This page explains how you can create your own Win95 QuikMenu to control your appliances. I like using this because it allows me to quickly turn on my stereo or turn the fan off without having to start up any application.

I'm calling it the QuikMenu for lack of a better term. But it really doesn't need a name because this is not a product or an application for you to download. It uses existing functionality in Windows 95 to setup a little menu system to control your stuff. I'll start by explaining how I use it. That should be enough info for you to decide if you even need it or not. If you do, read on for instructions on how to set it up. If you don't, then stop reading.

How to use it

First of all, without the QuikMenu, if I want to turn on my stereo while I'm sitting here at my computer, I have to start up the ActiveHome application (which requires a few selections on my Start menu), click on the appropriate tab sheet, click on the graphical switch for my stereo, then close the application. Now, those steps aren't all that bad (it's better than having to get up and go over to my stereo). But I wanted a way that I can do all that by just making one menu selection on my Windows 95 Start menu.

So I setup the menu selections as shown in the image below. For each appliance, I created two selections, one for "On" and one for "Off". For lamps, I added nine dim level settings in addition to the usual On/Off selections. So now, to turn on my stereo, I click on my Start menu, find the stereo menu, then select "On". No application starts up and no windows open. I just select "On" and the stereo turns on. The same goes for dimming a lamp. I just select one of the dim levels that I've created.

The fact that no application starts up is a big advantage if you already have some applications running and you may not have enough memory to startup the ActiveHome application.

Requirements

This setup sends commands directly to the to the X-10 Communications Bridge. The X-10 Communications Bridge is included with the ActiveHome software package and provides the link between your PC and the computer interface. The ActiveHome application does not need to be running for this to work. Only the Communications Bridge needs to be running.

During the installation of ActiveHome, you are prompted to see if you want the communications link to automatically startup each time you start your computer. You may want to do this. If you need to do this manually, you may be interested to know that I have an icon in my startup folder with the following command line:

"C:\Program Files\Home Control\X10Comm.exe" HIDE

NOTE: If the Communications Bridge is not already running, and you select a menu option to control an appliance, the bridge will start up automatically. So for purposes of this setup, it is not necessary to have it running all the time or to put it in your Windows Startup group.

To set this up

I'll start by saying that it helps if you are already familiar with how to add, remove and change icons on your Start menu. I'll explain a little about how that is done here, but a familiarity with the process will make it much easier for you.

1. Start up Windows Explorer. You can usually do this by clicking on your Start menu, select "Programs", then select "Windows Explorer".

2. Find your "Windows" folder on the right side and double-click on it.

3. Then find the "Start Menu" folder on the right side and double-click on it.

4. In the File menu, select "New" then select "Folder". This will allow you to create a new folder where you will store your menu selections. Give it a good name (I called mine "X-10"). If you want to change the name that you've already entered, just right-click on the folder and select "Rename".

5. Once you've named your new folder, double-click on it. This should open up an empty window on the right. This empty window is where we'll be setting up the menu selections.

6. Now create a folder for your first appliance, let's say it's your office stereo. Just use the same steps that you used to create your "X-10" folder above. Name this folder "Office Stereo". Then double-click on this new folder. Again, this will open an empty window on the right.

7. Now, we'll create the icon that will turn the stereo on. Right-click in the open area on the right, select "New", then select "Shortcut". This will open a little dialog box where you define what the shortcut should do. Click the "Browse" button and find the "X10COMM.EXE" file in the same folder as your ActiveHome program. When you double-click on the "X10COMM.EXE" file in the browse window, it will put the full path to that file in the entry area. You'll need to add to the end of that path the house code and unit code and the word "on" or "off". See the example below:

   

8. When you have the proper path in there, click on the "Next" button. This will allow you to name the icon. Just name it "On". Then click "Finish".

9. To create an icon to turn the stereo off, just repeat setup #7 above.

10. At this point, you should be able to turn that first appliance on and off from your Start menu. Go ahead and try it.

11. Now create additional menu selections for all your other appliances. To setup a menu option to dim your lights, you'll need to use a command line like this:

    "C:\Program Files\Home Control\X10Comm.exe" a1 dim to 020%

    Note that the dim level percentage is a three-digit number. This is important.

Troubleshooting

Most everything that I've explained uses standard Windows 95 functionality. So if there is a problem, I probably cannot offer too much help. However, I will mention the following points which may help:

• Your X-10 Communications Bridge must be running at all times. Depending on the exact version you have, this may or may not put an icon in your system tray (so it's easy to tell if it's running).

• The communications between your computer and the computer interface module must be functioning properly. If not, this stuff won't work. To test the communications, start your ActiveHome application and select "Test Communications" from the "Tools" menu. If you need assistance with this, then click the "Help" button that appears after you make that menu selection.

• The command line syntax required for the icons is documented in the "X10COMM.HLP" file which you will find in the same folder as your ActiveHome application.