Trying to make Vera talk

Developer's Corner Scene Scripting
1

Hi All,

I’m trying to make vera speak using a similar process to what is outlined here: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,13619.0.html
I’ll start out by saying im on a Mac, Thats not changing and no I do not use PCs. so lets keep it on topic if you reply.

I’ve got VLC up and running with the web interface and can access it from any machine in the house, I’ve created my custom audio files (.Wave) for the application to play.
Scenes have been created and the code has been added to the scenes in Vera.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why it’s not working?
I can’t find any log files on Vera or VLC that show why it’s failing?

The LUUP code i’m using in the scenes looks something like this: os.execute(‘curl -g “http://10.0.1.3:8080/requests/status.xml?command=in_play&input=file:/TTS/Welcome_Home.wave”’)
on my Mac Server, I have created a folder in the root of the HD called ‘TTS’ and given ‘EVERYONE’ read-only permission to access it.

When the scene runs, Vera does her thing, the lights come on dim, blinds go up, etc. but no audio from VLC? nothing plays at all?

Any ideas?

2

I don’t use VLC as an announcer any more (got Sonos instead) but I recall that getting the file path correct was a challenge. I think VLC expects to find the files in its default folder. You may note that some of the examples (including ones I posted) show a series of /// prefixing the file name to get to the correct path.

3

If you want your Mac to talk (or do other things), you can do that with it’s built-in “say” command.

This can be launched from Vera, assuming you’ve enabled the Remote Login Sharing option, using bits that are available on a standard Mac (no 3rd party stuff required, if that helps).

See this recent thread for details/examples:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,23759.msg163461.html#msg163461

NOTE: Certs are being used to handle the authentication components of something calling into your Mac from your Vera.

4

Also, I recommend that with os.exexute, first test at the vera command line logging in as root.

If you have that working, then as Rex recommends, make sure you get the proper escapes to get your special characters through with your os.execute command.

I’m on Mac, got it all working with say commands and with AppleScript routines launched by vera. Plus, got it to go over connected airplay devices.

5

@Bulldog, I’m pretty good with AppleScript and figured this would be an option.
with OS.Excute can you basically send any type of common command such as ‘curl’, etc?
I could certainly script voice actions with AS or even a Shell script, just want to make sure I don’t need to know anything special about os.execute?

Thanks!

6

Just get the SSH permissions setup so you can pass the OSX commands without passwords an you will be golden.

The hardest part of the os.execute is getting the escapes right.

I’ve posted several examples of getting SAY through as well as AppleScript.

There is also an SSH thread here on the forum that I used to get that done.