Appendix 7 Downloading schedules and programs

Interface download has been designated a legacy feature and support is normally unavailable. Open the HCA Properties dialog and choose the legacy tab to enable support. This appendix describes the process of selecting programs and schedules, converting them, and downloading into the CM11, Lightolier Firewall, Magic Module, SmartHome HouseLinc and the SmartHome PowerLinc Controller. These topics are covered: What can be downloaded and why do it? The Download Wizard Downloading to the CM11 Downloading to the Lightolier Compose PLC Firewall Downloading to the Elk Magic Module Downloading to the SmartHome HouseLinc Downloading to the SmartHome PowerLinc Controller Final thoughts

Note: Downloading to the Insteon Enabled PowerLinc (model 2414U) is not supported in HCA.

What can be downloaded and why do it?

Depending upon the interface, HCA can translate schedules and programs into a form that can be downloaded into the memory of an interface. Not all interfaces have such a memory. For example, the LynX-10 does not and the Elk Magic Module does. Also, it depends upon the interface if you can choose programs, schedules, and how many of each for download. Before going too far, some very important points must be understood. First, the computer executing HCA is much more powerful than the processor in any interface. As such what you can download can only be a subset of what you can do with HCA when it is running on your computer. Also, most of the hardware options supported by HCA, like weather stations, and all of the connectivity features automation, email, and the internet cant be accessed by a program when it is downloaded into an interface. Hint: The support web site contains a technical note for each supported interface. All limitations on what can and cant be downloaded are detailed there. So why do it? Downloading eliminates the computer from your automation solution. This may be important for several reasons: You would like your automation solution to be available when the computer is powered off. You may not wish to leave your computer running when you are on vacation for example. A piece of your automation solution is very specialized and would operate better directly with the hardware. A lot of things downloaded into the Magic Module are like this.

Can you download and still have HCA running on your computer?

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Yes, you can! Some care needs to be taken to make sure that both the downloaded schedules and programs and the HCA running on the computer dont conflict with one another. Techniques for avoiding this will be covered later in this appendix.

The Download Wizard

Regardless of which interface, HCA uses the same download wizard. The number of steps in the wizards as well as some text in the various steps differs but the overall approach is the same. To discuss the Download Wizard a download to the SmartHome USB PowerLinc Controller is used as an example. To begin the Download Wizard select the download menu select from the hardware menu for the target interface. Step one of the Download Wizard appears and describes the download process:

After reading the text in the dialog press Next to proceed. Step 2 is common to most interfaces and discusses programs that cant be downloaded into the interface.

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Not all programs can be downloaded into the interface. They may use features that are not supported by the interface and cant be ignored. To see why a program cant be downloaded, select its name in the list and the reason why it is rejected is given in the text below. If you really want the program downloaded, you will need to modify it. When you have understood the information shown, press Next.

In this Wizard step any potential problems with a program are noted. These may be important and they may not the wizard cant tell. It is up to you to determine if you can accept the limits that are described. To see what the issues are select the name in the list and the reasons display below. To select a program for download move its name from the left to the right side box. When you have finished selecting programs, press Next.

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In this step of the wizard, programs that are fully translatable are listed. To select programs for download move their name from the left to the right list. Also in this dialog you select if HCA creates instructions in the download target to handle group and device alternative triggers. Press Next when done.

In this step of the wizard schedules are selected. Depending upon the interface you may be limited in the number of schedules that can be selected. You can select up to but not exceeding that number of schedules. If you try and select too many schedules you will be unable to move them to the right hand list. Any translation issues about that schedule display below. Also, depending upon the interface you may be given an option about how often sunrise and sunset is computed. When selecting this option keep in mind that more precision usually means more memory in necessary to hold the downloaded program. In this example using the PowerLinc Controller you don't have that option. After selecting the schedules for download press Next. This step explains any translation issues that occur when all of your selected programs and schedules are looked at all together.

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After pressing Next, the Final step of the Wizard appears.

This dialog summarizes your selections and tells you the amount of memory in the interface that will be used by this download. When you are ready to begin the download process, press Begin Download.

This dialog displays a process bar so you can monitor the download. Once the download completes your selected schedules and programs are ready to go. The remaining sections of this Appendix discuss any specific issues when using the various interfaces.

Downloading to the CM11

You can only select for download into the CM11 a single schedule. As such, the steps of the Download Wizard where programs are selected do not appear. There are a number of limitations in what schedule entries can be downloaded. Some of these are: Schedule entries for programs cant be downloaded since the corresponding programs cant be downloaded. The Vary By part of schedule entries is dropped. Schedule entries for groups are changed to schedule each member. The times for Sunrise and Sunset are not exact. Depending upon the size of the schedule being downloaded, Sunrise and Sunset times may only be computed each week or so. HCA

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determines the most precision that can be used and still fit all your schedule entries into the limited CM11 memory There are other issues that may be reported when you select a schedule for download.

Downloading to the Lightolier Compose PLC Firewall

The Lightolier Compose PLC Firewall (from now on referred to as the Firewall), can hold from one to four schedules but no programs. As such the download dialog does not have the steps for selection of programs. Unlike other X10 interfaces the Firewall is not something that is used by HCA to send and receive X10 signals. With the Lightolier product line, a special Marrick LynX-10PLC is used for this. The Firewall is only used by HCA to store schedules. The communications interface card is an optional circuit board installed in the Firewall. You may or may not have one. Check your Firewall for a small circuit card horizontally mounted next to the digital circuit card with the nine red and green LEDS. For complete information on how HCA works with Lightolier Compose switches and dimmers, see the Appendix on Lightolier Products. When schedules are translated for download there are a number of translation issues you may see. The most important of these is that the Firewall can only accept schedule entries for devices that use the C or D housecodes. In fact only C1 to C15 and D1 to D15 can be used. The 16th unit code of each housecode does not work in a schedule. You may need to assign your house and unit codes with this in mind. Hint: Use the House and Unit Code Inventory dialog to explore and change your house and unit code assignments. Before starting a download, the communications card in the Firewall must be connected to an unused serial port on your computer. The serial port used for this is specified in the Firewall Control Panel on the Communications tab of that dialog. For more information on the Firewall Control Panel see the appendix on Lightolier Products.

Downloading to the Elk Magic Module

Before you begin the Download Wizard it is important that all your Magic Module hardware has been entered into the Magic Module Inventory. The Download Wizard uses this information to check and translate what is being downloaded. More information on the Magic Module Inventory is provided in the appendix on the Magic Module. The Elk Magic Module is sort of general purpose computer with a processor and memory. At any given time there is a program resident in that memory and the processor is executing it. That program can be very simple or complex but the important fact is that there is always some program in there. Dont confuse the use of the word program with an HCA program. This program is written in the instruction set provided by the Magic Module. HCA contains a compiler that takes HCA schedules and HCA programs and translates them into a series of these instructions that the Magic Module processor can work with. This is a lot like Visual Basic programs you may have written. The Visual Basic Compiler takes what you wrote and compiles it into what your computer can work with.

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From one to four schedules and any number of HCA programs can be translated and downloaded to the Magic Module. This makes it one of the most capable interfaces that HCA uses for download. In addition to the download wizard steps covered above, there are two important steps in the Magic Module download wizard. The second step of the wizard selects the Magic Module to download into:

Note that there are two places where a Magic Module can be specified. The first place, at the top of the dialog, is the Magic Module to download into. Remember that you can have as many Magic Modules as you need all connected to each other on the 485 bus and the computer connected to the 485 bus using a RS232 to 485 bus converter. You can select any Magic Module in your inventory to download into. The second place where you select a Magic Module is at the bottom of the dialog. What is happening here is explained in the text of the dialog but the bottom line is that if what you select to download controls any X10 devices, either the Magic Module you are download into or another on the 485 bus must have an X10 interface. The two checkboxes in the dialog are also very important. When checked they make sure that the program HCA builds for the download contains instructions that tell the Magic Module to broadcast on to the 485 bus when these events occur. Why is this important? Even if you have downloaded parts of your HCA design into the Magic Module, it can still accept requests from HCA running on your computer. However unless you check either or both of the checkboxes HCA will not be told when inputs change the second checkbox or when X10 commands are received the first checkbox. Also if you are downloading into one Magic Module that uses another Magic Module for X10 receptions and transmissions it is necessary for the program resident in the Magic Module with the X10 interface to broadcast on the bus when X10 receptions happen. Yes, this is complex but with complexity comes power and the Magic Module has that. Hint: As stated above, some program is always running in the Magic Module. HCA has some standard programs that give HCA access to all the features in the Magic Module it needs. These can be selected for download from the Magic Module Inventory on the Magic Module Properties page.

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After selecting schedules and programs, HCA does an analysis of all your selections looking for things that cant be downloaded together. This can happen for many reasons and the analysis will tell you why. In this step HCA also checks that you are not attempting to download programs and schedules that use Magic Module hardware features that you dont have. How does it know what you have? Again, the selections you made in the Magic Module Inventory dialog tell whats what. Until you resolve any issues it finds you cant proceed to the download. Hint: It is possible to create schedules and programs that cause problems for the Magic Module. It could get so bad that they will refuse to communicate with HCA. There is a method for clearing the Magic Module memory if what you download causes problems. HCA tries hard to prevent this but even the gods are not omniscient. Consult the Magic Module documentation for information on how to clear the Magic Modules memory manually.

Downloading to the SmartHome HouseLinc

The SmartHome HouseLinc can contain programs and one schedule. As such the Download Wizard allows both selection of programs and schedules. Like the other interfaces there are several limitations in what schedule entries can be downloaded. These are displayed by the wizard and some of them are: Only schedule entries for programs that have been selected for download can be used. Groups are changed to schedule each member In schedule entries for a specific date, the year part of the date is ignored. Times plus or minus from sunset are limited to 60 minutes. The vary part of all schedule entries that have a vary clause is replaced by plus or minus 15 minutes. This is not done when the vary clause is used with sunrise and sunset schedule entries. In this case the vary clause is dropped completely. Some programs can be too complex to download. This happens if the branching structure (the lines connecting the elements) can't be translated. There are no rules for what is considered too complex. You will just have to try your programs and see.

As part of the download to the HouseLinc the sunrise and sunset table is downloaded and the current time is set.

Downloading to the SmartHome USB and Serial PowerLinc Controller

The SmartHome USB PowerLinc Controller can contain programs and up to two schedules. As such the Download Wizard allows both selection of programs and schedules. Like the other interfaces there are several limitations in what schedule entries can be downloaded. These are displayed by the wizard and some of them are: Only schedule entries for programs that have been selected for download can be used. Groups are changed to schedule each member In schedule entries for a specific date, the year part of the date is ignored. Times plus or minus from sunset or sunrise are limited to 60 minutes. The vary part of all schedule entries that have a vary clause is replaced by plus or minus 15 minutes. Unlike the HouseLinc, you will never get the error that programs are too complex and can't be translated.

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Even though the PowerLinc Controller can send extended code sequences on to the powerline (the LM14 lamp modules uses these to dim), they can't be sent by a downloaded program or schedule. Programs can use the flag elements "Make flag yes", "Make flag no" and the Test element when testing for the flag being Yes or No. You can have up to 14 yes / no flags. No other flag types (numbers, strings, etc) are supported.

As part of the download to the PowerLinc Controller the sunrise and sunset table is downloaded and the current time is set.

Final Thoughts
Now that the download process has been discussed, it is important to consider some issues if you intend to have HCA running and active on your computer as well as having programs and/or schedules in the interface memory. What you dont want is for both HCA and the interface to be sending X10 transmissions at the same time. This could be because each is monitoring a schedule and the time to execute a schedule entry has come up, or both the interface and HCA responding to an X10 command that triggers some program. To prevent this HCA and the interface should have a different current schedule. If you want the interface to handle schedules exclusively then you should have no schedule as the current schedule in HCA. To prevent both HCA and the interface responding to X10 signals it would be a good idea to suspend those programs in your HCA design that were downloaded to the interface. To do this, right click on the programs name or icon and select Suspend from the popup menu. In the Suspend dialog select the option that resumes the program only when you tell it to. This tells HCA that even if the trigger for this program is received, HCA should not start the program. And remember. None of these downloadable interfaces are nearly as capable as HCA running on your computer. What you can do with the download is much less than HCA can do. You should be prepared for this!

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