Can I make a group of automations? (not UI request!)

Configuration
1

Hi, I have a bunch of NFC automations that I’d like to be able to simply enable and disable (NFC that play TV content for my kid).

It doesn’t seem I can create a group (group helper or manually in YAML) that I would just turn on or off. YAML won’t let me as I already have this in my config.yaml.

automation: !include automations.yaml

Any tips? This is a specific question about grouping automations, I know I can just add the automation.xxx entities into another automation, but I’d really like to be able to create groups of automations. Thanks.

2

You can group automations with legacy groups in yaml.

3

Thanks but how?

Like this it complains about bad indentation of a mapping entry on the line " - platform"

automation: !include automations.yaml
  - platform: group
    name: NFC cards
    entities:
      - automation.tv_nfc_kaceri
      - automation.tv_nfc_cuphead

Just adding a new block like this leads to duplicated mapping key

automation: !include automations.yaml
automation: 
  - platform: group
    name: NFC cards
    entities:
      - automation.tv_nfc_kaceri
      - automation.tv_nfc_cuphead

When i place it into automations.yaml like this, the group is not created

- platform: group
  name: NFC cards
  entities:
    - automation.tv_nfc_kaceri
    - automation.tv_nfc_cuphead
4

Ah, I see, the “old style YAML groups”

group:
  kitchen:
    name: "Kitchen Group"
    entities:
      - switch.kitchen_pin_3

ok, thanks.

1 Like
5

The recommended way of controlling an automation’s behavior is by simply adding a State Condition that checks the state of an Input Boolean. If the Input Boolean is off, the automation’s actions aren’t executed.

One could take this idea a step further and incorporate the State Condition in the action section. Then the automation can be designed (using an if - then - else) to inform the user that regular services (i.e. playing TV content) is currently disallowed.

1 Like
6

Yes, I have checks like that in the automations themselves. What I’m doing now is a simple toggle for all the NFC automations so when my daughter misbehaves, I can simply and quickly disable them all - I set the NFC cards so that she can turn on the TV and play her cartoons via Kodi using these :slight_smile:

Thanks!