…another noob question… a few weeks ago I installed and started using HA. I installed several devices, for which I created scenes and automations. The devices are listed in the Devices page. However when I open teh configuration.yaml file (which I just found out how to do) the file shows none of my devices… am I missing something ?
You need to list all items in your main folder. I have a lot more items listed then you are showing. I do not see the db files, db-shm, db-wal, App-daemon folder, .HA_Version, themes folder, www folder, etc
There will be more when you add some integrations like: esphome, zibee stuff, node-red
Devices are put into the storage folder which is hidden, the cloud folder is hidden too.
@lordwizzard …yeah, none of my devices are showing in the config file. So how do I do what you say “you need to list all items in your main folder” ?
copnfiguration.yaml does not ‘store’ all of your devices - there’s various database files in the hidden folder @lordwizzard referred to
What is it you’re looking for?
@NathanCu @lordwizzard
Thank you both for the replies. I am having some troubles with incorporating some more Homekit devices, and was going to see if I could fix the issues in the yaml file, which I have not opened before. I have several Leviton switches incorporated OK, but having issues with a Plug, and another switch. I was going to make a more detailed post if I coudl not fix via the yaml file – which I suppose I now need to do. Perhaps we better wait until I have it all put together ?
You will VERY RARELY ‘fix’ anything in the ‘yaml file’
configuration.yaml is just that - the configuration of your Home Assistant installation. You can do things in this file that prevent Home Assistant from starting.
SOME integrations use it to store information about their configuration - and some platforms can be manually configured there. (Template devices, etc) But you don’t have a text file somewhere where you should expect to be mucking about for devices. As to the hidden files mentioned above - they’re hidden for a reason - you should RARELY if ever go into them and if you do - make ABSOLUTELY sure you know why because you can destroy your install there.
As to how to ‘fix’ devices - that’s going to be unique to each integration. How you admin and maintain a HomeKit device - is different from how you maintain a ZHA Zigbee device - which is different from a Zigbee2MQTT Zigbee Device, which is different from a Hue device. If you think you have an issue with something - go ahead and post a thread about it.
The arrow - points to customizing entities - which can change certain aspects of a presented entity (most useful in setting device types for certain entities - like a binary sensor is actually a window. But - even that has mostly moved to the UI under the settings tab of an entity. (As long as your entity has a UniqueID attached)
Although props for going to the docs.
I would start with the Homekit first!
So go to Settings: Devices & Services
Click on the Add Intregration Blue Button (lower right)
Search for Apple and click on it.
There are two Homekit selections-
Homekit which adds various domains of device
and
Homekit Controller - which searches for devices
You need to read the docs on those two items before adding them so you know about what they do and any suggested changes you make in the configuration yaml
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@lordwizzard @NathanCu …thanks for the notes. I have loaded both the Homekit Controller and the Homekit integration (which created a bridge I can use with my iPhone), and working fine with some, but not all, of the devices I have added. I do need to make a detailed post on what my troubles are, and will soon, it may be long with my explanation. These troubles are what sent me to the Docs and the yaml file.
@NathanCu …so you mention the yaml file is used to edit entities, but yet none of mine show in the yaml file. Perhaps I am missing something ?
More on the HomeKit Integration Docs: HomeKit - Home Assistant
From the Homekit documents:
Do you have more than 150 devices per bridge?
Also doing something in the yaml with Homekit will result in multiple instances of Homekit running!!
That would be a big NO NO
@lordwizzard @NathanCu …I have read that Document, and you can see it actually refers to editing the Configuration.yaml file ! LOL… full circle… the doc shows entities in the yaml file, yet mine is completely empty…
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Not all entities will show there - they are stored in those hidden databases you are not supposed to edit.
SOME (fewer and fewer) integrations/platforms setup in configuration.yaml while most don’t. In my own install - an example of one that DOES is envisalink (and I wish they’d update it) I had to manually configure my envisalink interface in the configuraiton.yaml file to get it to initialize and setup. Changes to that section of the file impact that integration and therefore the entities and devices that derive from that entry.
But Zwave - I have over 120 devices in my Zwave install. each device has approximately 5 entities - most ore - so we’ll call it over 500 entities from ZWaveJSUI. I don’t have a single entry in my configuraiton.yaml file pertaining to Zwave - because it’s all configured in the Addon and the Zwave UI.
(Edit:
That’s not completely empty - it says:
load the default configuration (That’s a TON of stuff BTW, most people want this…)
It tells your Lovelace interface where to find your folder where you’re storing themes.
Points to the yaml file that loads automations, scripts and scenes… )
alright, I’ll stop worrying about my empty yaml file, and get to work on my detailed Homekit issues post.
Thanks again to you both for the replies !
I would do a restart of your Home Assistant also, sometimes things will not appear until a restart is done.
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anytime - and one last hint - don’t post pictures/screenshots of text files. a lot of us read this on tiny screens (phones) and they’re impossible to see - instead, copy / paste the text in a preformatted text block. (look on the menu in the post editor between the image and quote buttons…) It’s much easier to read and sometime generous folk even edit the files. yaml is VERY format dependent - one false space can mean the difference between your install starting and not booting Good luck with those HK devices.
…thanks for teh restart tip ! …and sorry about posting the screen captures… will do. I think I have fixed most of my HK issues, and learned to edit the Overview default card. I had tried so many things to get al the HK bits to work , that had duplicates with different names. Fixed most. Still have a couple I am trying to figure out. Will post again if I need to. Cheers!
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…have fixed just about all HK issues – had double entries, and similar but wrong names for one device, my fault. All seems working fine now. Have two more questions I’ll post separate though. I think re-booting, and actually logging off the system were also messing me up, as on two occasions I just closed the GUI window, instead of logging-off. The last reboot was key, as it got rid off a duplicate entry that was showing up on my iphone. I will reboot from now on every time I make a change/addition.