New Reporting Package

[Coz]

Now that my Windows HS4 reporting package is pretty much completed I would like to make it available for others to use. The reports just offer a different touch-and-feel for what is already out there. Not only are some of them the ones I'm more inclined to use, but it is also my beginner's foray into creating something for HS4.

The package has about 24 pieces which includes 3 dlls, 4 config files, 5 scripts, 4 executables, 5 html files (it creates additional ones when reports are generated), 1 data file and 2 documentation. One of the exe's does the install and another one uninstalls almost the complete package. If I had an external facing server I would make the whole zipped package available there for download, but I don’t.

Is this something that should be built and deployed as a plugin? Seems a lot of work and expense for something I'm not even sure will work on other people's devices.

[randy]

You can put together an unmanaged plugin like Jon00 does or you can use an updater_override.json file to do a manual installation. You might look at this thread for a start. The updater_override file will place all of your files in the correct places. Jon00's method puts the appropriate files in the appropriate directories in a zip file. Then you copy the entire package (of subdirectories) and place them under your HomeSeer root directory.

[Coz]

You can put together an unmanaged plugin like Jon00 does or you can use an updater_override.json file to do a manual installation. You might look at this thread for a start. The updater_override file will place all of your files in the correct places. Jon00's method puts the appropriate files in the appropriate directories in a zip file. Then you copy the entire package (of subdirectories) and place them under your HomeSeer root directory.

I will take a look at what you listed. My installer modifies navbar.html for the menu and adds the HS4 headers and footers at install time. The uninstaller removes the code from navbar.html instead of using the original backup copy just in case there are other changes made to navbar.html after the reports were installed.

Thanks

[jon00]

I need to warn you that Jon00 Links also modifies navbar.html. Therefore your proposed installation will break this if people are using my utility.

[Coz]

I need to warn you that Jon00 Links also modifies navbar.html. Therefore your proposed installation will break this if people are using my utility.

I take navbar.html and put the new menu in between <!--Start of HS4CustomReports--> and <!--End of HS4CustomReports--> at the end of the dropdown menus. When the uninstaller runs, it removes the comments and everything between them. For safety, backups are made of the orginal navbar.html during the install and the modified one during the uninstall.

[Roger D]

Coz,

Do you have any screenshots of the type of reports it can generate?

[Coz]

They are listed in the documentation, but because the doc has so many screen shots I cannot upload it due to it's size. I've attached a couple of picts.

[randy]

Looks promising. It looks like yours may break Jon00’s links plugin. Here is a screenshot. His modifies navbar.html to add menus and widgets in the title bar. Attached is a copy of the modified file.

[Coz]

In an ideal world, everybody's tools should be able to coexist. I realize that is wishful thinking, but I think that is something to strive for.

When I designed my package, I took into consideration navbar.html might be modified by other users or products. That is why my installer specifically takes the current navbar.html file and adds my menu items at the end. When it comes time to uninstall my package, it takes navbar.html once again and resaves it without my menu code.

I specifically designed my package so it would not require someone to make a choice between my package or someone else's. I'm open to adding additional checks to account for other packages, but I would also think they would do the same.

On the other hand, my reports are probably considerably less intense then what Jon00 creates. Jon00 is creating Mercedes and I am creating Volkswagens.

[randy]

I understand. I was just providing an example of a modified navbar.html for you to see.