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**grtaylor** · May 9, 2020, 10:59 AM

I did a full write up on this before the forum blew up/changed a couple of years back and I can no longer find it. So I'll try again now from some old notes I have. This is what I have running today on 4 PI's around the house.

Installed raspbian image to SD from https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

Booted into Raspbian desktop, enabled WIFi and joined WiFi network, enabled VNC/SSH via Pi/Preferences/Raspberry Pi Configuration 0 then the Interfaces tab (I prefer VNC)

Before connecting your Pi to the screen, you should first ensure you have updated it to the latest version of Raspbian. In Raspbian, open a terminal window (if you are in Desktop mode) and issue the following commands, one after the other, waiting for the previous one to complete before going onto the next. The first two are really the only ones required, but the other three ensure that your Pi has the latest and greatest version of Raspbian. Answer ‘Y’ to any prompts:

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install raspberrypi-ui-mods
sudo apt-get install raspberrypi-net-mods

From <https://thepihut.com/blogs/raspberry...assembly-guide>

Now to install mono, open Terminal and run

Code:

sudo apt-get install mono-complete
sudo apt-get install mono-vbnc

From <https://forums.homeseer.com/showthre...=171511&page=3>

Add Windows NTFS read/write support to allow Pi to read NTFS drives

Code:

sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g

Copy HSTouch.exe from machine with designer installed to a USB Drive (From C:\Program Files (x86)\HomeSeer HSTouch\Clients\LinuxMac)

Copy Skins folder and all under it from C:\Users\grtaylor\OneDrive\HomeSeer Stuff\HS Touch\HSTouch to USB (clearly your path will not be the same :-))

Copy all of those to home/pi/documents/HSTouch on the Pi

Run the client using mono

Code:

mono /home/pi/Documents/HSTouch/HSTouch.exe

(all case sensitive)

Click Change Path and navigate to the Skins folder.

It will timeout, then enter you HS3 or MyHS details and it should connect.

You can't deploy a project and have it run from HS Designer I've found. Deploy your Pi project, then restart the client/Pi and HSTouch. Then right click on the screen of the empty project, Open... browse to the project XML file. And your project is open. When deploying changes after that, deploy, then restart the client.

Now to make it useful as a tablet;

To AutoStart

Steps from http://www.raspberry-projects.com/pi...g-programs-gui

To run with a delay before your app launches, instead of adding the path to your app, provide a path to a script we will create:

Code:

sudo nano /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

Add the following line to the file

Code:

@sh /home/pi/myapp_start.sh

Exit and save, then create the script file:

Code:

sudo nano /home/pi/myapp_start.sh

Insert the following into the file, setting the delay you want in seconds and the path to your app executable:

Code:

#!/usr/bin/sh
sleep 4
mono /home/pi/Documents/HSTouch/HSTouch.exe

Exit and save, then finally make the script executable:

Code:

sudo chmod +x /home/pi/myapp_start.sh

That's it, reboot and your app should launch after the delay period

From <http://www.raspberry-projects.com/pi...g-programs-gui>

Install screensaver (I'm not sure on my own steps here, so our mileage may vary)

Code:

sudo apt-get install xscreensaver

Then in the GUI go to Preferences > Screensaver > Select disable screen saver from the dropdown.

From <http://www.raspberry-projects.com/pi...an/screensaver>

Connect touchscreen - I use the official 7" touchscreen. It needs to be rotated 180deg in software.

Code:

sudo nano /boot/config.txt

Add new line

Code:

lcd_rotate=2

From <https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/v...c.php?t=121263>

Save and Exit. Reboot

In HS Touch client, right click choose to hide pointer from options. Doesn't seem to work. Surprise surprise

Now to hide the mouse pointer

https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.co...cursor-on-lxde

Code:

sudo nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

Find the xserver-command=X line in the Seat section, add -nocursor

Reboot

Some very useful stuff here - https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/offici...screen-faq/959

To change screen brightness

Code:

sudo nano  /sys/class/backlight/rpi_backlight/brightness

Edit value - 0 - 255. Default 255, max on. Save and close.

Hope that helps.

Greg

**OmegaQuest** · May 11, 2020, 11:38 AM

Thanks, I will give that a try. The last time I did "most of what you suggested above" I still got the HSButton(0) and Label Reference Errors when using the HSTouch.exe for Linux.

**OmegaQuest** · May 12, 2020, 10:16 AM

Yup, same errors as before using the Linux version of HSTouch.exe and the latest Raspbain…. The Default (Blue) Skin even gives the Errors I have been getting no matter what Skin I use nor how many times I reinstall the Linux Version. None of these errors happen on Windows or Andriod or Apple versions.

Error in HSButton (0). drawing label button: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Below are the versions currently installed on this Raspberry Pi 4:
Raspbain 10 (buster)
Mono JIT Version: 5.18.0.240

**OmegaQuest** · May 12, 2020, 11:42 AM

I just updated Mono just to see if it was an old version or something (even though it was the latest available without manually adding the mono repository).

Now Mono JIT version is: 6.8.0.105

And still the same exact errors about HSButton (0)…...

**grtaylor** · May 12, 2020, 12:27 PM

Can you deploy a blank project? I don't use the default project/skin at all. It's ugly. There are functional limitations with HST on Pi - status graphics don't work for example. So if the default project has those, it won't work, and that could be it.

My client version is 3.0.0.54 - What version do you have?

I have created projects from scratch for lights, music, alarms etc. I use Pi's in bedrooms only. Simple UI

**OmegaQuest** · May 12, 2020, 02:07 PM

I have tried several different projects all give the same error if there is even one button or even just a Text label. If there are no buttons or labels, then no errors but then there is nothing to display anyways LOL.

I just created a clean project with only 1 Button and I get the same error when I load it and try and open it on the HSTouch. Same if I create just a clean project with just 1 Label. If its just a clear project without a Button or Label and lets say Only an Image, I do not get the error. But as soon as I add a button or Label.... I get that HSButton Error for every button/Label that is on the screen at the time.

I am using the HSTouch Linux version 3.0.0.54 as well.

**grtaylor** · May 12, 2020, 03:24 PM

You did copy over the entire Skins folder and everything under it?

**OmegaQuest** · May 12, 2020, 06:42 PM

Yup

**grtaylor** · May 12, 2020, 07:33 PM

I'm using an old build of Raspbian and Mono, I have not updated them in well over a year (if it ain't broke...) - I might try and follow my steps one more time, see what happens this time. Perhaps a change crept in to one of those. I'll try that and let you know.

**OmegaQuest** · May 12, 2020, 07:35 PM

Thanks

**grtaylor** · May 12, 2020, 08:40 PM

Well that sucks doesn't it. Clearly something changed. I see the same issues as you do now.

Mono JIT 4.6.2
Raspbian 9 (stretch)

That works for me. I'm leaving it there therefore.

**OmegaQuest** · May 13, 2020, 06:42 AM

I'll try and install those versions if I can find them online and see if that works for me.

**OmegaQuest** · May 13, 2020, 10:03 AM

I just installed Raspbain 9 Stretch and Mono 4.6.2.

Same errors..... There has to be something that needs to be installed on a default Raspbain or step that's getting missed somehow or the "latest" mono-complete or mono-vbnc has a bug in it somewhere... I really have no idea though.

I've tried so many things.

Installing Fresh versions of: Raspbain 9 and 10, Ubuntu 18.4
Installed different versions of Mono (4, 6, 8....)
Different hardware (Raspberry Pi 3b+ and Raspberry Pi 4)
Different SD Sticks and even USB Drives as the Raspberry Pi Drives
Manually copying over the Skins Folder
Numerous HSTouch projects, to include blank ones with just a single Button or Label.

**grtaylor** · May 13, 2020, 12:24 PM

I did have a support case going at the time with Rich at HS, paid support. That thread has now been deleted so I can't see if we discussed this. And I can't find my old thread on the forum here which had all the steps I used. :-(

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