Sage MC

[dgeezer]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Yes. PC client STVs and Imports need to be installed on the Client PC. MVP and HD Extender use the server. Once installed on the server you still need to choose the STV or Import the import on the MVP or HD Extender at least once. After that pay attention to the number after the STV. That will be numbered based on the number of imports you do.

Gerry

I get an error on my client pc when I select the sage_mc.xml.

I get a black screen that says: Unable to load...
Reverting to default...

or something along those lines. If I click OK on my mce remote it does go to a menu which sort of works, but it is white letters on a black background. However, I can't get any setup menus from this screen. Thanks, to Brent's write-up I did backup my full sage directory and was able to revert to my original setup to keep the family happy.

I have reinstalled the client software, java 1.6 and re-imported the sagemc zip file. Any ideas?

SageMC runs fine on my server PC. This interface, especially the music screens and the recent/upcoming recordings view ( and the HD extender ) is what finally convinced me to make the jump to Sage from GBpvr.

[gplasky]

You need the full download of SageMC, not just the update STV. If you did get the full download try it again and when you get the funky menu right click on the main menu and choose File-Load other menu file and browse down until you find sagemc_menu.xml. You probably had Dynamic Menus loaded from the default STV which uses a different menu file.

Gerry

[dgeezer]

Originally Posted by gplasky

You need the full download of SageMC, not just the update STV.

Gerry

Thanks

I just checked my USB thumb drive and I had downloaded the update instead of the full install.

Hopefully this will mean that this is an easy fix.

[dgeezer]

That was it. Thanks again.

The only weird thing was that the main menu had buttons labeled custom menu 1, custom menu2 and 3. It had no setup menu listed. I had to go into the sageclient config file and set all 5 custom menu lines to false. Then when I restarted SageTV they were gone and the settings menu was there. I was able to change themes etc. with no problems.

[gilded07]

The first screen menu options aren't showing now on the server only...the "My <TV, Videos, Pictures, Music>" options are invisible. The extenders and PC placeshifter appear to be fine. I did two things recently, one or both of which are probably to blame:

1. I went back and tried to import the sagetv3.xml over the sagetvMC_169.xml file on my placeshifter PC client in an attempt to go back to the standard UI on my client PC. However, the sagetvMC_169.xml is still showing as the current STV file under settings on the PC client AND the SageMC UI is still loading on the PC client. No hard done on the PC client but I wasn't able to go back to the standard UI.

2. The other thing I did <incorrectly, I believe> is when extracting http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/down...do=file&id=181

I loaded it into the sagetv/sagetv folder rather than just the sagetv/ folder. Could this have caused my text icons to disappear?

I don't normally have a monitor attached to the server but I'm trying to update SageMC and download some other customizations so controlling the SageMC UI via a keyboard is necessary on my server right now.

thanx.

[inseattle]

I installed the latest version of SageMC and I just love it. I have been using the default stv since upgrading to 6.3 in preparation for the HD extender but before that, I used SageMC. I kinda liked the default STV for a while because it seemed slicker that what I had seen before. I particularly liked the animations and folder based music playback screens. But it felt slow and complicated.

I love the flexibility of the latest SageMC. I have already customized my main screen. Thanks so much Dirk and Mike. Also, a big thanks to Brent for documenting the process.

Now on to my question. I apologize if this has been asked before. Is there a way to tell SageMC to go to the My TV screen without having to do that from the main menu screen ? I was hoping to program a button on my remote to do that. Is there a Windows message perhaps ? I suppose I could send a message for it to go to the main screen and then a keystroke for My TV.

Not to sound ungrateful, but I also have a feature request ;-) Are there plans to allow configuration of the new "recently recorded" and "upcoming recordings" widgets on the main screen ? It would be nice to be able to specify a list depth for the recently recorded list. In addition, it would be nice to be able to configure it's display size (in terms of number of items) on the screen so that you can see the last 5 recording all at once.

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by inseattle

Now on to my question. I apologize if this has been asked before. Is there a way to tell SageMC to go to the My TV screen without having to do that from the main menu screen ? I was hoping to program a button on my remote to do that. Is there a Windows message perhaps ? I suppose I could send a message for it to go to the main screen and then a keystroke for My TV.

AFAIK, there isn't a dedicated key to jump to 'My TV', but you could configure the context sensitive 'Home' command to jump to 'My TV'. Then it would take hitting the 'Home' button twice from anywhere in the UI to jump to the 'My TV' screen.

Not to sound ungrateful, but I also have a feature request ;-) Are there plans to allow configuration of the new "recently recorded" and "upcoming recordings" widgets on the main screen ? It would be nice to be able to specify a list depth for the recently recorded list. In addition, it would be nice to be able to configure it's display size (in terms of number of items) on the screen so that you can see the last 5 recording all at once.

I'll see what I can do.

Aloha,
Mike

[TechBill]

Originally Posted by gilded07

Is there a users' guide for SageMC? Navigating with the keyboard via the placeshifter client is proving more difficult than the standard UI.

I'm watching live TV. I bring up the guide, in the background and I can't get back to live TV. I've tried right click, left click, random control and alt key board buttons and I finally had to toggle out of full screen and exit out and restart. Should it be this difficult to back to live TV, or to anywhere from the guide using the keyboard?

Thanx.

Try the Home key

Bill

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

I'll see what I can do.

Hi Mike! is it possible to assign icons to them too?

[bialio]

Originally Posted by gilded07

The first screen menu options aren't showing now on the server only...the "My <TV, Videos, Pictures, Music>" options are invisible. The extenders and PC placeshifter appear to be fine. I did two things recently, one or both of which are probably to blame:

1. I went back and tried to import the sagetv3.xml over the sagetvMC_169.xml file on my placeshifter PC client in an attempt to go back to the standard UI on my client PC. However, the sagetvMC_169.xml is still showing as the current STV file under settings on the PC client AND the SageMC UI is still loading on the PC client. No hard done on the PC client but I wasn't able to go back to the standard UI.

This is the step that messed you up. If you want to switch back to the default STV (SageTV3.xml) - you need to select the "Load STV" option. Importing is for STVi files - which are designed to supplement an STV.

FYI - you should be a little more clear in what you call things, as it can be confusing reading your questions. From the sounds of things you don't have a Client PC (ie a PC running the SageTV Client software) - you have a PC running Placeshifter. The two are totally different, so if you get confusing answers that is why!

2. The other thing I did <incorrectly, I believe> is when extracting http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/down...do=file&id=181

I loaded it into the sagetv/sagetv folder rather than just the sagetv/ folder. Could this have caused my text icons to disappear?

The SageTV/SageTV folder is the correct place.

btl.

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by bialio

This is the step that messed you up. If you want to switch back to the default STV (SageTV3.xml) - you need to select the "Load STV" option. Importing is for STVi files - which are designed to supplement an STV.



FYI - you should be a little more clear in what you call things, as it can be confusing reading your questions. From the sounds of things you don't have a Client PC (ie a PC running the SageTV Client software) - you have a PC running Placeshifter. The two are totally different, so if you get confusing answers that is why!


The SageTV/SageTV folder is the correct place.

btl.

Perfect. I'm back to the standard UI on my placeshifter client. However, I restarted Sage on the server and I still can't see the text icons on the server screen. When I move the mouse over where the 'My Videos' text menu option should be I see the handheld camcorder icon to the right, same w/ the others. Any idea why I can no longer see the text options on the screen?

Client - Sorry and thanx for the advice. As a former BTV user, the 'client' references in Sage still confuse me. I don't know anything about the Sage client software. I just have a PC networked to the Sage server and the PC is running placeshifter. I use it occasionally to watch TV while I work on my laptop.

[bialio]

When you move the mouse does the highlight follow the mouse around?

I'd reinstall SageMC on the server - start by just trying to load the original STV file (SageMC_169.xml) - and if that doesn't work then stop the sage service reinstall SageMC (ie unzip the whole thing again)

btl.

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by bialio

When you move the mouse does the highlight follow the mouse around?

I'd reinstall SageMC on the server - start by just trying to load the original STV file (SageMC_169.xml) - and if that doesn't work then stop the sage service reinstall SageMC (ie unzip the whole thing again)

btl.

I was able to blindly find the menu options to re-load sageMC_169.xml and all worked again. Except...

I must have loaded Toolbar For SageMC v1.1 (10/3/2007) (1,012.3 KB) into the wrong directly because all I get now when I start Sage is a blank screen w/ the mouse arrow on it. I've restarted it a couple of times and nothing but the blank screen.

I guess I start over?

[MeInMaui]

Look for sagetv.properties in your ...\SageTV folder on your server. Open it in a text editor and locate where the STV file is defined (a few lines down from the top). Make sure the file name listed is SageMC_169.xml. If it is something else, change it, save the file and start SageTV.

(Also, if you want to change to the default STV, then change the file name to SageTV3.xml.)

Once you have a working SageMC UI, then you can try to import any plugins, such as the toolbar. Make sure you do this via 'Import STVi' in the SageMC Settings screen.

Aloha,
Mike

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

Look for sagetv.properties in your ...\SageTV folder on your server. Open it in a text editor and locate where the STV file is defined (a few lines down from the top). Make sure the file name listed is SageMC_169.xml. If it is something else, change it, save the file and start SageTV.

(Also, if you want to change to the default STV, then change the file name to SageTV3.xml.)

Once you have a working SageMC UI, then you can try to import any plugins, such as the toolbar. Make sure you do this via 'Import STVi' in the SageMC Settings screen.

Aloha,
Mike

Is this the line you're referring to?

STV=C\:\\Program Files\\SageTV\\SageTV\\STVs\\SageTV3\\Toolbar_SageMC_v6.3.4+.xml

Should I change the "Toolbar_SageMC_v6.3.4+.xml" to "SageMC_169.xml"?

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by gilded07

Is this the line you're referring to?

STV=C\:\\Program Files\\SageTV\\SageTV\\STVs\\SageTV3\\Toolbar_SageMC_v6.3.4+.xml

Should I change the "Toolbar_SageMC_v6.3.4+.xml" to "SageMC_169.xml"?

Yes. Definitely.

The toolbar file is an import. It does not contain the SageMC (or any) UI. You must load SageMC_169.xml. Then from within the SageMC UI, you import the toolbar plugin (or any other SageMC plugin) using the 'Import STVi' button in the Settings screen. Note that only plugins/imports that specificly state that they are sageMC compatible should be imported into SageMC. Attempting to import a plugin designed for the default STV can do very bad things. That is why all SageMC imports have an .xml extension instead of the .STVi that is used for the default STV.

Oh, and just for clarity:

STV refers to a complete user interface (UI), such as the default UI, SageMC, Meekel, etc.
STVi refers only to plugins/imports, which must be imported into an existing STV.

All STV and STVi files for SageMC have an .xml extension. Hope that helps a bit.

Aloha,
Mike

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

Yes. Definitely.

The toolbar file is an import. It does not contain the SageMC (or any) UI. You must load SageMC_169.xml. Then from within the SageMC UI, you import the toolbar plugin (or any other SageMC plugin) using the 'Import STVi' button in the Settings screen. Note that only plugins/imports that specificly state that they are sageMC compatible should be imported into SageMC. Attempting to import a plugin designed for the default STV can do very bad things. That is why all SageMC imports have an .xml extension instead of the .STVi that is used for the default STV.

Oh, and just for clarity:

STV refers to a complete user interface (UI), such as the default UI, SageMC, Meekel, etc.
STVi refers only to plugins/imports, which must be imported into an existing STV.

All STV and STVi files for SageMC have an .xml extension. Hope that helps a bit.

Aloha,
Mike

All seems to working again and I have the tool bar imported and working on the server monitor. I checked one of the extenders and its working fine.

My remedial questions probably take up a lot of your time but as a recent Sage convert, I can't thank you enough!

And, I've been meaning to look up what STV and STVi mean and what the differences are so your descriptions are helpful & appreciated.

[gilded07]

All of a sudden my comskip isn't working.

I have comskip monitor from here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/down...do=file&id=138

I have comskip playback from here:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/down...do=file&id=154

Does installing SageMC_169.xml overwrite my comskip functionality?

It's worked fine w/ the stnd UI. I'm addicted to comskip. Any help?

[MeInMaui]

Comskip playback support is built into SageMC. You should not import the comskip plugin. It will probably do very bad things.

Try loading your original SageMC_169.xml file and see if comskip playback works with that.

If you are trying to do this from the default STV, then load the original SageTV3.xml file and then import the comskip playback plugin. That should be all that's necessary.

If you are going back to the default STV and expecting a previously imported plugin to be there, keep in mind that when you do an import it creates a new copy of the STV file so the original is not touched. For example, if you import one plugin into the default STV, the new STV with the import included will have SageTV3-1.xml as its filename. You have to make sure when you reload the STV that you pick the correct one. HTH

Aloha,
Mike

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

Comskip playback support is built into SageMC. You should not import the comskip plugin. It will probably do very bad things.

Try loading your original SageMC_169.xml file and see if comskip playback works with that.

If you are trying to do this from the default STV, then load the original SageTV3.xml file and then import the comskip playback plugin. That should be all that's necessary.

If you are going back to the default STV and expecting a previously imported plugin to be there, keep in mind that when you do an import it creates a new copy of the STV file so the original is not touched. For example, if you import one plugin into the default STV, the new STV with the import included will have SageTV3-1.xml as its filename. You have to make sure when you reload the STV that you pick the correct one. HTH

Aloha,
Mike

ok, I just did that. What can I do to see if comskip is working again? I have several sitcoms that have been recorded w/out the commercial breaks. Do I have to check back tomorrow to see if it worked?