> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.inels.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-user-manual-contents.md).

# iDM3 user manual — contents

**How to program the iNELS3 system with iDM3**

*For iDM3 version 03.05.3 · iNELS3 Designer & Manager · ELKO EP, s.r.o.*

***

## Start here

If you have never used iDM3, read these five chapters in order. They take you from knowing nothing to having a working, uploaded project.

1. [What iNELS3 and iDM3 are](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/what-inels3-and-idm3-are.md)
2. [**How programming works**](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/how-programming-works-in-idm3.md) — the one idea everything is built on
3. [Install iDM3 and start it](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/installing-idm3-and-first-run.md)
4. [The main window](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/the-idm3-main-window.md)
5. [**Tutorial 1 — your first working project**](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-your-first-idm3-project.md)

Then work through the tutorials in Part 2. They build one project, chapter by chapter — do not skip ahead, each assumes the last.

Use Part 3 for lookup once you know what you are looking for.

***

## Reading paths

**"I have never done this before."** Chapters 1 → 5 in order, then the tutorials in Part 2. Do not start with Part 3.

**"I know iNELS, I am new to iDM3 3.5.3."** [Chapter 4](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/the-idm3-main-window.md) for the window layout, then Part 3. Note especially [§4.3](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/the-idm3-main-window.md#43-the-ribbon-tabs) — several managers that used to be separate buttons now live inside **System manager**.

**"I am working on a hotel."** [Chapter 34 — The Hotel-Room object](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/hotel-room-object.md) — required for iNELS Harmony to see the rooms at all.

**"I need to connect third-party equipment."** [Chapter 24 — External systems](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-external-systems-mqtt-modbus-cloud.md) for the overview, then [Chapter 32 — Modbus](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-modbus-rtu-and-ip-integration.md) for RTU and IP in detail, and [Chapter 33](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/linking-two-inels-central-units-over-modbus-ip.md) to link two central units together.

**"I am commissioning an installation today."** [Chapter 23 — Connecting and uploading](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/connecting-and-uploading-to-the-central-unit.md), [Chapter 25 — Firmware update](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-firmware-update-manager.md), [Chapter 29 — Commissioning checklist](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-commissioning-checklist.md).

**"Something is broken."** [Chapter 30 — Troubleshooting](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/troubleshooting-idm3.md), and [Chapter 26 — Monitor](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-simulation-and-monitor.md) to see live values.

**"I answer support tickets."** [Chapter 31 — Common questions](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/common-idm3-support-questions.md) maps what customers actually say to the chapter that answers it.

***

## Contents

### Part 1 : Understand the system

|   |                                                                                                    |
| - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | [What iNELS3 and iDM3 are](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/what-inels3-and-idm3-are.md)       |
| 2 | [How programming works](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/how-programming-works-in-idm3.md)     |
| 3 | [Install iDM3 and start it](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/installing-idm3-and-first-run.md) |
| 4 | [The main window](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/the-idm3-main-window.md)                    |

### Part 2: Tutorials

|    |                                                                                                                      |
| -- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 5  | [Tutorial 1 — your first working project](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-your-first-idm3-project.md)  |
| 6  | [Tutorial 2 — beyond on/off](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-toggles-impulses-and-delays.md)           |
| 7  | [Tutorial 3 — dimming](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-dimming-with-analog-functions.md)               |
| 8  | [Tutorial 4 — groups and scenes](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-groups-and-scenes.md)                 |
| 9  | [Tutorial 5 — blinds and shutters](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-blinds-and-shutters.md)             |
| 10 | [Tutorial 6 — heating and cooling](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-heating-and-cooling.md)             |
| 11 | [Tutorial 7 — time control](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-time-control-and-schedules.md)             |
| 12 | [Tutorial 8 — logic and conditions](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-timers-counters-and-conditions.md) |
| 13 | [Tutorial 9 — alarms and messaging](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-alarms-and-sms-messaging.md)       |
| 14 | [Tutorial 10 — reuse your work](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-macros-and-function-blocks.md)         |

### Part 3: Reference

|    |                                                                                                                           |
| -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 15 | [Projects and files](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-projects-and-files.md)                                     |
| 16 | [Device manager](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-device-manager-reference.md)                                   |
| 17 | [Floors and the Design tab](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-floors-and-the-design-tab.md)                       |
| 18 | [The wire editor](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-wire-editor-reference.md)                                     |
| 19 | [Managers](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-managers-reference.md)                                               |
| 20 | [System manager](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-system-manager-reference.md)                                   |
| 21 | [DALI](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference.md)                                               |
| 22 | [Central unit configuration](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-central-unit-configuration.md)                     |
| 23 | [Connecting and uploading](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/connecting-and-uploading-to-the-central-unit.md)          |
| 24 | [External systems — Modbus, MQTT, Cloud](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-external-systems-mqtt-modbus-cloud.md) |
| 25 | [Firmware update](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-firmware-update-manager.md)                                   |
| 26 | [Testing — Simulation and Monitor](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-simulation-and-monitor.md)                   |
| 27 | [Settings and Preferences](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-settings-and-preferences.md)                         |
| 28 | [Opening older projects](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/opening-older-idm3-projects.md)                             |

### Part 4: Operate and fix

|    |                                                                                                                                                  |
| -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 29 | [Commissioning checklist](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-commissioning-checklist.md)                                                  |
| 30 | [Troubleshooting](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/troubleshooting-idm3.md)                                                                  |
| 31 | [Common questions — support index](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/common-idm3-support-questions.md)                                        |
| 32 | [Modbus — RTU and IP](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-modbus-rtu-and-ip-integration.md)                                                |
| 33 | [Tutorial 11 — linking two central units over Modbus IP](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/linking-two-inels-central-units-over-modbus-ip.md) |
| 34 | [The Hotel-Room object](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/hotel-room-object.md)                                                               |

### Appendices

|   |                                                                                                                                 |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| A | [Action reference — all 81 triggers](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-action-reference.md)                             |
| B | [Function reference — all 108 effects, plus the 61 predefined](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-function-reference.md) |
| C | [Menu and button reference](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-menu-and-button-reference.md)                             |
| D | [Supported units](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-supported-units.md)                                                 |
| E | [Glossary](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-glossary.md)                                                               |
| F | [Files and folders](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-files-and-folders.md)                                             |
| G | Screenshot checklist                                                                                                            |

***

## About this manual

**What it covers.** Using iDM3 — building a project, programming behaviour, and getting it onto a central unit.

**What it does not cover.** Hardware: cabling, DIN-rail mounting, power budgets, unit specifications. Those are in the **iDM3 installation manual**, which ships with the software at `Advance/Documentation/EN_iDM3_installation_manual_Rev19.pdf`. This manual cross-references it rather than repeating it.

**Language.** All labels quoted here are the **English** interface labels. iDM3 also ships in Czech, Slovak and Spanish; the meaning is identical but the wording on screen will differ.

**Version.** Written against iDM3 03.05.3. Where this version differs from older documentation the difference is called out explicitly — the Rev19 installation manual dates from 2022 and several labels and menus have changed since.

**Corrections.** Spotted something wrong, or a step that no longer matches the software? Tell the ElkoEP / iNELS support team so it can be fixed here rather than worked around.