Visual Home CommanderTM
 

Visual Home Commander is an easy to use interface for use with the X10 FireCracker device.  The FireCracker can be purchased from www.x10.com.  Visual Home Commander combines Groups & Macros along with standard controls to help you in your everyday use of the FireCracker device (refer to installation directions that came with your FireCracker for further information.)

Choose a topic below for menu

Main Form Window
Communication Port Setup
Record Group
Record Macro
Timers
 
 

Visit our web site at http://vhcommander.com

Please send question or suggestions to feedback@vhcommander.com.
Or use the form here: http://vhcommander.com/contact.htm#Feedback

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Main Form Window   (General)
All Lights On
All Lights Off
All Off
Expand
Timers
Help
Macros
Setup
Exit
ON and OFF
Labels
Bright and Dim
House Code
Shift "1/8 - 9/16"
Group ON and OFF
Group Labels
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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Record Group  (General)
How to Record a Group
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 TOP   Use the "Back" button to return
Record Macro  (General)
How to Record a Macro
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 TOP    Use the "Back" button to return
Timers (General)
How to Setup Timers
Setup a Loop Timer
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 TOP    Use the "Back" button to return


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Main Form Window     RETURN   TOP

Visual Home Commander is designed to be easy to work with.  Most of the button functions are easy to learn and easy to work with.  The main form window is made to resemble a remote control.  Once you have set up the communication port to work with your FireCracker, you may simply set the house code to one you are using and click on the command buttons that correspond with the devices in your home.
 

All Lights On     RETURN
 The "All Lights On" button will turn ON all Lamp modules set to the same house code that the program is set to.  Appliance modules are not affected by this command.

All Lights Off     RETURN
 This command turns OFF all Lamp modules and some appliance modules set to the program's house code.  Higher quality Appliance modules and Transceiver modules are not affected by this command.

All Off      RETURN
 This is the All Units Off command.  All modules set to the program's house code are turned off.

Expand     RETURN
 This button expands the main form window to show the groups and allows their use.  The command buttons to setup groups and macros are also in this expanded area.

Timers     RETURN
 Select this button to enable the timers that you have set up.  Un-select it to disable the timers.  When the timers are on, the button will display "Timers (on)", when the timers are off, the button will display "Timers (off)".  More information can be obtained from the Timer Setup window.

Macros     RETURN
 Pressing this button opens a small menu window that holds all the Macros you have created.  To Run your macro, double click on its name.  The menu may be closed by right clicking its window.

Help     RETURN
 Opens this help document

Setup      RETURN
 Clicking this button opens a popup menu of setup options.  The menu has links to open the "Setup Group", "Setup Macro", "Setup Timer", "Setup Quick (Panic) Button", "Preferences", and "Communication Port".  If you have the macro editor installed, you will also have the option "Macro Editor".

Exit      RETURN
 Clicking this button will close the Visual Home Commander program.

ON and OFF     RETURN
 These buttons turn the modules ON or OFF according to the label number of the set used.

Labels     RETURN
 The labels (numbered and located to the right of the ON and OFF buttons) are where you can name the modules set to that number.  To change a label:
  1)  Double click on the label
  2)  Type in the desired name
  3)  Press the "ENTER" key to save the label.  If the "ENTER" key is not pressed, the label will not be updated!

Bright and Dim     RETURN
 These buttons do not have a name on them.  They are the light blue buttons directly below the ON and OFF buttons.  The button with the UP arrow will send a "Bright" command to the last module (house code and unit code) used.  The button with the DOWN arrow will send a "Dim" command to the last module used.  If a group button, all lights button, or the all off button was used last, these commands have no effect.
 To Dim a light, click the command to turn it on first, and then click the Dim button.  To Brighten it, click the Bright button.

House Code     RETURN
 Here is where you select the House Code that the units in your home are set to.  Visual Home Commander will work with any of the 16 house codes as long as you have a transceiver for that code.  The House Code may be set by simply typing the correct letter while the drop down box is selected, OR you can scroll to the desired code.

Shift "1/8 - 9/16"     RETURN
 The Shift is a selector switch located under the labels.  Only 8 of the 16 units are displayed at any given time, and the Shift will change the displayed units from 1 through 8 to 9 through 16 or vice versa.

Group ON and OFF     RETURN
 These buttons are used to turn ON or OFF the group of units that you have saved as a Group.

Group Labels     RETURN
This is where the names created by the user are stored.  The labels can only be changed from the "Setup Groups " window.  You can view this window by pressing the "Setup Groups" button on the expanded main window.

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Setup Quick (Panic) Button      RETURN
 Clicking this button opens a window that allows you to set your preferences on how the Quick (Panic) button operates and appears.  The panic button will turn on the "group" of your choice for a length of time that you specify in this window.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferences     RETURN
 This option allows you to turn the "Tool Tips" on or off, show the "Quick (Panic) Button" and show the "Group Auto Off Delay Buttons".  The "Group Auto off Delay Buttons" allow you to turn a group on, and have it turn off automatically after a "delay time" that you set when the button is pressed.

There is also a "Minimize sends to Tray" option, "Minimize on Start" option and an "Associate Macro Files" option that will allow you to run a macro by simply double clicking on it's icon in any regular window.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Communication Port Setup    RETURN     TOP

 To set the communication port (com port), click on the Setup button on the main form window. If you know what com port your FireCracker is installed on, select the port by clicking your mouse on the port # in the Setup window.  If you are unsure of which port you are using, you may try them all.  Start by selecting Com Port 1.  Next, click on apply and then click a button on the main window that you know is setup in your home (be sure you have the house code set correctly).  Continue with Com Port 2 and 3 and so on, until you find the correct port.  Then click ok and the setup window will close.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Macro Recorder     RETURN   TOP

 Macros are used to send commands at user selected time intervals.  A macro may contain any of the commands from the main window, but may NOT contain any group commands.  Each command in a macro may be delayed by as much as 999 seconds, or as little as .30 second.  When recording a macro, keep in mind that when you set the delay, you are setting the delay AFTER the button pressed (you are setting the delay BEFORE the next command will take place).  You should plan how you want your macro to run before you begin.

Please note:  If using less than .75 seconds in a macro, you should carefully test the macro to make sure that pause time will work in your location.  In many houses, short pause times will work.

Record Macro     RETURN   TOP

To Record a Macro:

 1)  Click on the "Expand" button on the main form to expand the window.

 2)  Click on the "Setup Macro" button on the lower right-hand part of the main form window.  This will open a new window called "Setup Macros".  This window is divided into 2 sections, one for testing your macro, and the other to record your macro.  You should move the "Setup Macro" and main windows so that you can easily see both on the screen.

3)  Click on the "Rec." button.  The "Rec." button will stay pressed and becomes a "Stop" button.  You are now ready to start recording your macro.

 4)  Press the command button on the main window that you want to start first.  A small window will pop up asking you to enter the time (pause time) before the next command is to start.  Keep in mind that the time you enter has nothing to do with the command button you just pressed, but instead is the time before the next command will start.

5)  Continue pressing the desired command buttons on the main window and entering pause times until you have your macro setup the way you want it.  If you make a mistake,you can back up one command at a time by using the "Back" button or you can start over by clicking the "Start Over" button.

 6)  Press the "Save" button on the "Setup Macros" window.  A "Save Macro As" dialog box will open.  Give the macro a name that makes sense for the contents and press "Save" on the dialog box.  You may now test the macro 'without' the time delays (pause time) by clicking the macro name and then the "Test" button , or do a full test with the pause times included by double clicking the macro name.

7)  You may now record another macro or quit.  To exit the macro recorder, Press the "Exit" button.  Now you can fully test the macro (with timed delays) by clicking the "Macro" button on the left side of the main window.  A small window will open, double click on the macro name to start macro.  The small window will close when the macro has finished, however, you can close the window anytime by right clicking on it, and the macro will continue to run.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Group Recorder     RETURN   TOP

Groups are used to control multiple devices with one click.  Visual Home Commander gives you six group sets.  A Group can hold any number of unit codes and has On and Off buttons and a user defined label for each.

 

To Record a Group:      RETURN   TOP

 1)  Click on the "Expand" button on the main form window.  This will enlarge the form giving you access to the Group functions.

 2)  Click on the "Setup Groups" button on the lower right side of the form.  This will open the "Setup Groups" window.

3)  Select the "Group #" that you wish to create or edit on the "Setup Groups" window, and then type in a name for that group in the text box below (the text box will hold up to 30 characters). 

 4)  Make sure the record button is pressed and then click the "ON" button for each device to include in this group.  You may use any house code and any device you wish.  "Off" commands are ignored by the Group recorder and so is the "All Lights On" command.

5)  When you have entered all the commands that you wish to include in the group, press the "Save Group" button.

 6)  Repeat steps 1 - 5 for as many groups as you wish.  When finished, click the "Exit" button to close the "Setup Groups" window.

The command counter at the lower right-hand side of the "Setup Groups" window will help you keep up with the number of commands you have entered into the group.

You may also change a label by selecting the desired "Group #", then type the correct label and click the "Update Label" button.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Timers     RETURN   TOP

Visual Home Commander gives you 6 separate macro timers and 1 macro loop.  The timers are used to start any of the macros that you have created, at the time you select.  The timers are not designed to overlap.  Overlapping 2 timers will cause the first one to pause while the second one runs and completes.  After the second timer has completed, the first one will complete.

The macro loop is designed to repeat a macro continuously until the check box is un-checked.  This was created with the XCam2's in mind.  You can create a macro with an On command for each camera you wish to loop, including the pause time between switches.  The loop will not allow less than 5 seconds between commands.  If your macro was set up with less than 5 seconds between commands, the loop will pause for 5 seconds.
 
 

Timer Setup     RETURN   TOP

To Setup a Timer:

Open the Timers window by clicking on the "Setup Timers" button on the main form window (expand button pressed).  You will then see the macros that you have previously created.

1)  Select the macro that you wish to start with a timer by clicking your mouse on the file name.

2)  Set the time you want the macro to start by using the scrolling buttons next to the hours, minutes, and seconds.  Next select the AM, or  PM accordingly.  If your computer is running in military time, you will need to make sure both the AM and PM are un-checked.

3)  Next, click the "(#)--->" button next to the timer you wish to create.

4)  Repeat the steps 1 thru 3 until you have set up all the timers you want.

5)  Click the check box under "Select to Activate" next to each timer you wish to run.  The timers are now set up to run at the time you have selected any time the "Timers" button is selected.

6)  To activate all selected timers you must make sure the "Timers" button on the main form is pushed in.  You can do this from this window by using the "Enable Selected Timers" button or from the main form.  Button will show "Timers (ON)" when selected or "Timers (OFF) when not selected.

7)  If you want your timer to run on either week days or week ends only, check the appropriate box on the right side of the timer.  Un-check both boxes to run everyday.

8)  Click "Close and Save" to close this window and save the configuration of the timers.

Information can be cleared from a timer at anytime by clicking the "Clr" button next to the timer you wish to clear.

To Setup a Loop Timer:  RETURN   TOP

The loop timer is a little different from regular timers as it will continue to re-play the macro continuously.  The loop timer is not affected by the position of the "Timers" or "Enable Selected Timers" buttons.  It will run any time the check box next to the macro name is selected.  This timer is set up in the same way as the regular timers, except you will not need to set a time.