Problems with AlexaControl

oldskoolz · May 20, 2023, 2:58 PM

Dear Magic Mirror Pros,

I’ve encountered a problem that’s currently preventing the progress of my major project. Let me provide some background:

Here’s my setup:

I’m using a Windows 10 operating system.
MagicMirror² and Alexa are installed on this Windows machine.
I’ve also set up Fauxmo, MMM-pages, and MMM-AlexaControl modules.
So, everything is operating well in the basic configuration of MagicMirror² on my Windows 10 system. Additionally, I have Alexa configured on the same Windows 10 device, ensuring both MagicMirror and Alexa are always on the same WiFi network. I’ve configured the Calendar and have successfully used voice commands via Alexa to create new calendar entries.

However, I’ve hit a roadblock: I’m unable to switch pages using voice commands or the Alexa app. I am able to control the FAUXMO simulated devices, namely “Seite 1”, “Seite 2”, etc. For example, when I turn them on, they switch to 1 and to 0 when I turn them off. Despite this, I’m really struggling with page-switching—I just can’t get it to work, and I can’t identify the problem.

To add to the confusion, there seems to be varying opinions about whether the pages module is necessary at all: some suggest it’s possible to manage without Pages, while others disagree. Lastly, I should mention that I’m not a developer—I have some basic knowledge of server and cloud services, but that’s about it.

So, I really need your help to solve this problem. I appreciate any suggestions or guidance you can provide.

The MM Config:

/* MagicMirror² Config Sample
 *
 * By Michael Teeuw https://michaelteeuw.nl
 * MIT Licensed.
 *
 * For more information on how you can configure this file
 * see https://docs.magicmirror.builders/configuration/introduction.html
 * and https://docs.magicmirror.builders/modules/configuration.html
 *
 * You can use environment variables using a `config.js.template` file instead of `config.js`
 * which will be converted to `config.js` while starting. For more information
 * see https://docs.magicmirror.builders/configuration/introduction.html#enviromnent-variables
 */
let config = {
	address: "localhost",	// Address to listen on, can be:
							// - "localhost", "127.0.0.1", "::1" to listen on loopback interface
							// - another specific IPv4/6 to listen on a specific interface
							// - "0.0.0.0", "::" to listen on any interface
							// Default, when address config is left out or empty, is "localhost"
	port: 8080,
	basePath: "/",			// The URL path where MagicMirror² is hosted. If you are using a Reverse proxy
					  		// you must set the sub path here. basePath must end with a /
	ipWhitelist: ["127.0.0.1", "::ffff:127.0.0.1", "::1"],	// Set [] to allow all IP addresses
															// or add a specific IPv4 of 192.168.1.5 :
															// ["127.0.0.1", "::ffff:127.0.0.1", "::1", "::ffff:192.168.1.5"],
															// or IPv4 range of 192.168.3.0 --> 192.168.3.15 use CIDR format :
															// ["127.0.0.1", "::ffff:127.0.0.1", "::1", "::ffff:192.168.3.0/28"],

	useHttps: false, 		// Support HTTPS or not, default "false" will use HTTP
	httpsPrivateKey: "", 	// HTTPS private key path, only require when useHttps is true
	httpsCertificate: "", 	// HTTPS Certificate path, only require when useHttps is true

	language: "en",
	locale: "en-US",
	logLevel: ["INFO", "LOG", "WARN", "ERROR"], // Add "DEBUG" for even more logging
	timeFormat: 24,
	units: "metric",

	modules: [
		{
			module: "alert",
		},

    {
        module: 'MMM-pages',
        config: {
                modules:
                    [[ "clock", "updatenotification", "MMM-AlexaControl", "newsfeed"],
                     [ "compliments", "calendar", "MMM-AlexaControl"]],
                fixed: ["MMM-AlexaControl"],
        }
    },
    {
        module: "MMM-AlexaControl",
        position: "middle_center",
        config: {
            image: true,
            height: 265,
            width: 265,
            devices: [
                {
                    name: "Seite 1",
                    port: 11100,
                    handler: 'PAGE_CHANGED',
                    payload: function(payload) {
                        return { 'page': 0 };
                    }
                },
                {
                    name: "Seite 2",
                    port: 11101,
                    handler: 'PAGE_CHANGED',
                    payload: function(payload) {
                        return { 'page': 1 };
                    }
                }
            ],
            startPort: 11000,
            refresh: true,
            restart: true,
            stop: true,
            reboot: false,
            shutdown: false,
            pm2ProcessName: "pm2",
            monitorToggle: true,
            vcgencmd: true,
            usb: false
        }
    },


.... and so on

The MMM-AlexaControl JS:


/**
 * Magic Mirror
 * Module: MMM-AlexaControl
 * 
 * By JoChef2
 * MIT Licensed.
 */

Module.register("MMM-AlexaControl",{
     
	defaults:{
    image: true,
    height: 265,
    width: 265,
    pages: 3,
devices: {
    "Seite 1": {
        port: 11100,
        handler: 'PAGE_CHANGED',
        payload: function(payload) {
            return { 'page': 0 };
        }
    },
    "Seite 2": {
        port: 11101,
        handler: 'PAGE_CHANGED',
        payload: function(payload) {
            return { 'page': 1 };
        }
    },
}
        notifications: [],  //  empty array for your notification devices
        commands: [],       // empty array for your command devices
        startPort: 11000,   //  the lowest used port
        refresh: true,      //  refresh your Mirror
        restart: true,      //  restart your Mirror with pm2
        stop: true,         //  stops your Mirror with pm2
        reboot: false,      //  reboot your pi
        shutdown: false,    //  shutdown your pi
        pm2ProcessName: "mm",  //  name of your pm2 process
        monitorToggle: true,   //  switch your monitor on and off
        vcgencmd: 'vcgencmd',  //  command you use for monitor toggle
        cecAddress: "0.0.0.0", //  Address for the cec-client
        usb: false          // toggle usb power of your pi
    },

    getTranslations: function(){            // add more translations
        return {
            en: "translations/en.json",
            de: "translations/de.json"
        }
    },

    start: function(){
        Log.log('Starting module: ' + this.name);

        // send all translations to node_helper
        this.sendSocketNotification('TRANSLATIONS', {"monitor": this.translate("MONITOR"), "shutdown": this.translate("SHUTDOWN"), "reboot": this.translate("REBOOT"), "page": this.translate("PAGE"), "refresh": this.translate("REFRESH"), "restart": this.translate("RESTART"), "stop": this.translate("STOP"), "usb": this.translate("USB"), "deviceName":this.translate(this.config.deviceName)});
        this.sendSocketNotification('SET_DEVICE', this.config);  // send the config to node_helper
    },

    getDom: function(){             // returns only an image or an empty div (necessary for MMM-Pages)
        if(this.config.image){
            let img = document.createElement("img");
            img.classList = "img";
            img.src = "MMM-AlexaControl/AlexaLogoGrey.png";
            img.height = this.config.height;
            img.width = this.config.width;
            return img;
        }else{
            return document.createElement("div");
        }
    },

    socketNotificationReceived: function(notification, payload) {
        if(notification === "PAGE_CHANGED"){              //  change pages of MMM-Pages
            this.sendNotification("PAGE_CHANGED", payload);
        }
        if(notification === "ACTION"){                    //  refresh the Mirror
            if(payload === "refresh"){
                window.location.reload(true);
            }
        } 
        if(notification === "CUSTOM"){
            this.sendNotification(payload[0], payload[1]);  //  send any notification to any module
        }
        if(notification =='MONITOR_ACTION'){
            Log.log('RECEIVE monitor NOTIFICATION='+payload)
            this.sendNotification(notification,payload)
        }
    }
 });

Node Fauxmo index.js:

'use strict';

const FauxMo = require('node-fauxmo');

let fauxMo = new FauxMo(
{
    devices: [
    {
        name: 'Seite 1',
        port: 11000,
        handler: function(action) {
            console.log('Seite 1:', action);
        }
    },
    {
        name: 'Seite 2',
        port: 11001,
        handler: function(action) {
            console.log('Seite 2:', action);
        }
    },
    {
        name: 'Seite 3',
        port: 11002,
        handler: function(action) {
            console.log('Seite 3:', action);
        }
    }]
});

And the MMM-Pages is basically untouched… so default Config entrys in there.

Any hints what i am doing wrong?

Best Regards

The Noob :)

sdetweil · May 20, 2023, 7:47 PM

@oldskoolz just got home. you don’t do anything w the fauxmo file the ac module does everything

sdetweil · May 20, 2023, 11:10 PM

@oldskoolz

rule 1… never change MagicMirror or a module source code, it breaks the ability to update. all config goes in MagicMirror/config/config.js

you don’t add devices for pages, all you do is set the number of pages you want to navigate to … pages: 3
this will give you devices for page 1, page 2 and page 3
in the npm start output you should see the number of devices created
that you can access via

Alexa turn on page 2

as the devices are fake outlets

if u want a different voice command, you can use an actual alexa routine

select voice
   go to page 2
action 
   smart home devices
  page 2 
     power on

alexa does not provide any symbolic replacement functions
go to page {n}
replace n with a number on execute