General
🔥 First of all, thanks to everyone who donated something! This helps us to stay motivated and keep up the work! 🔥
Every bit helps so we would be glad if other users would also go ahead and donate something.
I think we have created a really unique NSPanel version here. And looking at all the features in this new release as well as the speed and effort we put into the development - for sure our work is worth a small donation ;)
It's incredible that we can, again in a very short time, already present a new version.
Also this version has once more a lot of new and features and changes.
I am so proud of what we have done here as a team and how the community has grown.
Therefore I would like to thank everyone who is working on the project but also all the users who are helping other users with issues - thank you!
Important notes
Since we have created a new US version, it was necessary to change the name of the TFT file to nspanel_eu.tft and nspanel_us.tft.
Before you do the ESPHome update please change the path to the new TFT file. This could look like this
nextion_update_url: "http://HOME-ASSISTANT-IP:8123/local/nspanel/nspanel_eu.tft" # URL to local tft File
nextion_update_url: "http://HOME-ASSISTANT-IP:8123/local/nspanel/nspanel_us.tft" # URL to local tft File
⚠️ If you have issues installing the tft-file, DO NOT create a new isse, read here
Common issues / #166 / #177 / #197
Or use the Issues search: https://github.com/Blackymas/NSPanel_HA_Blueprint/issues?q=is%3Aissue+tft+is%3Aclosed
This is not a bug in this project, this is how the implemetion of nextion in esphome just works
Files that need to be reloaded:
- nspanel_esphome.yaml
- nspanel_blueprint.yaml
- nspanel.tft
Update procedure can be read here:
Community Updates
- Simplify and remove useless code in ESP32 - thanks @X-Ryl669
- Work on NSPanel US version - thanks @miniminne and @Loose-Moose77
Overview of all changes
-
"Entity Card Page" - 4 new entity card pages with a total of 32 entity fields
-
"Icon Font" - new icon font with 6896 icons. Can already be used on the entity page - thanks @joBr99
-
"QR Code Page" - can be set via Blueprint or HA Service
-
"Relay Fallback" - Relays can be controlled with the hardware buttons if the NSPanel loses connection to WiFi or HA
-
"Page Time Out" - Time to return to the home page
-
"New Boot Page Design" - Display of Blueprint, Esphome and TFT version as well as the IP address of the NSPanel
-
"add "Long-Press" on the hardware / physical keys" - with a long press on the hardware button opens e.g. light settings
-
"Changes from the Blueprint are applied immediately" - After changes in the Blueprint, a restart of the NSPanel is no longer necessary.
-
"NSPanel US Version" - first official TFT version for the NSPanel US in portrait mode
-
"Bug fixes and improvements in the blueprint, ESPHome, and TFT code."
Details of all changes
1. Entity Card Page
We have added 4 new entity card pages. Each page has space for 8 entities, so in total there are now 32 entities at your disposal.
The entities can now be selected via the blueprint.
Before a new icon for the entity page is displayed on the homepage, the item "Activate Entity Pages" must be activated in the Blueprint.
Additionally there is the possibility to choose an icon of your choice from 6896 icons.
Of course there is also the possibility to enter your own entity label and to assign a label for the 4 pages. If no entity label is set, the friendly name is taken from HA.
As you are already used to, we have again implemented the navigation with swipe to the right, left, up and down.
Blueprint:
Activate Entity Pages:
Entities:
Nspanel:
2. Icon Font
We have added a new font that contains 6896 Material Design icons (the same as HA uses).
The icons can currently be set in the blueprint for the entities.
To use the icons in the Blueprint you would have to click on the "U" on the website to copy the icon and then paste it in the Blueprint (Attention: Only a "strange" character is displayed, but that is correct).
3. QR Code Page
QR Code can be specified and set in the Blueprint. However, it is also possible to send a QR code via HA Services. If the QR code is sent via HA Services, the QR code page opens automatically.
If the QR Code page is opened again via the NSPanel, the QR Code will be overwritten with the value from the Blueprint.
In order for the QR code character to be displayed on the Home Page, it must be activated in the Blueprint before
For the QR Code Content you have 50 characters at your disposal which you can use freely.
HA Service:
NSPanel
4. Relay Fallback
with version 3.1.0 we have implemented a Fallback for the relay.
This means that if the NSPanel loses the connection to Home Assistant or WiFi, the automatic fallback is triggered.
When the fallback is activated, the left or right hardware button can be used to manually control relay 1 or relay 2, regardless of how the buttons were previously assigned.
This function must be activated in the Blueprint for both keys
5. Page Time Out
Page Time Out means the time until the NSPanel automatically jumps back to the Home Page.
This time can now be set under HA -> Devices -> NSPanel
If the time is set to 0, jumping back to the home page is deactivated and you can only jump back to the home page via the "X".
This setting applies to all pages.
6. New Boot Page Design
We have customized the boat page to display more useful information.
The IP address is now displayed at the top of the page.
You can also see the installed TFT, Blueprint and ESPhome version. This should help to get a better overview which versions are installed.
7. add "Long-Press" on the hardware / physical keys
We have now added a function that allows you to perform an additional function by a long press on the hardware button.
This could look like this:
On the hardware button, a light has been stored as an entity in the Blueprint. With a long press, the light setting of the stored light entity is now opened.
Another example would be with a cover / shutter. If a cover / shutter entity is stored on the second hardware button, a long press opens the shutter settings.
In short - the function is now the same as for the other 32 virtual buttons .
8. Changes from the Blueprint are applied immediately
Previously, every change in the blueprint required a restart of the NSPanel.
Now, this is no longer necessary. If something is changed in the blueprint and saved, it is immediately adopted. Depending on the changes, it may take a moment to load everything.
The NSPanel does not go into a reboot.
This has the advantage that updates to the blueprint do not disturb people at night or in other situations.
9. NSPanel US Version
Many have been waiting for it and now it's finally here - we have our first NSPanel US version in portrait mode.
Thanks to the great work of @miniminne and @Loose-Moose77, I was able to complete and finish the topic.
I have rebuilt all pages and designed new elements so that it looks exactly as neat and the same as on the EU version.
I am totally thrilled with the NSPanel US version. The only thing missing is the "Wave" Background, which I will still provide.
10. Bug fixes and improvements in the blueprint, ESPHome, and TFT code.
As with every release, we have made some adjustments and fixes to the code to provide a better experience with our NSPanel version.
Next topics we are currently working on
See here: roadmap Roadmap contains future features
What's Changed
- Update README.md by @Blackymas in #194
- Update Readme by @Blackymas in #195
- change tft baud to bauds by @Blackymas in #198
- change tft baud to bauds by @Blackymas in #199
Full Changelog: v.3.0.0...v.3.1.0