|
Last Update: April 12, 2007 |
Group
Commander II for
Insteon
|
|
Screenshots:
|
|
|
|
|
Description
|
Links
|
Downloads
|
|
Group Commander II – Beta |
||
|
Group Commander II |
||
|
Group Commander II |
||
|
Group Commander Help |
Group Commander Help |
|
|
Step by step instructions to use Group Commander to create a group with a ControLinc and two LampLincs. |
Group Commander Tutorial |
|
|
SmartHome Device
Manager |
Version 308, experimental |
|
|
SmartHome Device Manager |
Version 262 Dysfunctional. |
Versions 262 and 268 do not have a functional setuplink. |
|
SmartHome Device Manager |
Version 235, recommended |
|
|
Discuss Group Commander in the AccessHA forums |
group-commander-windows
|
|
|
|
Other Insteon Software |
|
Rand R Fredricksen
Sub-Routine at FredricksenSoftware.US
Copyright 2006
Page Created:
Group Commander was written to allow me to use a Windows PC to create Insteon groups and set lamp levels and ramp rates for those groups.
Introduction:
I began my Insteon adventure with an “Insteon Wireless Lighting Starter Kit” (Now the “Plug-In Dimmer INSTEON Starter Kit”) which meant I had one ControlLinc and two LampLincs, as well as a pair of SignalLincs.
After reaching over the back of the sofa to press Set buttons on LampLincs to create one group for my ControlLinc and two LampLincs I resorted to extension cords and trouble lights to setup three groups for the ControlLinc from the comfort of a chair. When that didn’t translate well to the living groom I wished for a software solution.
Fortunately a software solution was not available.
I had recently acquired a version of PureBasic and I was looking for another use for it.
I bought the Software Developers Kit from SmartHome and began to code Group Commander. The SDK provides a PowerLincController (PLC) and a LampLinc as well as software and documentation to the Insteon language.
So with one PLC, one ControlLinc, and three LampLincs I began to program Group Commander. I have since added two SwitchLincDimmers, a KeypadLinc, and two more LampLincs.
Group Commander will allow you to enter addresses of controllers and responders and Group Commander will write the links to create groups from these devices.
Group Commander will setup links between any Insteon controller and any Insteon responder via a Windows PC and an Insteon PLC.
Group Commander is not a full featured Insteon interface. Group Commander was created to build links between a few LampLincs and a ControlLinc using a Windows PC and an Insteon PLC.
Group Commander will not discover every Insteon device in your home and will not read and save and repair and replace all their links.
Group Commander is designed to create, modify, and write Insteon Groups, through your Windows PC and a PLC for your Insteon controllers and your Insteon responders.
Group Commander does not believe any Insteon will ever fail. However, if one does, you will have to go through the tedious process of resetting all devices grouped with the failed device, adding a new device to replace the failed device, and then waiting until Group Commander concludes one group write before beginning the next. This will take some time, but fortunately you will be able to go about other business while waiting for responses concerning Group Commander.
Group Commander is freeware. No warranties are expressed or implied. Group Commander is used at your own risk. Support for Group Commander is not guaranteed.
Premise:
Create one or more houses. Populate each house with Insteon devices contained in rooms. Create groups by selecting devices from lists. Modify group settings. Write settings to devices. Save and load houses with rooms, devices, and groups.
Requirements:
Microsoft Windows Operating System version 98 or newer.
ATL.dll installed. Included since Windows 2000.
ActiveX 4.0+ installed. Included with Win98/Me and Win2000/XP.
SmartHome Device Manager 235 installed.
PLC connected to computer. Only tested with v1.12.
Install:
Double-click the file “Install_Group_Commander.msi” to install Group Commander.
Start the program by left double-clicking Group Commander.exe or one of GC’s data files (*.igc).
New File:
Build a house.
Name one Home; multiple Homes are currently disabled.
Add rooms to your home.
After you add Rooms you can add Insteon devices to your Rooms; Controllers, Lamps, and Switches.
Add Groups to your home.
Select an Insteon controller for each group.
Select a group number for the controller.
Select Insteon devices for each group by checking the boxes next to the device names.
Edit lamp levels and ramp rates.
Set switches on or off.
Write the Group to the Insteon modules.
Save and read house files.
Future:
Let's get this working 100% first.
Revisions:
Group Commander II
Mainly documentation updates.
More bugs squashed.
Version 1.664
I added an option called Set Local Level. This will allow you to set a lamp to the proper level to set the local ramp rate to a specific time.
The user can now select a generic responder. You can select a switch (on/off) or a dimmable device. This is an enhancement to the online (offline) option.
Controllers finally display their model numbers and descriptions in the edit window if known; this is only an esthetic change.
I believe I finally found the bug that too often limited the popup menu to Rooms. It was a glitch introduced with the implementation of multiple homes. The work-around was to reload the home.
I think I made a few interface improvements, let me know what you desire.
Not released, a weekend of earning money instead of programming.
I added Copy to the home commands. Delete room was not functioning properly.
I corrected a few interface irregularities concerning the online option.
Online option added. Group Commander will allow you to edit your files when the Device Manager is not installed or a PLC is not connected.
Group Commander now sorts Rooms and Groups alphabetically.
Version 2.649
I added a button to query a device for its type rather than doing this automatically.
Renamed any groups numbered 255 to ALL.
The Device Manager has been fixed with version 278!
There is now a welcome window with several options for a new user.
I believe I have the Menus sorted.
Some changes in the Help file.
I created a new website for my software, FredricksenSoftware.US.
Skipped a few revision numbers because I screwed up.
I am still improving GCII.
I have added Print Groups and Save to File for Print Devices and Print Groups. 208 lines (I used Copy Group a few times) on one laser printer page is getting into magnifying glass range [:D] Use Save to File to import the file into Word to create suitable page breaks.
I changed a parameter on a sorting routine because of a crash report that I cannot reproduce. [fingers xed]
If the program is ended and restarted quickly it doesn't find the device manager. I have lost too much time on this, it is a Device Manager fault. GCII will quit and by the time you restart it the DM should have also quit. I don't anticipate users often very quickly restarting GC.
I added a message requester to notify users of the estimated time to complete linking because the program receives a confirmation from the DM long (often several minutes) before the linking is complete.
There is now an option called “Repeat Adds”. This allows users to quickly add all the rooms, controllers, and responders they desire. Deselect this option to add one room or device at a time.
GCII can read a Device Controller file and vice-versa.
GCII now sorts devices by room as they are added.
I added a routine to send a list of controllers and responders to a printer.
The program checks for version 235 of the Device Manager as newer versions are broken.
So many changes I can call this Version 2! I have to refer to this version as a Beta because I am still finding errors and there are more features I would like to add. I would appreciate feedback on this version. Included in the download is a program to convert GC 1 save files to GCII format.
The interface is almost completely new. All the functions have been moved from buttons to menus. I still need to add keyboard shortcuts. There are right button menus for most functions.
Devices are all referred to by their addresses. Names and rooms follow the device address. Groups also refer to devices by their addresses so changing names or rooms still involves the same device. Addresses can be entered in the Insteon dot separated standard or as a 6 digit number.
Every dimmable device allows the user to select between 2 and 256 levels. Default is 32 levels. Relays only allow two levels, Off and On. More levels allow finer control of the lamp level. Dim and brighten only function with the closest of 32 levels.
A completely new method of saving data is used. One file contains a list of Homes. Each Home has files for Rooms, Groups, Controllers, and Responders. Multiple homes are now possible. Homes can be manipulated one at a time. The files are now CSV’s (comma separated values). This will make it easier to add fields when necessary.
I wrote a small program to convert files saved with GC 1.535+ for use with GC 2.567+. Convert Group Commander File (CGCF). This program can be called from the Options menu or run independently.
Save files are created ‘on the fly’. Easy enough when adding or editing homes, rooms, controllers, and devices, but I am having some trouble deciding when to save while editing groups, so for now there is a menu selection to save the groups file.
Devices (switches and dimmers) are now referred to as responders.
SwitchLincs and KeypadLincs are automatically offered as Controllers when added as Responders.
Options menu added.
Repeat Adds option added.
Import Device Controller file added. Use this immediately after naming your home. All GC Rooms and Responders will be erased and the Device Controller Rooms and Responders will be used. Create a New House if you wish to keep existing Rooms and Responders in a separate file.
To-Do:
Print list of devices. In progress. About 30%.
Read current group levels and ramp rates. This should query every device to discover if they belong to a group and what there settings are for that group.
Merge Rooms and Responders from Homes. Back-burner.
Print a group. Shouldn’t take long if I get requests.
Version 2.615
Group Commander II
Made public as a beta on a forum in unicode mode for a foreign user. Didn’t make any difference, AFAIK, the user said GC worked after a reboot.
Group Commander
Some changes to fix the room names in the Group devices listers.
Group Commander can now write groups to KeypadLincs! Many thanks to Bob (bpwwer) on the Insteon SDK forum.
Added Get Level and Set Level to the Lamp Edit Window.
Version 1.550
There is now a self installer file.
A loop has been added to wait for the PLC if it does not respond immediately.
I added some menu items for PLC queries.
Some changes were made to the interface.
Version 1.542
Changed a parameter of the SetupLink command to, hopefully, connect KeypadLincs with Groups besides 1.
Version 1.539:
Added a Rooms Column to the Lamp and Switch lists in Groups.
Added the Room to the Controller name in the ComboBox gadget in Groups.
Changed the Save File format to reflect this, backwards compatable.
Menu Item Help\Webpage added so you can check for updates to Group Commander.
Version 1.529:
Fixed some bugs in the interface when adding KeypadLincs.
On a KeypadLinc only Group 1 can be controlled by Group Commander.
Deleted the Rooms Tooltips because of random program failures.
Enter and Escape keys now Accept or Cancel Device editing.
ToolTips have been added to devices in Groups. When the mouse hovers over a device the Room that device is in will appear.
Rooms and Groups can now be renamed.
Groups can be deleted.
A proper Windows Help file is included.
Group Commander now uses a file extension of IGC.
There are keyboard shortcuts for file operations.
There are now 32 Lamp Level steps instead of 100. The program automatically changes the values from earlier saves.
I made a nice Controller Edit Window.
Controllers now include a Controller Type which dictates the Group Numbers available.
You can Edit each Controller from earlier save files to include this feature.
KeypadLinc 6es may have incorrect Group Numbers because of this.
Since the program apparently doesn’t work with KeypadLincs that shouldn’t be a big problem. L
The program now remembers when data has been modified and prompts the user to save before quitting that file.
Vague program error trap. SDM will remain running if an error kills the program.
No error checking for multiple groups using the same controller\group number.
No error checking for duplicate devices or addresses.
No device address error checking.
Multiple homes not functional. Use New File before Read File.
Innacurate response from PLC after writing groups to devices.
Only tested with ControlLinc, LampLincs, and SwitchLincs.
And Much, Much, More!
Written using PureBasic.