A simple "Alexa, run text editor" works!?
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I am new to triggercmd, but got things started using it to control some programs and open web pages on my Linux PC.
I started by opening Xed, the default text editor in Linux Mint 20.1. I had of set up the Linux agent, and added the Alexa skill "Trigger Command".
I used "Text Editor" as both the trigger and the voice command, and simply "xed" in the command field.
Then, misunderstanding how to trigger Alexa properly, I simply said "Alexa, run text editor". I immediately saw a blank document open in the xed default text editor on my desktop!
I thought this was pretty cool. But when I tried that "Alexa, run ...." with other programs and websites, nothing worked.
I have since figured out I need to use "Alexa, tell trigger command to open/run (whatever)". A mouthful, but it works.
But why is xed opening with a simple "Alexa, run text editor"? It is coming from triggercmd, because when I delete the trigger entirely in the command editor, it does not work and Alexa says something about "nothing to do". So there is some kind of connection but I cannot find it.
I mean if xed will run with a simple "run" command, why not gedit, or gnote. Tried them, but they will not work with the "run" only voice command, but will with the full "tell trigger command" trigger. Oh, the "voice response" from Alexa does NOT work when using the "run" command, but does using the normal "tell trigger command".
It would be nice, of course, to use a simple "run" for everything I would like Alexa to control on my PC. I mean I think triggercmd is a powerful tool to enable 'voice shortcuts', and have registered for a years worth because I can use it.
But this "run" thing for xed has me baffled. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Monty
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@Monty, I think you probably enabled the TRIGGERcmd Smart Home Alexa skill, and when you said, "Alexa, run text editor" it used the TRIGGERcmd Smart Home skill instead of the Trigger Command skill. I didn't realize it before your post, but apparently "run text editor" is a valid way to flip a smart home switch called text editor. The TRIGGERcmd Smart Home skill simulates an on/off switch for each command.
You could confirm it's using the TRIGGERcmd Smart Home skill if you see this in the runs list for your text editor command:
"Trigger sent from Alexa Smart Home params = on"
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@Russ Yes, that's it! I just tried other voice commands and they work as well, ie "Alexa, run Paramount Plus" and it opens the browser and link to that site. Great! Thanks!
But I have another issue, probably of my klutzing and just trying things, but will start a different thread.
Again, thanks!
Monty
