Alexa Reading Variables

[ryanbuckner]

I asked "Alexa, ask Indigo to read isBMWHome" and she replied -- "A variable Named isBMWHome does not exist in your Indigo server"

Here's my variable name:

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isBMWHome

Is there a preferred naming convention for Alexa to be able to recognize device and variable names in Indigo?

Update: Same response for variable "isDaylight"

[jay (support)]

https://wiki.indigodomo.com/doku.php?id ... a_variable

Her actual reply was: "A variable named is BMW home does not exist in your Indigo server"

[ryanbuckner]

https://wiki.indigodomo.com/doku.php?id=indigo_2021.1_documentation:plugins:alexa&#speaking_the_value_of_a_variable

Her actual reply was: "A variable named is BMW home does not exist in your Indigo server"

Right. So the solution is to rename the variables and use underscores?

I just renamed the variable "is_BMW_in_Garage" and got the response "I'm sorry, a variable named is BMW in garage does not exist in your Indigo server"

[jay (support)]

Are there any errors in the event log? Hopefully that will show what alexa is interpreting when you say that phrase.

[jay (support)]

I just tried it and it works:

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   Alexa                           request the value of variable 'is_BMW_in_garage'

But Alexa has a very hard time getting "BMW" right. Sometimes it thinks I say "is the mwn garage":

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   Alexa                           request the value of variable 'is_the_mwn_garage'
   Alexa Error                     I'm sorry, a variable named is the mwn garage does not exist in your indigo server. Please make sure you are using the exact name for the variable; spaces should be represented in your variable name with underscores.

I'd recommend using variable names that don't have abbreviations - maybe "is_car_in_garage" for instance. I've also noticed that slightly shorter names have less of a chance of being misheard by Alexa, though lots of factors determine what it hears.

[FlyingDiver]

Case sensitivity issue? Use is_BMW_in_garage not is_BMW_in_Garage.

[jay (support)]

Case sensitivity issue? Use is_BMW_in_garage not is_BMW_in_Garage.

No, we updated the API to do non case sensitive checks specifically for this reason.

[ryanbuckner]

Alexa was able to give me the results of the request for [renamed] variable is_BMW_in_garage

but was unable to answer request for variable value of isBMWHome

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Jun 18, 2021 at 10:11:28 PM
   Alexa                           request the value of variable 'is_BMW_home'
   Alexa Error                     I'm sorry, a variable named is BMW home does not exist in your indigo server. Please make sure you are using the exact name for the variable; spaces should be represented in your variable name with underscores.
   Received INSTEON                "Kitchen Motion Sensor" on (button 1)

[jay (support)]

I just tried is_BMW_home and it worked, so I'm not sure why it didn't work for you.

[matt (support)]

Alexa was able to give me the results of the request for [renamed] variable is_BMW_in_garage

but was unable to answer request for variable value of isBMWHome

You must use underscores between the words.