Controlicz - Easy Domoticz to Alexa Integration Topic is solved

[jeromehettich]

Thanks for creating this, I got it up and running pretty easily - so soon it will be goodbye ha-bridge. I've left a review for you on amazon, and looking forward to the google home equivalent.
The only oddity I have is regarding a domoticz group I have containing three devices. Alexa can see the group (and lists it as a device) but turning it on or off only impacts one of the devices in the group (the last one). It's not really and issue - as I can just create an alexa group with these devices - but wondered if this the expected behaviour or if I need to tweak something?

[heggink]

Hey Nick, is the new domoticz skill going to replace controlicz or will controlicz be updated?

[Madgeni]

Hi Jeromehettich - that is weird. For Domoticz groups, I only interact with the group (which in turn does stuff with the devices) - so it doesn't feel like i've done something - i would say that though But never say never!

If you want to try it at home - try https://hostname:port/json.htm?type=command&param=switchscene&idx=GROUPIDX&switchcmd=On

Hey Heggink - you'll not have to do a thing
all the work has been done (fingers crossed!) - it's with Amazon to put the v3 version of Controlicz live (it's live on my side)

[heggink]

Brill. Thx.

[jeromehettich]

Hi Jeromehettich - that is weird. For Domoticz groups, I only interact with the group (which in turn does stuff with the devices) - so it doesn't feel like i've done something - i would say that though But never say never!

Just to confirm - its something on my domoticz end...as get the same behaviour when I trigger the group locally.
Looks like it's because I recently added those devices to another group....so as the log says:
"Skipping sensor ...because this triggers another scene!"

[dgilbert2]

Looking forward to V3 of the skill

What new functionality will it bring?

[Madgeni]

sorts out the icons in app, the routines should work better, and you can query the devices for their state in the app. Basically i've implemented everything they've implemented, and it's ready for what they throw in next

[joshmosh]

@Madgeni
Hi, I have a question for clarification:
In Domoticz, I have a (virtual) switch of type light/switch, switch, blinds, which controls my blinds. In Domoticz, I have defined Action on On and Action on Off. "On" will bring the blinds down, "Off" will bring the blinds up. I am using German language.
When I tell Alexa "Alexa - Rollladen ein" (Rollladen is my Alex_Name for the Blinds), Alexa says "OK" and the blinds go down.
"Alexa - Rollladen aus" will result in another "OK" and the blinds go up. So far, so good.
Being a perfectionist , I would like to use "up" and "down" (German equivalents "hoch" / "runter") instead of "on" and "off".
If I do so: "Alexa - Rollladen hoch" Alexa acknowledges with "OK" but nothing happens, same with "Alexa - Rollladen runter".
What does Controlicz send to Domoticz, when I use "up" and "down" instead of "on" and "off" ? Is there a possibility to have something like a trace ?

You know, I for sure can live with "on" and "off", but "up" and "down" would be a tad nicer

Thank you very much for any comment/hint you may have.
Cheers
Josh

[Madgeni]

Hey Josh

do me a favour - today, can you try the up/down thing, and PM me when you've done it, and i'll take a look.
As you know, i don't have any real control over the language that Alexa uses, and they don't list the examples

Your English is impeccable - 'tad'!

[Madgeni]

Hi -

Just a polite note, if you are in the Home Automation business, and are looking to integrate Controlicz into your customers solutions, stick a few € in the tip jar will you?

[heggink]

Just sent a couple of pints your way for all the great work.
btw, where can I find your google skill? Love to use my android to do things as well.

[Madgeni]

Thank you so much - it's really appreciated
Google? You've got mail

[Madgeni]

Hi -
i *think* v3 is now live I am unsure if you need to forget/rediscover your devices - apologies if you do, but this should now put Scenes in the right place, enable Routines to work more effectively, fix the icons in the app, and allow you to query your devices IN app.

Let me know

[heggink]

Just deleted and rediscovered. No groups, just scenes and devices. Any way to check whether it's the new service? Any command that didn't work before?

[Madgeni]

hmm - if you open the alexa app, can you access your devices? If you select one, does it tell you it's state?
Groups in the app are ones you create in the App, not Domoticz ones. Domoticz Groups/Scenes = Scenes in the app

[heggink]

No states in the alexa app. My app version is 1.24.3096.0

[Madgeni]

hmm - my app version is 2.2.317.13

From the migration guide:
"After your updated skill is certified and moved to Live, your skill may continue to receive control directives in the v2 format for up to 24 hours. This is because for customers already using your v2 skill, the skill version for an endpoint only updates when a discovery request is run. Alexa sends a silent discovery directive approximately every 4 hours, but you must expect that fully transitioning all endpoints for existing customers will take up to 24 hours"
Any chance of disabling and re-enabling Controlicz? I was using my test v3 skill previously, so switched to Controlicz after receiving comms from Amazon that it has re-passed certification, and it 'worked' as expected

[dgilbert2]

I just "rediscovered devices" and it seems to have updated the icons etc., excellent well done Scenes have now appeared but cannot be triggered from the app, I assume that's normal?

[Madgeni]

yes, that's normal - they're there for show, and to incorporate into Routines (which should now work properly).

[heggink]

hmm - my app version is 2.2.317.13

From the migration guide:
"After your updated skill is certified and moved to Live, your skill may continue to receive control directives in the v2 format for up to 24 hours. This is because for customers already using your v2 skill, the skill version for an endpoint only updates when a discovery request is run. Alexa sends a silent discovery directive approximately every 4 hours, but you must expect that fully transitioning all endpoints for existing customers will take up to 24 hours"
Any chance of disabling and re-enabling Controlicz? I was using my test v3 skill previously, so switched to Controlicz after receiving comms from Amazon that it has re-passed certification, and it 'worked' as expected

Bugger: wrong apk installed. Why don't they just make this available for NL . Works now! Cheers.