iTune's Remote with Xtension.

I wrote some scripts to control iTunes with a X-10 remote... at least the basic controls... Play/Pause , Stop/Mute , Next/Previous , Volume Up/Down.

The issuing of the commands really is not that hard other then Xtension does not handle linking programs flawlessly (but is a FANTASTIC app none the less).

The setting up of the Xtension units is what takes time.

First I do use each unit to do 2 commands, one mapped to the ON command and the other to the OFF command.

I created these units:

iTunes Play/Pause - N1 (should have these checked on: RF ok, dimmable, simulated, 10 steps)
iTunes Stop/Mute  - N2 (should have these checked on: RF ok, dimmable, simulated, 10 steps)
iTunes Next/Prev  - N3 (should have these checked on: RF ok, dimmable, simulated, 10 steps)

iTunes Volume UP   - N10 (just dimmable, 20 steps)
iTunes Volume DOWN - N11 (just dimmable, 20 steps)

iTunes Lock/Unlock - N9 (this is optional - I use it to lock the controls OFF so that a stray X-10 command does not turn ON iTunes)


Also if you are going to be using this to control iTunes on a remote machine rather than on the same machine as Xtension, you'll will probably need this ---

'Login As' it's a scripting addition that will handle the password/user automatically.
You can get this at http://files.macscripter.net/osax/gtq_121.sit

Now the volume commands are not accessed directly by issuing a command to that unit but rather passed thru the 3 other units that control the iTunes function. This is so that if you use any of those function you can use the DIM/Bright commands of your remote to change the volume.

Here's the AppleScript commands:

Application Suite:
<<event hookPlay>> Play Current Track
<<event hookPaus>> Pause Current Track
<<event hookNext>> Go To Next Track
<<event hookPrev>> Go To Previous Track

Required Suite:
<<event aevtoapp>> Open Application
<<event aevtodoc>> Open Document
<<event aevtpdoc>> Print Document
<<event aevtquit>> Quit Application
<<event aevtpref>> Open Preferences Dialog *
<<event aevtejct>> Eject *
<<event aevtvol+>> Increase volume *
<<event aevtvol->> Decrease volume *
<<event aevtmute>> Mute *

This is in the ON script of the unit 'iTunes Play/Pause'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 3 then  ** 3 is for ON**
		
		write log "iTunes PLAY"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
			play  ** theses commands can be use by them selves from the Application Suite, just the 4 letter part after 'hook' **
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the OFF script of the unit 'iTunes Play/Pause'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 4 then **4 is for OFF**
		
		write log "iTunes Pause"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
		pause
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the ON script of the unit 'iTunes Stop/Mute'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 3 then  ** 3 is for ON**
		
		write log "iTunes STOP"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
			stop
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the OFF script of the unit 'iTunes Stop/Mute'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 4 then  ** 4 is for OFF**
		
		write log "iTunes MUTE"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
		mute
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the ON script of the unit 'iTunes Next/Prev'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 3 then  ** 3 is for ON**
		
		write log "iTunes Next Track"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
			next
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the OFF script of the unit 'iTunes Next/Prev'

if wireless then
	
	if (command) = 6 then brighten "iTunes Volume UP" by 1
	if (command) = 5 then dim "iTunes Volume DOWN" by 1
	
	if (command) = 4 then  ** 4 is for ON**
		
		write log "iTunes Previous Track"
		
		login as "User Name" password "Your Password"
		
		tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name"
			
			prev
			
		end tell
		
	end if
end if

This is in the ON script of the unit 'iTunes Volume UP'


login as "User Name" password "Your Password"

tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name" 
	
	Çevent aevtvol+È   ** you have to use this format these commands that are in the Required Suite, the funny arrows are 'option-shift'  '\' and '/' **
	
end tell

write log "iTunes Volume UP"

This is in the ON script of the unit 'iTunes Volume DOWN'

login as "User Name" password "Your Password"

tell application "iTunes" of machine "Your Machine Name" 
	
	Çevent aevtvol-È
	
end tell

write log "iTunes Volume UP"

There are NO 'OFF' scripts for the 'Volume' units.

Note: Using the 'login as' command in each script is just there in case AppleTalk ask for user name and password after the first time you activate any of the iTunes functions.  Also these scripts are written for OS 9 and below, there may differences in OS X, which I do not know anything about.

If you have problems testing any of these in the unit script window.. i.e  a error reguarding can't find iTunes. Use Script Editor to test one of these scripts to start program linking first, then go into the unit scripts and test them then.


Please feel free to distribute/update/'add to'/correct  - this FAQ as 'GNU' work. Just remember to give credit to all that contribute to this FAQ.

Version 1.0 - Michael Kidd <mrmac@mac.com>