I had both of my computers wiped recently due to various reasons. It meant that I needed to dabble a bit more in EventGhost to bring all my all automation back. I took this time and opportunity to create an EventGhost USB trigger. Each time I connect my SigmaSport ROX10 cycling computer I have to open the Data Center to download my workout. It was time to automate this. YES, I’m really that lazy when it comes to mundane stuff!
This hack will work for any USB device, across multiple ports and you will be able to trigger any set of actions with EventGhost.
EventGhost: USB trigger
If anything takes me more than a single try and two Google searches, it’s probably worth writing about. To trigger something when a USB device is connected there are a couple of things you have to do.
The benefit of this approach is that regardless of the USB port used, you should be able to recognise the device each time.
You will need 2 macros:
- USB device connected – identifies the USB device and issues the trigger
- Device ID – triggers the correct action
USB device trigger
When a USB device is connected to the computer it triggers something like this:
System.DeviceAttached [u'\\\\?\\USB#VID_0483&PID_5740#5&18646f70&0&2#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}']
But EventGhost USB trigger that you get moving the event onto the macro is:
System.DeviceAttached
Since I’m not able to identify the USB ID directly I can cheat the EventGhost into reading the ID and posting it as a trigger. To do so – select the Python Command Action and use:
eg.TriggerEvent(eg.event.payload[0][8:25], prefix = eg.event.suffix)
Reconnecting the USB device again will produce a new event for us which can be used as USB trigger. This is the EventGhost USB trigger which I’m going to use in the next macro. Note that we have to keep the first macro as well as it will serve as a device identification profile.
Device ID
Now that I have the correct event, I can use it to open up Sigma Data Centre software when the Sigma cycling computer is detected. It’s simple enough, there is an action called Run Application. Open the directory of the software and select the .exe file.
I can save everything now and next time I connect the cycling computer the EventGhost USB trigger will open the software for me. If you want to add multiple devices, create additional macros for each device, and check the Log for details of newly connected devices.
Conclusion
It’s a simple workaround, but if you have different devices or phones that require particular software to be opened up each time the device is plugged into the system this small hack will save you a couple of seconds. Why not automate it? After all the EvenGhost is constantly running in the background listening to my mobile commands. Any questions? Leave it in this Reddit thread.
