Logitech Harmony Universal Remote Control mapping for Boxee

[smeranda]

I am using Logitech Harmony 880 with:
Media Center PC > Microsoft > MCE Remote
Media Center PC > Microsoft > MCE Keyboard
It's working with success!

Are you running on a PC, or will this work with Linux/OSX?

[Thunderscreech]

I got this working and wish to share my steps. First, I added the Microsoft MCE Remote via Computers>Media Centers screen for 'Add Devices' in the Logitech interface.

It asked me about my MCE Remote but I skipped that and it seemed to take. I then modified the button mapping from the Activities editor screen so that the arrows on the Harmony mapped to Up/Down/Right/Left arrows and 'Ok' mapped to 'Enter'. I set 'Exit' to be 'Escape', SkipNext to be 'Right Arrow' so it skips forward 30 seconds, SkipBack to SmallStepBack so it goes back 7 seconds (this is roughly equivalent to what my Replay TV does, and is handy for 'Whoa, what did he say?' moments).

I'm still tweaking the settings, but it's working quite well so far.

[johlag]

I've had some success using the MCE Remote setting in the Logitech software, but I've found that it has some delays and odd behaviors where the arrow keys are concerned, making it a real dog to use.

It won't do "press and hold" at all, so scrolling through long lists is extremely tedious. I also had to modify the delay times in the Logitech software, since they were insisting by default to wait 1000ms (a whole second) between presses.

Is there another generic computer keyboard template that I could give the Harmony remote? I'd like to just map Boxee's keyboard shortcut keys to buttons on the Harmony, but I'm yet to find a template that has the correct response in actual use. Even the MCE Keyboard setting had a similar delay.

[darcilicious]

It's not free but I have had zero issues with Intelliremote server running on Windows. Page Up/Down even work (mapped to Channel Up/Down by default).

I also have a number of other programs that make use of Intellirmote on my HTPC via the Logitech and can't imagine doing without it, so it was totally worth the purchase price ($24).

(Not associated with Melloware in any way, just a very happy customer)

P.S. forgot to mention, it's very easy to locally customize any function (very intuitive Windows GUI).

[leeep]

Based on this post below, I set up my Harmony 880 in a similar fashion. To extend the capability a bit further, I found out there is an additional set of keypress combinations available under the profile "Microsoft MCE Keyboard SE".

Using this profile, in addition to my base remote (Anyware GP-IR02BK) and the "Microsoft MCE Keyboard" profiles, I assigned "ctrl-shift-1" in windows as a keyboard shortcut to launch the Boxee app... using this same keycode on the MCE Keyboard SE profile allows mapping of a soft button on the Harmony to launch boxee directly from the desktop. Basically, the key here is that the IR receiver for the Anyware GP-IR02BK accepts the exact same IR codes as the MS MCE keyboards.

So basically what happens is I use a combination of the 3 mapping profiles to get direct button functionality (for things like play/rewind) as well as keyboard shortcuts (e.g. "H" key mapped to "Guide" on the 880 brings me back to boxee main menu, "S" key mapped to a "Suspend" soft button allows me to exit boxee, "ctrl-shift-1" allows a relaunch of boxee app).

For now, this appears to be the most flexible setup so far. For more flexibility, you can edit the keyboard mappings in the following file as per the XBMC codes to obtain other functionality not defined by default for Boxee (such as DVD Menu access when loading .iso images) as per this post: http://forum.melloware.com/viewtopic...&t=8222#p19252

edits to local file here:
C:\Program Files\Boxee\system\keymaps\keyboard.xml

reference for allowed XMBC mappings here: http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Keymap.xml

Make backups and be careful while editing!

I am using Logitech Harmony 880 with:
Media Center PC > Microsoft > MCE Remote
Media Center PC > Microsoft > MCE Keyboard
It's working with success!

GLOBAL
Up Arrow = Up
Down Arrow = Down
Left Arrow = Left & Previous
Right Arrow = Right & Next
Escape & Backspace = Back - Boxee Main Menu
- = Volume Down
+ = Volume Up
\ (Backslash) = Window/Fullscreen Toggle
S = Boxee Exit Menu
H = Boxee Home
Enter = Select
 MAIN SCREEN
Shift + T = TV Shows
Shift + P =  Photos
Shift + A =  Apps
Shift + F =  Files
Shift + M =  Music / Movies
 PHOTOS
Shift + Letter =  Album Name Toggle
0-9 = Zoom Magnification
-  = Zoom Out
+ = Zoom In
R = Rotate
P = Play
Enter = Menu
X = Exit Selected Picture
Space Bar = Play / Pause Toggle
 MUSIC
Shift + Letter =  Album Name Toggle
Enter = Menu
I = Information & Menu
P = Play / Pause Song
L = Visualization FPS Information
X = Exit Selected Song
V = View Toggle
Space Bar = Play / Pause Toggle
 MOVIES
Shift + Letter =  Movie Name Toggle
Enter = Menu
Y & I = Detailed Movie Information
P = Play / Pause Movie
[ = Rewind
] = Forward
Z = Video Information
X = Exit Selected Movie
C = Movie Information
Space Bar = Play / Pause Toggle
Enter = Menu
 TV SHOWS
Shift + Letter =  TV Show Name Toggle
Y & I = Detailed Video Information
P = Play / Pause Video
[ = Rewind
] = Forward
Z = Video Information
X = Exit Selected Movie
C = Video Information
Space Bar = Play / Pause Toggle
 APPS
Shift + Letter =  App Name Toggle
P = Play / Pause
L = Visualization FPS Information
X = Exit Selected App
V = View Toggle
> = Next In Queue
 FILES
Shift + Letter =  Share/Folder/File Name Toggle

[dglenn9000]

Can you program this remote to also open programs/applications on your computer with the touch of a button?

[ChrisJScott]

Can anybody explain why the Boxee devs haven't taken the time to work with Logitech to get this worked out? Perhaps they don't realize what a significant barrier to entry this is? Many people who are adventurous enough to set up a homebrew media server also have many other devices and would, in all likelihood, use a Logitech Harmony remote to control it all.

Not being able to use Boxee w/ the Logitech makes it useless - it defeats the whole purpose of having a single remote. When given the choice between sticking w/ Boxee and using another remote to do it or going back to Plex so that their single remote option still works flawlessly, I have a hard time believing that I'm the only one who picks option #2.

C'mon guys - it can't be THAT hard to get this fixed.

[unisonband]

To be blunt, this issue is one of the biggest reason's why boxee is not my preferred media centers. The Apple Remote sucks when compared to the Harmony with Plex or XBMC...

[gmd024]

Can anybody explain why the Boxee devs haven't taken the time to work with Logitech to get this worked out? Perhaps they don't realize what a significant barrier to entry this is? Many people who are adventurous enough to set up a homebrew media server also have many other devices and would, in all likelihood, use a Logitech Harmony remote to control it all.

Not being able to use Boxee w/ the Logitech makes it useless - it defeats the whole purpose of having a single remote. When given the choice between sticking w/ Boxee and using another remote to do it or going back to Plex so that their single remote option still works flawlessly, I have a hard time believing that I'm the only one who picks option #2.

C'mon guys - it can't be THAT hard to get this fixed.

Maybe Logitechs' hands are tied by Google (Google TV)

[ChrisJScott]

"Maybe Logitechs' hands are tied by Google (Google TV)"

I'd buy that if it wasn't for the fact that Logitech already has control mappings for XBMC and Plex...