Programming If/Else Statements - Universal Remote Control MSC-400 Programming Manual

Programming IF/ELSE Statements

IF Else statement enables you to program a decision into a Macro, making it truly a Smart Macro. What's the
difference between a normal "stupid" macro and a Smart one? Let's take a look at how to program a Smart
Macro in MSC-400 Editor:
1 Click on the red Record button, then record a standard macro with the macro steps you need from
the Connected Devices. Afterwards, the macro list for Watch Cable TV (power on the TV, Audio sys-
tem and the Cable box, then select the correct TV and Audio inputs) might look something like this:
Now, what's wrong with this macro? Well, it's not very smart. Here are the problems:
a) It doesn't know whether the Cable Box is on or off and simply toggles it on or off with a power com-
mand. Sometimes the Cable Box will be on, sometimes it will be out of sync and the client will be
extremely irritated.
b) The macro takes a long time because of the 5 second delay before the AUDIO receiver will accept
an Input command. When the system is already on, if the client switches from watching a DVD to
Watching Cable TV, the macro takes more than 5 seconds. Once again, the client is irritated!
OK, let's fix it. We'll make this a smart macro by hooking up some sensors to the Cable box and the Audio
receiver. Cable boxes typically have a switched outlet on the rear. Some of them may need you to activate it
via the Cable box setup menu. Place an AC wall adapter (any voltage 3-25v) in the switched outlet and con-
nect it to a URC voltage sensor. Utilize a voltage sensor for the Audio receiver the same way (though many AV
receivers have a 12v trigger built in). Remember you can also use a URC Video Sensor or any of the current,
light or RFI sensors from other manufacturers via a URC voltage sensor. Once you've connected the sensor and
noted which input it is connected to, move to the next step.
2 Name and configure the sensors from the Device properties window. Beside the sensor numbers you
use, note the kind of sensor (via the pull down list box shown) and write in a good description to
help you while programming macros by double clicking in the Description field. Click on OK to
close the Configuration window.
3 Double click the Watch Cable TV macro in Tree View. Once it is selected, the Macro Window
should be visible. If it is not, go to the View menu and check the Macro box within the show/hide
area, then double click on the Watch Cable TV macro again in Tree View.
4 In the Smart Macro window tool bar, click the IF/ELSE button. An IF/ELSE bracket will appear at the
bottom of the Macro Window.
Type in Section Title IF/Else Statements
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