINTS
A Keypad page will also have many applications for TVs,
cable boxes, disc players, and so on.
You may also find it useful to create a hidden page that
will not be seen by the end user. This page will contain
IR codes needed for macros but not needed for general
operation. When you program these types of buttons,
make sure to label the buttons in a way that will make
sense when you see its abbreviated name on the Macro
Step. The reason for this is that the Macro Step will use
the first line of text on the button, up to eight characters
long. For example, on the basic component pages, there
will often be a button for power. If you write a macro that
powers on several components, in the Macro Editor all of
the steps for this will say
POWER;
this may be confusing
should you need to edit the macro. If you duplicate these
power-on commands on another page that the user
does not see, you can label them more completely:
i.e.,
CDPOWER, LDPOWER, TVPOWER,
etc.
The PC Interface program contains some basic
templates (keypads, transport controls, etc.) that can be
downloaded and modified. You can also build your own
library of pages to be downloaded the next time you use
the same product. The interface library will save the
page graphics and IR codes.
VOLUME
PAUSE
PWR
MAIN
MENU
MUTE
P L AY
>
MORE
CONTROLS
L O A D / E J E C T
SCAN
SCAN
S K I P
S K I P
LIGHT 3
TUNR PWR
CD PLAY
LD PLAY
VCR PWR
D I M L I T E
B R I T E LT
H I D D E N PA G E
V C R P W R
T V P W R
C P - 3 P W R
L I G H T 1
L I G H T 2
