Custom interfaces
to adapt
to your needs
Favorites Screen
The favorites screen allows you to place your most frequently used items on a single, customizable screen.
Even simply equipment can have a large number of controllable items. This situation is made more complex as additional equipment is added. It is not uncommon to have dozens or even hundreds of individual items in an automation system.
However, it is common that only a small number of these items are used frequently. The favorites screen addresses this scenario.
The favorites screen is available on most eKeypad applications and it can be added to custom Blueprint screens as a drop-in component. Once created on any device, the favorites screen will be transferred between devices as a part of configuration backups.
The favorites screen layout can also be customized. The editing mode allows a number of customizations to be performed:
- Re-order items within sections
- Move item between sections
- Re-order sections
- Add new sections
- Delete unnecessary sections
- Rename section names
- Flag sections to be collapsed by default
Please note that not all eKeypad applications contain a favorites screen or it may not display the screen at all times. The favorites screen is only displayed if the configured equipment contains a sufficient number and variety of items.
If the favorites screen is available but is not needed, it can be hidden using a setting in the Configuration screens in the eKeypad Application. The setting is located on the “Look an Feel” screen.
Blueprint Module
Controlling your automation solution can now be anything you can imagine. The Blueprint module has been designed to give you full control over the look and layout of eKeypad on iPads. This module is built into our eKeypad Pro application and is a paid upgrade to other eKeypad applications.
The options give a new and exciting way to control any automation solution. From a simple re-organization of existing GUI elements to a specialized alarm system keypad interfaces or even a whole house automation control center the blueprint module is eKeypad gives you the options to envision an interface that meeds your specific needs.
- Unlimited number of custom screen layouts
- Separate background image/color per screen
- Large collection of built-in icon graphics
- Custom text labels for each element/icon
- Unlimited custom, state changing icons
- Drop in, pre-built GUI elements
- Profile support with separate screens per profile
In more complex setups the blueprint screens will integrate with profiles allowing each configured profile to have an independent set of custom screens. a special consolidation mode allows a single eK Blueprint screen to consolidate all your automation systems on a single screen. eKeypad supports native control of numerous devices allowing you to freely inter-mix controls in a way that best suites your needs.
The graphical interface is activated by turning the iPad horizontally. It is deactivated by simply rotating the iPad back to portrait. The eKeypad interface automatically fades to and from the Blueprint view. For wall mounting, eKeypad will startup directly to the eK Blueprint screen.
Controlling your systems are as simple as touching an icon. Complex controls will automatically display a popup window with a detailed interface.
Customizing an eK Blueprint screen is equally simple and is performed directly on the iPad. Once an automation system is configured in eKeypad a simple system allows items to be added to the blueprint screen.
When the eK Blueprint screen is visible a long touch will enter editing mode. While in editing mode a large number of editing controls allow you to tweak the look of each screen:
- Add/Delete an unlimited number of screens
- Rename screens
- Define default startup screens
- Load background images from photos
- Define background colors
- Re-arrange icons on screen using touch controls
- Re-arrange icons on screen using a floating edit panel
- Resize icons to any size
- Rotate icons to any angle
- Setup automatic switch to default screen due to inactivity
- Setup automatic screen dimming due to inactivity
- Drag-and-drop icons onto other screens
- Move icons between screens
- Copy icons to other screens
- Add/Remove special function icons
- Change the icon graphic displayed for items
- Set color and visibility of item labels
- Define custom labels for items
A number of special icons finish out the blueprint functionality including useful items such as a clocks, calendars and links to other screens. To make the most of the blueprint modules in eKeypad we also offer two optional services. Both services are completely optional but are designed to help in situations were time is critical, or capabilities are not available. You can read mode about these services here.
Application Profiles
For more complex systems, especially where equipment is spread between multiple locations, the number of screens and elements in eKeypad can become overwhelming and confusing. Often the different locations conflict in the best ways to organize and access the relevant equipment.
To address the complexities of complex, multi-location systems, eKeypad includes a feature called profiles that is designed to help better organize and filter information. This makes interface easier to navigate and use.
Profiles act like organization buckets and individual pieces of equipment are assigned to these buckets. From within eKeypad you only view a single profile at any one time. If multiple pieces of equipment are assigned to the same profile, then the items for all equipment are intermingled together with the eKeypad interface. A piece of equipment that is assigned to a different profile than what is currently being displayed will be completely hidden in the eKeypad interface.
Users can easily switch between profiles while eKeypad is running, define a default profile to be loaded at launch or even present a list of profiles to choose from at launch.
Profiles are also tightly integrated with the blueprint module and favorites features within eKeypad. Each profile has a unique favorites screen and its own set of custom screen layouts for blueprints.