Getting learned signals from XML and LRZ files

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:24 pm

Cool, very nice data.

Isn't it

Is this logfile automatically created each session?
Where is you logfile located?
Is it called WebSlingPlayer.txt, or was that a name you created for us?

Yes, although it is appended to each time you use the Web-based Slingplayer. I just deleted it before I started the procedure to make the file size manageable. Where it is held depends on your Operating system. For example, in Vista it is in the C:\Users\..<User>..\AppData\Roaming\Sling Media\WebSlingPlayer\Remote
\ folder. And yes, that is the correct name.

What is the processes for obtaining the IRz file?
How do you load it to your account?

When you use the http://betaremotes.com site (not something you can do as you don't have a Slingbox, so it won't let you get past the opening screen where it discovers your box(es)) you get options to Create/Edit/Import/Export/Delete a remote. The user used the Create option to build a remote (although in this case he learnt only 6 buttons) then the Export option to produce the lrz file. That was sent to me and I used the Import option to try and get it onto my Slingbox (which it failed to do but still created the log file).

You REALLY ought to get yourself a Slingbox, think of all the fun you could have

Post by **vickyg2003** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:02 pm

Alan I have basic cable, and most of the places I go I have better TV and no internet, so I don't think a slingbox is in my future.

Are you going to update your slingbox-how-to document to reflect this beta remote technology. (I'm re-writing my help document, and misery loves company

)

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:14 pm

I'm not actually sure it's relevant to anyone other than us 'geeks'. Because if you can use the betaremotes site to create a fully working remote then you don't need to go through the whole Custom Remote/learning bit.

At this stage the ONLY use I can see for this is for those devices which are:

a. Unsupported by SlingMedia
b. Unsupported by Logitech
c. Do not give a 100% solution with betaremotes.com.

So based on past experience we are talking maybe 2-3 a year.

So it's been more of an intellectual exercise that a really practical solution

Al

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:11 pm

The Robman wrote:Could you post some samples of the files in question? It might be possible to automate the process a little.

I've thrown together a crude Visual Basic program that takes the text file and puts each of the Command codes into the Clipboard one at a time so they can be pasted into IR.EXE.

Very basic, no error checking, but it works. Or were you thinking of actually building something into the standard tools ?

It's at https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=8719 with a test text file. I don't have my VB book handy and couldn't remember how to implement a file picker so at this stage you have to put the text file into the root folder at C:\. Tap 'Start' and the first one shows, with the code pasted into the clipboard. 'Next' steps through each command.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:00 pm

alanrichey wrote:Sure. My logfile is at https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=8712

I just went to look at the file and I'm getting a "file not found" message.

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:28 pm

Sorry, should have been https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=8719

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:28 pm

And a much better version there now, includes filepicker and some error trapping.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:55 pm

OK, I'm trying to use the program now, but the only file it sees when I navigate to the folder is the WebSlingPlayer.txt folder that came with it in the zip, it won't open the LRZ file. So I was correct that the program just looks at log files, it doesn't look at LRZ files. So I'm still curious what you're doing with the LRZ file, is this the thing that you try to load into your SlingPlayer so that it rejects, so you can then look at the log? If that's the case, could you post a copy of the log file please.

So, back to the program, once I've selected the file, what do I do next? And what's a UE1 command?

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:05 pm

OK, I covered it earlier but here it is again:

"It turned out you cannot get the details directly from the LRZ file, but if you try and import that file to another Slingbox, although it does not appear to go in (which is what confused me) if you subsequently check the log file that is created on the PC while it trying to import, it actually gives you the UEI learn for each button. Dropping that into IR.EXE gave us the the details we need to put into RM."

So the full procedure is:

1. Delete the WebSlingPlayer.txt file (Simply to make it smaller)
2. Run http://betaremotes.com
3. Select a Slingbox
4. Try and import an LRZ file
5. Count to 10

6. Close down the webpage
7. Open up WebSlingPlayer.txt
8. Delete everything before the definitions start (as in the example)
9. Run my VB program and IR.EXE
10. Tap Start/Next on my program and for each button paste the code into 'Learned Signals' on IR.EXE
11. IR.EXE then gives us the Protocol/Device.OBC.

Make sense ?

eferz · Post by **eferz** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:27 pm

The Robman wrote:Regarding the XML files, I'm referring to this thread by "eferz":
https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12334

He posts the XML files in the following post:
https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewt ... 8678#p88678

The .xml files are stored on one of Sling's webservers. They are created while learning the remotes with the Slingbox through the betaremote.slingbox.com web application. At the end of the learning process the Slingbox rereads the file to create its own L9999 file.

The url pattern where the xml file is as follows: https://secure.sling.com/irservices/res ... {guid}.xml

You can get the {guid} information from the web slingplayer log file.

For example:

00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : <learntremote
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : guid="29a614a1-b5e0-4158-a295-20df7cc15755"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : remoteName="lexuz"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : deviceType="8"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : brandName="lexuz"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : modelName="f36"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : dataFormatType="UEI"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : lrzFormatVersion="1"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : irBlasterVersion="2"
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : >
00:12:27.603 00001BD4 : <learntremotekeys size="26">

Would be
https://secure.sling.com/irservices/res ... c15755.xml

in my opinion it is much easier to read and more consistent then the webslingplayer logfile.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:22 pm

alanrichey wrote:Make sense ?

Sure, but to save me having to sign up with Sling, etc and then load this LRZ file, just so I can see the log file that you've already created, could you please load a copy of your log file for me to look at. My goal is to compare the data in the log with the data in the LRZ file with the hope of revealing how we can use LRZ files directly, without needing to create a log file.

Also, what does UE1 mean?

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:32 pm

The Robman wrote:could you please load a copy of your log file for me to look at. My goal is to compare the data in the log with the data in the LRZ file with the hope of revealing how we can use LRZ files directly, without needing to create a log file.

https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=8726

The Robman wrote:Also, what does UE1 mean?

No idea, must have just picked it up by osmosis

eferz · Post by **eferz** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:57 pm

Still say the xml file is easier to read than the webslingplayer log

00:00:18.767 00001528 : guid="c2643be5-1bd3-41ae-a31e-379b7daa9710"

https://secure.sling.com/irservices/rest/v1/learntremote/c2643be5-1bd3-41ae-a31e-379b7daa9710

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9880/xmlb.jpg

Though, Alan's program makes it easier to copy from the logfile and paste into IR.exe. Perhaps Alan could upgrade his visual basic program to be able to read from either source.

alanrichey · Post by **alanrichey** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:06 pm

I agree it is easier to read, but when it comes to interpreting the Command=" " lines by using my tool I completely skip any intermediate steps and can operate directly on the original file. Much quicker and certainly easier for me

But if anyone wants the source file......

eferz · Post by **eferz** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:59 pm

alanrichey wrote:I agree it is easier to read, but when it comes to interpreting the Command=" " lines by using my tool I completely skip any intermediate steps and can operate directly on the original file. Much quicker and certainly easier for me

But if anyone wants the source file......

Sure, post it or email it. The ability to "translate" the command line from an XML file should less difficult than it is with the log file since it woudln't have to worry about erroneous EOL or EOF terminators.

My biggest hurdle will probably be getting a VB compiler and brushing up on not using VB in over 15 years.

Ooo... here's an idea! How about adding a "learned" tab for the Slingbox remotes within the IR.exe that had the ability to import .XML files. Then it would be easier for us to download the file then importing into IR.exe. Instead of copying and pasting each one. Who wrote IR.exe?