Oh the joy of pairing

[LibraSun]

It's just odd to me that the "RunCommand" version (with "Speak") - works great for me! - works better than the purpose-built "Say" approach - produces seemingly unrelated verbal error I can't follow.

All I really need is for someone smarter than me to spell out clearly (like for a kindergartner) HOW the command strings are composed. Normally, I can work from examples, and DB's docs contain plenty, but none of them seem to fit my intentions (i.e. use MSR to run Lua on Vera to say something through a specific Echo at a specified volume, which seems so simple and straightforward).

Maybe as a group we should focus our attention, as DB suggests, on crafting a workable set of documentation so we're all clear.

[CatmanV2]

Same here

C

[LibraSun]

BONUS If we play our cards right, and nail down all the options, we could beg @toggledbits to create a "Notify" template on MSR specifically for VeraAlexa.

[toggledbits]

I think @therealdb or someone should port that plugin's approach into an MSR Notifier, which could then be used universally and without the Vera dependency. It's probably the easiest extension API in MSR: "I'm here, and here's the data I need from the UI" and "here's the data you asked for and the configuration file data, send a notification". One JavaScript class, two methods, and you're done.

But for now, is there something missing from the default entity that you might need?

[therealdb]

@toggledbits OK for me. I don't think it's a lot of work to do, considering that you just need to execute a bash script with the right parmaters passed in

In fact, as I said, I'm running into my own system, and the vera is sending the request via UDP (and HTTP before) and it's working perfectly. But since a lot of people asked for it in the Vera OS, I tried to port it anyway and it's working, even if I didn't spend a lot of time into the Vera UI, because I'm not that proficient and because it was considered legacy 2 years ago...

Again, happy to make it user-friendly and MSR-integrated.

[Elcid]

@catmanv2 Here is a link to the amazon SSMl mark up syntax

Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) Reference | Alexa Skills Kit

You can use Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) in your output speech response to control how Alexa generates the speech. For example, you can add pauses and other speech ef...

[therealdb]

@librasun said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

Funny, I've tried precisely that command before (and just tried again for the 10th time), and it always produces a spoken error response:
"Sorry, I'm having trouble using the Simon Says skill right now." (or something very similar)

Well, say is just a shortcut for a generic command. It's strange say it's not working, since it's basically sending -e speak:'%s' -d %q, where %s is the text, %q is the device.

[CatmanV2]

@elcid said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

@catmanv2 Here is a link to the amazon SSMl mark up syntax

Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) Reference | Alexa Skills Kit

You can use Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) in your output speech response to control how Alexa generates the speech. For example, you can add pauses and other speech ef...

Ta. I've tried I really have

C

[CatmanV2]

@librasun said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

BONUS If we play our cards right, and nail down all the options, we could beg @toggledbits to create a "Notify" template on MSR specifically for VeraAlexa.

Heh. I've not looked at MSR yet, but the Alexa action in Reactor works like a charm...

C

[Elcid]

@catmanv2
When i tried SSML, I seem to remember it only worked with announcements.

[LibraSun]

@therealdb I've been meaning to toss you some cappuccino money for a while now, to thank you for your vast efforts in support of the Vera community.
Think I found you on PayPal under your @<your-full-name>, would that be the right and best place? (And are Euros better than USD?)

[therealdb]

@librasun thanks, but I have a job (well, I’m joking with my colleagues that I’m probably doing 6-7 jobs at once) and I’m doing this for the pleasure to give back and find new friends (and because I used to travel a lot and this year I had a lot of free time). So, as I’ve already said to others (@Pabla is here too) I’d appreciate if you could donate to groups trying to create a more inclusive environment, ie promoting a dev career for girls or minorities. Thanks

[therealdb]

@elcid said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

@catmanv2
When i tried SSML, I seem to remember it only worked with announcements.

Maybe, I have it with conversional accent and I’m loving it. It’s very natural.

[CatmanV2]

So I've got this working:

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1","Say", {Text='<voice name="Kendra"><lang xml:lang="en-AU">Hello from Vera Alexa</lang></voice>', Volume=40,GroupZones="Living Room dot"}, 22)

But can't for the life of me get the sound effects:

<audio src="soundbank://soundlibrary/animals/amzn_sfx_bear_groan_roar_01"/>
</speak>

For example. Also does anyone have a list of the available voices?

TIA

C

[therealdb]

@catmanv2 it’s in the Amazon doc I linked in readme. Also, sounds are very specific and you could send them but not in the same command with voice.

[LibraSun]

@catmanv2 said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

But can't for the life of me get the sound effects:

Funny, that's one thing I've got working no problem:

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1","RunCommand",{Command="-e sound:amzn_sfx_trumpet_bugle_04 -d 'Living Room'"}, 344)

[CatmanV2]

@therealdb said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

@catmanv2 it’s in the Amazon doc I linked in readme. Also, sounds are very specific and you could send them but not in the same command with voice.
Thanks. I did look, I promise. I'll look again!

<edit> Got it, eventually! Thanks.
C

[CatmanV2]

@librasun said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

@catmanv2 said in Vera Alexa Plugin 7.32:

But can't for the life of me get the sound effects:

Funny, that's one thing I've got working no problem:

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1","RunCommand",{Command="-e sound:amzn_sfx_trumpet_bugle_04 -d 'Living Room'"}, 344)

Ahh per the Guru's words. Won't work with the speech. Thanks

C

[LibraSun]

I did some more digging, and discovered that:

WHEN I RUN THIS LUA

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1","RunCommand",{Command="-e speak:'what is the temperature outside' -d 'Living Room'"}, 344)

Alexa speaks the sentence and VeraAlexa shows this LastResponse: "sending cmd:speak:what is the temperature outside to dev:Living_Room"

WHEN I RUN THIS LUA

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1", "Say", {Text="what is the temperature outside", Repeat = 1}, 344)

Alexa DOES NOT speak the sentence and VeraAlexa shows this LastResponse: "sending cmd:speak:<s>what is the temperature outside</s><break time="0s" /> to dev:Living_Room "
Instead she utters, "Sorry, I'm having trouble accessing the Simon Says ??? Skill right now." then a bong tone sounds. Weird!

Thus, I'll continue using the 1st construct to have Alexa speak sentences.

INSIGHT: I honestly believe the "Simon Says ???" Alexa mentions has to do with an error parsing <SSML> tags!!

[CatmanV2]

If I use 'SAY' I need to specify a groupzone....

luup.call_action("urn:bochicchio-com:serviceId:VeraAlexa1","Say", {Text='<voice name="Raveena">Hello from Vera Alexa</voice>', Volume=40,GroupZones="Living Room dot"}, 22)

C