Enhancement: Change between running states from main menu big buttons or widget

[CV8R]

In ZoneMinder I have two or more run states for a handful of armed and disarmed monitor modes. I'd like to have the ability to choose the run state from zmNinja to call my run states when needed instead of having to drill through multiple menus. It is proving troublesome for household users to open the app, then drill through multiple menus System Status>Show ZoneMinder Controls>Change State>Tick Relevant Mode>Ok.

Ideally this functionality would be a set of large, easy to configure buttons on a main landing screen with currently enabled mode feedback. An Android Widget would be fantastic.

Running android, not sure of impact to iOS.

Thanks!
CV8R

[pliablepixels]

How about expanding the scope of this - what if I implemented a "bookmark" menu option that will basically comprise of a series of "big buttons" - you can customize what each button does. Over time we can add multiple function shortcuts.

I'd prefer a cross platform approach, so a menu with "shortcut buttons" works better for me

[CV8R]

That makes a lot of sense. Would it be able to be configured in such a way that the app could be set to open to the bookmark page? Avoiding drilling through menus for those where this is the primary (twice daily) use case.

[pliablepixels]

I've prototyped a version, but on second thought, I am really not finding it useful.

Current implementation: Tap on Menu (1) -> Tap on System Status (2) -> Tap on Show Controls (3) -> Tap on Change State (4) -> Select State (5) -> Confirm (6)

Bookmark implementation (assuming its a short cut to an existing functionality): Tap on Menu (1) -> Tap on Bookmark (2) -> Tap on Change State (3) -> Select State (4) -> Confirm (5)

We are really only saving 1 tap. For something that needs to be done twice or thrice a day, I'm not sure its worth it.

Can you think of a useful approach that doesn't involve it being an android widget?

Also, I'm struggling to see how a bookmark would be more useful besides state management. What sort of things would a user like to do often enough that it warrants a bookmark and is cumbersome to do with the app today? When I first thought about making a generic shortcut screen I thought it would be a good idea, but not so much now.

[CV8R]

Without an Android Widget - Another ZmNinja App ;-)

Serious now... I agree with your points, there is no point if there are multiple clicks involved. I am relatively new to ZM and in the process of implementing a property wide solution so our usage profile is still to be determined - it may change. When I look at how I use the app its not to monitor the Camera's or to look at Events. These are actually the exceptions, such that when one of the notifications arise or if something is untoward and needs to be investigated.

I find myself mostly using it is to change the running state. If i want to look at events or monitors then sliding out the menu to go to the Events is okay because its not a quick find everyday process.

What I was thinking would be a start-up mode that would take you to the large button interface, two buttons wide, a few down that scales to screen height, much like the Montage. It is much like the app defaulting to the Montage view only its buttons. If this startup mode was user settable open to Montage or Buttons/Bookmarks then the current users wouldn't be impacted.

In terms of bookmarks it doesn't save a lot because there isn't that much in the app that has deep menus. I can see a list of pre-configured pages that could be selected to take you to the required screen. i.e. Montage, Events List but like I said, I don't think its adding much because sliding out the menu achieves the same.

What would be really cool would be to explore using zmNinja to setup a geofence and have it automatically change running states whenever anyone of the family is at home - but this is another idea and another Github issue!

[pliablepixels]

Ok, I am going to park the shortcut feature for now unless I figure out a better need for it that warrants a shortcut screen.

With respect to other feature thoughts, feel free to open another issue per feature.

[stale]

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