Action Variables; Can Variables Get "Out Of Sync - Universal Remote Control MSC-400 Programming Manual

6 Save the project and download to the MSC-400. See Section: Saving and Downloading a MSC-400
project for additional information.
7 Open the CCP MSC-400 file and double click on either the CCP MX-980 or MX-6000 remote.
8 Within the CCP MX-980/MX-6000 menu bar, click on View and make sure Hot functions is
checked.
9 Click on the MSC-400's hot function tab within the property/tool window.
10 Select your desired base station from the drop down list.
11 Select a smart macro from the macro group list and drag to a desired button on the simulator of the
MX-980 and MX-6000. Once the smart macro trigger has been dragged a purple T confirmation will
appear on the button. See Section: Programming Macro Triggers to CCP Remotes on page 55 for
additional information.
12 Save the project and download to the remote.
With this programming, the user will be able to cycle through all 5 HBO Channels by repeatedly pressing the
button that the Toggle Macro has been programmed to.

Action Variables

Variables enable the MSC-400 to track the status of a device or a user by "remembering" what state it/he/she is
in.
Think of them as a way for the MSC-400 to take notes while your client uses the system so that when your
client presses a button, the MSC-400 can make a decision on the best thing to do in the Smart Macro.
There are some important rules that will help you use variables:
1 The MSC-400 supports up to 255 variables. Each must be named uniquely to be used. Thus, to cre-
ate a variable, simply create a unique name for it.
2 A variable can be equal to one of two states: True (1) or False (0)
3 By default, after downloading to the MSC-400 all variables are FALSE.
4 You can do two different things with Variables in Smart Macros:
a) Set a Variable to be either TRUE or FALSE
b) Write an IF/ELSE statement that does one step or series of steps if the Variable is TRUE, and
something else if the Variable is FALSE.

Can Variables get "Out of Sync"? `

Yes they can. Variables are not as trustworthy as actually sensing what state a device is in via Video or Voltage
sensors. There are two dangers, one of which the MSC-400 eliminates perfectly:
1 In a typical macro generated by a remote control tracking power status via variables, any IR com-
mand can be easily corrupted or missed so that it doesn't work. Thus, the remote control "thinks" the
component is on, but in reality it is off- "out of sync".
Type in Section Title Action Variables
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