ComfortClient

[juwi_uk]

Hi followers,

I\'m working on the 3.1.6.x release of ComfortClient now after a couple of months bogged down at work and being stationed away in the USA.

The main theme for the next release is support for Dimming etc and what this infers; namely:

* New configurable popup slidebars for those objects that support dimming (or need to change value).
* Slidebars ALSO available as normal floorplan objects and (obviously)used at runtime. Will have lots of configurability as with gauges! Ever fancied changing the volume of your stereo etc! :0)
* New dual state (On/Off) Picture Object, one object 2 images; one each for on off states.
* New tri-state (On/Dim/Off) Picture Object; as above but 3 images respectively. The \"Dim\" object may also be subject to an opacity setting maybe based on the dimming value (have to see how that works in reality)

That\'s the plan I\'m working on anyway and will keep me busy for a couple of months!

Any suggestions then please feel free to feedback.

Julian

[tech07]

Thats very goods expecially multiple image for 1 object. Licking forward to it

[juwi_uk]

.... and not forgetting some other distractions along the way too; thought I\'d better have a way of notifying and downloading updates too so that I could keep up with the \"Comfigurator Jone\'s\" of this world! :0)

Will gently alert in title bar on start-up if updates are available and you can hover over to see the online version published/available. If you like you can use the Menu option to re-check, download and install the update too. Otherwise you can just ignore it an hope it goes away!

Julian

[juwi_uk]

A sneak look at the mechanism for setting multistate objects.

[tech07]

very nice. Look forward to it

[Vangelis]

juwi_uk

Do you know if ComfortClient (.Net) will run on a moderate spec Tablet running Win CE or Linux.

Have been looking at some in-wall devices. What is the minimum spec device I guess.

Vangelis

[juwi_uk]

Hi Vangelis,

I\'m not developing for Linux I\'m afraid.

As for WinCE; is that still around these days.

I\'m thinking that Win8 (not RT) based tablets will be the way to go.

Julian

[Vangelis]

No problem, I am just toying with the idea at the moment. I take your point regarding WinCE

There are some neat in-wall touchscreen\'s around but they can differ on price widely. The lower end tend to run (be able to cope with) older OS\'s

[juwi_uk]

Another new feature you\'ll see in the next release is the introduction of \"placeholders\".

They are defined at runtime and can appear (at the moment though will extend to other places in future) in mouse-over tooltips at runtime; either existing ClickResponse tooltips or the new object level tooltip.

Placeholders are in the format {ObjectName:ObjectProperty,formatspecifier} and appear as the mouse hovers over the object where they are defined.

Formatspecifier is as per http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/...s.71).aspx

Examples:

{Value} -> Value of this object
{ValueString} -> Value of this object after value formats & transforms.
{AnotherObject:Value} -> Another objects value
{AnotherObject:BackColor} -> string representation of colour of the object
{Value,\"x4\"} -> Value expressed in hex.

The \"ObjectName\" is the \"Name\" field in Object Properties in FloorplanEditor. In this release \"FriendlyName\" has been renamed to \"Name\" and tightened up so that in maintains uniqueness and excludes reserved characters. The upgrade fixes any duplicates if existing in legacy floorplans.

The \"ObjectProperty\" can in fact be any property of the object; Visbility, borderstyle, text fonts etc etc so quite flexible but probably you\'ll use just a few in reality.

See the example below showing:
* Static text
* Value
* Value as percentage
* Reference to another objects Value (the temp one also on screenshot)
* Reference to another objects background colour.

Julian

[juwi_uk]

Just a quick blog on where I am with the next (3.1.6.x) release of ComfortClient.

Fixes and new features are shown below and operational in the Betas and I\'m now starting to tidy up some of the \"loose ends\" in the new code for completion.

Regards

Julian

Bug Fixes/Changes

• • Opening FloorplanEditor from within ComfortClient didn’t correctly pass/set the CCLX file in the Editor.
  • [Experimental]: Updated u? decodes to include SWX (H/W not yet released nor format of messages published!).
  • Solid improvements to rendering performance floorplan picture objects.
  • CM command was not decoded (references appeared in “comfortclient.unhandled.log”) as should have been identified as “cm” rather than “CM”.
  • Polled Control Menu updates are now replaced by status driven updates when “cm” responses are available via latest firmware.
  • A “cm” status report with status value “FF” would show as “no status” in the ComfortClient log file.
  • Disconnecting the LAN cable from the PC during a connected session to UCM would cause an endless retry loop. Disconnecting the LAN cable from the UCM end did correctly function though.
  • ComfortClient floorplan backgrounds flickered on main application resize if the background was an image (solid colour backgrounds were OK).
  • Object types for X10 did not correctly set the Object ID in floorplan Editor Object Properties.
  • Change of ClickResponse Infrared Type properties didn’t dirty the change flag.
  • Play of a sound could cause an exception under certain circumstances. This would be trapped internally (invisible to UI) but sound would not play.
  • Log files are now written in Unicode; needed for future compatibility with Obfuscation.
  • FloorplanEditor rulers refreshed strangely on load of a new floorplan.
  • DoubleClick an item in Editor Search results to open the Object Properties window.
  • Options to run (or not) ComfortClient post installation are now added to the Installer. The default is to start ComfortClient which would be useful if you have invoked the installation via the “Check for Update” button in the already open ComfortClient UI.
  • FloorplanEditor blank window will now open at last screen (including multi screen) location.
  • ComfortClient Window size is now shown in the Status bar.
  • Smartfit Tab & Configuration are removed from the UI if no Smartfit UCM is found.
  • Home Control and Custom Tabs now redesigned:
  • o Now remembers last expanded state during refresh.
    o Now preserve highlighted node when other Tabs selected.
    o Select and double-click to action directly in tree. Execute buttons thus removed.
    o Tooltips show Response/Description when hover over entries
    
  • The Home Control Tree was not correctly rebuilt if the CCLX file was changed from the Main Menu; tree items could include those from the previous CCLX as clear down was not complete.
  • The CCLX file can now be changed whilst signed in or connected.
  • Dropdown Tooltip on Connection Info Status dropdown (Connection Tab) did not position correctly for long lists. The tooltip is now anchored to the dropdowns base location. The tooltip also now wraps if the string is long.
  • Picture Preview (Large and Small versions) now incorporates other attributes; border, opacity, rounding etc
  • System Info would only display discovered data for modules that were also defined in the CCLX file. Now will display any newly discovered items as well.
  • Sensor Response decodes may have incorrectly reported window activity and log entries for plugins object types.
  • Single state objects (“Off”, “On”) now report to log file and activity tab logs for any reported state; previously they’d only showed for a decoded value matching that state; ie if object state was “Off” on a “Zone” object you’d only get a log entry for a received value of zero (0) and nothing for one (1).
  • A Tooltip is now shown on an EventLog item if the value is longer than the available line length.
  • Various ongoing code refactoring for code clarity and performance.
  

New Features

• • New Online Update Checker added to Menu in ComfortClient & FloorplanEditor. Checks for latest version online when the application starts and will show discretely in the title bar if any are available.
  • Multi-state Picture Objects are now supported:
  • o COUNTER decodes support “Off/On/Ramp” state - 3 Images
    o All other valid Picture decodes support “Off/On” state – 2 Images
    
  • Label Objects for Comfort Counter Types now allow the same “states” as pictures plus an additional “RAMP” state. This is important as these NOW control whether the label is displayed or not. Visibility can still also be set by a condition and if set this condition will override the STATE setting. This change reflects the “special status” that Comfort Counters have in reporting the status of external devices (such as lighting) and to make the display of pictures and labels more aware of these states.
  • New Object Tooltip; will show on mouse hover (incl. different cursor) of the object at runtime. Will be superseded by a ClickResponse Tooltip if necessary.
  • ClickResponse (and Object) Tooltips can now be created (at design time) with embedded placeholders which will be replaced at runtime with the referenced attribute/property. Placeholders take the form {ObjectName:ObjectProperty, “FormatSpecifier”,”SpecialFlags”}. The “FormatSpecifier” is optional as is the object name (assumed to be current object if omitted). “ObjectName” is the “Name” field on the object which now must be unique and not contain spaces or any reserved characters; curly brackets, colon or comma. More on this in the help documentation. More on format specifiers can be found at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/...s.71).aspx.
  Examples:
  • o {Value} – Value of current object
    o {OfficeLamp:Value,”X4”} – Shows the property “Value” on object “OfficeLamp” in uppercase hexadecimal format padded to 4 bytes.
    o {KitchenDoor:Value} – Shows the property “Value” on object “KitchenDoor”.
    o {FrontDoor:Value,”P2”,”/N”} – Shows the property “Value” on object “FrontDoor” as a percentage to 2 decimal places and the “/N” switch forces to numeric chars only in the result (otherwise the “%” symbol would be added).
    
  • New Monitor window (floating) in FloorplanEditor for messages and errors (similar to monitor panel in ComfortClient but as a floating window).
  • New (per object) customisable Trackbar slider at runtime for objects that include RAMP state. Customisable 70+ properties can be changed from the default if required.
  • Support for B? & CS Responses.
  • ControlPad (and Tabs) now scale vertically as the main window is resized.
  • New splitter feature to enable change of Right-hand panel (Keypad/ControlPad) width. ControlPad Tabs either resize or are centre justified if fixed content. Keypad (fixed content) will auto centre at the top of the window. Splitter state is preserved on exit.