Check if state is empty?

Configuration
1

Hi!
I want to create a template sensor wich should check his own state:

- platform: template
    sensors:
      sonos_status_kue:
        value_template: '{% if is_state("sensor.sonos_status_kue", "") %}off{% else %}ON{% endif %}'

When I test the IF in the template development tool the result is OK.
If I try it in in my configuration and restart Home Assistant, it does not start.
the log:

Is there another way to check if a state is empty?

Thank you

2

What is the log output?

3

Oh OK,
I try it another way. With my template sensor.sonos_status_kue I want to check the state of media_player.kuche. The problem is, that the media_player.kuche is not available at this moment.
It is a Sonos speaker without energy, the media_player.kuche appears after it get’s energy. Then the states.media_player.kuche.state turns to “paused”.
But I want: when there is no media_player.kuche (the speaker is without energy) then state.sensor.sonos_status_kue should be “OFF” else (if the media_player.kuche is available) the state of the media_player.kuche

This is my try:

- platform: template
  sensors:
    sonos_status_kue:
      value_template: '{% if is_state("media_player.kuche.state", "") %}off{% else %}{{ states.media_player.kuche.state }}{% endif %}

The Log:
homeassistant.components.sensor.template: UndefinedError: ‘None’ has no attribute ‘state’

Thank you

4

Ok, hte log output is ok if it just after starting of hass.
So what is the problem?
Is the sensor state wrong?

5

Yes, the state of the sensor.sonos_status_kue is wrong- it is empty but it should be “off”

6

This is because the state is not initialized yet.
You can test it this way:

'{% if states.media_player.kuche %}...

This will be “false” if the object is not initialized yet (i.e. “None”) and “true” otherwise.
You can add the if condition that checks for the on/off state below that.

Sebastian

1 Like
7

Thank you, that is the solution!

- platform: template
    sensors:
      sonos_status_kue:
        value_template: '{% if states.media_player.kuche ==  none %}off{% else %}{{ states.media_player.kuche.state }}{% endif %}'
8

Id like to use your solution but when it is “on” it prints the values of the sensors, anyway just to output On if on?

9

hi all, its a old post, but in google very high :slight_smile:

i have the same Problem:

customize File:

sensor.tankerkoenig_dirk_schirmacher_diesel:
  friendly_name: ED Tankstelle
  value_template: >
    {% if states("sensor.tankerkoenig_dirk_schirmacher_diesel") == "unknown" %}
      geschlossen
    {% else %}
      {{ states('sensor.tankerkoenig_dirk_schirmacher_diesel') }}
    {% endif %}

how can i say: if the state is “unknown” switch the output from “unknown” to “close/geschlossen” ?
Or take the sensor value…

Thanks All.

10

I know this is months old but here you go:

{% if is_state("sensor.tankerkoenig_dirk_schirmacher_diesel", "unknown") %}
      geschlossen
{% else %}
      {{ states('sensor.tankerkoenig_dirk_schirmacher_diesel') }}
{% endif %}
1 Like