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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Topic started by: huntco on August 08, 2006, 07:53:10 PM

Title: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: huntco on August 08, 2006, 07:53:10 PM
First, I'm assuming the cmdhst.xx (00, 01, 02, etc.) files in C:\Windows\All Users (Win98) are the "activity monitor log" files for ActiveHome Pro.  Unfortunately, they're not plain text.  Before I go hacking around trying to decipher them, has anyone else come across the format / a decoder?
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 08, 2006, 09:47:23 PM
Apparently, there aren't any. No word processor, Wordpad or Notepad will display them. Why do you even want to edit them?
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: huntco on August 09, 2006, 09:52:50 AM
I don't care about editing them.  I want to dump them to a database, extract certain records (ie: motion sensors), do some correlations, trend analysis, etc.  All I'm after is the data in a readable / legible format.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 09, 2006, 10:47:05 AM
Apparently, they are in a proprietary format of X10, not any standard one.  You can't extract any of the data in them to anything, database, word processor or anything else.

Perhaps X10 Pro would like to explain to us about the cmdhst.xx log file format. Apparently, every time you do something in AHP, one is created.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: TakeTheActive on August 09, 2006, 12:09:07 PM
I don't care about editing them.  I want to dump them to a database, extract certain records (ie: motion sensors), do some correlations, trend analysis, etc.  All I'm after is the data in a readable / legible format.

ActiveHome [Original] (CM11A) had an 'accessory' program that converted the contents of the LOG file to readable text (you created a shortcut for the 'accessory' program and then dragged the LOG file over it). I just took a quick look on my current HA PC (Toshiba 550CDT) and couldn't find it. So, later on, I'll power up the old Toshiba 430CDT and take a look at my fileserver and see if I can find it. [Unless another "Old-Timer" knows what I'm talking about and already has it handy. ;) ]

Now, this is *ALL* based on the 'assumption' that the format remained the same - [HA!  :o ] - but, if 'they' created one for the CM11A, ?maybe? there's one floating around for the CM15A? <insert "Wishful Thinking" smilie here>
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: huntco on August 09, 2006, 01:27:47 PM
Well, I found x10log.exe at ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/applications/activehome/x10log.exe from a thread (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=7901.0).  It would appear that the log format is different enough that the CM11A log decoder will not correctly decode CM15A logs. :(
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: steven r on August 09, 2006, 01:48:48 PM
Have you posted a message to X10 Pro?
If there was one for the CM11A, there should be on for the CM15A.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: TakeTheActive on August 09, 2006, 03:01:42 PM
Have you posted a message to X10 Pro?

MIA past few weeks...  :(

Last Active:  2006-07-19, 18:32:13
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 09, 2006, 04:56:05 PM
Just sent him an e-mail. We'll see if an e-mail response is recived and if he posts in this thread.
Title: How to Create Non-XML (TXT) Versions of ActiveHome Pro Reports
Post by: Oldtimer on August 09, 2006, 10:13:55 PM
How to Create Non-XML (TXT) Versions of ActiveHome Pro Reports
Oldtimer
[/b]
I haven't used this trick in years, and never in XP, so I just tried it and it worked!  I hope I can explain it clearly.  By the way, this trick works on all kinds of files that have proprietary formats but are read by display programs with a print capability. 


This will produce an ASCII file on your desktop (I have no idea why it's on the desktop).  If you check the properties of this file, you'll find out where XP actually put it.  Once you have it located, open the file in Wordpad and you will see a very neat text display of the data in the Activity Monitor.  For sophisticated analysis bring the file into your word processor or your spread sheet program. 

I've attached a sample 'Activitiy Monitor Text File' that was generated using the XP Generic Text Printer.  It will open in Notepad, but looks better in Wordpad.

Good luck!


[TTA Edit: Re-formatted into a LIST; Combined posts; Added 'Sample' attachment]
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: steven r on August 09, 2006, 10:24:54 PM
...this trick works on all kinds of files that have proprietary formats but are read by display programs with a print capability....
That cool! I wish I could bookmark your message! I guess I'll just need to rely on the search function if I ever need to use it.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Charles Sullivan on August 09, 2006, 10:35:59 PM
steven r:
You can always "cut and paste" to make a file in your "X10_Tips&Tricks" directory.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: steven r on August 09, 2006, 10:43:50 PM
...You can always "cut and paste" to make a file in your "X10_Tips&Tricks" directory.
I just "cut, pasted and edited" an email to myself. I then moved the message to my email saved folder. That way I'll always have it with me.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: TakeTheActive on August 09, 2006, 10:49:51 PM
That cool! I wish I could bookmark your message!

Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 09, 2006, 11:48:04 PM
I haven't used this trick in years and never in XP so I just tried it and it worked.  I hope I can explain it clearly.  By the way this trick works on all kinds of files that have proprietary formats but are read by display programs with a print capability.  First go into control panel and select printers. Next start the wizard to add a new printer.  The port for the printer will be "file".  It doesn't need to be shared.  The brand name will be "Generic" and the model number will be "text only".  Before you display the Activity Monitor make your Generic/Text Only printer the default printer.  This is necessary because the print function in the Activity Monitor display automatically prints to the default printer.  Select print and you will be prompted for a file name.  Enter it and finish printing.  This will produce an ASCII file on your desktop (I have no idea why it's on the desktop).  If you check the properties of this file you'll find out where XP actually put it.  Once you have it located open the file in wordpad and you will see a very neat text display of the data in the Activity Monitor.  For sophisticated analysis bring the file into your word processor or your spread sheet program.  Good luck!

Tried it under WinXP and there was nothing in the text file it created that was useful, just line after line of 1/01 0000.  So after posting this, I will delete the file.
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: TakeTheActive on August 10, 2006, 07:38:15 AM
...there was nothing in the text file it created that was useful, just line after line of 1/01 0000.

That looks like what ActiveHome [Original] puts in the Communications Log when it's full.

Did you try resetting the log?
Title: Activity Monitor
Post by: dlflannery on August 15, 2006, 01:34:06 PM
Sorry for the simplistic question but I would like to know the basics of how the activity log works when disconnected from the AHP program/computer.  Does the 15 interface store the last so-many events, or the last so many minutes/hours of events or what?  I set up a timed macro last night to trigger this morning (about 7 hours later) and then shut down the program and the computer.  The macro triggered and did what it was supposed to do at the correct time -- BUT the activity monitor showed nothing anywhere near that time when I started up AHP and viewed it???

I have searched everywhere I can think of for just a basic description of the activity log functions, limitations and settings.  Have found nothing.  Where should I be looking?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Oldtimer on August 17, 2006, 11:15:30 AM
It appears that the CM15A remembers the last eight events it handled while the USB cable was disconnected from your PC or your PC was turned off.  These are put into your Activity Log when you reconnect the USB cable or power up your PC.  The problem is that regardless of when they occurred they are time and date stamped with the date and time of the reconnection.  This is what I'm seeing in my installation.  Others may be getting a different result.
Title: Activity History basics
Post by: dlflannery on August 17, 2006, 02:36:55 PM
It appears that the CM15A remembers the last eight events it handled while it was disconnected from your PC or your PC was turned off.  These are put into your Activity Log when you reconnect or power up your PC.  The problem is that regardless of when they occurred they are time and date stamped with the date and time of the reconnection.  This is what I'm seeing in my installation.  Others may be getting a different result.
Thanks Oldtimer,
After my post on this I was told by X10 technical support that events that occur when the computer is running (even if AHP is NOT running) are logged.  I've done a few experiments that seem to verify this.   I believe this behavior requires that a "service" be running whenever you boot up, and indeed there is an X10 service listed in my list of services (Windows XP).  In fact I have twice had messages when I shut down my computer that this service created a memory access error. ???
Dave
Title: Re: cmdhst.xx log file format
Post by: Tuicemen on November 25, 2006, 03:20:01 PM
Tried it under WinXP and there was nothing in the text file it created that was useful, just line after line of 1/01 0000.  So after posting this, I will delete the file.
Dan, TTA is probly right!
That looks like what ActiveHome [Original] puts in the Communications Log when it's full.

Did you try resetting the log?

I just tested this And it does work!

Heres what my (Small) log displayed using notepad! and using wordpad
Note:  wordpad is cleaner!as Oldtimer  reported