You CAN Take it With You

If you've been following developments at URC lately, you probably already know that we recently issued a Live Update to Complete Control Program (CCP) that adds support for the MX-980. It's no longer a secret that CCP is URC's "one stop" editing platform for future remotes, but now it's clear that over time we'll be adding some of the current models to the new editor.

So even if your shop isn't an MX-6000 shop, now's definitely the time to start getting accustomed to the streamlined way CCP does things. Don't worry... it's not an alien environment or anything. In fact, the same Program Menu workflow you learned in MX-Editor is still in place here—it just looks a wee bit different. And the changes are all there for good reason: we took a lot of care to find ways to make it easier for you to do your job faster. Hey, we're no spring chickens here. We know that taking steps to make you more profitable is the way we earn your business.

So here's another little time-saving tip you might not have thought of. Every installer gets stuck on a job site one time or another without a laptop and the faces the client who suddenly has a list of changes he wants on the control system. So now you've got to roll the truck back to the office, make the changes or grab the laptop, and head back out to tweak the customer's remote. In these economic times, I'm betting the customer didn't want to pay for that, either. Am I right?

Well, did you know that you can load CCP onto a USB flash drive and take it with you wherever you go? That's right. And what's more... it's easy. No registry keys to edit, no special codes to input. All you have to do is navigate to C:\Program Files\Universal Remote Control, Inc and find the Complete Control Program folder. Make a copy of that folder on your thumb drive. You're done. Now CCP is always ready, right there in your pocket.

To run CCP, just go into the Complete Control Program on your thumb drive and double click the CCP.exe icon. (Your computer may just show "CCP" if known file extensions are turned off.)  To make it a teenie bit easier to run CCP from your thumb drive, you can also go into the Complete Control Program folder on your thumb drive and create a shortcut to CCP.exe, then copy that shortcut to the root of your thumb drive. But you don't have to.

As long as you've got a USB cable handy, you're ready to go. URC remotes use the standard mini USB connector, so even if you don't have a cable, there's a fair chance your client does. The same cable they use for their MP3 player, digital camera, or cell phone will usually work with the remote. If the connector fits correctly in the remote, it's the right cable! For the MSC-400, the cable is identical to the USB cables used for nearly all modern USB printers, scanners, or USB hubs. There's a really good chance the client has one.

Oh, but what about drivers, you ask! Don't worry, they're right there in your pocket too. Directly inside the Complete Control Program folder, there are folders for each of the devices that CCP currently supports. Inside that folder is a folder called Drivers, and you can find Windows XP and Vista drivers there. The Found New Hardware wizard will bug you for these drivers when you plug in the remote. So if you're on a client site and need to use someone else's computer, you have everything you need to edit their file.

And most important, don't forget that your client's file is right there on the remote. You can upload the file directly into CCP and start editing right away. Just be sure to save a copy back to your thumb drive when you're done so you can archive the client's most recent file when you get back to the office. (And no, CCP won't be installed on your client's computer. It stays completely on the thumb drive. Only the tiny drivers for the remote remain on the client's PC.)

Of course, coming prepared is always best. But in the real world, sometimes you get thrown a curve ball. Keeping a handy copy of CCP in your pocket can help you avoid that unprofitable truck roll on those days when the client's mind is going in a different direction than the one for which he called you.