hs.sunset as parameter to script

[tailwind]

I've created a script which makes it possible to display a text on a Squeezebox.

The script parameters are -->
SBMessage.vb("Main","IPADDRESS;MESSAGELINE1;MESSAGELINE2;DURATION;BRIGHTNESS")

What I want to do is display the sunset time on the squeezebox. The command I've tried is:
SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om " &hs.Sunset & ";5;4")

That results in the string being cut off at "Zonsondergang vandaag om ".

I also tried:
SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om &hs.Sunset ;5;4")

and

SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om hs.Sunset ;5;4")

Is it possible to pass of a homeseer command to the parameters? And if so...how?

p.s. If you want I can attach the script, but you will need a Squeezebox server (or Squeezecenter server) with a device which has a display (Squeezebox/Transporter) to test it.

[Michael McSharry]

I'm not a .vb scripter, but one suggestion is that you may need typecasting on hs.sunset() such as

SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om " & cstr(hs.Sunset()) & ";5;4")

[IKUS]

Originally Posted by tailwind

Is it possible to pass of a homeseer command to the parameters? And if so...how?

I don't think you can pass an "immediate homeseer command" as a parameter. I'm hoping I'm wrong though 'cause I too have tried to do this (albeit with a JavaScriipt script) with no success but would love to be able to.

[jon00]

As stated, you cannot do this.

The workaround is to use keywords which are then replaced within the main script.

Example, using keyword $SS for sunset:

Script call:

SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om $SS";5;4")

Within main script:

If Instr(sMLine2,"$SS") > 0 then sMLine2=hs.stringitem(sMLine2,1,"$SS") & hs.sunset() & hs.stringitem(sMLine2,2,"$SS")

(You can use the split command instead if you wish).

[tailwind]

@jon00: The problem with your solution is that you never know what someone is requesting. It's not always sunset. It can also be a device command or something else.

So the question is: Is there a function available containing all homeseer commands? That way you can do something like this:

Script call:
SBMessage.vb("Main","localhost;Zonnetijden;Zonsondergang vandaag om $SS";5;4")

In SBMessage.vb:
- Split the parameters on VbSpace
- Loop through the array of splitted parameters and do an instring $
- If $ is found then call function with the $.... command
- The function picks up the $... command, executes it and returns the value.
- Back in the loop the value is replaced with the homeseer value
- after the loop is done, the string is rebuild with the replaced stuff

This way it's totally dynamic.

As I see it, the above would be a workaround. The best way (in my oppinion) is to let HomeSeer support the hs commands from the parameters field in a later version. I can immagin that there are more people who want this functionality.

[jon00]

To the best of my knowledge, it is not possible. You cannot convert a string directly to a homeseer script call.

[tailwind]

Sorry jon I wan't clear enough. The function does not launch the string it recieves it just recognise the command to be executed based on an $.... string and executes the corresponding homeseer command. Something like this:

StringInput = "$ss"

function:
Select
Case LCase(StringInput) = "$ss"
Return hs.Sunset
Case LCase(StringInput) = "$sr"
Return hs.Sunrise
Case ...
EndSelect

[jon00]

The return would be a string, but again you would need to replace the string input command and insert it within the original message.

[jsteed]

I think what you want is to use the "OR Script Statement:" entry and use hs.RunEx to run the script instead of directly entering the script name and parameters.

&hs.RunEx("test.txt","Main","Today at "&hs.sunset&" evening")

10/22/2009 1:01:34 PM ~!~Event~!~Running script statement immediately: &hs.RunEx("test.txt","Main","Today at "&hs.sunset&" evening")
10/22/2009 1:01:34 PM ~!~test~!~Today at 6:42 PM evening

jim

[tailwind]

Brilliant Jim! I just tested it and it works. Simple solution to what looked like a challenging problem