Specifications

Composer Pro Getting Started
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Saved: 6/28/2010 11:32:00 AM 200-00168_Composer Pro
Getting Started
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x Customize the behavior of the devices in Composer and on the Navigators. To customize the
devices for specific functions, you program events and actions, Lighting Scenes, agents, and
so on for your customers' needs. Many custom functions can be performed on the Touch
Screens and On-Screen Navigators. See the Control4 System User Guide and Control4
Quick Start Guide (OS 2.0) for more information.
Designing a full-functioning Control4 system includes these major steps:
x Use Existing or Custom Device Drivers. Every device in the Control4 system needs a
corresponding device driver so that controlling the device is possible. When designing and
implementing a Control4 system, each time you add a device to a room, a corresponding
device driver must be added to the Composer project in the project tree. Device drivers for
Control4 products come pre-installed in Composer. In addition, device drivers for hundreds of
third-party devices are available through an Online-Database, and easily can be added to the
project when the driver is available. If a driver for the model you need does not exist, you can
use the Driver Creation Wizard (available through a menu option) or DriverWorks (a free add-
on utility) to create a custom driver. See the Composer Pro User Guide for details.
Tip: If you can't find the device driver you need, you can start with an existing device driver,
and modify it for your device using the Driver Creation Wizard.
x Make the connections. In the Composer project, you identify all physical device connections
to the Control4 system, including control, AV (audio, video), network, and other connections
(there are several types of connections). Identifying a device to the system means the
Controller acknowledges that the device exists on the home network and can communicate
with it and the other devices in the network. You can use Interviewer to complete this task, or
use the Connections view in Composer.
x Register the system at my.control4.com. Control4 strongly recommends that you register
each system you install at my.control4.com to maintain the system software easily through
online downloads. Only registered systems can use all of the media services available. In
addition, system registration is one of the essential steps in enabling remote access to the
system (which also requires a 4Sight subscription).
x Set up the media. You identify existing media on the system using the Media view in
Composer. The Media view helps you search or scan for movies, videos or music in stored
media and auto-generate a list of local broadcast channels, stations, playlists, etc. After you
have searched for or scanned in the existing media, you can test Media access through the
navigation devices (also known as Navigators).
x Configure the properties. You will want to set individual device properties according to your
customers' wishes, because most devices have some settings that can be configured (for
example, Dimmers that ramp up and down).
x Program events and actions. You define interactions between system events and the
actions of other devices. For example, when a projector turns on, it can trigger other devices
(lights, etc.) in the Home Theater to dim down or turn off.
x Create the variables and agents for use in programming. Advanced programming setup
options are available to you, including string, Boolean, device properties, variables, delays,
and agents. Using these options, you can configure, for example, a 3-way switch, turn
equipment on and off with proper delay times, create Lighting Scenes, and perform other
desired programming between devices. Advanced programming is discussed in the
Composer Pro User Guide.