I have read the threads regarding Sony CX777 and I just don't understand "exactly" and I mean verbatum what I need in "Notes" and "Location" and maybe even the Rs232bat file.

My setup:  Windows XP SP2 on laptop - Sony CX777 - yes, a null modem - I can sucessfully communicate to the CX777 by opening the dos window - filepath to the cx777 executable, and can get the player to respond and carry out any command given - like "load disc 16 Title 1 Chapter 6".  Works just fine.

I use "Slot #" and have "Rs232/s" in "Location" field (nothing more, nothing less & no quotes).
In "Notes" I have the following: line 1 reads "C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\Rs232"  line 2 reads "C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777" no quotes in either line 1 or 2.

When I click "Play/Retrieve" I get the following in the dos window:  "Main Decsription" 707787650175  1 16 "" "" "DVD" hit any key to continue.  Of course hitting any key then closes window 7 tha'ts it.  And if I do not use the /s in Rs232, I get nothing at all (expected)

Am I supposed to do something with the Rs232bat file?  Do I do something to the cx777 executable?

I know the missing parameters are the "Title" and "Chapter" of the disc - but where do I put this info??
I am using COM1 and the disc is 16 and the discID is the long 70778...# but where & how do I complete the command?  Does each and every Disc get their own Rs232.bat file that I modify from the example given? Do I have to modify the cx777 for each & every disc also?  I just don't understand what I am missing.
Many Thanks to someone with patiencen & helping hand.

98% of my DVD watching/listening is Music/Concert DVD's.  I would like to be able to call up a specific(s) chapter(s) which are songs.  Since the DVD profile can support an unlimited amount of "discs", I would load the profile with each song or Title/Chapter of the disc in the profile.  The Sony CX777 has a 99 line "Program" available in which you can do something like this.  The long and short of this "Program" capability is to create an instant favorites list, to watch/listen.  A DVD Jukebox.  From what I can tell, DVD Profiler & LoadDVD have all the capability to do this.  I presently do this with an Ir program and an Excell data base that has all my DVD's, their Photos, and each and every Title/Chapter (song) that I want to access.  I really like the very nice Interface of DVD Profiler.  Also, the cx777 has many more features accessible via Rs232 than just Ir commands can provide (see full capability in Sourceforge cx777 commands available.

That's it in a . . . well, a pile of nuts, that I am looking for - spit out Disc #, Title # & Chapter #. Ok, there is much more I want to automate, that should probably be brought up in another thread, or "wish list". 1st things first as they say.

All that I want to do should be attainable under the current structure of both DVD Profiler & Load DVD - I just need to know how to execute it.  I barely speak english (born & raised here) let alone speak computereese.

Thanks much - oh by the way, I have searched, as so far, these two programs are most easily set up to do this.

Quoting mb2009:

Quote:
Hope this helps you figure out my problem.

I just gave you exact instructions - 4 steps. Just do them. Until then, please do not make any more posts.

Once you complete those steps, it will be working. Make your next post, with no more than two sentences.

First sentence: confirm that you completed the 4 steps and it works.

Second sentence - one sentence only: The next SINGLE thing you would like to accomplish.

By the way, I'm not trying to be rude - just trying to help us stay focused and organized.

Quoting mb2009:

Quote:
OK, tried exactly as you instructed.  Did not work.  Added "pause" as last line in rs232.bat and dos screen said "  'cx777.exe'  not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.  Press any key to continue.

Ok, now we are getting somewhere. Looks like the .bat file is not finding the program. To fix this, we need to put in the explicit path to the program.

For example, on my system, it would be:

@echo off
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 36 %4 0 0 1

The quotes are needed because of the spaces in the path.

Ok, verify the correct path on your system, try that and let me know.

After that, I will show you how to put in the Chapter and Track.

Quoting mb2009:

Quote:
Oh Happy Happy Joy Joy!
More please.  (step 2 Title & Chapter call)
Thank you - progress is a wonderful thing.

I agree, and we will get more - step by step.

Ok, now according to the cx777.exe documentation, here is how it works:

              cx777.exe port command disc track chapter play/pause

So, the command cx777.exe com1 36 %4 0 0 1 says:

"Use port=com1 to send a command type=36, disc=%4 (which comes from Slot), track =0, chapter =0, play ..."

To send the chapter and track from DVD Profiler to LoadDVD, there are any number of ways. Notice that I am using the term "Chapter" because that's what the cx777.exe documentation says. I have no idea whether that is the same as what you mean by "Title."

Let me suggest one way to do it. Play with it, and tell me if it can work for you. If not, then we will look for another way.


(1) For each disc in the profile, set Location = rs232 track chapter, e.g. rs232 3 7 asks for track 3, chapter 7.

(2) To send this information to the player, put the following into rs232.bat

  @echo off
  "C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 36 %4 %8 %9 1


%8 will be the track, and %9 will be the chapter, coming from LoadDVD.

If you use this method, as you figured out, you would need one disc in the profile for each track/chapter combination.

Let me know how it goes.

fogot - would need a 1/2 second delay for 1st try - this is about the rate for the Ir signal feed.

Finding a "wait" command has been fun (not really) so, any of you reading this, beware it depends on your operating system.  I did find something that works for me (see batch below).

My batch file works great in the Sony "Program" mode with the exception that it does not like 2 digit numbers that come from Slot, %4, %8, and %9. fields.  I can call up any Disc 1 through 9, any Track 1 through 9, and Chapter 1 through 9.  As soon as it sees a two digit number, then it crashes. Increasing the wait time does not help - I assume because of the way the eeprom (?) handles the input of a number - it takes the hex code of each digit seperately.  it recognizes 1 through 9 and zero, but does not know how to handle a two digit number.

Question:
Would it be possible to have three fields for Disc # - to handle a disc number in the hundreds?  Say Disc 397, field 1 is "3" field two is "9", and field three is "7".

I would also need two fields for Track # and two fields for Chapter #.

I don't know the limitations of the program for such a change - so I am just asking.

Or, how about handling it in the notes?

Here is my batch file so far:
@echo off
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 23
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 1 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 %4
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 2 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 23
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 1 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 %8
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 2 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 23
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 1 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 %9
@ping 127.0.0.1 -n 2 >null
"C:\Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD\cx777.exe" com1 23
pause

The above problem is a yes, this is easy and here is the answer, or no, that would require a complete change of the program.  I would be greatful if you had the time for the "easy" answer.  I'll bet there is a bunch of folks out there that have no idea they have a potential "JukeBox" waiting for them in DVDProfile & LoadDVD - we are so close to an answer.

could you use something like

ECHO OFF
SET myNumber=%1

:NEXTNUM
set onenum=%myNumber:~0,1%
ECHO %onenum%

SET myNumber=%myNumber:~1%
IF NOT [%myNumber%]==[] GOTO :NEXTNUM

%1 being the command line argument so if i put this in a file called parsenum.bat and then ran
parsenum.bat 1234

my output would be
1
2
3
4

so just change the ECHO %onenum% line to your the line to send it to your device

-Agrare