X10 Community Forum

🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Rocket321off on July 10, 2010, 06:24:56 PM

Title: Starting Macros
Post by: Rocket321off on July 10, 2010, 06:24:56 PM
Why cant other things trigger macros to start? Like time of day.
Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: JMac on July 10, 2010, 09:07:02 PM
OK, now, you do have to read the AHP manual.  It doesn't explain everything, but on Page #27 it does list 4 ways to trigger a macro, one (trigger) of which is a timer.
Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: HA Dave on July 10, 2010, 10:12:02 PM
OK, now, you do have to read the AHP manual.  ........on Page #27

Years ago.. at work.. I bought software that allowed me to covert PDF files to a word file (it was just an OCR software). It could make us all look so cleaver... if we just copied and pasted the information already in the directions/instructions/manuals.

But I think what happens is the manuals can seem to make no sense or be imposable to understand when you don't understand the product. (I couldn't understand the instructions when I first read them.) Then as users start to understand X10... they rarely think to re-read the manuals/directions.

JMac I think your gentile reminder (see page 27) is the HELPFUL and solid advice that makes the community forum work as well as it does. (A Helpful from me).
Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: Brian H on July 11, 2010, 10:07:23 AM
Ther are also tips in the X10 wiki for AHP.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/ActiveHome_Pro
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Smart_Macros
Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: pconroy on July 11, 2010, 11:43:13 AM
But I think what happens is the manuals can seem to make no sense or be imposable to understand when you don't understand the product. (I couldn't understand the instructions when I first read them.) Then as users start to understand X10... they rarely think to re-read the manuals/directions.

I agree - manuals are often written by technical people who come to the task with a lot of knowledge. I know I've struggled with manuals and I'm a nerd.  I'm the type that, when confronted with a issue, I want to open the manual and have it direct me as quickly as possible to an answer.

Others don't mind reading a manual as they would a book - cover to cover.
Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: dave w on July 11, 2010, 04:44:41 PM
I agree with JMac's advice also. This forum is littered with questions that could have been answered by looking at the manual (most X10 instructions are a half page in length...whats the excuse not to read it?).

How many times have we had to tell users that an xxxxEye will send Dawn/Dusk commands on the 'Eye's next sequential address, after they write in whining about modules mysteriously turning on and off.

I think from now on I will just paste the link for the instructions in the Reply and let the OP figure out that the answer is "in the reading"....or is that too "jerky"?

Title: Re: Starting Macros
Post by: Mel99 on July 11, 2010, 10:31:47 PM
Not everybody has the ability to read a manual and instantly comprehend what the writer is saying.  Especially if the reader is new to the product.

I know I can't.  It takes time, experimenting and with luck, some help from understanding people who have been down that particular path before.

I've been told that people envy me because of how quickly I pick up things techy.  If they only knew... all of the wrong directions I go off in, the reams of notes I write and discard, the laying awake at night mulling it over, etc, etc.  Eventually, I start to get it.

Maybe an example of a macro of yours (that works) that uses time as a trigger.  Just sayin'...

BTW, I don't have any.  I use timers but have not had a need to write a macro triggered by time.