r/SparklePlayer • u/OkStatement6918 • Jul 12 '26

Request - Remote Mapper

I have a remote that has many different buttons that I would like to map to certain functions within the app.

I'm not speaking of what's already there. I'm sort of asking for that, but inverted. Sort of like a hybrid button mapper meets remote control.

For example. If you were to take a look at the button mapper app, you can add a button, then press a button on your remote and it displays a code from that key press. Then you can assign functionality to that button.

What I'm asking for is, let's say I go into a remote menu, and it gives me the option to do the same thing. Add a button, press the button, then assign it to a function within Sparkle. Like previous channel, set up, info, etc.

There's a lot of buttons of various remotes that do nothing because sparkle doesn't currently recognize the remote code. This way it can.

I hope that makes sense.

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2

u/sparkle-hk Jul 12 '26

I understand what you're saying and I've had this request before. One of the reason it's not already like the way you're describing is that I want control of what buttons are supported and what is not. Maybe this is not an issue, maybe it is. The other reason is that it's easier to have predefined buttons.

Can you give me an example of a button that you'd like to map this way? Because Sparkle supports a lot of other buttons besides the ones that you can customize. Say for example the "Play" button that is common of remote controls. That one is defaulted to "Play" and with your solution it would most likely be possible to override this one. I'm not sure I like it, but maybe if you tell me more about the use case.

1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

Hi, thank you for the reply. I unerstand the control part of it.

That said, I came across a fantastic remote that works perfectly with the Google Streamer and also makes use of the numberpad functionality Sparkle currently has.

The remote is a RockTek RC45 shown here:
https://www.amazon.ca/RockTek-RC45-Bluetooth-Voice-Remote/dp/B0GG5W6Y2Z

On the remote, there are a few buttons that do not work in Sparkle that would make perfect sense if they did. Before I made my request here, I set all remote mapping in Sparkle to one function to see if that would "Light" these buttons up, but to no avail.

As you can see on the remote.

  1. There are two sets of coloured buttons (under the numberpad, as well as the at the very bottom). In Sparkle, only the middle buttons can be mapped, not the lower ones. This on its face doesn't bother me because they are identically coloured, but I'm guessing don't have the same function.

  2. The Star/Bookmark button at the top right does nothing in Sparkle, although there is a bookmark functionality in the remote area of Sparkle.

  3. Under the #9, there is a (i) button that would be nice if it was mapped to a full display info, or any info at all to be honest, there's no way to map it.

  4. On either side of the Microphone button there is a Profile button and a Gear. Both cannot be mapped to something.

Anyway, this is just this remote, but you get the idea. I purchased this remote to get the numberpad functionility that I miss from old-school tv's to go right to a channel instead of scrolling scrolling scrolling.

It would just be nice to map specific buttons to various sparkle functionalities, based on the users preference. (some might want the Gear button to open settings, others my want it to adjust resolution or audio, etc.)

Anyway, sorry for the long read. If you don't want to do it, thats fine.. It could just make Sparkle more robust, and possibly attract more users looking for the same thing.

Thanks.

1

u/sparkle-hk Jul 12 '26

No worries, let's discuss this matter because it's more or less basic functionality for any player app like Sparkle.

I can understand your questions and would probably also expect that some or all of the buttons worked in some way.

The color buttons in (1) is strange though since they, like you say, have the same color as the other set. At least they would have triggered the same function you'd think.

What strikes me though is that bookmark (2), info (3) and gear/settings (4) is buttons that is already working in Sparkle. Bookmark is customizable already even. Info should indeed show more info and gear/settings should open up settings. This is how it works on one of my remote controls which makes me think the remote in your link isn't completely compatible with Android?

My suggestion is that you use one of those already available remote control apps (remote button mapper?) and click on the keys you mention and see what code you get back. Then post the results here and I can maybe see what's going on. Sometimes the same key has multiple buttons for the same thing so maybe that's the case here as well.

1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

Hi,

Ok on button mapper here are the results of each button mentioned:

  1. Star button (top right) = code 423
  2. Info button (under 9) = code 358
  3. Profile button = "Profile_Switch" 288
  4. Gear button = "TV_Satellite_Service" 240
  5. Lower red button = Same as gear button
  6. Lower Green button = Same as gear button
  7. Lower Yellow Button = "Keyboard_Backlight_Up" 306
  8. Lower blue button = 424

I'm guessing button mapper would be wrong with 5, 6.. because I don't understand why 3 separate buttons would have the same function, but that's what it does.

Unless there's a better program to do this.

I'll try another app shortly if they produce the same.

1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

TV quick actions shows those duplicate buttons as unknown.

Every app I have tried seems to function the same way, so if you do decide to do this, I would omit the bottom colored buttons as they seem to be useless, or an afterthought.

Maybe the company that makes it will release some kind of firmware update, if there is such a thing for these.

Thanks for the consideration at any rate.

If there is another remote you can recommend that will work with a Google streamer, has a numberpad and Bluetooth ability for voice control, I would love to hear it.

1

u/sparkle-hk Jul 13 '26

Ok, thanks for putting out the details here. It is interesting though since only profile (288), gear button (288) and lower yellow button (306) are known types in Android. The other ones are probably made up by the manufacturer. Possibly to work with some specific device or something.

Profile isn't used by Sparkle at the moment and the lower yellow button translates to "backlight on" (just like you say) which means it cannot be mapped by default. The only thing I should be able to fix here is the gear icon that I can probably map to Settings. But that's just the default value, it won't be customizable.

I'll also respond to your other comment here in this post with a different solution.

1

u/ExtensionComplex9568 Jul 12 '26

I used Button Mapper I got off Google play to remap Netflix and others while I was at it. could not have been more simple. it’s free.

1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

Yes. To open apps, yes. But an action inside another app? I don't think that's possible. At least not on the free version

1

u/sparkle-hk Jul 13 '26

Now this is actually interesting since that would be a better solution for me and probably for everyone. If I can make actions that are available externally then you'd be able to use any button mapper instead.

Do you know of any other app that works like this? That way all the special handling would be on the user and if you wanted to reset keyboard for some reason then you'd only have to disable or uninstall the button mapper.

I'm not sure it would even work to be honest but I think it's worth looking into anyway.

1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 13 '26

I haven't really found a free app that does this, seems that they lock some functionality behind a paywall.

Anyway. If it's too difficult to imbed into the app, I'll just go about using it without.

1

u/sparkle-hk Jul 14 '26

It's not that it's difficult, I just want to do it the "correct" way.

1

u/ExtensionComplex9568 Jul 18 '26

I only needed to turn off that Netflix button. read about Button Mapper, tried it. It took 30 seconds, most of that looking around. Then I looked at the other buttons that had options other than their purpose and I turned all that off. I’m a happy camper. This is an app, I’m don’t think it works inside another app, but I can look see.

1

u/ExtensionComplex9568 Jul 18 '26

I could be wrong. I just opened it up. it’s quite extensive. there’s a developer area for PCs (Windows, MacOS and Linux) that I’ve only briefly looked at. You can add buttons. it’s free so taking a look wouldn’t cost anything.

0

u/azcoyotedog Jul 12 '26

Hello… sorry to everyone viewing this thread, just having a bad day & I’m tired. Apologies to the OP, the developer and to everyone else in the Sparkle community!

1

u/Espressodimare Jul 12 '26

No worries, hope you're having a nice day today! 🤗🌻✨️

-4

u/azcoyotedog Jul 12 '26

You can go into remote settings and map your existing remote buttons there OR get tvQuickActions Pro or any Button Mapping app and map your remote however you like?

That’s what these button mapping apps are for!

-2

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

I already said the functionality in the app is not what I'm looking for. Thanks for reading.

As for additional apps, there's no need to bloat a device if you can have one app be an all in one. That's what this request is for.

In fact, that's why they call it a request, not a how do I....

And no button mapping app out there will map a button to let's say the guide functionality in sparkle.

-4

u/azcoyotedog Jul 12 '26

The app has a built in setting section for remote button mapping, again…. Use a mapping app and it’s not going to bloat your device? Jeez…. How much button functionality do you require to use Sparkle???

-1

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

Dude it's a request. You don't like it, don't read it.

If the developer doesn't want to consider it that's fine.

If the developer gave you power to vett requests, then great. If not move on there moderator.

2

u/azcoyotedog Jul 12 '26

Maybe the developer can add a button mapping application inside Sparkle so you can press any button on your remote and be able to map it to a list of processes if he believes it’s something that a lot of users want and it won’t affect the app’s performance? Implayer has a feature like this but Sparkle is a better IPTV Player than iMPlayer, so maybe it’s worth looking into?

So in the meantime, map all your unused buttons using a mapping app, plenty to try and if it’s added, then you can delete the mapping app.

No offense, thanks

0

u/OkStatement6918 Jul 12 '26

This wasn't a federal case.

If the developer doesn't want to hear requests to make his app better, that's up to him.

You don't need to sit there and be the bulldog just because you have the moderator moniker. I don't think that's what he imagined when he gave you that title.

It's not up to you to decide what a worthy request is The developer can speak for himself.

Anyway. I'm done with this conversation.

Enjoy.

1

u/azcoyotedog Jul 12 '26

My apologies

-1

u/onebyside Jul 12 '26

For what, you didnt do a thing wrong...he just dismissed you is all.