Actions Introduction

Actions are things which occur in the DemoPad solution. They are triggered by events, for example pressing or releasing a button within the app, or receiving feedback from a device.

It is possible for many actions to occur when triggered (with optional delays). A list of all the actions which occur for a specific trigger are displayed and altered in the action editor.

For example, to enter some actions which occur when a button is released, either double click the button, or click on the action editor:

Action Types

Actions fall in to one of the following action types, selectable from the drop down list:

• Send a command - probably the most common action type, this sends a command to a device

• Set a Flag - sets a flag variable to either ON, OFF, TOGGLE (flip its value) or EXCLUSIVELY ON (sets the flag ON, and all other flags in the same folder OFF)

• Set a Label - sets a label variable to the text entered

• Send data to website - performs a HTTP GET request on the specified URL. Nothing is shown on the UI, but the GET request is performed in the background

• Launch Web Page / Other App - exits the app, and launches another app, eg to launch a browser & navigate to a specific URL

• Jump to a page - causes the specified page to be displayed. Can be a specific page, or the previous page shown

• Exit App - causes the app to shut down

• Set a number - sets a number variable to the specified value. May cause custom number actions to also fire

• Disable device auto lock - prevents the iOS / Android device from going to sleep mode

• Enable device auto lock - allows the iOS / Android device to go in to sleep mode

• Play a sound - plays a sound file

• Disconnect from device - manually disconnects from a specific device

• Connect to device - manually connects to a specific device

• Screen brightness adjust - adjusts the screen brightness of the iOS / Android device from 0-100%

• Display a message dialog - displays some text to the user, with an OK button to press

Action Triggers

In order for actions to occur, something must trigger them. Triggers (eg pressing a button) can execute multiple actions, with optional timed delays.

Actions can be triggered in the following situations:

• Buttons - when a button is pressed, released, held, double tapped, or swiped - each type of trigger can cause different actions to occur. Also actions can be performed if one button is dragged onto another.

• App Start - when the control app first starts, action can be performed

• App Resumes - when the app resumes from running in the background on the device

• Page Load - when the a page loads, actions can be performed (and these can optionally repeat whilst the page is active)

• Device Feedback - when data is received from a device, actions can be performed, depending on the content of the feedback

• Number Variable Changes - when a number variable changes, actions can be performed if the number falls within a certain range

• Centro-8 / 8M Macro - A Centro 8 / 8M macro consists of one or more actions