The just-released new versions of the Cynical Plugins have a pervasive new feature I should discuss on its own. I call it Plugin Formulas.
Here's the basic idea: When you type a value into a plugin UI text field (a message to send, a string to match, a repeat count - anything really), you can now also put in a formula that calculates the value of the field. Plugin formulas are actually Python expressions, with the meanings of names adjusted to be most useful for the one-liners they must needs be. You can use Indigo variables in those formulas, and the value of the field will change as you change those variables.
This should be useful to you even if you're not a Python programmer. Here's an attempt at a gentle introduction for non-programmers: http://www.cynic.org/indigo/plugins/info/formula_tutorial.html. If you do know how to write Python code, this is going to be easy; go there to get started: http://www.cynic.org/indigo/plugins/info/formulas.html.
Obvious places to use plugin formulas include the text to be sent to Cynical Network devices; the overlay text to be set on Cynical SecuritySpy cameras; the IR symbols to be sent to Cynical Caché IR emitters; and the volume setting on Cynical Denon AV receivers. The Cynical Calendars plugin lets you use plugin scripts (the big brother of plugin formulas) directly in calendar events.
Use this thread to ask questions and complain about problems with plugin formulas and scripts in general. They should work consistently in all the Cynical plugins. I think this is a big deal, and I'm sure it has some "interesting" bugs to match. Let me know.
Cheers
-- perry