MSR various observations and questions from newbie

[cw-kid]

Creating my first ever Reactor rule !

I want to open my curtains every day at 7:30 am.

However how do you specify a particular time ?

The options are:

between
not between
after
before

In PLEG I have an option “At a certain time of day”

I also want to check that the curtains are not already open before the rule is allowed to run.

In PLEG I just check that the curtain device percentage is less than 10% if so then I consider them to be closed.

I have two different options, I assume I want position value here? What is the difference with these two items?

Also in Constraints for “Entity Attribute” In the drop down list it says “choose device”

However its listing Vera devices and scenes all in one very long list:

The ones I have highlighted are Scenes. The “Lounge Curtains” I think is the actual device.

So its not easy in this list at all to tell which is a device and which is a scene. Unless you know all your names off the top of your head.

Should the Play button be working? When I press it nothing happens and my curtains do not open.

Also tried Position Set = 100

EDIT:

This looks correct to me now, however I cannot Play the Reaction and the Save buttons are greyed and a tool tip says “Fix errors before saving”

Thanks

[ranneman]

@cw-kid

I want to open my curtains every day at 7:30 am.

However how do you specify a particular time ?

The options are:

between
not between
after
before

Just take after 7:29. That only happens once a day, at 7:30.

[cw-kid]

I can’t seem to type :29 in to that box I just have a drop down with set values.

[ranneman]

Indeed true, in my case I select 7:30. Works for me.

[rigpapa]

@ranneman

Just take after 7:29. That only happens once a day, at 7:30.

After 7:30 would be correct. This is a frequently-asked question for new Reactor users and has been covered in the docs for some time.

Edit: also, this should be asked in another thread, and if it’s really about MSR, in another forum.

[cw-kid]

@ElCid

You would set up one group
with condition

You have a Condition within a Trigger ?

I thought all Conditions would go under Constraints.

A trigger is a trigger.

I’ve just added this one.

The trigger is 40 mins before sunset and it has various Constraints (Conditions) that should all be met before the Reaction (Action) is run to turn on the lamps.

Is this not right then ?

[cw-kid]

I don’t get it.

In PLEG you have Triggers → Conditions → Actions

So in the example of a Schedule to open the curtains at 7:30am but the schedule should only be run if the curtains are not already opened.

I wouldn’t need a Constraint at all, I just add the check to see if the curtains are already open in to the actual trigger instead.

So what about the example I just posted a screen shot of for a schedule to turn on my lounge lamps ?

I added several conditions in to the “Constraints” area.

[rigpapa]

@cw-kid

I don’t get it.

Triggers cause action. Constraints prevent the action, if necessary. So in MSR, trigger → constraint → action. If there are no constraints, the SET reaction happens any time the trigger conditions are met (i.e. state goes from false to true for that group). The RESET reaction happens when the trigger conditions are not met (state goes from true to false). The reactions only run when the state changes, so a persistent true or false does not cause action.

Example with constraints: motions sensor in trigger that turns on a light. You only want that to happen between sunset and sunrise, so you add the “Sunset/Sunrise” condition as a constraint. While you are learning to use MSR, I recommend you not use constraints.

Also, please read:
Concepts and Terminology

[ElCid]

the trigger at 7.30 and the trigger curtain closed both have to be true for the reaction to fire, unless you set the “or” for the group. So if at 7.30 the curtain is open the group remains false and the curtain will not open.

[cw-kid]

@ElCid

trigger curtain closed

I would call that a condition not a trigger

The time is the trigger

[rigpapa]

This is not the forum for MSR discussions, gents. I’m about to lock this thread. Take it where it belongs, please (see the Community button in the left nav of the bug tracker if you don’t know).

[cw-kid]

OK I’ve deleted the Constraint and added my condition in to the trigger itself now.

Likewise for this lamps on schedule.

Just seemed odd having conditions within the trigger and not having conditions as a separate thing under constraints