Home Control Assistant Newsletter for Jan 29 2023
Have you read the Important Announcement posted on August 1, 2021? If you haven't you need to.
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HCA 17.0.52 is now available for download
This build contains some functional changes. If you are currently using HCA 17.0.46 or later you can download and install this new build at no cost. If you are using an older version of HCA, please review your options in these past weekly messages here and here.
Downloading this new version is the same as always: Go to the HCA website current version page, enter your V17 reg code, and the resultant page contains the link to the download. Use the same password as you used for the upgrade to 17.0.48. If you lost your V17 reg code or the password, send me an email and I'll help you out, but you have to promise me that you will save them for the next time!
I'll introduce here two of the changes. You can always view the full build notes on the current version page.
One change is that the recently released "Find" tool has been enhanced to have the capability to locate arbitrary strings of text. The Notes tabs of devices, programs, and groups, as well as program element properties and their comments are searched. Open the Find tool from the Tools ribbon category and one of the Find options is now "Text".
The other change is more in the "nice to have" category. I found that there were some programs I was using frequently, and each time I had to locate their icon on some page or find the program in a folder. So I added a way to add a program as a "favorite" and put it on the ribbon.
Select from the Tools ribbon category the "Configure Favorites" button. You get to name up to four buttons, choose a color, and the program to execute.
You can pick any program that you would normally right-click on a see a "Start" option in the popup menu.
After you finish, close with OK and those buttons appear on the ribbon.
While that's useful, it is much more useful if you then add them to the Quick Access Toolbar like I did.
As you can see, if you hover the mouse over the button it pops up the name of the program started when you press the button. The icons are always just blots but you get seven color choices!
Not earthshaking I know, but possibly useful to you.
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If you are using a version of HCA prior to version 17, you may have questions about the wisdom of upgrading to version 17 given the future of HCA. Here is something to consider:
The support policy for older HCA versions has been changed as I can no longer devote time to past version users. Support will only be available for HCA 17 users.
If you are on version 16 or earlier and want to continue using the cloud features and want to be assured that if you have a question that it gets answered, it is indeed time to upgrade.
HCA is fully operational for several more years so the update cost, spread out over that time, is very little. Knowing support is available when you need it is worth it.
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Anyone who is using Hubitat with HCA – not SmartThings – please drop me a note as I would like to add you to a discussion list for those users. I have some Hubitat ideas that I would like to “kick around” and it would help to have a group of users who have experience with Hubitat. Please just send a note to the regular support address saying you would like to be added to that discussion list.
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