Generic programming

Generic programming

Standard events and commands apply to a single specific resource.

Generic programming allows referencing a whole set of resources at once.

For example, you can specify:

  • A single command to mute all products called BeoVision.
  • An event specification that matches any button pressed that is called LightsON.
  • An event that matches multi tap on any button in the kid’s bedroom

This has many benefits:

  • A single macro can now substitute a lot of macros previously tailored for individual resources.
  • The list of events and commands on a macro can be drastically reduced.
  • More importantly, it encourages a consistent setup throughout the installation.

A few examples below illustrate the use of generic programming.

Note on name changes: Generic events and commands are matched against all possible resources every time an event occurs or a command is executed. So, if on a working configuration the installer changes the name of a resource, that resource may no longer match an existing generic event or command. So be consistent with naming of resources, and careful not to break functionality by renaming resources.

Example 1: Consistent lighting in all zones

It is extremely important for the user experience to be as consistent as possible throughout the whole installation, so that the user knows what to expect without having to memorize lots of different features or functions.

A typical example is wall keypads and lighting control.

Normally, you would try to set up all keypads in the home with, for example:

  • The top key for turning the lights on to a default scene.
  • The bottom key for turning the lights off.

This way, the user can walk into any room and have the lights on without remembering what each button does.

Other keys in the keypad may then be assigned for more specific functions, described by the key labels.

For this example, assume that the house has one or more lighting control systems, with keypads on all zones, and every zone either supports lighting scene selection, or direct control of a dimmer.

The following steps will get a consistent functionality for turning lights on with the topmost key in all keypads.

  1. Define resources for the top button of all keypads at room entrances. Call them all by the same name Lights ON.
  2. If a zone, such as a corridor, needs a second such button on another keypad, call it Lights ON 2 since you are not allowed to repeat names within a zone.
  3. For zones with scene control, set up a scene for the default lighting and assign a resource called Scene ON.
  4. For zones with direct dimmer control, assign a resource for the main lighting fixture and call it Main dimmer.
  5. On the macro screen, add a new macro called Generic lights ON. Assign it to the special zone called global, since it applies to many zones.
  6. Add a generic event that matches any area, any zone, BUTTON named Lights ON, action PRESS.
  7. Add more events if you used buttons named Lights ON 2.
  8. Now add a generic command for area that fired, zone that fired, BUTTON named Scene ON, action PRESS.
  9. Add another command for area that fired, zone that fired, DIMMER named Main dimmer, action SET LEVEL 85%.

Notes:

  • Events and commands that don’t match are silently ignored. For example, rooms with dimmer control won’t complain that there is no scene button available.
  • The generic options area that fired and zone that fired will only match the area and zone where the event was produced. In this case, you will only affect lighting on the same room where the key was pressed.
  • On the list of events and commands for the macro, you will see a special encoded description. In the case of generic events and commands, you will notice the use of * to mean any, and the codes $area and $zone as placeholders for the actual area and zone where the event occurred.

Example 2: All area off

The residence has 3 areas: Main house, Pool and Guest house.

Pressing a button on Beo5/6 will switch off all lighting and A/V products in whole area.

Assume a button has been set up on Beo5 for this purpose, that sends CONTROL 20.

The installation is as follows:

  • Video products in all zones are named BeoVision, and audio products are named BeoSound.
  • All zones have a lighting scene button called OffScene.

The macro is as follows.

Events:

  1. CONTROL 20 on any video product (encoded as $area/$zone/AV Renderer/BeoVision/Control ? Action=Press & Command=FUNCTION_20).
  2. CONTROL 20 on any audio prdouct (encoded as $area/$zone/AV Renderer/BeoSound/Control ? Action=Press & Command=FUNCTION_20).

Commands:

  1. Set all video products in the same area, any zone, called “BeoVision” to standby (encoded as $area/*/AV Renderer/BeoVision/Standby)
  2. Set volume of all audio/video products in the same area, any zone, to standby (encoded as $area/*/AV Renderer/*/Volume level=30)
  3. Turn off all lighting by calling the OFF scene (encoded like $area/*/BUTTON/OffScene/PRESS)