ecsl@netbloc.com: 7522: Re: [ECS] ECS Web Interface

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Re: [ECS] ECS Web Interface
Mark Gilmore
Fri, 19 May 2000 12:30:08 -0400

Fri, 19 May 2000 12:30:08 -0400

Attached is an improved WWW section with applet
parameters defined.
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://www.usit.com/omnip
423-745-0026
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST

Accessing ECS via the Internet/WWW
ECS supports WWW (world-wibe web) access, whereby ECS Groups and the Message Log may be accessed via web browsers (locally and remotely).

NOTE: If you wish to access Windows on your ECS PC (versus just ECS), then refer to Accessing your PC via the Internet (RADMIN).

Browser limitations
HotJava and Opera do not support "absolute positioning" HTML, and so does not display Item-windows in same locations as you see in the Group Screen.

Please notify us of any problems you encounter with other browsers.

Setup
NOTE:: These browser setup changes should be made on all PCs used to access ECS.

Start your web browser and assure that the following options are enabled:
JAVA
JAVAScript
Style sheets (N/A for IE)
For Internet Explorer (IE):
1. Click TOOLS.
2. Click INTERNET OPTIONS.
3. Click TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES.
4. Click SETTINGS.
5. Under "Check for newer version of stored pages", select EVERY VISIT TO THE PAGE.
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK.
For remote connections with Internet Explorer (IE):
1. Click TOOLS.
2. Click INTERNET OPTIONS.
3. Click SECURITY.
4. Click INTERNET.
5. Click CUSTOM LEVEL.
6. Under "Microsoft VM / JAVA Permissions / Custom", click CUSTOM.
7. Click JAVA CUSTOM SETTINGS (at bottom).
8. Click EDIT PERMISSIONS.
9. Under "Unsigned content / Run unsigned content / Additional unsigned permissions", enable ACCESS TO ALL NETWORK ADDRESSES.
10. Click OK.
11. Click OK.
12. Click OK.
NOTE: This setup change required in order to address an apparent bug in IE: It is supposed to allow applets to establish connections with the web server from which they originate (e.g. ECS). But without this change, it issues an erroneous "security exception". A thorough internet search for this setting showed this procedure to be a common practice, and no mention was made of any security risk in doing so.
To enable local www/browser access, create a Password Item(s) whose session is one of the following:
WWW/Local:1
WWW/Local:2
. . .
WWW/Local:5
We recommend that you define a separate Password Item for each user, whereas each user is assigned a specific session. Otherwise, a conflict will result if two users try to login to the same session.
If you define an empty password, access will be immediately granted when you select the ECS home page (no password prompt will appear).
To enable remote www/browser access, create a Password Item(s) whose session is one of the following:
WWW/Remote:1
WWW/Remote:2
. . .
WWW/Remote:5
We recommend that you define a separate Password Item for each user, whereas each user is assigned a specific session. Otherwise, a conflict will result if two users try to login to the same session.
If you define an empty password, access will be immediately granted when you select the ECS home page (no password prompt will appear).

Usage

Start ECS.
If you do NOT have a permanent Internet connection on your ECS PC, and wish to access ECS from a remote location, then you will need to first initiate an ISP dial-up on your ECS/PC. Two possibilities are:
To establish a connection from a remote location (via ECS/ECS.CFG)
Note: Prior to attempting a remote connection, you must first modify the POSTIE command in ECS_WWW.BAT (on the ECS PC), such that it will email to an account which is accessible from your remote PC.
On the "Client" (remote) PC:
1. Call ECS and enter the macro "50". ECS will then hangup and execute ECS_WWW.BAT, which will:
  1. Dial/connect to your ISP.
  2. Determine the IP address assigned to this ISP connection.
  3. Create an HTML file (ECS_WWW.HTM) which holds a "link" to this IP address.
  4. Email ECS_WWW.HTM to your remote PC.
2. Connect to your ISP and check your email until you receive the message from ECS.
3. Click the link in the message (the ECS entry page will then be displayed).
4. When you are done, disconnect as normal. ECS will then detect this and reset Phone-Interface-C.
To establish a connection manually
On the "Server" (ECS) PC:
1. Connect to your ISP.
2. Run \WINDOWS\WINIPCFG to get the IP address assigned to this ISP connection (a new address is assigned for every connection).
On the "Client" (remote) PC:
At your browser's URL prompt, enter "http://{host}:3000/home.htm", where {host} may be "localhost" or "127.0.0.1" for local access (i.e. http://localhost:3000/home.htm), or an IP address for remote access. This will display a web page listing "links" for all Groups and the Message Log.
Note: For possible testing purposes, ECS creates ECSIPS.HTM at startup, which contains links to all IP addresses that may be used to access ECS. ECS re-creates this file if a new connection or disconnection is detected.

Creating Custom Web Pages
To create customized pages, use the ECS-generated web-page as examples:

GRP0.HTM (frame definitions for GRP1.HTM/GRP2.HTM)
GRP1.HTM (Group frame)
GRP2.HTM (State/Item-selection frame)
MLG.HTM (Message Log)

Note: ECS deletes these files on exit, so you should copy them when ECS is active.

All communications with ECS are handled via the applet Ecsio.class.
This must be placed at the bottom of the page.

ECS Items are displayed via the applet Ecs_item.class with the following parameters:

SBS0	Subscription name (i.e. Item name)
ICON_F	Icon flag (0 or 1)
NAME_F	Name flag (0 or 1)
STATE_F	State flag (0 or 1)
TEXT_F	Text flag (0 or 1)
SUB_F	Subtraction-button flag (0 or 1)
ADD_F	Addition-button flag (0 or 1)
SUB_CHANGE	Subtraction value (val to subtract when clicked)
ADD_CHANGE	Addition value (val to add when clicked)

ECS Messages are displayed via the applet Ecs_msg.class with the following parameters:

SBS0	Subscription name (i.e. "ECS_MSG")

Foreign Language Support/WWW
ECS supports the ability to translate all web-page text to any language (in any character-set) prior to display. In order to do so, we require a table listing select phrases and their translations. We can provide the initial table of English phrases, and can also assist with the translations as required (note that there are numerous commericial programs that perform such tasks). Contact us for further details.