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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
 Posted - 06/16/2011 : 1:33:52 PM
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Version 2.6.83 (available as a free software update to existing HL2 users) brings a bunch of new features to HL. Here's the new product page:
http://www.smarthome.com/2413UH/HouseLinc-INSTEON-Desktop-Software-with-USB-Interface-Dual-Band/p.aspx
Here's the product manual and release notes:
http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/HouseLinc_manual.pdf
http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=Houselinc#Product_Revision_History
The biggest change for me is that HL now offers neat scene creation features--instead of creating individual controller and responder links, you can now name a scene and add checkmarks to define device relationships (whether the device should be a controller of the scene, a responder to the scene, or both). HL then takes care of all the details, building the controller and responder links as appropriate, automatically. The result--creating virtual three- and four- and five- and six-way circuits now takes only a few clicks on your part then HL handles the rest. (The procedure is different, but the ease-of-use is similar to building scenes on an ISY.)
Other changes include control of more individual device features like dimmer level LED brightness adjustment and changing properties as part of a HouseLinc event (for changing LED brightness at night, for instance) and new properties features that allow you to keep track of attached loads (if it has an attached load and the wattage). Wattage information doesn't appear to be used in this version, but it conceivably opens the door to future updates that could track household energy use based on dimmer level and on/off module states--keeping my fingers crossed!
Check it out! |
Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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LeeG
Advanced Member
USA
2097 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2011 : 1:53:14 PM
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The Scene create utility failed when I installed 2.6.83 (which is a problem in itself) and I could not find a method of invoking the Scene creator again. There is a topic open on the Scene creator problem.
Do you know how to get the Scene creator started again?
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Lee G |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2011 : 2:08:26 PM
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| I found the scene creator .exe in the same folder where the settings file lives. I'll check for the exact path when I get home. FWIW, it crashed when I manually re-ran it as well--looks like this will require some kind of additional patch. |
Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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LeeG
Advanced Member
USA
2097 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2011 : 3:15:16 PM
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Thanks Tom. Using your information I found SceneConverter.exe and invoked it. Wanted to collect some failure information I failed to get the first time (my bad). Selected option ‘b’, hit enter and it created a Scenes.csv file. Will take some work to understand the file but the converter did run this time.
One difference that may not be relevant, I ran HL2 2.6.83 before running the converter again.
I found the exe file in
Documents and Settings
All Users
Application Data
Smartlabs
HouseLinc
Settings
SceneConverter.exe
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Lee G |
Edited by - LeeG on 06/16/2011 3:18:01 PM |
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jtmoderate876
Starting Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2011 : 06:00:38 AM
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I've upgraded to 2.6.83 and can no longer run HouseLinc in the background (while logged off).
I use to have taskscheduler run houselinc as a service by scheduling a task to run it on system startup with a special, dedicated user account that had administrative rights.
This has stopped working since the upgrade.
I'm still trying to figure out how to work around the situation. |
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tmk8991
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 01:20:43 AM
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| My Houselinc was automatically updated to 2.6.83. I'd sure like to find out how to change my location. It is currently set at Abbeville, AL. When I put in my location, there is no OK button to press (as indicated in the online help), there is no save button on this screen. Any ideas? My location screen has NO buttons, neither OK or CANCEL. Is it possible to download a virgin copy of the software somewhere? Would that help versus mine that was updated from a previous version? |
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LeeG
Advanced Member
USA
2097 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 04:25:27 AM
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| The Tools | Options popup should have OK and Cancel buttons in the lower right portion of the window. Perhaps that part of the window is off screen due to font size, etc. Try moving the Options popup window. |
Lee G |
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tmk8991
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 5:24:50 PM
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| Tried that - resizing the options popup - no OK or CANCEL button at all - I'm running Win XP fully up to date on SPs & fixes. I also have a problem with some of my events that existed in the previous version - they run what appears to be, at random. I have 2 events in particular that are scheduled, one at sunset, one at 40 minutes after sunrise - they have been running at 1330, 1000, and at 1550, not at their appointed times. So I deleted the timing part of the event & recreated it. We'll see today. |
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Brewtrooper
Starting Member
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 9:28:42 PM
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| The Sceneconverter program crashed for me as well on the first run. I ran it again manually and it finished saying it created 44 scenes successfully. However, when I started Houselinc, there were 0 scenes. Where are they? Do I need to complete another step to see them? |
Edited by - Brewtrooper on 06/19/2011 9:29:10 PM |
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Jgdavis14
New Member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2011 : 02:26:54 AM
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I have the same problem with the location. No way to get it to change from Abbeville, Al. I'm running W7 so it's not just an XP issue.
Also, my sunset related events seem to be running 5 hours earlier than they are scheduled for! My clocks are correct and I'm guessing it has something to do with the the offset from Universal time since I'm 5 hours away from that. Anyone else having this issue??
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Edited by - Jgdavis14 on 06/21/2011 02:30:58 AM |
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charlieo
Average Member
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2011 : 06:59:29 AM
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Anyone who upgraded HL to the 2.6.83 should probably check their location setting. I believe the correct location is not being picked up from the old version and everyone is now living in Alabama! Mine updated without issue after I realized my sunset/sunrise setting was incorrect.
A work around for changing your location (if you have a problem with location change), is to change the State, then City... THEN, while the cursor is still in the City field, press TAB 4 times (to "tab" to the OK button)... then press ENTER. This should save your new City and State. I am sure this will be fixed with the next REV.
Charlie |
Charlie |
Edited by - charlieo on 06/22/2011 07:01:41 AM |
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kcandrews
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2011 : 4:33:49 PM
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In the new version 2.6.83, has anyone tried creating an Event under the "Events" tab on the right side of the main window. I am unable to drag the "clock," "calendar," or anything else into the "trigger" "condition" or "actions" windows. I can create a newly named "Event" but can't put anything in it. The drag doesn't work for me.
Ideas appreciated! |
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stusviews
Advanced Member
USA
8458 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2011 : 4:41:54 PM
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FYI, I do not have that difficulty with 2.6.83. BTW, the calendar is only available for use as a condition, not a trigger.
Can you drag devices into the Condition(s) or Action(s) pane? |
Stu's Views is Education and Fun. What do YOU want to VIEW today?
MathLandia High school mathematics fun and learning.
Both Stu's Views and MathLandia are free websites that do not sell anything.
Saving energy is not always free. Be a world saver. |
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kcandrews
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2011 : 7:01:58 PM
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| Thanks for answering stusviews. No, despite my long career as a software developer, I seem unable to drag devices or anything into any of the 3 windows for a newly created event, in edit mode. (Sometimes, having experience is a disadvantage, so I must be missing something entirely, since it works for you.) My setup is extremely simple with only 5 or 6 insteon devices -- in-linelinc dimmers, dualband lamplincs, a couple dualband switchlinc dimmers, and a powerlinc 2413UH. |
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stusviews
Advanced Member
USA
8458 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2011 : 9:28:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kcandrews
Sometimes, having experience is a disadvantage, so I must be missing something entirely, since it works for you.
Despite having built PCs since DOS 2.1, my wife's favorite expression is, "Did you plug it in?"  ften, she's right (darn those jumpers).
But "drag and drop" should not present any difficulty, even for the most experienced.
You can attempt a reinstall of the update, else call 800-762-7846 |
Stu's Views is Education and Fun. What do YOU want to VIEW today?
MathLandia High school mathematics fun and learning.
Both Stu's Views and MathLandia are free websites that do not sell anything.
Saving energy is not always free. Be a world saver. |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2011 : 07:32:08 AM
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kcandrews, what version operating system are you running? What screen resolution do you have set? When you rest your mouse over the Clock icon, does that icon's background change color? If you click and drag the clock, does your mouse cursor initially turn into a circle and slash? What happens when you drag the clock to the white space below the Triggers label?
Release the clock, then move your mouse to the vertical bar that separates the list of devices from the events. When you hit the right spot, your mouse cursor should turn into a column resizer (opposing arrows with a vertical bar in between). Click and drag the column resizer to the left, to shrink the devices column and enlarge the Events column. Now retry dragging the clock to the event. Any difference?
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Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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Alpha_Assault
Average Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2011 : 10:23:55 PM
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Anyone having problems with not seeing a OK or cancel bar should run windows compatibility if they have the option.
Use the bottom, TROUBLESHOOT PROGRAM option.
Then check mark "The program opens but doesn't display correctly".
Click NEXT
Then checkmark "Windows controls appear cut off, or the program changes visual themes when started."
click NEXT
Then click START THE PROGRAM... button
See if you see Ok button in location tab.
Smiles!
When you close the program windows will ask if you want to save the settings for this program, be sure you do that.
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Marlow
Starting Member
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 11:55:52 AM
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I have some old KeypadLInk Dimmers (2486DWH6) that I use in 8 button mode typically. In the past release I could click on the 8 button toggle and it would save. Now when I exit HouseLinc and then start the program back up, the dimmers are back to 6 button. They will send the message to the switch, it is just that the program no longer saves the property to its own program. It is really annoying as I cannot leave the application or it loses that setting. Anyone else see this one?
Thanks,
David |
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aguden
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2011 : 03:00:31 AM
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| Windows 7 with this new update. No "ok" or "cancel" buttons on options but the workaround was fine. Still have the other problem noted above. My sunset/sunrise related events ran at around 1430 rather than at 2030. Maybe something to do with GMT vs EDT? Anyone find a work around for that? |
A Guden |
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aguden
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 02:17:21 AM
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| The problem with the time offset goes away when you set the city and state. |
A Guden |
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aguden
Starting Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 05:00:08 AM
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| Scenes: I also had the scenesconverter program crash on the 1st time during install. I have the location and time problem resolved by tabbing as outlined above. I have had the check box for the advanced tab disappear and tried the tab and enter to get it to work but when I restart the program, it seems to be consistently gone. I have run the sceneconverter program using option "C" and the CSV file was created but no scenes seem to be added to HouseLinc. I have exited HouseLinc and restarted it with no luck. Ran it again with option B but same results. I am running Windows 7 Home Professional with 8GB memory and plenty of disk space. Haven't had scenes before so I am not missing them but looked forward to fooling around with it on the long weekend! Happy 4th. |
A Guden |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2011 : 08:12:55 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Marlow
I have some old KeypadLInk Dimmers (2486DWH6) that I use in 8 button mode typically. In the past release I could click on the 8 button toggle and it would save. Now when I exit HouseLinc and then start the program back up, the dimmers are back to 6 button. They will send the message to the switch, it is just that the program no longer saves the property to its own program. It is really annoying as I cannot leave the application or it loses that setting. Anyone else see this one?
Thanks,
David
When you select this device and choose '8 button' on the Properties tab, do you see 'Synchronizing properties for (device name) (device address) at the bottom of the window?
What does it say in the Product Information line?
If you wait for the properties synchronization to finish before you exit HouseLinc, then restart HouseLinc, when you select this device and the Properties tab does '8 button' now appear?
If you click on the Links tab, in the center right, under the device address, what does it say the synchronization status is for that keypad?
To summarize:
quote:
Click 8 button to change the Keypad to an 8 Button.
Click Refresh (in the local settings section) to push the change
Right Click on the device from the Device Pane and select Synchronize Device
Wait for HouseLinc to synchronize the device (if it is an older device --pre v.4--this can take quite a while)
File->Exit to close HouseLinc
Restart HouseLinc and verify the change made
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wexler
Starting Member
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 05:34:51 AM
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The software has continued to eat up a lot of virtual memory. I've rebooted my machine several times and over the course of a few days, it does so again. Any ideas?
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Gregory Wexler |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2011 : 07:37:14 AM
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| I haven't been able to reproduce that high memory use on my systems. Can I get you to forward some system information? I'll email instructions. |
Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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Alpha_Assault
Average Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 10:56:27 PM
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Sorry for starting simple, but when I noticed abnormal memory use with win 7 upgrade I uninstalled and reinstalled from a full install.
That fixed my problem, so if you have not attempted that I would give that a go.
Unless tfitz has already ID'd another opportunity. |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6886 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 4:55:36 PM
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| Gregory, did you get my email? |
Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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Topic |
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New HouseLinc version released
