Help: Getting Multimedia keys working on keyboard  

Did you try Girder? It is GREAT!!

I have a very similar situation and use WIN2K exclusively.

I bought a Logitech wireless keyboard (RF) which has quite a few extra 'multimedia' keys on it.
I did not load the included software as I wanted to program it's extra multimedia keys to control accessDTV, such as Forward,Reverse.

It took a bit of fiddling with Girder and some help from the folks on the Girder forum but it works like a champ controlling accessDTV.

My bet is that you could do the same thing with WinDVD under WIN2K.

Joe

Joe,

How did you get Girder to recognize the RF signals ?? Where they transmitted as complex keystrokes and therefor acquirable under the keyboard input mode ???

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PhatPhreddy@Bigfoot.com
HTPC without using windows... GUI Front Ends for Home Theater

Logically,this keyboard acts like it is directly connected to the PS2 keyboard connector on the PC.

Physically, it's the RF receiver that is REALLY connected to the PS2 connector.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Windows 2000 did not know the difference ie. NO special drivers were needed. Just plugged it in and turned the PC back on.

I used the keyboard plugin in Girder. I added new commands with the Command Icon (The one that looks like a question mark) by putting it in capture mode and capturing the mouse events when I clicked on Forward,Reverse,Pause,etc.

Then I assigned these mouse events with Learn mode to the multimedia keys.

I think that is what you are saying.

Joe

Tim,
I am a bit surprised since this Logitech Itouch Keyboard generates codes for every key on it and the Windows Multimedia keyboard you are using should too. That's the only way any SW could hook onto it in Windows to do anything.
Since I had a no-name PS2 keyboard when I first installed WIN2K, perhaps in your case Windows 2000 is loading a Microsoft specific driver instead of a generic keyboard driver?

In Girder,have you enabled the keyboard under file->settings->hardware plugins?
Also, the green LED looking icon should blink from green to yellow everytime you press a key.

Maybe my description of the question mark icon was poor. As I look at it, it looks more like one of those cartoon question clouds and it has an exclamation point (!) in it.

Beyond that, I make no claims to be an expert on Girder http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif Heck, I am still learning all the cool things you can do with it.

Perhaps you should ask in the Girder forum at:
http://www.stack.nl/~stilgar/windoze/girder.html

Like here, folks there are very helpful.

Joe

[This message has been edited by Joe Q (edited 05-05-2001).]

Tim,
Here is what Win2k's Device Manager says for my keyboard driver:

"Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Leyboard"
Driver Provider: Microsoft
Driver Date: 11/14/1999
Driver Version: 5.0.2183.1


Driver Details:
\\WINNT\\System32\\Drivers\\i8042prt.sys
File Version 5.00.2192.1
\\WINNT\\System32\\Drivers\\kbdclass.sys
File Version 5.00.2164.1

This is the standard keyboard driver - NOT any Logitech one.

Joe

Tim,

I think you may be in the same sinking ship that I'm in. I have the Webboard IR KB, and found the same things as you did. The only things I can control with the m/m keys are the Webboards own CD and VCD players. I don't believe the software disc that comes with it even has keyboard drivers in it. If it does, they don't show up in Device Manager.

I can assign .exe files and launch applications with the m/m keys, but that's about it.

My goal was to teach m/m functions to my Pronto. I tried Girder and personally found it to be non-intuitive. I borrowed IRMan from a buddy and all of my m/m functions are now on my Pronto. I know Girder is more powerful, but anything that takes me half a day to learn isn't worth it to me for the simple thing I was trying to do.

I have the Logitech RF board as well, and like Joe says, it works right out of the box. I just wish it was IR.

I think the problems we are having is the reason most everyone goes with the Airboard. It's m/m keys will command WinDVD and PDVD(amoung others I'm sure), whereas the webboard does not.

Chris