NOTE: A new version is on it’s way with major changes
TODO: Create demo video

GOAL: Control Homeseer through the excellent OSX tool called “Alfred”. This tool allows you to start an application or open a file with the least amount of key-presses. Really amazing, and I would encourage you to buy the power pack which is required for my Homeseer integration.

 

What can you do?

Start Alfred using your shortcut (like CMD+Space) and enter your command. “Home” is the keyword that starts the scripts on this page.

Examples
Control lights & devices
Check power consumption
Check car location
Check temperature and humidity
Control TV (IR – requires something like IRTrans)

How?

– The Alfred Extension calls my DJ_Alfred Homeseer script
– This Homeseer Alfred script will execute commands and return information
– The returned information is displayed via Growl

      <add ppt slide showing who talks where>

Requirements
– Homeseer 2.5.x (probably works with earlier releases but I cannot test)
– OSX with Alfred + Powerpack (If you like Alfred the power pack is totally worth the few bucks!)
– Growl

 

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Installation Summary

1. Install Alfred extension and Homeseer scripts
2. Configure Alfred extension
3. Configure Alfred Homeseer
4. Test

1. Install Alfred Extension & Homeseer Scripts

1a. Alfred Extension

Download Alfred extension here

Extract ZIP file and double click Homeseer.alfredextension
It will now install in Alfred

1b. Homeseer scripts

Download Homeseer scripts here

Copy HS-ALFRED-xx.zip to your Homeseer root folder. Now extract this zip. It will put the following files in the these locations:
– DJ_Alfred.ini                            to <homeseer>\Config\ folder
– DJ_Alfred_xx.asp                     to <homeseer>\html\Alfred\ folder
– DJ_Alfred_ControlPanel_xx.asp to <homeseer>\html\Alfred\ folder
– DJ_Alfred_ControlPanel.asp      to <homeseer>\html\Alfred\ folder
– Images files                             to <homeseer>\html\Alfred\ folder

2. Configure Alfred Extension

The Alfred Extension configuration is stored in a file. It contains the Homeseer “IP location” (for internal and external access).

1. Toggle Alfred (Command+Space?) and type  “home settings”
   This opens the DJ_Alfred_Config.txt in the Textedit application
   Note: sometimes Textedit starts but doesn’t open. Force close it and run this step again.
   Note: If Homeseer is not accessible through the internet, set ‘hsext’ to the same address as ‘hsint’.
   Note: The homeseer user needs rights to execute events and control devices
2. Example of config file:
        localip=10.1.1
        hsext=144.122.201.87:3881
        hsint=10.1.1.1:8080
        user=hsalfreduser  <– Note: You can create a special user in Homeseer
        pwd=hsalfredpassword
        localdebug=1
        hsscript=DJ_alfred_10.asp  <– Note: New Homeseer Alfred script? Update this line!
   

// ==================== HELP ====================
// LOCALIP = part of your local IP range
//                      Example: 10.1
//                      Example: 192.168.
// HSEXT = Full External IP address + Port number of Homeseer
//                      Example: 145.223.12.77:8080
// HSINT = Full Internal IP address + Port number of Homeseer
//                      Example: 10.1.1.10:80
//                      Example: 192.168.1.12:8080
// USER = Homeseer user for authentication
//                      Create a NEW user with basic rights in Homeseer
// PWD = Password
// LOCALDEBUG= Localdebug ON/OFF lets you enable local
//                      Script debugging (Alfred script on your Mac)
// HSSCRIPT= Homeseer script version
// ==============================================

3. SAVE and close this config file (Command-Q)

3. Configure Alfred Homeseer

Configure Homeseer script: In a browser, open
http://<homeseer_IP>/html/Alfred/DJ_Alfred_ControlPanel.asp
(this will forward you to the latest version of the actual controlpanel, taken from the .ini file)

 
          zoom

The web-based configuration is the easiest way to setup, test and debug the script.

Alternatively: manually edit the DJ_Alfred.ini file in the <homeseer>\Config\ folder
SYNTAX
KeyWx = Keyword, Command, Device, EXECUTE, RETURN
EXAMPLE
KeyW4=switch , off , a14 , switch , status
KeyW5=switch ,  ,  , toggle , device name is now status
KeyW7=Temp , living , \10 ,  , Temperature name is string
KeyW9=TV , on , TV_Watch_Start , event , status

Execute The following commands will…	Return – following keywords will be replaced by…
switch – switches ‘device’ to ‘command’ toggle – toggles ‘device’ event – runs event ‘device’ ir – send IR signal	status – ‘device’ status string – ‘device’ string value – ‘device’ value device – ‘device’ ID (like ‘A14’) devicename – ‘device’ Homeseer device name action – ‘execute’

4. Test your configuration

1. Test your configuration by using a web-browser. Go to:

http://<homeseerIP>/Alfred/DJ_Alfred_xx.asp?query=ini
The Homeseer script will recognize that you’re using a browser and not Alfred and therefore return more information. (getting a complicated web-page in a growl-message is unreadable ;-)
This will generate an error message (about how to use the ‘INI’ command)

Alternatively you can open the Homeseer Alfred configuration page and ‘run’ a saved command.
The results will display in the box below the configuration table.

2. Try again but now with ‘query=ini on’

3. Test a command based on your configuration

4. Now use Alfred to test a command

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Default Commands

Not case sensitive! Default Keyword = “home“

Keyword ABOUT	About this extension
Keyword INI ON Keyword INI OFF	(only when opening .ASP in web browser) ENABLE an overview of possible commands DISABLE an overview of possible commands (for debugging purposes)
Keyword EDIT INI	Opens browser window with the web-based Alfred INI editor in Homeseer
Keyword SETTINGS	Opens Alfred settings file in TextEdit
Keyword DEBUG ON Keyword DEBUG OFF	ENABLE Homeseer ASP script debugging DISABLE Homeseer ASP script debugging

 

Screenshots

Water usage today command result

Toggle Lamp A14 command result

Temperature Office command result

Power usage today command result