Device_id madness

Configuration
1

Hi,

why is there no easy way to disable the use of device IDs when automations are created via GUI?
I see there is even a guide to avoid it, lol?

It is hardcore annoying, I just don’t get it.
Why must almost everything with HA be complicated.
There should be an option “use entity names for automation”.

Best regards
Hyper

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2

There is, you just don’t use the “Device” triggers, conditions, or actions…

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3

There is a super easy way. Just don’t choose device triggers, conditions or actions when writing your automation.

Edit: too slow.

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4

Hello HyperCriSiS,

Let me take you for a spin.
No I have no idea why they did this, other than the author doesn’t want us to find entity actions in the GUI is all I can think of…

Automations
Create new Automation
    'Then do'
        'Add Action'
            scroll all the way down to 'other actions' a couple of panels down
                select 'perform action'
                    select 'action'
                        then select the action you want like light.turn_on by searching or scrolling
                            Then you can select an entity.
5

I have to agree. :wink:

What others have suggested is your best recourse. Luckily you don’t have to use device IDs.

6

I think that the assumption is that people knowledgeable enough to want to use “Perform Action” (formerly known as “Call a Service”) will just use the main search box or go directly to the domain of the entity…

Automations
  Create new Automation
    'Then do'
        'Add Action'
          search 'light.turn' 
            select 'Turn On'

Maybe they assumed that new users are more likely to just use the search bar than they actually are?

7

I don’t think you quite get how this is structured, you’re way over-complicating this.

  1. Click +Add Action
  2. Find and select “Light” in the list (or search for Light)
  3. Select Turn On.
8

Well I don’t get how it’s structured, and I never use the search, so it has been quite a puzzle to me as to why it’s Sooo buried.
Yes.
If it were me, there would be the device link, then the link I point out in that post, then whatever else you want to confuse people with…
But I’ve been told that’s too hard to do right now. Other changes are being considered.