Specifications

Composer Pro Getting Started

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Getting Started

Page 7 of 132

Composer Professional Edition (Composer Pro) is the software application that Control4

Dealers

and/or Installers use to design and set up a Control4 system project for home automation in a

consumer's home. The software runs on either a Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows Vista

computer, and provides a powerful graphical user interface UI (user interface) for object-based

programming. When connected to a Control4 Controller, the project's information is then

communicated to Director on the Controller. Director in turn uses the configuration information and

device drivers to communicate to the devices in the Home-Automation System.

The sections in this Getting Started document provide basic information and steps for Control4

Dealers and Installers to become familiar with and start using the Control4 Composer Pro interface for

initial design and setup of a Control4 system.

Information beyond the basics (for Intermediate and Advanced users of Composer) is provided in the

Composer Pro User Guide.

1.3.1 Setting Up the Control4 System – Overview

Setting up a full-functioning Control4

system includes the following major procedures.

For best results, Control4 recommends that you follow the procedures in this order:

1. Install and connect the hardware. When deploying a Control4 system, install and connect the

essential hardware:

x A Control4 Controller (for example, Home Controller HC-300)

x A Windows-based computer to set up and configure the Home-Automation System using

Composer Pro

x The device to be controlled (for example, Touch Screen, DVD player, speakers, lights, Dock

for iPod, etc.)

x A Controller and PC connection to the home network

2. Install the Composer Pro software. Use the Composer Pro installation software to install

Composer on a PC and activate it using your my.control4.com Dealer user account.

3. Connect to a Director (using a Controller IP address). Each time you start Composer on your

PC, you either connect to an existing Director or create a new Director, and then connect to it.

Director is the Composer Pro project file (.c4p file) that currently or eventually resides on a

Controller to serve as the 'brains' of the system to control each subsystem and device in the

Control4 system.

x Live Connection: To make changes to the Control4 system in real time, use a live connection

to the Director through either a local connection (via the home network) or a remote

connection (via the Internet).

Note: The remote connection must be configured initially using a local connection to the

Controller. You can set this up when you create an account.

x Virtual Connection: Alternatively, to create or edit a Director offline and save the Director, use

a virtual connection. The saved .c4p project file can be loaded later into a Controller through

a local connection to ensure that Director has the most updated system configuration

information.

4. Plan and design the system. To design a system in Composer Pro, you first create a project in

the form of a project tree that represents the hierarchy of locations for the devices to be