AutoIt and Home Automation
AutoIt is an amazing tool for home automation or any Windows automation for that matter. Below we discuss some sample scripts to integrate your PC with most API’s and services with some sample scripts to get you started. Remember that if you are looking to get started with AutoIt and your own automation hub please look at their API. We have listed all the API links on the hub page.
Sample Get Using AutoIt
Our sample GET uses our local PC TouchControl software to run it.
$oHTTP = ObjCreate("winhttp.winhttprequest.5.1")
$oHTTP.Open("GET", "http://192.168.1.xxx:1xxx/zwave/activateSceneGet?password=&sceneName=MainArea30", False)
$oHTTP.Send()
Open a Local Application
You may want your PC to be able to open applications and interact with them. This is the script to open them. You can choose to open any application you want:
Run('C:\Program Files\Google\Picasa3\Picasa3.exe')
Recording Your Tasks
This is the most powerful tool with regards to AutoIt. You can simply click the toolbar ‘Tools’ option and click AU3Recorder and begin doing the task that you would like to run.
Task Scheduler to Run Commands
You could then auto run this outputted task within task scheduler in Windows 7.
Task Scheduler Tutorial
AutoIt Favourite Links
UDF’s are a way to interact with programs using AutoIt’s simple scripting language. We will list a few of our favourites to help get you started.
- iTunes UDF: This UDF allows you to add automation techniques to your AutoIt scripts within iTunes. I use this one to play playlists from my Pebble watch, change the volume, pause and play music.
- Gmail Remote Monitor: I love this one as you can send an email and then launch commands locally on a PC. As long as the syntax is a certain way it can launch commands. Great for IFTTT integration.
- Spotify:Spotify is an awesome music service and software platform to control your music.
Let Us Know Your Favourite Ways To Use AutoIt
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DIY Home Automation Recipes
We cover some of the least common DIY home automation recipes found on the net. We give you the power to do things that plain old automation hubs can’t do at this moment. These recipes require software either on your Android, Windows PC, iPhone, iPad or MacBook. All these recipes usually help tie in lots of capabilities into your already available automation system. If we display a recipe that isn’t exactly like your system we suggest that you use the same idea and apply it to your own. Most automation systems have an API that differ slightly and can easily be adapted.
Latest DIY Recipes
Recipe: Turn LED Strip Red Before an Appointment (10/8/2014) - Software Used Zapier, AutoRemote, Tasker, Smart Remote(app) Hardware Required IR android device, LED Strips Steps Begin with creating a new Zapier task that has: Trigger: Google Calendar and Event Start Action: AutoRemote and New Message Under #4 Only trigger an event start from Google Calendar when:Time before: 45 minutes #5 Enter the text that you will create a new filter
Talking Tablet Recipe (10/12/2014) - Software or Services Used Tasker, AutoNotification, IFTTT Hardware Any > 4.0 Android Device Possible Uses Welcome home “Hello Rod” Tell you the weather Tell you what’s happening around you Notify you of any earthquakes There is motion in another room Warning This can get annoying for the people around you if this feature isn’t used
Connect iOS and Android Together for Home Automation (10/21/2014) - What is this? Android is a lot easier when doing home automation tasks and this appears to be the best way to link your devices together using a little trick. Software AutoRemote, Now Now, Google Search, Tasker, Activator, GooGiri Hardware iOS 7 with Jailbreak and an Android with AutoRemote and Tasker installed. Steps Setup GooGiri,
EventGhost Help Guide and Review | A Must HAVE!
What is it?
EventGhost is software to automate your Windows PC based on triggers (if this than that). Once you follow a few guides on how to add triggers and actions it’s extremely powerful. Download Eventghost here.
Example Trigger
EventGhost triggers are events that happen on your computer and are logged by EventGhost. These can be used to create a ‘Macro’. In the image above there are several ‘triggers’ that can be used by dragging the lightning bolt across to a new macros section on the right.
Example Macros
Do you notice the lightning bolt there? That is a trigger that has been dragged to the ‘unnamed macro’. It can include any type of trigger and then can have any action(s) after that.
Adding Parameters
Lets say you want to add what was said from the AutoRemote message into a custom script that you made. The first step is to add the line {eg.event.payload.arcomm} into the command line options section and then you can send it to something that happens on your PC. In the example above I sent it to a food log.
Sample Useful Recipes
- Create a good morning scene which controls your lights. You can integrate it with any home automation system by launching GET requests.
- Have an aquarium movie-loop pop up when you aren’t doing anything for a while.
- Send an AutoRemote notification when a new download is finished.
Other Youtube Videos
Here are some good youtube videos with regardes to EventGhost which you should try.
EventGhost Recipe Forums
- Home Automation Remotes | PS3 VS Harmony VS Z-Wave Ones
- EventGhost Help Guide and Review | A Must HAVE!
Our Review
- Published in EventGhost, Home