Drag and drop linking

[MarioLanning]

So I have been fiddleing with my 8 button INSTEON switches. I have several in each room, some all do the same thing. It would be nice, so I don't need to set up flow charts, diagrams, and think like an engeneer to get everything in sync to just be able to grab all the buttons with a SHIFT + Click and drop all the buttons on eachother and let the system sort out, turing one on turns the other panel lights on, changeing a scene turns off the light for a corrisponding scine with changes, turing one off kills the light on the other panels and such..

 

I am one of thoes that bought into the smart home thing to simplify my life, not spend weeks in front of it to get button lights to all be in sync.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi MarioLanning,

 

I am so very sorry but I really do not understand the suggestion. Can you elaborate please?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[lilyoyo1]

It sounds like he wants the button grouping process automated.

[oberkc]

I do no flowcharts nor diagrams.  I guess I probably DO think like an engineer, since I am one.  Having said this, I don't find it overly difficult to accomplish your stated goals (create a scene with many devices, all as controllers).  Create a new scene.  From my list of devices, ctrl+click on each of the devices I want added to the scene.  Once all the devices are highlighted, click on one and drag it to the newly-created scene (taking all the highlighted devices with it).  (Alternatively, rather than drag-or-drop, right-click on one and select "add to scene".)  When given the prompt, choose each as "controller" of the scene.  It would take minutes to accomplish, rather than weekends.  It does not sound to me much more complicated than the method you describe and seems to me pretty consistent with standard windows behavior.

 

This is not to suggest that there is no learning curve or that a different user interface might appeal to different users.  My only concern with changing the interface methods is if doing so looses flexibility and power.  Some people like mice.  Some like keyboards.  Some like drag-and-drop.  I would be very disappointed if the quest for drop-dead simplicity resulted in loss of options and power.  Personally, I like the existing balance between power and ease-of-use.

[lilyoyo1]

I agree with Oberkc. Even though the way the system is set up takes time to learn, it also allows you the customization you are able to achieve. Once you understand it, programming moves quickly. Simplifying things to much can mean a less capable system