Need help.. to make a macro to announce what sensor is triggered

[calldrin]

I have a DS7000 security center and  CM15A running AHP.
How do I make a macro to tell me which sensor has been triggered and announce using a voice message?
ie: kitchen door, front door etc. and then "say" the  identity of the sensor?
Can this be done and if so, can you provide a example "code" of what I need to do?
Where do I get the audio files if needed?
Do I need "BVC" or some other program to handle the audio?

Thank you,
Chuck

[HA Dave]

Do I need "BVC" or some other program to handle the audio?

Being that I am a huge fan of BVC... it breaks my heart to say NO... you don't NEED BVC. Wav files can be played using batch (bat.) files... I believe... right in AHP (I don't know how to do that). PC Companion can do that as well... and there are some free programs available that can do that also.

However... IMHO.. nothing works as easy or as well as BVC for Voice Announcements. If you have absolutely no desire or plans to ever Voice Command your setup.... BVC is still worth having as part of your Home Automation... for all the other many things it does. INCLUDING... speaking clear, near human sounding voice announcements. I have a ton of examples of how I use BVCs announcements at my YouTube Channel.

If you download the Free trial at Bill's Web Site (along with the speech SDK and net framework if you don't already have that on your PC) you should find the software pretty simple and easy. Register your security (DS10A) door/window sensor in AHP and assign it a fake or dummy module. When the DS10A is opened (triggered) it will turn the module ON.. (closed OFF). The in BVC setup up a listener for that module. You will be able to have a Voice announcement (just type in what you want BVC to say) or select a sound wav... from anywhere on your hard drive.

[Bob99]

Although BVC is a great program, for something this simple a BAT file is sufficient. All you need to do is install the sensor in AHP, then create a macro that is triggered using that sensor. In the macro you will use the "Execute Windows Program" option to call a BAT file. The BAT file will execute mplay32.exe to play the WAV file of the speech you desire. You can create the WAV file at this site:

http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

The BAT file would look like this:

@echo off
mplay32.exe /play /close c:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro\garagedoor.wav

I have attached an example of the macro.

Bob

[calldrin]

Thanks so much for the GREAT help ;-)  This is going to get me going in the right direction!

Keep the ideas coming.
Chuck

Although BVC is a great program, for something this simple a BAT file is sufficient. All you need to do is install the sensor in AHP, then create a macro that is triggered using that sensor. In the macro you will use the "Execute Windows Program" option to call a BAT file. The BAT file will execute mplay32.exe to play the WAV file of the speech you desire. You can create the WAV file at this site:

http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

The BAT file would look like this:

@echo off
mplay32.exe /play /close c:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro\garagedoor.wav

I have attached an example of the macro.

Bob

[calldrin]

Bob thanks for the info.
I  have made a "BAT" file like you said and it almost works.
When the sensor is triggered, it launches and runs the media Player but it does not play the audio unless I click the icon arrow to play. Then the sound works fine.
So there is something missing to start the actual playing of the sound.
Can you give me any ideas?
Also will the  macro be able to clear/reset itself so other audio macros can also run?

Chuck
Chico, CA

Although BVC is a great program, for something this simple a BAT file is sufficient. All you need to do is install the sensor in AHP, then create a macro that is triggered using that sensor. In the macro you will use the "Execute Windows Program" option to call a BAT file. The BAT file will execute mplay32.exe to play the WAV file of the speech you desire. You can create the WAV file at this site:

http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

The BAT file would look like this:

@echo off
mplay32.exe /play /close c:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro\garagedoor.wav

I have attached an example of the macro.

Bob

[Bob99]

Hi Chuck, did you put a space between the parameters as shown in the example? Should be a space after the mplay32.exe, another after the word play and before the slash, and one after the word close and before the drive letter. Also it is best to keep the BAT file and WAV file in the same directory (c:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro).

The Macro will execute and close so another can run

Bob                 

[calldrin]

Ah   yes, yes,  that was the problem ;-)
WOW thanks so much.
I switched from windows (after 20 + yrs.) to a Mac and I forgot how to do things on a PC ;-(
It now works fine.

Chuck

Hi Chuck, did you put a space between the parameters as shown in the example? Should be a space after the mplay32.exe, another after the word play and before the slash, and one after the word close and before the drive letter. Also it is best to keep the BAT file and WAV file in the same directory (c:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro).

The Macro will execute and close so another can run

Bob