using lirc to control mpd and mythtv

[kempy1000]

Hi

I know it is possible to setup lirc to send simple commands to mpd (play/pause, volume up/down, next/prev track) and bind these commands to the sutable media buttons on my remote (play/pause to the play button etc...) the problem is that mythtv uses these buttons to control video etc when its playing.

So im wondering is it possible to set it up so that when on the main mythtv menu (watch tv...media library...) the media buttons control mpd but when in video mode the media buttons control mythtv instead?

thanks
Chris

[waterhead]

To add remote control support to an application, you have to add the button mapping to your .lircrc file. The "dot" in front of the file means that it is hidden, so to show it you will need to check this box in the Nautilus file browser:

View-->Show Hidden Files

If you have a working remote in MythTV, then you should have a .lircrc file in your home folder.

I don't know what the program mpd is, or if it has lirc support. Here is my .lircrc file, for my Microsoft Media Center remote. I got the original from the internet, and tweaked the settings. It has configurations for VLC, Mplayer, MythTV and Xine.

It also has settings to use the remote with an Open Office Presentation. Since OO Presentation doesn't have native lirc support, it uses a small program called irxevent to control the application. If mpd doesn't have native lirc support, you may need to do it this way. You do need to run the irxevent program first.

There are also key mappings for my remote's other buttons, using the irexec program. I don't use them, so they are commented out.

#Button mappings for VLC, Xine, Mplayer, MythTV and Open Office Presentation (using irxevent). For Microsoft Media Center remote.
#VLC
begin
    prog = vlc
    button = play
    config = key-play
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = pause
    config = key-pause
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = stop
    config = key-quit
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = chandown
    config = key-prev
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = chanup
    config = key-next
end
    
begin
    prog = vlc
    button = rewind
    config = key-slower
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = forward
    config = key-faster
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = VolDown
    config = key-vol-down
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = VolUp
    config = key-vol-up
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = mute
    config = key-vol-mute
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = left
    config = key-nav-left
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = right
    config = key-nav-right
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = down
    config = key-nav-down
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = up
    config = key-nav-up
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = ok
    config = key-nav-activate
end

begin
    prog = vlc
    button = dvd
    config = key-disc-menu
end


######XINE############
begin
    prog = xine
    button = back
    config = ToggleAspectRatio
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = ok
    config = EventSelect
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = info
    config = OSDStreamInfos
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = VolUp
    config = Volume+
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = VolDown
    config = Volume-
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = forward
    config = SeekRelative+15
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = rewind
    config = SeekRelative-15
end


begin
    prog = xine
    button = skip
    config = EventNext
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = replay
    config = EventPrior
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = pause
    config = Pause
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = up
    config = EventUp
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = right
    config = EventRight
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = down
    config = EventDown
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = left
    config = EventLeft
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = enter
    config = Enter
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = mute
    config = Mute  
end

begin
    prog = xine
    button = play
    config = Play  
end

begin
   prog = xine
   button = stop
   config = Quit
end

begin
   prog = xine
   button = home
   config = Menu
end

begin
   prog = xine
   button = dvd
   config = RootMenu
end

begin
   prog = xine
   button = rsurf
   config = RootMenu
end

#####MPLAYER#################
begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = ok
    config = pause
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = VolUp
    config = volume +1
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = VolDown
    config = volume -1
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = forward
    config = seek +30 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = rewind
    config = seek -30 0
end


begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = skip
    config = seek +15 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = replay
    config = seek -15 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = pause
    config = pause
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = up
    config = seek +60 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = right
    config = seek +6 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = down
    config = seek -60 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = left
    config = seek -6 0
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = enter
    config = pause
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = mute
    config = mute
end

begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = play
    config = pause
end

begin
   prog = mplayer
   button = power
   config = quit
end

begin
   prog = mplayer
   button = stop
   config = quit
end

begin
   prog = mplayer
   button = home
   config = vo_fullscreen
end

begin
   prog = mplayer
   button = menu
   config = vo_fullscreen
end

##########LAUNCHING BUTTONS#######################

#Launch Myth
#begin
#    prog = irexec
#    button = power
#    delay= 6
#    config = /home/supermario/.checkmythrunning.sh
#end

#Turn TV Off
#begin
#    prog = irexec
#    button = power
#    config = irsend -d /dev/lircd1 SEND_ONCE Samsung power
#end

#Put monitor into low power mode & turn off tv
#begin
#    prog = irexec
#    button = back
#    config = DISPLAY=:0 xset dpms force off; irsend -d /dev/lircd1 SEND_ONCE Samsung power
#end

#########MythTV######################
begin 
    prog = mythtv
    button = chanup
    config = PgUp
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = chandown
    config = PgDown
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = ok
    config = Return
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = home
    config = M
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = menu
    config = M
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = info
    config = I
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = VolUp
    repeat = 3
    config = ]
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = VolDown
    repeat = 3
    config = [
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = forward
    repeat = 3
    config = >
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = rewind
    repeat = 3
    config = <
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = pause
    config = P
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = up
    repeat = 3
    config = Up
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = right
    repeat = 3
    config = Right
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = down
    repeat = 3
    config = Down
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = left
    repeat = 3
    config = Left
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = enter
    config = Enter
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = zero
    config = 0
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = one
    config = 1
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = two
    config = 2
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = three
    config = 3
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = four
    config = 4
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = five
    config = 5
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = six
    config = 6
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = seven
    config = 7
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = eight
    config = 8
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = nine
    config = 9
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = replay
# Use for backwards commercial skip
    config = Q  
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = skip
# Use for forward commercial skip
    config = Z  
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = exit
   config = D  
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = mute
    config = |  
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = guide
    config = S
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = play
    config = P  
end

begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = livetv
    config = %
end

begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = record
  config = R  
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = rectv
   config = &
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = dvd
   config = #
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = caption
   config = T
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = power
   config = Escape
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = stop
   config = Escape
end

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = back
   config = W
end

##############################################
#### Evince y OpenOffice (Presentations) ####
##############################################

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = OK
   config = Key F5 CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = Back
   config = Key Escape CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = Down
   config = Key alt-Page_Up CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = Up
   config = Key alt-Page_Down CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = Right
   config = Key Next CurrentWindow
   #config = Key ctrl-plus CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

begin
   prog = irxevent
   button = Left
   config = Key Prior CurrentWindow
   #config = Key ctrl-minus CurrentWindow
   repeat = 0
end

[kempy1000]

Hi thanks for the reply

mpd is simply a music playing deamon.

I was planning on using irexec and mpc to pass commands to the mpd deamon.

The problem is that mythfrontend is always running (my machine is just a media box with no desktop installed) but mpd is a deamon and is also always running.

So I have the problem that I want to control both programs with the same buttons but they are both always running.

Thats what got me to thinking, if possible is there a way to recive the command check if mythtv is on the main menu, if it is pass the command to irexec, if it isnt then pass the command to mythtv?

That way I can have both programs running but control them both with the remote.

I noticed mythtv has the ability to asign the same button to different tasks depending on were you are in the program. E.g (A to open weather report when in mythweather and A to play a video in mythvideo)

Thanks
Chris