DARKROOM by Howard MacOdrum

The basic function of DARKROOM is to supply information to the X10
CONTROLLER so that the X10 may control electrical devices in your
home.

Up to 256 distinct addresses may be controlled using up to 128 steps.
As many devices as desired may use the same address as long as the
action desired is the same.

Details for setting up the X10 and its' modules are contained in the
documentation that is supplied with the X10 POWERHOUSE CONTROLLER.

If you plan to purchase an X10 specify that it be IBM compatible
because it must plug into the serial port of your computer. You may
even be lucky enough to find a supplier that has heard of ATARI and
understands your needs.
 I have seen the X10 Controller advertised for as little as $30 and
modules in the $8 to $10 range.
RADIO SHACK sells the modules for about the same price under the name
of PLUG N POWER don't know about the X10 POWERHOUSE controller
however.

This program differs from others for the ATARI line in its' ability
to control actions to the second when the RUN FROM FILE under OPTIONS
menu is selected. When the file created is stored into the memory of
the X10 controller actions may only be controlled to the accuracy of
a minute.

There are two distinct types of files that may be created using this
program and they have entirely different functions.

STORED PROGRAM TYPE

This is the most common and should be used when you want to control
actions on a regular basis. Such as turn off or on lamps, coffee pots
or other devices  at a certain time on a certain day of the week.
Time accuracy in this mode is in minutes and the clock used is the
standard 12 hr AM/PM method. See sample file MYHOUSE.DRM I use this on
a daily basis and have for years. The only time I change it is when
the daylight hours become longer or shorter, or when I'm going to be 
away from home for several days in which case I delete the coffee pot
steps and invoke the SECURITY option on a couple of the lights.
If this long winded explanation is too much just load in the sample
file MYHOUSE.DRM and play with it.

RUN FROM FILE TYPE (Note this file type cannot be stored in X10
memory)

This file is to be used when you need an interval timer with accuracy
to a second and repeatabilty within a 24 hour period. This files time
is shown in a 24 hour clock mode. Starting time for this file is zero 
and the time has no relationship to either the X10 clock or the 
computers clock. Each time the RUN FROM FILE under OPTIONS is exercised 
it starts from zero time. See sample file KODAKHBY.DRM.
Photography is also one of my hobbies and I use this file to control
solenoid valves that dump the chemicals and rinse water into my DARKROOM
proceesser.
This was the reason I wrote the program, beacuse, at the time I was
unable to find any commercial timer that would accomplish these
actions, and now you know how the program got its' name.   
Again if I've confused you just load in KODAKHBY.DRM and play with it.
One of the most common questions asked about the previous version was
" Do I have to leave the X10 Controller connected to my computer all
the time.". The answer is no, the only time it need be connected is
when your running this program. Once a file is loaded into the X10
controller memory it operates completly independent of the computer.
I personaly have an A/B switch on my computer to switch the serial
port from the X10 to my modem.
I hope it goes without saying that the X10 controller must be plugged
into a live electrical outlet at all times if you are using the stored
program feature. The X10 has a battery backup that will save any stored
program in case of a power failure.

I own a 520, 1040 STe and a FALCON and this program runs fine on all
of them. It can be run in high or medium resolution but looks better
in high but then so does everything else.

Menu items:
                         FILE
Nothing special here just the standard Open, Save and Quit
One hint about the files, after you have created and saved a file of
either type and at a later date want to create a new file,first
load the previously created file and then immediately go back and
open the new file. Doing this will setup the UNITS names for the new
file saving you the work of doing them all over again.

                         OPTIONS
Update Steps (disabled if no file opened)
If this is a new file you will see a blank page, Click anywher on the
page and you wll go to the UPDATE DETAIL display showing the first
step. More about the UPDATE DISPLAY later.
If this is not a new file up to 16 steps of information will be
shown. If the file is longer than 16 steps you may click on the page
down box to show the next 16 steps. The maximum number of steps that
may be created is 128 dictated by the controllers memory capacity.
To change the contents of a step or delete a step, click on the 
applicable line. If you want to insert a step click on the step that
will be prior to the inserted step. If you want to add a step at the
end click on any line after the last one. Any of these actions will 
then take you to the UPDATE DETAIL display.
Clicking on Return will take you back to the main menu. If you have
created steps where the file would be out of sequence as far as time
is concerned a message will alert you to this. You should then review
your file and if those times are correctly stated as you wished, then
click on sort and the file will be rearranged into time sequence. You
cannot exit this routine with a file out of sequence.

UPDATE DETAIL display
This display will look different depending on which type of file
(Stored Program or Timer) you are working on. To eliminate some of
the confusion if the data is not applicable to the file type it is
not shown. If you have read the documentation that came with the
controller most of the items in this display are self explanitory,
The only thing other than the bottom line of buttons that may need
some explanation is the normal/security buttons. Security means that
the action indicated will be taken at a random time of 1 hour from
the shown time.

Bottom line buttons:
INS allows a new step to be inserted prior to this step, the current
and all subsequent steps will be shifted down 1.

DEL will delete this step and shift all subsequent steps up 1.

SHW UNIT allows you to review the unit assignments you have made.

ADJ TIME this allows the time for this and any subsequent steps to
be adjusted plus or minus. Mainly for use of timer files.

ADD DESC a time saver, if you have assigned names to your Unit
descriptions it will go and get those descriptions and insert them in
this step, Note if more than one unit has been specified in this step
only the one with the lowest value will be shown.

                  More OPTIONS

Update units (disabled if no file opened)
This is were the names ars assigned to the units you want activated,
Once these have been finalized they rarely change. See the hint in
the file menu to save a lot of work.

Run Timer File (Disabled if no Timer File loaded or created)
This option is the reason the program was written. Run the file
KODHBY.DRM included and watch the action. Use of of this option will
be left to your imagination but as I have stated earlier I use it to
control my photographic darkroom process. Even though the program
allows accuracy to the second, time is needed for the X10 to send the
signals to the modules. Therefore accuracy may not be as good as you
might like between steps. It is not possible to state how accurate
the file might be because it depends how much of a time interval
there is between steps and the number of different modules for a
single step. The last time I checked the sample file had an accuracy
of about 3 or 4 seconds for the entire length of the file, fine
enough for my purposes.

File to X10  (Disabled if no Stored Program File opened or created)
As the name implies this will load the current file into the X10
controller. The clock in the X10 will now act on this data and
operate the modules as you have asked it to. Using this option will
destroy any other file you may have loaded into the X10 however it 
will not change any setting of the X10 clock.

Base Code
Allows you to change the base code which determines the house code
that is assigned to the rocker switches on the X10. Changing the base
code will destroy any file you may have loaded into the X10 and a
warning message will alert you to this.

X10 Diagnostics
Use to do an internal test of the X10 in case you think it may not be
working properly. Use of this action will also destroy any file you
may have loaded into the X10.

Set X10 Clock
This not only sets the clock as the name implies but it also puts
the X10 into the active status. This option should be the first
action you take when you hookup the X10 to your computer for the
first time. Also if there has been a power failure and the battery
backup has failed, before you can reload the file you must run this
step.

Direct Commands
Allows you to operate the modules using the computers mouse.

Assgn Ser Port
For those who have a MSTe or TT with multiple serial ports the ability
to use one of them to hook up the X10, Inshallah.

Printer
All options self explanitory.
The Print Steps and the Print Units lines will be disabled if you
have been in an area of the program that may have resulted in a file
change or if you haven't opened a file. Either open a file or do a
file save which ever is appropriate.


                           Ashufak Badda Shway