Android: What happened to Rules? Also push problems

  • 217 Views
  • Last Post 09 December 2013
MadSci posted this 03 December 2013

Love the look of the new app and new widget features!

Are you going to bring back the ability to toggle Rules from the app? That was a nice feature. Or, is there an alternative way to toggle rules? I've always thought incorporating rules into scenes would be nice. Eg. "Home Away" scene turns off lights and toggles on rule that emails alert message when front door is opened. While I'm wishing for things, I'd love to be able to see the device log (historical data) accessible on the app.

Also, I can't seem to get push working to show device status (real or virtual) on the widget. When I add the widget to the home screen, it has the correct status (eg. light is on) but then it never updates when the status changes but the toggle/button works (eg toggle light to off). I have the push ID entered in the server application and the devices have push updates enabled. Am I missing another step? I am running 4.3.1 (Cyanogen Mod).

Actually, we are doing just that: Scenes are taking over for rules. There are scene triggers and conditions. With those you can do everything you can do in rules. For that reason we left it out of the new app. If you need any tips on how to go about converting things over to triggers, just let us know.

As for the new wish list history detail, please drop us a new feature request at our UserVoice portal.

Will you open up a case for your push id problem? You can do that at the UV portal linked above; please include your push id so we can dig in a little bit deeper.



Ryan - Ok.

WRT to scenes taking over rules, will you eventually add the ability to enable/disable scene activation from the phone app? For example, I have a scene for security that triggers if the front or garage door is opened. It sends a SMS and records security camera footage at a preset position. I would like to be able to enable/disable this scene manually based on whether I am home or on vacation. I eventually plan to toggle enable/disable the security scene when there is a change in GPS proximity or Wifi (home domain) status on my phone. I think this is possible with event ghost. That way, I'm not setting off my own "alarm".


Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes
Ryan-Scott posted this 03 December 2013

Love the look of the new app and new widget features!

Are you going to bring back the ability to toggle Rules from the app? That was a nice feature. Or, is there an alternative way to toggle rules? I've always thought incorporating rules into scenes would be nice. Eg. "Home Away" scene turns off lights and toggles on rule that emails alert message when front door is opened. While I'm wishing for things, I'd love to be able to see the device log (historical data) accessible on the app.

Also, I can't seem to get push working to show device status (real or virtual) on the widget. When I add the widget to the home screen, it has the correct status (eg. light is on) but then it never updates when the status changes but the toggle/button works (eg toggle light to off). I have the push ID entered in the server application and the devices have push updates enabled. Am I missing another step? I am running 4.3.1 (Cyanogen Mod).


Actually, we are doing just that: Scenes are taking over for rules. There are scene triggers and conditions. With those you can do everything you can do in rules. For that reason we left it out of the new app. If you need any tips on how to go about converting things over to triggers, just let us know.

As for the new wish list history detail, please drop us a new feature request at our UserVoice portal.

Will you open up a case for your push id problem? You can do that at the UV portal linked above; please include your push id so we can dig in a little bit deeper.

Ryan-Scott posted this 03 December 2013

Love the look of the new app and new widget features!

Are you going to bring back the ability to toggle Rules from the app? That was a nice feature. Or, is there an alternative way to toggle rules? I've always thought incorporating rules into scenes would be nice. Eg. "Home Away" scene turns off lights and toggles on rule that emails alert message when front door is opened. While I'm wishing for things, I'd love to be able to see the device log (historical data) accessible on the app.

Also, I can't seem to get push working to show device status (real or virtual) on the widget. When I add the widget to the home screen, it has the correct status (eg. light is on) but then it never updates when the status changes but the toggle/button works (eg toggle light to off). I have the push ID entered in the server application and the devices have push updates enabled. Am I missing another step? I am running 4.3.1 (Cyanogen Mod).


Ok, we looked into this Push problem. To make a long explanation short, we can't support both the free Android app AND the paid Android app from the same cloud relay server unless we setup a second server. In light of this, we decided that the paid customers should get priority at the current time, so anyone with the paid Android app will be able to use the push Ids and receive status updates. To be clear, the "toggle" feature will still work in the free app, you just won't receive and display status updates.

MadSci posted this 04 December 2013

Love the look of the new app and new widget features!

Are you going to bring back the ability to toggle Rules from the app? That was a nice feature. Or, is there an alternative way to toggle rules? I've always thought incorporating rules into scenes would be nice. Eg. "Home Away" scene turns off lights and toggles on rule that emails alert message when front door is opened. While I'm wishing for things, I'd love to be able to see the device log (historical data) accessible on the app.

Also, I can't seem to get push working to show device status (real or virtual) on the widget. When I add the widget to the home screen, it has the correct status (eg. light is on) but then it never updates when the status changes but the toggle/button works (eg toggle light to off). I have the push ID entered in the server application and the devices have push updates enabled. Am I missing another step? I am running 4.3.1 (Cyanogen Mod).

Actually, we are doing just that: Scenes are taking over for rules. There are scene triggers and conditions. With those you can do everything you can do in rules. For that reason we left it out of the new app. If you need any tips on how to go about converting things over to triggers, just let us know.

As for the new wish list history detail, please drop us a new feature request at our UserVoice portal.

Will you open up a case for your push id problem? You can do that at the UV portal linked above; please include your push id so we can dig in a little bit deeper.



Ryan - Ok.

WRT to scenes taking over rules, will you eventually add the ability to enable/disable scene activation from the phone app? For example, I have a scene for security that triggers if the front or garage door is opened. It sends a SMS and records security camera footage at a preset position. I would like to be able to enable/disable this scene manually based on whether I am home or on vacation. I eventually plan to toggle enable/disable the security scene when there is a change in GPS proximity or Wifi (home domain) status on my phone. I think this is possible with event ghost. That way, I'm not setting off my own "alarm".


Ryan-Scott posted this 04 December 2013


Ryan - Ok.

WRT to scenes taking over rules, will you eventually add the ability to enable/disable scene activation from the phone app? For example, I have a scene for security that triggers if the front or garage door is opened. It sends a SMS and records security camera footage at a preset position. I would like to be able to enable/disable this scene manually based on whether I am home or on vacation. I eventually plan to toggle enable/disable the security scene when there is a change in GPS proximity or Wifi (home domain) status on my phone. I think this is possible with event ghost. That way, I'm not setting off my own "alarm".




You actually don't need to disable a scene. You could create a Virtual device that controls your "alarm" state and use it as a condition in your security scene. For example, here's how I use it in my own security system: http://incontrolha.com/recipes/recipe/2

NFOtte posted this 04 December 2013

Love the look of the new app and new widget features!

Are you going to bring back the ability to toggle Rules from the app? That was a nice feature. Or, is there an alternative way to toggle rules? I've always thought incorporating rules into scenes would be nice. Eg. "Home Away" scene turns off lights and toggles on rule that emails alert message when front door is opened. While I'm wishing for things, I'd love to be able to see the device log (historical data) accessible on the app.

Also, I can't seem to get push working to show device status (real or virtual) on the widget. When I add the widget to the home screen, it has the correct status (eg. light is on) but then it never updates when the status changes but the toggle/button works (eg toggle light to off). I have the push ID entered in the server application and the devices have push updates enabled. Am I missing another step? I am running 4.3.1 (Cyanogen Mod).

Ok, we looked into this Push problem. To make a long explanation short, we can't support both the free Android app AND the paid Android app from the same cloud relay server unless we setup a second server. In light of this, we decided that the paid customers should get priority at the current time, so anyone with the paid Android app will be able to use the push Ids and receive status updates. To be clear, the "toggle" feature will still work in the free app, you just won't receive and display status updates.


Ok, that explains why I'm seeing "Push Id: - valid in paid Android app - " all of a sudden. Is there an ETA on when the free app will get the functionality back?

Additionally, if there's no difference between the free and paid Android app versions, why not move everyone to the free version and turn the Paid version into a "key" app for those who bought it?

Ryan-Scott posted this 05 December 2013


Ok, that explains why I'm seeing "Push Id: - valid in paid Android app - " all of a sudden. Is there an ETA on when the free app will get the functionality back?

Additionally, if there's no difference between the free and paid Android app versions, why not move everyone to the free version and turn the Paid version into a "key" app for those who bought it?


There's no ETA at the moment. We are using a 3rd party push provider to make implementation easier and to support both iOS and Android pushes using the same server. We plan to be able to push alerts to your phone as well which is where the 3rd party provider makes this a breeze. The only unfortunate part is that there's a fee involved, so this may forever be a paid version feature, though the idea is still on the table.

NFOtte posted this 05 December 2013

OK, if that is the case, can the documentation, both here and on the Play store, make that distinction?

Ryan-Scott posted this 05 December 2013

OK, if that is the case, can the documentation, both here and on the Play store, make that distinction?


Yes - we did already update the Play store description. We hadn't yet updated the thread about the differences though, so I'll get to that now.

MadSci posted this 07 December 2013


Ryan - Ok.

WRT to scenes taking over rules, will you eventually add the ability to enable/disable scene activation from the phone app? For example, I have a scene for security that triggers if the front or garage door is opened. It sends a SMS and records security camera footage at a preset position. I would like to be able to enable/disable this scene manually based on whether I am home or on vacation. I eventually plan to toggle enable/disable the security scene when there is a change in GPS proximity or Wifi (home domain) status on my phone. I think this is possible with event ghost. That way, I'm not setting off my own "alarm".




You actually don't need to disable a scene. You could create a Virtual device that controls your "alarm" state and use it as a condition in your security scene. For example, here's how I use it in my own security system: http://incontrolha.com/recipes/recipe/2


Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. Is it possible to use the dimmer virtual device for thermostat temperature control? I.e, make a dimmer(slider) control widget to adjust the thermostat setpoint?

O.Baenziger posted this 09 December 2013


Ryan - Ok.

WRT to scenes taking over rules, will you eventually add the ability to enable/disable scene activation from the phone app? For example, I have a scene for security that triggers if the front or garage door is opened. It sends a SMS and records security camera footage at a preset position. I would like to be able to enable/disable this scene manually based on whether I am home or on vacation. I eventually plan to toggle enable/disable the security scene when there is a change in GPS proximity or Wifi (home domain) status on my phone. I think this is possible with event ghost. That way, I'm not setting off my own "alarm".




You actually don't need to disable a scene. You could create a Virtual device that controls your "alarm" state and use it as a condition in your security scene. For example, here's how I use it in my own security system: http://incontrolha.com/recipes/recipe/2

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. Is it possible to use the dimmer virtual device for thermostat temperature control? I.e, make a dimmer(slider) control widget to adjust the thermostat setpoint?


RULES: I used them also a lot to enable or disable a Scene over the Handy. We could now use a virtual switch as a condition. (Since virtual switch even works now in InControl 3.53 ) What I don't understand is why i can not use it in AND condition, so for instance a scene is activated if a control-switch is on AND a motion sensor is triggered. or do I miss something? if its not possible in a contition statement i would modify for instance the "EmailSceneStatusReport.cs"
with an IF Staement: "IF control-switch1 is on THEN" I only would need some Help to define the Switch correctly in the IF-statement. Can somebody help ?

Ryan-Scott posted this 09 December 2013


RULES: I used them also a lot to enable or disable a Scene over the Handy. We could now use a virtual switch as a condition. (Since virtual switch even works now in InControl 3.53 ) What I don't understand is why i can not use it in AND condition, so for instance a scene is activated if a control-switch is on AND a motion sensor is triggered. or do I miss something? if its not possible in a contition statement i would modify for instance the "EmailSceneStatusReport.cs"
with an IF Staement: "IF control-switch1 is on THEN" I only would need some Help to define the Switch correctly in the IF-statement. Can somebody help ?


In this case, you could create a Device Trigger that watches the motion sensor. When it detects motion, it attempts to activate the scene. Add a "Device at State" condition that requires the control-switch to be ON. If motion happens and the control-switch is off, the scene activation will be aborted.

O.Baenziger posted this 09 December 2013

OK this is what you explained in your "incontrolha.com/recipes/recipe/2"
I had to read it again and again until I realized that I have to remove the rule which had activated the scene before !

Close