Control all lights in given area(s)

Configuration
1

Hi,

I somehow get a feeling reading forums that groups are thing of a past, and one should use areas instead? As all devices are put into some area anyhow, how could I create a button to toggle light state of e.g. areas a and b? Or just b?

I saw some example of using template, and failed while modifying it in ha “edit dashboard → add button” gui:

show_name: true
show_icon: true
type: button
tap_action:
  action: toggle
entity: {{ expand(area_entities('Piha')) | selectattr('domain', 'eq', 'light') | map(attribute='entity_id') | list }}
show_state: true

It complains about comma in selectaddr. Is this even the right direction to go to?

1 Like
2

I copied the template from here, simplifying it by removing state.

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/controlling-only-lights-that-are-on-within-a-group-or-an-area-with-templating/406191/7?u=ikke-t

3

You have to build a script (or automation) first. The default button card is not templatable

4

Thanks. Would it still show the state of lights in button? Or any indication if any of the lights are on?

What I’d like to have is kinda like a slider in right top corner of lights card for the list of lights already does. Not just a dummy script without state indication, but if any of the lights is on, icon would show up bright, and when all are off, it would show dim.

5

What about an approach without template:


type: button
tap_action:
  action: call-service
  service: light.toggle
  data: {}
  target:
    area_id: your_area

Or you could create a (light) group. I don’t think so that groups will disappear in the HA universe.

2 Likes
6

Thanks, good tip. Now I actually found how the groups are done in gui too. Perhaps I just got it wrong, I try using groups now.

7

Perhaps you mixed it up with universal groups.

1 Like
8

yes, as a newbie I mixed that up to groups :smiley: