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Answered

Routines

brendanwheatley 6 years ago updated by Alex (ActionTiles) (Co-Founder) 4 years ago 22

I'm new to smart things and now action tiles. I'm having trouble understanding routines. I have selected a routine to create a tile, but I can't make it do anything. I've looked over this forum and can't find anything that talks about what they are in depth. I thought they might allow me to automate things. It looks like there is an area when building tiles to select from different ones, but it is empty. Any help would be huge. Thanks

Android Windows

Answers

Answer

Hi Brad,

ActionTiles will support scenes, but we don't provide ETAs for feature releases.


This article describes workaround to make Scenes work with ActionTiles right now:

https://support.actiontiles.com/knowledge-bases/8/articles/8740-how-to-use-new-smartthings-scenes-with-actiontiles

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Waiting for Customer

First question, Brendan:


Please note that ActionTiles just executes routines that you define in the SmartThings Classic App.


  • Are you using the SmartThings Classic App, or the new SmartThings (Samsung Connect) App?
  • "Routines" don't really exist in the new App; so please be sure to use SmartThings Classic.


Next...


  • Where are you getting stuck in the SmartThings Classic App Routine creation and execution?


Thanks,

...Terry.

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Answered: Discussion Open

Scenes are a "redesign" of Routines.

I've been working with SmartThings for over 6 years - since their Kickstarter release. Routines barely existed at first, and then the SmartThings Community wondered why the SmartThings App didn't have basic lighting Scenes (which are very common in home automation products for decades) ... but were told that Routines were more powerful than just "Scenes".

Fast forward a few years and Samsung finally replaced Routines with Scenes - well... Routines still exist until the SmartThings Classic App is gone.

We are testing "Scene activation Tiles" for ActionTiles right now, actually - and once the quirks are worked out, are looking forward to releasing this powerful feature.

...Terry.

PINNED

Hi Melody,

ActionTiles Routine Tiles can only activate Routine created in the SmartThings (Classic) App.

We will soon be adding functionality for "Scene Tiles" which can activate SmartThings Scenes (which can be created in the SmartThings Classic App, or new SmartThings App.

ActionTiles cannot trigger Routines or Scenes on other devices. But search the SmartThings Community for possible ways to trigger Google Home and Alexa routines.  https://community.SmartThings.com 

PINNED
Waiting for Customer

First question, Brendan:


Please note that ActionTiles just executes routines that you define in the SmartThings Classic App.


  • Are you using the SmartThings Classic App, or the new SmartThings (Samsung Connect) App?
  • "Routines" don't really exist in the new App; so please be sure to use SmartThings Classic.


Next...


  • Where are you getting stuck in the SmartThings Classic App Routine creation and execution?


Thanks,

...Terry.

Thanks! That sorted it. Why did they even come up with a new app?

I had the same question.  This sort of makes sense.

In the new SmartThings App, you can define "Scenes"  What is the difference between scenes and routines?

PINNED
Answered: Discussion Open

Scenes are a "redesign" of Routines.

I've been working with SmartThings for over 6 years - since their Kickstarter release. Routines barely existed at first, and then the SmartThings Community wondered why the SmartThings App didn't have basic lighting Scenes (which are very common in home automation products for decades) ... but were told that Routines were more powerful than just "Scenes".

Fast forward a few years and Samsung finally replaced Routines with Scenes - well... Routines still exist until the SmartThings Classic App is gone.

We are testing "Scene activation Tiles" for ActionTiles right now, actually - and once the quirks are worked out, are looking forward to releasing this powerful feature.

...Terry.

Hi i want to make a tile that triggers a google home routine (which turns on my lights through smartthings and plays a google play music playlist). Or, can i use a tile to just trigger the smarrthings lights and google playlist without using google home/assistant?

Either would be fine

PINNED

Hi Melody,

ActionTiles Routine Tiles can only activate Routine created in the SmartThings (Classic) App.

We will soon be adding functionality for "Scene Tiles" which can activate SmartThings Scenes (which can be created in the SmartThings Classic App, or new SmartThings App.

ActionTiles cannot trigger Routines or Scenes on other devices. But search the SmartThings Community for possible ways to trigger Google Home and Alexa routines.  https://community.SmartThings.com 

Is there a timeline for the release of the 'Scene Tiles' mentioned 6 months ago?

This functionality is already implemented. We need to clear some red tape with SmartThings.

Hello Alex,

Is there any updates on the release of 'Scene Tiles'?

Howdy, I just spent the last two days redefining my entire ST configuration in the new Samsung ST App and then found out that AT does not support Scenes yet, bummer!  This is a show stopper for my AT purchase.  Is AT going to get Routine support?  If so when?

Answer

Hi Brad,

ActionTiles will support scenes, but we don't provide ETAs for feature releases.


This article describes workaround to make Scenes work with ActionTiles right now:

https://support.actiontiles.com/knowledge-bases/8/articles/8740-how-to-use-new-smartthings-scenes-with-actiontiles

How do I update a Tile that has a routine- i need to change the routine, without creating another tile and then deleting the old tile and moving the new routine to the space?   

Just like Device Tiles, Routine Tiles are hard-linked to the specific Routine used when adding the Tile to the Panel.

If you just edit the Routine in SmartThings, then the Tile will still work. If you want to call an entirely different Routine, you must add a new Routine Tile and delete the old Tile.

Hey Terry,

Where I'm getting stuck in the process:


I've uninstalled the SmartThings Connect (new) app and installed the SmartThings Classic (old) app.


Unfortunately my already created "Scenes" inside the Hue app did not become visible in the Classic app so I had to recreate the scenes.


Then; Automation > Smart Lighting > Created smart lighting routine to activate the newly created scene in the smartthings classic app. Which is somewhat difficult as you have to select a "trigger" which I have my choice of the following


Motion

Open/Close

Acceleration

Lock

Presence

Switch

Button

Smoke

Carbon Monoxide

Water Leak

At Sunrise

At Sunset

At a Specific Time

When Mode Changes

Illuminance

Not sure what to select here. What I would like is to just have a tile that activated this lighting routine.

No matter what I've chose above I save it, then open ActionTiles>Location>Synchronize>My Panel>Add Routine and it says there are no routines.

I am working on getting my Actiontiles setup and am having trouble with my routines.  I am still running the classic app and have a number of routines that I have used without fail for years.  In the Actiontiles web interface I can even see all of the routines under my location details for that specific hub but when I attempt to add one to my tiles I only get the option for Smartthings decides or modes.  When selecting Mode, I only have an option for Mode, nothing for routines.  Any help on getting my routines working and imported into the Actiontiles interface would be much appreciated.  Thank you.  

Waiting for Customer

Hi.

The legacy Routines and Classic Smart Home Monitor features are disabled for new ActionTiles users in order to avoid confusion.

If you would like to activate them, please provide me with your ActionTiles account ID and I will flip a flag for your account.

Thanks

Alex

Any idea when we can expect native Scene functionality in ActionTiles? Within next few months?

Regards,

Christian

This should be released in the coming days. It's a little bit late because we encountered a snag...

Thank you.  I would like them activated so that I don't have to redo my existing setup too much to accommodate Actiontiles integration.  I have emailed my account ID to you so that I am not posting it here in a public forum.  Thank you.  

+2

Hi there. My AT is no longer showing my routines on my main screen that I created in the classic app (which I still have). But I recently started using the new app and migrated all the info over. I see where 'routines' are no longer a designated section in the new app.  I have a lot of 'scenes' of the same name, but I cant access them via AT now. How do I get these 'scenes' in the new app to show up so that I can put them in place of what was my 'routine' buttons? I'm perplexed. Thanks in advice.

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