Intercom

[Tymon]

Is anyone using a software based intercom with HSTouch?

I have a touch screen upstairs and one downstairs.

I would like be able to use them like an intercom.

Any ideas?

Thanks
ty

[CJVann]

I created a custom web page with HomeSeer that allows you type text, and when you press Enter, HomeSeer speaks it over the Speaker Clients. It's actually kind of fun - lol.

[Tymon]

interesting!! I might have to give that a shot!

I think I figured out a way to do the intercom using Skype.
I just have to figure out how to simulate a keyboard action.
alt+pageDn

Ty

[CJVann]

HomeSeer Phone?

Do you use HomeSeer Phone? You can always pick up the phone and say, "Leave a message", press # to save your recording, then trigger an event to play the message over the Speaker Clients.

[CJVann]

alt-PgDn

I think I figured out a way to do the intercom using Skype.
I just have to figure out how to simulate a keyboard action.
alt+pageDn

Try hs.keys "%{PGDN}", "ProgramName", 1
The % represents the Alt key, and {PGDN} is obviously page down. Then specifiy the program you want to send the keys to, and 1 will slow down sending the keys (normally you want it to be 1).

[TrOjAn]

+1 for an intercom, I have also been looking out for such a thing for ages, I have a laptop in my workshop and a HSTouch intercom would be great...

Fingers crossed someone comes up with something.

TrOjAN

[Tymon]

I am really really close using Skype.
It works. Just trying to make it pretty with HST.

As soon as I get it working I will post how I did it.

Will be working on it through the weekend.

And thanks for the keystroke info!!!

Ty

[TrOjAn]

Good news I look forward to this,

TrOjAn

[Tymon]

CJVann,
Thanks!!!
Do you know what the symbol would be for the Windows key?

Thanks
ty
(getting closer)

[Tymon]

Is this a valid script?

[$SCRIPT=&hs.keys "%{PGDN}", "Skype", 1]

I am trying to get an HSTouch client to simulate an alt+PageDn button press in Skype.

When I hit the button, HST gives an error:
Failed to run the script: error (1) Runscript was not provided with a complete set of prarmeters.

(I know NOTHING about scripts)

Thanks
Ty

[mrhappy]

Try just

&hs.keys("%{PGDN}", "Skype", 1)

The [$SCRIPT is just for use inside element properties, hopefully the above works.

[Tymon]

Thanks!
That cleared up the error but it still doesnt work.

When I check the HS log it says "Process 'Skype' was not found.

Skype is defenitely running.

I tried:
&hs.keys("%{PGDN}", "Skype", 1)

&hs.keys("%{PGDN}", "Skype.exe", 1)

Stuck.

Ty

[mfisher]

I've not used hs.keys, but I use SendKeys in VBScript all the time and you need to use the full text in the title bar of the application you're sending the keystrokes to.

From the HomeSeer help:
"This function allows you send keyboard commands to a running application. This is merely an interface into the .NET SendKeys.Send function"
...
"This is the title string that appears in the main window of the target application you wish to control."

Try using this instead of just 'Skype'...

[Tymon]

I have tried it about 15 different ways now and all I get is process 'xxxx' was not found.

very frustrating.

Ty

[mrhappy]

I wonder if the process name changes, not having ever used Skype does the title of the window change depending on if you are on a call or not?

Try some sort of script like this;

Imports System.Diagnostics  
Sub Main(ByVal Parms As Object)
Dim psList() As Process  
Try  
    psList = Process.GetProcesses()  
  
    For Each p As Process In psList  
        hs.writelog("Process", p.ProcessName)  
    Next p  
  
Catch ex As Exception  
    hs.writelog("Process", ex.Message)  
End Try  

End Sub 

It should write the list of current system processes to the log, then look in the log for something skype related - then try that again in keys - it will be dependent however on you having Skype on your HS server, if you have not got it on there then there are some examples of shell vb files you could run on the web (the above is an edited sample script) to run on your client PC.