[NO LONGER SUPPORTED] Ask Alexa

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@MichaelS

EDIT…and I found it…will implement in the next version.

you rock my friend!

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

Ok, next question.

Alexa can run a native ST Routine. Is it possible to have it run a child app such as a rule from Rule Machine?

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

Are you referring to Alexa Helper? You can’t run routines directly from Alexa as far as I know. I guess I am not understanding what you are trying to do…you also can’t run a child app typically without the parent app.

[N8XD (I got a hair cut from Alexa)]

You know Michael, I don’t think they are going to let you work on your macros.

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

I work on them between questions

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@MichaelS

Are you referring to Alexa Helper? You can’t run routines directly from Alexa as far as I know. I guess I am not understanding what you are trying to do…you also can’t run a child app typically without the parent app.

Sorry, I got distracted. I was programming my minimote… lol

Yes, I meant the AskAlexa app, not Alexa Helper.

What I want to do is create a rule in Rule Machine to send a TTS message to my teenagers speaker telling them to “Shut UP” really loudly… But I don’t want to use a virtual switch to do it. And wouldn’t you know it… stock routines are of course lacking in the TTS abilities…

I just want to say, Alexa, Ask Home to tell the teenager to shut up… or something along that line. and she runs the rule from rule machine.

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

So, you are going to something like a Sonos, right? So yes…you could do this…but a virtual switch is probably the best way to do it…There is nothing wrong with virtual switches…they are needed sometimes (with the current platform).

[SBDOBRESCU (Bobby)]

Why not using one of your hundreds of switches? I am sure you can find one to turn on briefly, so you can set up the routine…

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

Or flash their room in addition to the TTS…that would shut them up…or they will bring their friends over to get you to do it for them!

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@SBDOBRESCU

Why not using one of your hundreds of switches? I am sure you can find one to turn on briefly, so you can set up the routine.

Yeah, I thought about that. But what would the neighbors think… The back porch lights turn on, the house yells at the kids. The garage door opens, the house yells at the kids…

I can see it now… DCPS shows, rings the doorbell, the house yells at the kids…

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@MichaelS

you are going to something like a Sonos, right? So yes…you could do this…but a virtual switch is probably the best way to do it…There is nothing wrong with virtual switches…they are needed sometimes (with the current platform).

Virtual switches aren’t really an option anymore…

Though, I have four free buttons on the Minimote!

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@MichaelS

EDIT…and I found it…will implement in the next version

You wouldn’t mind telling me what that is would you?

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@zala

just a quick question/advice on how the motion report is working.

I have a motion device called “dog food” which is mounted on the inside lid of their food bin - that records movement whenever one of us feeds them - all good.

I have an AskAlexa report called “dogs” - I might change that name but its good for now for testing.

when i ask Alexa, she responds - all mostly good.

maybe its how it works to be more flexible with other use cases but I’m wondering if the actual Alexa response in my case can be slimmed down.

She currently responds as follows:

Me: Alexa, ask home to run ‘dogs’ reportAlexa: As of %time% Dog Food is reading no movement. The last movement event within the monitored group was the Dog Food sensor at %time%.

would be great if i can skinny that down to just.Me: Alexa, ask home to run ‘dogs’ reportAlexa: Dog Food movement was last recorded at %time%

I only have one sensor in that report so hoping it can skip the monitored group part. I know I can control the As of %time% part as thats within the SmartApp.

is this possible?, if not, no biggy, just trying to make it more natural.

cheers

I might have just the thing for you on this. I have the same use case as you and wanted something a little more smooth.

I sent @MichaelS everything I did on tonight. If he likes he will let me know.

I’m not going to share any changes I make to his code without his permission and blessing first.

I’ll let you know if it passes his muster.

[storageanarchy (Barry)]

Yes, it’s a corner case - most devices will update their battery status as soon as they are installed. In this case, the Spruce Sensors communicate ONLY changes at a max frequency of 10 minutes so as to minimize battery consumption (they are designed to be installed in your yard, to let the Spruce SmartApp know what the water content is in a given zone).

If the initial notification is “missed” by SmartThings, then it turns out that the value will not be updated until the battery level drops below 100% (could be a long time - hasn’t budged in over 2 weeks), and there’s no way to “force” an update.

So…not a priority, and no real practical use case - I’d just rather not hear about null% batteries

[bamarayne (Jason "The Enabler" as deemed so by @Smart)]

@storageanarchy

So…not a priority, and no real practical use case - I’d just rather not hear about null% batteries

Have you tried selecting a different device, unselecting this one and saving.
Then, just reverse that back to the original.

Who knows, it might work.

Also, I ran into this last night with a sensor. I changed the DTH to this,

[OBSOLETE] Universal Virtual Device Type and Translator

This has got to be the sickest DTH ever… The uDTH Ever wished you could turn on a presence sensor with a switch?, or maybe take a lock command and send a motion event? Basically this bad boy accepts these commands: on off open close lock unlock and can turn them into these attribute states: open closed present not present active inactive The following capabilities are presented on the command side: switch door control garage door control lock The following devices are presented on the attribute side: Contact Motion Presence Door Acceleration Illuminance Smoke Water Sound You wire up an instance of this device to two separate apps, and off you go. Add to your repo, and select the device MikeMaxwell : uDTH the repo is owner: MikeMaxwell name: dth [image] [image] [image…

You can then actually turn the dth on and off. It will show as an action. Then change it back and your null will be gone. (Hopefully)

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

Standard Java nomenclature…deviceList.FindAll(deviceList.count(it) >1).unique()

Basically it gets the list and exports just the ones that are repeated. I take this list and then build in an error section telling you what the names are…pretty neat.

[ady624 (I hate Mondays)]

FindAll or findAll ?

[MichaelS (Micheal)]

I stand corrected…findAll

[zala (Martin)]

AskGoogle anyone. Go check out Googles IO keynote - new Google goodies on the way for Home Control.

I’m sure @MichaelS will knock something out by the weekend - seriously it raises the bar on natural voice interaction, let’s home Amazon hear that and raise their game, that will only benefit AskAlexa.

Cheers.

[eibyer]

@MichaelS

Correct…the steps will be the same…however, it will ONLY be the slots that change.

I will update the document to reflect the order in which the items should be added (top to bottom).

My first time updating my installation. So if I’m understanding this correctly, update the code in reverse of install?