Echo Routines broken with V3

[Geddy]

Similar to this post (https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/23234-problem-with-routine) I'm having an issue with the V3 update and how routines work (or rather don't work).

 

Background:

 

Under V2 we had a "routine" in Alexa/Echo that we could simply say, "Alexa, time for bed". The result would be that it would turn off about 15 lights no matter their status. This was setup within the Alexa smartphone app (iOS). 

 

 

Current issue: I went through the steps to remove/deactivate V2 and "forget devices" on the computer side of Echo/Alexa. I then added V3 and found devices. Everything seems to work when I say, "Alexa, turn kitchen on" - the kitchen will turn on. (The kitchen is a Device/Light on the portal page connection).

 

When I created the routine as we had before nothing happens. You can only create the routine on the smartphone app (I don't see routines available on the web version for Echo). 

 

Here are some screen shots showing what I see and what we're trying. 

 

Alexa/Echo made it so easy with the routines to not have to say "alexa turn "something" on" to do what we wanted. It made it easier to remember and simple for us to just say, "Alexa, time for bed" and it worked. 

 

Pictures:

Menu you get on the smarphone app when opened from top left of phone

 

Creating a new routine shows this screen

 

Called the routine "bedtime" (for this test only). I added the kitchen light to the routine for testing.  We should be able to say, "Alexa, bedtime" and it will turn the kitchen light off.

 

This shows the kitchen and kitchen light as options. They are different because we have 2 spoken names for the kitchen ("kitchen" and "kitchen light" control the same device/switches)

 

This shows that we want it to turn off the "kitchen"

 

This shows how the kitchen setup in the ISY portal with the Echo connectivity. 

 

 

I'd like to get this working again, since it was so easy in the past. In the post linked above it got hijacked and the issue seemed not to be understood exactly what was going on. There was a suggestion made by nathagt (https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/23234-problem-with-routines/page-2?do=findComment&comment=230389) that might work...I'm going to head off to try that soon, but wanted to ask if the easy way of having a routine was broken somehow with V3 and point out the steps we went through to create this previously. It shouldn't break something in an update, but if Echo and UD aren't working together then I'm sure they could have broken the functionality of this.

 

It was a welcomed process with Echo added "Routines". Hopefully it will be usable in the near future without having to reset a lot of different things.

 

I look forward to suggestions!

 

-Scott

 

 

[stusviews]

What specifically does not work?

[bmercier]

I would try to remove the kitchen from the routine and re-add it. I'm guessing that the routine may be referencing the older kitchen device from V2 that no longer exists.

 

Benoit

[Geddy]

What specifically does not work?

 

I can't explain it much better. It's just there is a "routine" option in the Echo app. When they introduced it last year it seemed to be an "easier" way to setup a process to turn off a bunch of lights without having to make a scene or program in the ISY. It saved me tons of "programming" time and made it easy for my family to turn off most nonessential lights. Now, with the V3 update I can't get the "routine" option to trigger any lights turning off. I can add lights, but they show up as houses with what I call "wifi" icons inside them. They don't look the same as they did before. I've gone back into the ISY portal to make sure everything is shown as a switch or light. Nothing changes on the Echo/Alexa app side.

 

 

 

I would try to remove the kitchen from the routine and re-add it. I'm guessing that the routine may be referencing the older kitchen device from V2 that no longer exists.

 

Benoit

 

I have removed the entire routine, and recreated it. I went through the steps of forgetting all devices and turning off V2 then enabling V3 and then rediscovering the devices. Everything seemed to populate back into the Alexa app on the phone (iPhone X iOS 11.2.5).  I can control some lights as usual, but some that I just installed (Fanlinc and switches) aren't showing in the new V3 even though they are in my portal. The stuff that does show up in the Alexa App shows up as I mentioned above and shown in the original post.

 

It's interesting that each device shows up and each spoken option shows up as different devices. I have multiple spoken phrases for most lights for when family comes over they can control the lights with the Alexa with common phrases for rooms/lights in case they don't know what we specifically call it maybe they can get close enough...if we're not there.

 

 

Thanks for the help. Hopefully it's a simple re-set process. I'll try forgetting the devices and re-enable V3 again tonight when I'm home.

[bmercier]

I can control some lights as usual, but some that I just installed (Fanlinc and switches) aren't showing in the new V3 even though they are in my portal. The stuff that does show up in the Alexa App shows up as I mentioned above and shown in the original post.

 

Look under Scenes. In V2, scenes and programs were exposed as devices. In V3, the default is scene (But this is now configurable).

 

 

It's interesting that each device shows up and each spoken option shows up as different devices. I have multiple spoken phrases for most lights for when family comes over they can control the lights with the Alexa with common phrases for rooms/lights in case they don't know what we specifically call it maybe they can get close enough...if we're not there.

 

It was like that in V2 as well.

 

Benoit

[Geddy]

Thanks for the help! Also got some help from nathagt. Ended up having to go through the process again. Since iOS doesn't have "forget all devices" in the app I had to go through that process on the web access to Alexa/Echo. 

 

For my fix:

Go to: https://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#appliances

"Forget all"

turn off V3

allow things to update (I gave it about 10 minutes)

re-enable V3 & link account

discover items

 

Bingo! Things were back with light bulbs, switches, and scenes like they should be. 

 

I recreated a routine in the iPhone Alexa App to test turning off a few lights with the routine option (rather than programs or scenes from ISY), and it worked as it had in V2.

 

All seems to be working right now. It's a pain that the step of forgetting all devices when going from V2 to V3 is only available through the web access with Alexa and not on the smartphone app (at least for iOS). 

 

Thanks all for the help!

-Scott

[reisender]

I had the same thing happen to me, when I upgraded from V2 to V3 my routines would no longer work. I've gone through all of the steps mentioned here and they still do not work. I even went through and deleted and re-linked everything for Echo connectivity in the ISY portal. Still doesn't work. When I ask Alexa to turn on whatever scene, program, or state variable directly it works. But when I create a routine with that same scene, program, or state variable, it doesn't work.

[stusviews]

Routine need to be recreated after an update. The command remains, but the controlled device doesn't. That's because all the device were (or should have been) forgotten as part of the upgrade.

[reisender]

Yes, I had tried that too.

[bmercier]

On 2/12/2018 at 6:48 AM, reisender said:

I had the same thing happen to me, when I upgraded from V2 to V3 my routines would no longer work. I've gone through all of the steps mentioned here and they still do not work. I even went through and deleted and re-linked everything for Echo connectivity in the ISY portal. Still doesn't work. When I ask Alexa to turn on whatever scene, program, or state variable directly it works. But when I create a routine with that same scene, program, or state variable, it doesn't work.

What does not work with the routine exactly?

Is it creating the routine?

Adding a device to the routine?

Running the routine? If so, what does Alexa says?

Benoit

[reisender]

I have no problem creating a routine. But whatever ISY-related item I have in a routine just doesn’t do anything. Anything else (Alexa saying something) works.

[bmercier]

Hello reisender,

Are you able to turn on/off the device that you are using in the Routine, either vocally, or through the alexa mobile app?

If so, the routine should be able to turn it on or off too.

From the skill perspective, whether this is initiated by a vocal command, the mobile app, or a routine, the process is identical. The skill is not ware if it is called by a routine. If the routine does not trigger the device on/off, then there is an echo problem, or it does not have the correct device.

Before calling Amazon for support, I would recommend to double-check that you have the correct device in the routine. 

I would look in the alexa app, the web version, and I would look under devices AND scenes. One possibility I see is that you may have an ISY device from V2 AND V3, which would mean 2 echo devices related to the same ISY device. Perhaps the routine has the V2 version it it?

Benoit

[reisender]

I am able to operate the item I put in the routine manually by asking Alexa to turn it on or off. Agreed that if that works then it should work in a routine. But it doesn't. They worked on V2. I followed the steps to migrate to V3. And, as I previously alluded to, I have, several times, completed deleted everything in Alexa and on the ISY portal and started from scratch with the same result. My next step is going to be to go back to V2 and see if that works.

[bmercier]

Maybe one last thing to try before trying V2 again.

Try the routine one more time, and take note of the precise time and device address. I will see if I can find something in the logs.

I will need to know, the time with timezone, your uuid and device address.

Benoit

[stusviews]

10 minutes ago, reisender said:

I am able to operate the item I put in the routine manually by asking Alexa to turn it on or off. Agreed that if that works then it should work in a routine. But it doesn't. They worked on V2. I followed the steps to migrate to V3. And, as I previously alluded to, I have, several times, completed deleted everything in Alexa and on the ISY portal and started from scratch with the same result. My next step is going to be to go back to V2 and see if that works.

As I indicated, forgetting everything leaves, "Alex Will" blank even after you run discover. You need to re-do what Alexa will do. What you say remains intact.

Edited February 14, 2018 by stusviews

[reisender]

stusviews - I'm not sure I follow. But I deleted the original routines before migrating to V3 and then re-created them after migrating to V3. Yes, I forgot all of the devices before the migration.

 

Benoit - I'll send you my information.

[stusviews]

The routine should have remained intact with the exception that what, "Alexa Will" do needs updating as the device, scene, and/or program is gone. But, if you deleted them, then they need re-creating as you've done.

[bmercier]

What happened is that in V2, scenes and programs were exposed as a regular Alexa Device.

In V3, scenes and programs are exposed as Alexa scenes, by default. However, you can change that in ISY Portal. You have to edit the relevant spokens, and choose to expose them as devices (like it was in V2).

Benoit