I wonder how to force Logitechs diNovo Mini Keyboard to start my prefered MediaCenter application instead of (in my case) iTunes or the Microsoft Mediacenter.

Logitechs Keyboards and Mouse gadjets use the Logitech SetPoint software as driver and setup tool for the special functions of the hardware. This means e. g. to redefine the function of a special key on the keyboard you can start SetPoint and assign another usage.

The screenshot example shows how to setup the “Media” button. This button is allowed to be redefined to start any app you want. Maybe you can see, that only three of all sixteen(!) available extra buttons like Play, Stop, Record and - our target here - the “Green Button” aka Media Center Button in the lower, right corner of your diNovo Mini Keyboard are available. Furthermore the other two buttons even do offer less options to redefine them. How can we modify this gratuitous constraints?

Caution! Backup your existing XML files before any change is made! You do all changes on your own risk!

Close Logitech SetPoint Software in the Systemtray if it is running.

Backup our target files:
C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\USERNAME\Anwendungsdaten\Logitech\SetPoint\user.xml
C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\All Users\Anwendungsdaten\Logitech\SetPoint\Devices\Keyboard\2000060\2000060.xml

This value 200060 is the hex value of the modell number of your device found in the user.xml
<Device DisplayName=”diNovo Mini” Class=”KeyboardDevice” Model=”33554528″ NumberOfButtons=”16″ ConnectionID=”">”

The 200060 is the diNovo Mini keyboard model id.

Check that you use at least version 4.70 of the Logitech Setpoint software. This is the one i used to modify my XMLs with success.

You may download the changed XMLs at the end of this article.

This files decide which keys can be remapped and in which manner this can be done. Logitech uses so called “HandlerSets” to define what a key may handle.

I did not try to find out all whistles and bells that Logitech has and hides in it’s products. I show only how to map any app you want to your Media Center / Green Button on your diNovo Mini keyboard. If you can follow this changes then you are smart enough to find out more by yourself (-:

Open 200060.xml in your favorite texteditor (Notepad++ is an excellent and free choice for XML files, google it). Find the original entry for the button name “MEDIA Center” on the end of the file. Replace the entry with:

<!– Button Name => MEDIA Center –>
<Button Number=”12320781″ Name=”Media”>
<PARAM Type=”HOTKEY” IconLoc=”Devices\\Keyboard\\CommonIcons\\mediacenter” />
<Trigger Class=”ButtonPress”>
<PARAM Button=”12320781″ />
<TriggerState Name=”ButtonDownUp” HandlerSet=”MediaPlayer” HandlerSetGroup=”HotKeysMediaGroupMini” />
</Trigger>
</Button>
</Buttons>

The “IconLoc” parameter changes the icon displayed in the button list in SetPoint. See the directory “C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\All Users\Anwendungsdaten\Logitech\SetPoint\Devices\Keyboard\CommonIcons” for all available icons.

The “HandlerSetGroup” decides which options SetPoint will present to assign to a button (3. Choose Function in the Logitech SetPoint key assign dialog).

After saving your changes (you made a backup before, didn’t you?) open the user.xml and search for the button “Media” at the end of the file. Replace the compelte button section with:

<Button Number=”12320781″ Name=”Media”>
<Param IconLoc=”Devices\Keyboard\CommonIcons\mediacenter” Type=”HOTKEY”/>
<Trigger Class=”ButtonPress”>
<Param Button=”12320781″ FirstRepeatDelay=”0″ RepeatDelay=”0″ Silent=”0″ Type=”0″/>
<TriggerState Name=”ButtonDownUp” HandlerSet=”LaunchProgram”>
<Handler Class=”FileLauncher”>
<Param BrowseType=”1″ FileName=”C:/Meedio/Meedio Ultimate/Meedio.exe” LookupPath=”0″ Name=”Meedio” Parameters=”" ShowUIDlg=”1″ Title=”Programm wählen”/>
</Handler>
</TriggerState>
</Trigger>
</Button>

Save your changes and restart the SetPoint software. Now you should find a new entry with a windows icon for your Media Center button:

These changes can be done with any of the 16 keys in on your diNovo Mini. They may work for sure with other Logitech products also.

I do not understand why Logitech does not implement something like a “Pro-Config-Mode” to let the experienced user decide what he wants to do with his expensive gadjets.

Download: XML diNovo