Automations: visual editor vs. variables?

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Dear community,

I would like to streamline one of my automation by introducing variables.
So I have done the following:

  1. I have copied the YAML of the automation into VSCode and added the variables.
  2. Then, I created an empty automation in HomeAssistant and changed the view to “Edit in YAML”.
  3. Then, I have copied my now code into the empty automation, saved everything and exited the window.
  4. After reopening the automation, everything is gone, the automation is empty.

Is it not possible to copy a yaml into the editor and then change back to the visual editor and finalize the automation there? Is it because of the variables, which do not exist in the visual editor?

2

Turns out, it is possible. There must have been an error in the YAML, which I did not find. After re-creating the automation from scratch and then re-add the variables, everything is working fine.