We spent quite a bit of time trying to make HCA an easy to use program.  But like all software, sometimes reference material is needed.

HCA is provided with four manuals, each in both MS Word and PDF format for you to print or view on your computer.  If you plan to print the file, we strongly suggest you use the MS Word document as it will give you the best results with the screen image pictures.

All documentation is available for you to download now.  To reduce download time the files are also available compressed into ZIP files. 

When you purchase HCA all four of these manuals are included on the CD.

The Getting Started Guide is a very brief introduction to HCA, that covers how to install the software, how to create your first HCA file, create a devices, and those sorts of things.  It is only 17 pages and a quick read.

The Hardware Connection Guide describes how to connect the automation interfaces supported by HCA to your computer.

The HCA User Guide is your major resource on how to use HCA and contains chapters on each major feature of HCA.  As HCA is so feature packed, this is a large manual (275 pages) containing these chapters.

1. What is the Home Control Assistant?
2. HCA Properties
3. Your Home
4. Displays
5. Devices
6. Schedules and Schedule entries
7. Visual Scheduler
8. Groups
9. Programs and the Visual Programmer
10. Expressions
11. Controllers
12. Visual Scene Editor
13. Troubleshooter
14. Restart
15. Date Book
16. Icon Gallery
17. Design Tools - HCUC and Flags Inventory
18. Status Export
19. Design Import and Export
20. Web Server
21. Getting Help

In addition to the User Guide, a  number of appendixes are available.  Each appendix covers a major HCA topic in depth.  These are collected into another large manual.  The appendixes are:

1. HCA Versions
2. CM11
3. Elk Products Magic Module
4. Lightolier Compose System
5. SmartHome HouseLinc, IRLinc, PowerLinc, and PowerLinc Controller
6. Marrick Ltd. Interfaces
7. Downloading schedules and programs
8. Programmable devices
9. Thermostats
10. Weather
11. Global Cache GC-100
12. Wireless Interfaces: W800RF32 and MR26
13. Automation
14. UPB
15. Insteon
16. Protocol Bridge

If you are looking for more information on V8 changes, here are some specific chapters:

Also available on this web site are these items:

Technical notes.  An in-depth exploration of some areas in HCA

Frequently Asked Questions

A program called WinZip is needed to decompress the files that end in .zip.  It is available for no cost from www.winzip.com.