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Actions Shortcuts

For complete details, see the separate Help section on Action Shortcuts.

These are the basic steps to using Actions Shortcuts.

1. If you don't know what key signals are sent by each button on your remote control device, see the Record Remote Controller Key Signals section below.
2. Create Shortcuts - Create the Actions Shortcuts needed for your remote (via Manage Actions Shortcuts menu item below).
3. Select Current Actions Shortcuts - Select the Actions Shortcuts your created to make them the current set. (menu item below).
4. Turn On Actions Shortcuts Processing - Click Behavior > Enable Actions Shortcuts. The menu item will show a check-mark when active.
5. Focus the Easy Player - Make the Easy Player the 'Focused' window so that it will recieve the Remote's button press signals. Click on the Easy Player's window Title Bar to focus it.
6. Power on Remote - Insert the remote's USB wireless receiver and power on the remote.
7. Test It - Now the Easy Player is ready to receive and process remote button presses. Test a shortcut to confirm the Shortcuts mode is working.

• Select Current Actions Shortcuts - Pops up a list of all Actions Shortcuts definitions. Select the one you want to use for your remote. Actions menu items are reset with these Shortcuts.
• Manage Actions Shortcuts - Opens a list of your Actions Shortcuts definitions. You can: Add new Shortcuts; Duplicate existing Shortcuts; Edit existing Shortcuts; or Delete Shortcuts.
• View All Actions Shortcuts - Shows all Actions Shortcuts settings via pop-up dialog.

Add pre-configured profiles

If you have a remote controller designed for Windows Media Player or PowerPoint, these items will add a preconfigured Shortcuts profile for the device. You can make further edits to this Shortcuts definition if desired.
• Add Windows Media Player Shortcuts to Actions - Adds a Shortcuts definition for a Windows Media Player remote device.
• Add PowerPoint Shortcuts to Actions - Adds a Shortcuts definition for a PowerPoint remote device.
• Add Sound Mill Shortcuts to Actions - Adds a Shortcuts definition to Actions Shortcuts for Sound Mill default actions shortcuts. Useful if you want to swap back to Sound Mill default actions without having to close and restart Sound Mill.

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Ad Hoc Shortcuts

Ad Hoc Shortcuts allow you to tie a frequently used Sound Item or Script to a button on your remote (ex. a buzzer sound, applause, etc). They are saved with the Sound List. For complete details, see the separate Help section on Ad Hoc Shortcuts. Click Behavior > Enable Ad Hoc Shortcuts to turn on processing for these shortcuts. The menu item will show a check-mark when active.

Menu items

• Manage Ad Hoc Shortcuts - Opens a list editor that allows for: Add new Shortcuts; Duplicate existing Shortcuts; Edit existing Shortcuts; or Delete Shortcuts.
• View Ad Hoc Shortcuts - Shows Ad Hoc Shortcuts settings via pop-up dialog.

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Record Remote Controller Key Signals

Remote Control Operation

The Remote Controller Key Signals recording mode will record the key signals that are sent from your remote to the computer. A status message is displayed for each signal received when you press a button on your remote. And the key signals are recorded so that you can save them for future use. This will also record key presses on your computer keyboard, so don't confuse keyboard key presses with the remote button presses.

Important: The Easy Player window MUST be the current focused window for it to receive signals. Click on the Easy Player window to focus it.

Menu items

• Record Remote Key Signals - Toggles the record mode On/Off. Record mode is turned off whenever you perform the Rebuild Player action or when you open a new Playlist. In general, keep it turned off unless you are doing one of the tasks described below.
• View Recorded Remote Key Signals - This pops up a view dialog to review the key signals that were recorded. You can save the key signals for future use.

For Pre-Show Communications Check

As part of your Pre-Show Checklist, use this to verify that your remote control device comms are working and SoundMill is receiving key signals from it.

To Discover Remote Control Key Signals

If you just acquired a new remote control device, you can use this recording tool to discover the key signals it sends for each button press. Simply click Record Remote Key Signals to turn on Key Signal recording. Then press each button on your remote in sequence. After all buttons have been pressed, View Recorded Remote Key Signals (menu item above). Save them for future reference. With the Key Signals in hand, you are now ready to create the Action Shortcuts (see above) to operate SoundMill.

As a Problem Diagnostic Aid

If you find that nothing is playing, use this as a diagnostic aid. If it displays a status message that key signals are received when you press a Play button, you can eliminate the remote device communication as the potential problem. Conversely, if you press a button and no key signal is received, you should check the remote. Is it powered up? Is it synced with your computer? Can it communicate with another program (ex. Windows Media Player)?

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Repair Broken Cues

A broken Cue is one that cannot locate its associated Sound Item or Script. A broken Cue cannot find a Sound Item with a matching Id. This tool will attempt to repair the linkage. It does a simple match on the Cue Name to the names of the Sound Items or Scripts. If a match is found, it will fix the Cue link. Cues that fail to link to a Sound Item will be logged to the Sound Mill Session Log. A typical reason for Cue breakage is deleting its associated Sound Item or Script or a Sound Item is missing when you do a Playlist Import.

Tip: This tool is less effective in cases where you have changed the names of Sound Items or the name of EZPlayer Cues.

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March 12, 2024